Taking First Grader During School Year?

[mjkaferle5]

What do you guys and gals think about taking your childern during the school year? Our oldest will be in first grade this fall and I really don't want to wait until June and then everyone is at Disney World!! But at the same time I feel guilty about him missing school. Although with him being young it should be easier to makeup his school work.

We also have preschool aged twins (4 yrs. old) and an infant due at the end of this month. We would like to go in possibly May and stay at the POR since it will accomodate our larger family.

 

[tessqt]

I took my dd out of kindergarten 3 years ago and will be taking her out of 3rd grade and my ds out of kindergarten for our upcoming trip after Thanksgiving. It is much easier to take out in younger years, it was a determining factor because our 4th grade is a transition year into another building at our school and can be difficult for some kids to adjust to.

Don't worry, have fun!!

 

[Dcanoli]

Hey! I am a preschool teacher, and I take my kids out of school every time we go to Disney.

We try to go to Disney every other year (to keep it fresh and to keep up the excitement levels), and we always go in September. I have two boys--Kindergarten and 3rd grade.

The teachers and the school in general are always very nice about it. The teachers give me my sons' homework in advance, and we do it on the way to The World. That way, they are not behind when we get back.

The Mouse for Less' website has a letter you can print out for your teachers and principal. It's very good. Check it out: www.themouseforless.com.

Have a Disney Day!

 

[tinkernelllec]

I will be taking my 5 year old out of kindergarden this October for a week, but I honestly think it is ok, hey my parents did it!!!!!!!

 

[meandtheguys2]

Can you wait to plan until after you see how he does? If he is getting by fine, then you can make the decision. No one else knows your family and DS like you do.

 

[Drizzo67]

This is the third year I will be taking my DS (10) and my DD(7) to WDW during school. We always go the week before President's day to help avoid the crowds. As long as my kids keep their grades up through the first half of the school year, we go. If their grades were to slip the second half we would not plan the next trip. Both kids got homework from their teachers before we left and since school was closed the week we come home they do their homework then. None of teachers I have dealt with before have had any problems with it. It does help that my kids maintain good grades.

 

[mjkaferle5]

The Mouse for Less' website has a letter you can print out for your teachers and principal. It's very good.

Have a Disney Day!

Thanks!! I found the excuse letter. It looks pretty good!!

 

[Dcanoli]

 

[luvmygirls]

OP- I'm taking my 2nd grader & kindergartener out of school this year. Not worried at all about my kindergartener, she can already read & do basic math, so I know she won't get behind. 2nd grader is strong in reading/writing/language arts, but weak in math, so I know I will have to keep on esp. with her math homework, but hey this maybe our 1 and only trip, I'm dont sweat the small stuff!

Shelly

 

[akamom]

I'll be taking my DS3 out of preschool for 1 day in December. We go then because the rates are cheaper. Plus we've been planning this trip since before he was enrolled in school.

 

[mjkaferle5]

Thanks everyone. You are all making me feel less guilty!

 

[ladyelle]

You mentioned you wanted to go in May instead of June. I just wanted to let you know that we have been to Disney twice and it has been in June and it works out very well for our family. We leave the day after the kids get out of school . It's a good feeling to be done with school and not have to worry about homework etc.
Good luck with your planning.

 

[DarthGoofy]

We are taking our first grader out this September. We took him out this past January, and it wasn't a problem at all.

 

[mjkaferle5]

ladyelle,

Is it busy when you go in June? That is what I was hoping to maybe avoid.......the mass out of school rush.

 

[Magalex]

We just went with our DS this past April..He was in 4 yr old preschool. We might go again next year for a small trip at the same time. He is in a PRE-K program. But if we don't get to go April 2006 I am already planning on Thanksgiving week 2007 when he is in 1st grade. I thought that would be easier just to miss 3 days during a holiday week. As he gets older we will be during the early June trips when school ends for the year.

Magalex

 

[Ardenne]

I'll be taking my 2nd grader out of school to go in October. She's never missed school for anything other than funerals or severe illness before, but DH and I talked it over and agreed it was worthwhile under the circumstances. (He hasn't been able to take any vacation days since last December, due to a personnel shortage where he works, and he's not likely to get vacation again for several months or maybe even longer than that -- so this is our ONLY chance to take a family trip for quite some time.)

I'm a bit worried, because her school specifies that they'll only allow excused absences for funerals or illness, and I'm not sure what the repercussions of unexcused absences would be. Maybe it doesn't make much of a difference in 2nd grade. We have school orientations this week and next and I'm hoping to see her teacher so I can talk to her about it. She has the same teacher this year as she did last year -- the teacher is moving from teaching 1st to 2nd, and her students from last year got first dibs on being in her class this year -- so that may help. She's already familiar with her and knows she's a good student, and knows me well enough to know that I'll make sure she gets her work done and stays caught up. When my daughter was very sick once last year I called and made arrangements to pick up her books and homework to help her keep up, and she said she was surprised when I came by and got them and then sent her back to school fully caught up, because most parents call and *say* they're going to do that but then don't carry through. I'm hoping that will increase the likelihood she'll be willing to let her take her homework with her/make up work/etc for this.

I think I'd be more hesitant with an older child, especially high school age where they always have *so* much going on all of the time, but in the 2nd grade, there's nothing the kids at school will cover that I can't help her with while we're travelling.

 

[luvmy2sams]

We took DD out of kindergarten for 3 days last year, and we'll be taking her out of 1st grade for 6 days this coming January (sshhh...it's a surprise!) I'm sure that as she gets older, we'll be able to do this less frequently, but right now it's not a big deal. You know your child best. If you feel that they can comfortably make-up what they've missed, then I say go for it!

 

[Mom to Jordan]

We took DS out for a week in K,1,3, 5 and are looking at doing it again this year in 7. We took fewer days other year. Never had a problem or regret. Only year he had any work to make up was 3rd. Every other year teachers just said, "Go have fun" He is a good student and it never effected his grades at all. We just planed a long week-end for Labor day week-end and never even thought twice about DS missing a day and half of school!
1st grade= no sweat at all. GO HAVE A BLAST.

BTW. We love winter at WDW. Less crowds and less heat. Could not remember when the baby was due but if that works our consider Jan, of Feb, avoiding hollidays.
Jordan's mom

 

[Dcanoli]

Well, I want to chime in here---our school system only allows FIVE unexcused absences each quarter/semester/whatever....

After that, you get a letter from the School Board saying this and that....however, I seriously suggest you talk it over with your child's teacher and I always tell the school secretary...we are going on vacation to Disney....

They always understand, but it is the law that they have to send us the letter. Like I said earlier, we go every other year, so I always get these letters. They just tell me--give us your excuse letter, and we'll put in your file.

As long as you keep good communication with your school and it's people, they know it's not a situation that needs "attention." Does that make sense?

Deb

P.S. I always tell them, "Hey, if the state REALLY wants my kids--COME AND GET 'EM!"

 

[can'twait]

We are taking our kindergartner and second grader out in October, during the week of Rosh Hoshana (sp?) when the school is closed 2 days anyway, so they will only miss 3 days. We get nasty letters at the beginning of the year warning us not to take the kids out for vacations but I don't care. Will they be denied their high school diplomas because we went to see Mickey? I don't think so. The price, weather and less crowds during the "quiet" season are worth much more to me than 3 days of school. I would be more concerned about older kids who might miss a lot in a few days, but at this age a few days is nothing. Just go and have a good time!