Taking kids out- free dining?

[asmit4]

Anybody taking their kids out of school for free dining at DW? I know this has caused great debate in the past I mentioned to my SIL that we plan to take our kids out for trips down the line and she freaked. She works for a school system and yelled at us for being 'bad parents'. I politely told her that it was our decision- then she brought up fines- and I once again told her, I'd be glad to pay

She went on and on about 'how much time kids get off' and how parents can plan trips during the summer. I told her I wasn't going to pay 4K for a trip in July, when I can book the same trip for almost 1/2 that AND have less crowds. In September airfare is over 100 bucks cheaper to Orlando than in July. Multiply that times 4 people and that's 400 right there.

IMHO-if your kids get A's and B's in school, and have no behavioral issues, taking a grade schooler out for 5 days isn't going to ruin their lives. If we have to pay a fine to the school for removing them- that's OK by me. I'd much rather go during free dining, when the crowds are much less, than fight it in July with every other 'good parent'.

 

[ajk912]

Me, I wouldn't take my kids out for free dining. The only reason I say this is because free dining is in August and September, and that is the beginning of the school year for most traditional schools. Now, I have no problem with taking them out a few days before or after Christmas/Thanksgiving/Easter/spring break vacation, but I would check with the teacher first to make sure it wasn't SOL/PALs test week before I made reservations. These weeks usually don't change year to year..or by much. Luckily, for us school doesn't start till after Labor Day, so we can go for free dining and miss nothing but Meet the Teacher Day/See Your Classroom Day. I feel bad enough about that!

 

[MightyMom]

We will be going to WDW in mid September.... as a bonus we are getting free dining.... but we were going in mid September with or without free dining.

The way I see it.... if your gonna take your kid out of school for a vacation... it's best to do it at the beginning of the year. There are a lot of tests that go on at the end of the school year.

Our situation is vastly different than most others. My son is physically disabled. We do intensive therapy and schedule any surgeries during the summer. Intensive therapy can take as much as 6 weeks.... and surgery recovery can take even longer. We can't take care of his medical AND vacation during the summer.... the summer just isn't long enough.

As far as winter vacation.... well..... DS spends the better part of winter with respiratory infections..... vacationing at WDW in the winter just isn't practical for us.

 

[LIBLULA]

I took my DD8 out for a week- last September for free dining.She was in 2nd. grade. Our school has a "planned absence" form to fill out. Her teacher had all of her work ready-prior to us leaving. She had no problem with her going on a family vacation. She did most of the work on the plan ride down to Orlando. Her grades did not suffer at all. We booked a bounceback for this September. I'm going to surprise her with a mommy/daughter trip. Its been so hard to keep it secret!!!

 

[Ashlander]

We are taking our kids out. They will be in Kindergarten and 1st grade (as well as a 3 year old). I have spoken to many parents and my son's kindergarten teacher which he will have for 1st grade and everyone thinks it is great we are going. It would be hard for us to afford a trip during peak season so I'm glad that it doesn't seem like it will be a problem to take the kids out in September.

 

[Kevenswife2]

I've had six children in the public school system and my experience has been that the first couple of weeks of school are spent reviewing what was studied the year before.

I'm taking DD10 out this year after only eight days of school. She'll miss five days. She's always been an excellent student and I see no problem with it.

School break during the summer is not always feasible for everyone. Cost is a major factor when we plan our vacations and the summer months are more expensive.

 

[Darcy03231]

Just before taking your kids out of school make sure you check your district's policy. In some areas (and our is one of them) the teachers don't have to give/take any make-up work or homework so your child could get zeros on anything missed. They also don't have to stay after school and explain anything that was missed. While in the lower elementary grades this wouldn't likely be an issue, once the kids are into 5th and 6th grade and learning some more complex ideas it could really put them behind if the teacher chose not to be cooperative with you.

 

[JimR24]

We're taking my daughter out and can't wait. She is going to be in the 2nd grade and is a pretty good student. I agree with a preious poster about the first few weeks being a review. This is the last year we will take her out because of Florida's FCAT's start is grade 3.

 

[leighe]

I wouldn't take my kids out of school just because it was cheaper, cooler, or less crowded. In my opinion only that is setting a bad example for my kids. I would if it was that only time we could vacation as a family because of work schedules, etc.

