Taking First Grader During School Year?

[mjkaferle5]

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!

Where do you live that you get a couple of days for Rosh Hoshanna off? That would be great

 

[can'twait]

New York!!!!

 

[hokiefan33]

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.

If your child lives to be 75 years old, he will have had 27,357 days on this Earth. If he misses 5 school days, that is only 0.018% of his lifetime. That ain't much. Take him out and go.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Luckily my DD-6 school is year round. She's off in Jan, May, and Sept. so we are able to take advantage of slow times without taking time off of school. However, last Jan (05) we booked our trip last minute and she missed the first 2 days of the next session-Oops-but she was only in Kindergarten and already knew her sight words (she finished 24 lists, only 5 are required to advance to 1st grade). As she gets older it'll depend on how she's doing in school before I let her miss any school. I don't think it'll be a problem as she's very smart (yes I'm biased) and is getting E's and O's on her report cards.

If we only had the summer months and holidays to go on trips without her missing class I would let her miss class for family vacations. I missed a few days here and there and I turned out fine-LOL!

42 days and counting!

 

[skiwee1]

I am taking my 1st grader out of school in October. She will miss 7 actual school days. I am also taking her out in December and she will miss 5 school days. Both are trips to WDW. I have already discussed this with the 1st grade teachers last year while DD was still in kindergarten. They did not see a problem with it at all since DD was already working at a first grade level then. I think you'll be fine.

 

[tenaseewalker]

Skiwee1, I'm taking my 1st grader out of school in Oct and Dec too. Are you going to do the MNSSHP and MVMCP?

 

[skiwee1]

Skiwee1, I'm taking my 1st grader out of school in Oct and Dec too. Are you going to do the MNSSHP and MVMCP?

Yes! We usually go to MNSSHP every year but really wanted to see Disney decorated for the holidays. We didn't want to give up our October trip so we added the December on too! We are also going in June but that is a long way off.

 

[poohfan]

I think it depends on a few things... what grade the child is in and how they're doing in school. Now that our DS is almost in HS I just can't pull him out for a week. Some kids can make up a week's worth of work but he just can't. It's hard enough for him to make up a few days when he's sick so a whole week would be too hard. But when he was younger I wouldn't think twice about pulling him out. When he was in 2nd grade we pulled him out for a week in May. His teacher gave him a journal and asked him to write a paragraph about what he did each day. He still has the journal as a keepsake from his trip. So I say go for it while they're young!

 

[PaulaSue]

Just my OP but I think it is not a big deal especially with them in younger grades. My oldest will be in first this year too. I think once older I might plan around finals and such.

 

[edcrbnsoul]

I'm taking my 1st grader out for a week in Oct.

Mi pahrunts alweighs tewk mi out of skool wen i was a mekin a trip to dizne wirld and it neva effectid mi.

 

[Swimnoid]

We took our DD out of school every year from K-12 for Disney. In all those years we never once had a problem with the schools. Sometimes she would have a small project, sometimes the teachers would send work, sometimes they would say, Don't worry. Go have a good time. It was amazing that when they did send the "Weeks" work she could usually finish it before we got there! When she got to highschool we just had to watch how many days she would miss because they have a limit per semester. This year will be the first year we dont go in the fall since she is starting college. We can't AFFORD it this year!

 

[jjsmom]

I can't help but to add my 2 cents on this topic. We have taken our DD out of school every year since nursery school. She will be entering 9th grade in 3 weeks. We have never had a problem with teachers/administration because she attended private school and there wasn't much they could say about it. This year is a different story since she will be entering public high school. I don't really care what they say, we're going in Jan. and she IS going with us. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty...go and have fun!

 

[tenaseewalker]

Skiwee1,
The Christmas Decorations are Wonderful enough to make you want to go back again. Last year was our first time to see the all the wonderful hotel decorations. We are gonna make this a family tradition (Christmas in Disney). Since then we went back in April, May and June and I just made our reservations for Oct and Dec.. What day are you going to the MNSSHP? We will be there on Sept 30th and Oct 2nd.

 

[dreamscometrue47]

I'm taking my DS out for 4 days this January, the week of Martin Luther King day. He'll be in 7th grade. I took both him and DD out Thanksgiving week (only missed 3 days that time), when DD was in 5th and he was in 2nd. I had no problems with the schools/teachers, but I have made sure to have very good relationships with their teachers. Of course, this gets harder as they get into middle school and high school because they have so many different teachers! But I don't feel guilty because I don't take them out of school for all vacations, just a few select WDW ones. Other ones we plan for February or April school vacations or the summer time.

Our January trip is to celebrate my mom's 80th and my 50th bd's; DS is going to be our "escort"! DH can't get the time off and believe it or not, DD, who is entering 10th grade, doesn't want to miss the school time, and won't be coming with us. (needless to say, she's been many, many times to WDW and knows we'll be back again.)

Try not to feel guilty and have a wonderful time!

 

[shelly3girls]

DD will be in 1st grade this year and she will miss a total of 5 days for two different Disney trips. I have no problem doing it since we make sure that she makes up the work and she is an excellent student. I don't think I would if she struggle in school. I think family time is valuable but I do worry about children who miss school who are already struggling.

 

[dangler]

We took our kids out of school last year and will do it again this year. My son's teacher actually told me it doesn't really matter, they learn so much there and the kids can catch up on what they miss. Have fun!

 

[chop456]

I teach first grade. If the parents communicate with me so we can plan for the days missed, I see no problem missing 3-5 days of school, esp. in the lower grades. There are many things that can be done to make up the missing work. My advice is to talk to the teacher and plan for the missed days! And .... have a great trip!

 

[momof2cuties]

Opinions please --

We are planning a trip in Oct. I'm a bit concerned about taking my 3rd grader out.

Originally the plan was to leave late Monday and come home on Columbus Day. It would be 7 nights, but because of the flight times it would only be 6 days. Tuesday the 4th is a day off here so they would only miss 3 school days. Now I'm looking at the calendar and if we fly Sat the 1st and come home late Sunday the 9th - it is 9 nights and with the free dining at the values it would only be an additional $86 or so and we would have almost 8 full days and be able to relax at home on Columbus Day. The problem is then she's missing a full week at school, although technically it is only 1 extra day because of Tuesday. It just seems easier to tell the teacher she'll be out for 3 days instead of saying she'll be gone for the week. I know I'm being a big wimp, but I'd love some opinions on what you all would do.

Thanks.