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

I say just check with your school on their policy, our schools policy is you can not pull them out of school the first 2 wks or last 2 wks of school. Other than that it is excused for 5 days then the others are unexcused. We are going in Nov/Dec, leaving on Thanksgiving (holiday 3 days) then staying for the week following) So we will be down for 10 days but they will only miss 5 days of school. We get all of their work planned out and the kids do their work on the plane ride and mid week during our off time. Have fun.

 

[kimsuenew]

Anybody taking their kids out of school for free dining at DW? I know this has caused great debate in the past I mentioned to my SIL that we plan to take our kids out for trips down the line and she freaked. She works for a school system and yelled at us for being 'bad parents'. I politely told her that it was our decision- then she brought up fines- and I once again told her, I'd be glad to pay

She went on and on about 'how much time kids get off' and how parents can plan trips during the summer. I told her I wasn't going to pay 4K for a trip in July, when I can book the same trip for almost 1/2 that AND have less crowds. In September airfare is over 100 bucks cheaper to Orlando than in July. Multiply that times 4 people and that's 400 right there.

IMHO-if your kids get A's and B's in school, and have no behavioral issues, taking a grade schooler out for 5 days isn't going to ruin their lives. If we have to pay a fine to the school for removing them- that's OK by me. I'd much rather go during free dining, when the crowds are much less, than fight it in July with every other 'good parent'.

We have done a yearly "during the school year" vacation since my DS was in 3rd grade (clear through 9th grade) as it is the ONLY time my husband can get off of work.

We did 10th and 11th as well, however we were homeschooing those years.

This coming September DS is going back to the traditional HS (the school he was in k-9) so he can graduate with his friends. We are taking two weeks off, yes 10 school days, to go to WDW!

Schools are different. His school has always allowed for vacations, they even have the required form and information in the handbook. The form must be filled out by parent, returned (approved) by principal, and then he/she forwards it to each teacher. The teacher has to give the student all work that will be missed for the period and also lets the student/parent know of any upcoming (either during or soon after the return) quiz and/or tests. All work must be complete by the day of return. Every teacher he has had has been very pleasant to deal with regarding vacations. He has friends that take more than one vacation yearly (we live in a very affluent school system... we personally are not ) so I think it is just a common event... no one "bats an eye"!

We always had "school" daily while on vacation (with the exception of last year's WDW trip... we made up before and after). We always divided the required work/reading/studying up by our "school days". We also use our travel time for school work such as studying or reading (heck I have done this myself as I am in college)!

Often the "things" (places and such) that you visit/encounter/see are a wonderful learning experience!

I say that as long as your school is not one that penalizes (such as turning you in for truancy or marking all missed work as unexcused/failing) "go for it"!

 

[TheLittleRoo]

Just before taking your kids out of school make sure you check your district's policy. In some areas (and our is one of them) the teachers don't have to give/take any make-up work or homework so your child could get zeros on anything missed. They also don't have to stay after school and explain anything that was missed. While in the lower elementary grades this wouldn't likely be an issue, once the kids are into 5th and 6th grade and learning some more complex ideas it could really put them behind if the teacher chose not to be cooperative with you.

This could get dicey, but I'll ask anyway... How do you ask this in advance if you hadn't decided yet whether or not you were going to call this in as planned absence or *gasp* illness? I know, I'll get flamed for even asking it, but I don't necessarily want to listen to a lecture from a school administrator about not taking my straight A student out of 8th grade the second week of school, but I would like to know what the policy is...

 

[RMulieri]

I wouldn't.but my school district is pretty strict.Unless there is an illness,death in family or religious reason.it is unexcused.Unexcused means no make up work and zeros for every day missed.So not a good idea.

 

[kimsuenew]

This could get dicey, but I'll ask anyway... How do you ask this in advance if you hadn't decided yet whether or not you were going to call this in as planned absence or *gasp* illness? I know, I'll get flamed for even asking it, but I don't necessarily want to listen to a lecture from a school administrator about not taking my straight A student out of 8th grade the second week of school, but I would like to know what the policy is...

I would check you child's handbook, it should be spelled out clearly (as to the policy) within.

 

[canadianmom2three]

Wow--I had no idea, maybe things are different here in Canada, but I have taken my kids (3 of them grades k-5) out many times with no complaints, no problems, and no make up work. I have always 'asked' the teacher if it will be a problem, but really, that was just courtesy, and I wasn't as much asking as I was telling. We also have 'offered' to take work along, but it never has been an issue, and the most work the kids have done is keeping a trip journal. OTOH, I wouldn't personally choose to take my kids out the first few weeks of school, I think there is a lot that goes on, not so much academics, but socially, and in terms of learning the expectations etc. I wouldn't want them to miss. Thankfully, our schools don't go back till after labour day!

 

[ERMama]

I wouldnt because I feel its the time of year when the teacher is getting to know the students (our school year starts after labor day in sept). I know it was at this time when my son was evaluated on his reading this past year (and needed the extra help). Sure he probably would have still gotten the help he needed but it would have been delayed.
My son does get special ed services though too and they are just getting his daily schedule down about mid/end sept.

Plus for my son its too hard to just start to get into a routine at school then change again.

Although I loved going the end of January for his bday one year, he had a really hard time at school when he got back. They has just gone back after holiday break when we pulled him for a few days for Disney.

 

[dogodisney]

Okay I am taking my kids out for the very first time. In the past I wouldn't have considered it because I thought it was best to go over school breaks. We went to Disney for the first time two years ago during the summer and it was so crowded we couldn't enjoy it. There is so much that we missed and I don't remember (ok, age may have something to do with it too ). My husband and I agreed that if we ever went again that we would take the kids out of school to go. For us, September was the most logical time to take them out of school. Trying to work around school testing and other school things it is better for us. Since it will be the beginning of the school year, they shouldn't miss much. Yes, our school district will consider it an unexcused absence, but my kids hardly ever miss school so I'm not too concerned about it. It will be up to the teachers to allow them to make up any of their work or not. I plan on letting them know at open house before school even starts.
My girls will be in 9th and 10th grade when we go. They are getting older so the oportunities will be running out of for us and family vacations will be harder to take.
I also look at it that only God knows what tomorrow will bring, so we might as well make the most of what we can now because we may not get another opportunity.

 

[mickeynut1]

Anybody taking their kids out of school for free dining at DW? I know this has caused great debate in the past I mentioned to my SIL that we plan to take our kids out for trips down the line and she freaked. She works for a school system and yelled at us for being 'bad parents'. I politely told her that it was our decision- then she brought up fines- and I once again told her, I'd be glad to pay

She went on and on about 'how much time kids get off' and how parents can plan trips during the summer. I told her I wasn't going to pay 4K for a trip in July, when I can book the same trip for almost 1/2 that AND have less crowds. In September airfare is over 100 bucks cheaper to Orlando than in July. Multiply that times 4 people and that's 400 right there.

IMHO-if your kids get A's and B's in school, and have no behavioral issues, taking a grade schooler out for 5 days isn't going to ruin their lives. If we have to pay a fine to the school for removing them- that's OK by me. I'd much rather go during free dining, when the crowds are much less, than fight it in July with every other 'good parent'.

We have taken our 2 DSs out for free dining twice.....September 2006 (6th/7th grade) and September 2007 (7th/8th grade) and we would be doing it again this September, but our oldest DS is starting high school and we thought it would be too much to pull him out for 5 days right at the beginning of the year with just entering 9th grade . But both of our boys are A/B students and do very well in school and they have always gotten their make up work done ahead of time and returned to school as if they were never gone . We are not taking them out for free dining this year, but we are pulling them out for a trip in December (the week before Christmas break begins) so we get value prices before the holiday prices kick in . If kids are good students and can handle the make up work without getting behind, I don't see a problem with taking them out for vacation. Of course my 2 DSs are thrilled about the trip this year because they will miss a week of school to be in Disney, and then they will have 2 weeks off for Christmas break.....so they will enjoy 3 weeks off school .

 

[carj]

I don't really have a problem with other people taking their children out for vacations, (I am a teacher). I only get to make those kinds of decisions for my own family.

I would not take my own children out of school to go to WDW though.

I think that you just have to be prepared to follow whatever your school district's procedures are so that you can make an informed decision. In our district, vacations are not excused absences.

In my opinion though, you should not try to claim that the child was ill. I think that would be too hard for most kids to keep Disney a secret!

 

[swkmom]

I wouldn't take my kids out of school to go to Disney as much as I would like to. My father is a retired school principal and it has been ingrained in my brain that missing school is not an option.

Also, our county has a very strict attendance policy, at 5 unexcused days you get a nasty letter from the board and a meeting with the school social worker, at 10 unexcused days parents have been arrested and taken to magistrate court (I feel this is way too extreme). This hasn't happened to me but I used to work for the system as a social worker.

Also, the teachers do not have to give the children any work to do while there gone and any missed work can be counted at zero's because the absences were unexcused. I don't think this is fair because I do believe it is the parent's choice whether or not to take their child out of school for a vacation but it's just to risky for us.