Taking kids out of school-fib or tell the truth?

[Harvest02]

I want to take my kids back to Disney in October 2007(better weather and MNSSHP). We just got back in June from our last trip and school was not an issue because they were already done for the year. When we go next time, I am going to have to take them both out for 2 days(My DS9 will be in 5th grade, and my DS5 will be in 2nd grade). We have fall break at the end of October, but only 2 days(which would make a 4 day weekend). If you take your kids out, do you call them in sick, or do you tell the teachers ahead of time to tell them you are going to Disney? I have never taken my kids out before, so I am debating what to do. I have time to decide, but thought I would get your opinions on this. Thanks for any suggestions!!

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[tmt martins]

You don't need to go into details unless they have an idea of some work while away.

But don't ever put your kids in a position for you to be caught in a fib .

Little Johnny gets backs and tells classmate what a great time in had at WDW and teacher over hears him and your caught.

They are your kids and as long as there in not an attendence problem then you are the ones making the decision for them. If you ask early enough they may have some makeup work for them to do in the mean time.

We take DD for a few days every year for trips we are waiting now for the calender to come out to try to get a small Oct trip in .We just make sure it's not during any real testing thats going on.

Oh and we pay Big just to have her in that school so they are a bit stricter then a public school..

 

[belle&beast]

You are going to get lots of different responses to this, be ready for anything! I would tell the truth, that's just my opinion. As an educator, I am honest with parents and I really appreciate honesty from parents. Your kids are going to tell their friends and it will get back to the teachers. Look into your school's policy and see if your kids can make up the work ahead of time or if they will be unable to make up anything while they are gone. Schools really differ in their policies, so if your is flexible it may not be an issue at all.

 

[beattyfamily]

I would never call them in sick for Disney. They WILL talk about it in class when they get home.

Just send in a note that they will miss 2 days and leave it at that. I never tell them why; I just write a note telling them what days and that's it.

 

[pixiewytch]

You can tell the truth without giving a lot of details. When our family goes on a trip, I say just that, that our son will be out for several days for a family trip. It sounds a bit better than being so specific and for all they know it could be for a wedding, funeral, anything.

 

[bctripp]

I'd tell the truth. It'll make it easier on the kids not having to lie. I agree with pixiewytch, i'd say it was a family trip.

 

[crisi]

If you are going to pull them, tell the truth.

You may want to check your school policy and state law, but generally speaking, a few days isn't a big deal and most schools are going to say "have a good time."

(I wouldn't recommend mentioning you just got back. That might make the district wonder if you place the value on education they would like to see placed - and may make things difficult down the road.)

 

[wendypooh]

We are very fortunate that our school promotes, supports and encourages "family time". On our last trip in Jan./Feb. I told his teacher and the school that we'd be going on a family vacation, (yes, they knew it was to WDW) they were beyond fine with it and actually seemed very pleased!! He missed 5 days and there was no problem at all. Funny thing, we knew of 4 other families from his school that went that week!!!

Anyway, I agree, I'd check your schools policy, but I'd tell them the truth. I'd think as long as they have enough days to cover it, you should be fine. Our school has so many days they can miss, but sick days with a dr.'s note do not count, so that could make a difference if it works differently in your school.

Good Luck and have a great trip!!

 

[3littleHalls]

When we took our kindergartener to Disney we told her teacher. She was out for 5 days. She even brought back a treat for her classmates. I hope all will go as smoothly when we go this year.

 

[NJDisneymom]

I would tell the truth, and like the idea of just saying you will be out for a "family trip". Even though my dd was only in kindergarten I encouraged the teacher to send some work for her to do while we were away and also had her keep a journal to work on her penmanship. Her teacher was more than happy to share the journal with the class as well!

I applaud the school that encourages "family time". I once had an argument with a school teacher friend who said she would send work to a child going to Disney but wouldn't if they were going somewhere "educational" like London or Paris. As a disney fanatic you know that burned me up big time!!!

 

[KristiKelly]

I would also tell them where you are going. Most likely your kids will be talking about it before and after. I've taken my kids out every year for WDW, DS will be in 4th grade this year and DD in 1st, I will be taking them out the 3rd week in Sept. Our teachers have always given them their homework before we go and they work on it while we're down there. Last year when I took the note to the office for DS & DD, the secretary said that we were the 4th family that week to take their kids to WDW. Elementary schools are definetly used to these trips. I would not want my kids to get caught in my little lie or have to lie themselves.

 

[kaysmommie]

We are atking DD out of school for 4 days this September. I"m honest so I will tell them we are going on vacation. They only allow 5 missed days per year with out a Dr's note. I"m a little worried because she is starting 1st grade.

 

[littleelvis]

I agree you must tell the truth for your kids sake. Life lessons are important also

 

[Luv'sTink]

The truth.

 

[munchkin bunchkin]

When we went in January ,I told the teachers that we were taking the girls to Disney .I figured if I fibbed the girls would be so excited about telling their friends about their trip that the teacher would know the truth any way and then that would make me look bad!

 

[lulugirl]

I would just tell the teacher you are taking a family trip and leave it at that.

 

[daisyduck123]

My DD11 (7th grade) & DS7 (2nd grade) missed 4 days of school in January for our trip to POP. In May, they each missed 7 days when we went back & stayed at CBR. We just told the schools where we were going & that was it.

 

[ssleblanc]

We are going in September and I will tell the school the truth. My kids WILL come back talking about it, and I work hard to get them to tell the truth (and stress the "whole" truth because my 6 year has recently perfected the habit of telling half truths or "lie's of ommission") - I don't want to derail those teachings. Also, since I know that they will talk about it - I don't want a lie from me getting back to the school. I'm on the board of the PTA and it would get noticed.

I know they won't have a problem with it. My younger was the first pre-k to have perfect attendance all year (year before last) and once again had perfect attendance this year for K - even after the hurricane hit our area (once the schools opened back up). During the awards ceremony at the end of the year his teacher made a big deal about his perfect attendance. The older missed just two days of 1st grade this year after he got sick at school and was sent home. But other than that, he had perfect attendance all year.

I know that the school knows I am serious about my kids education, and don't expect any sort of problem when I tell them about the 3 days they will miss in September.

 

[sammyb]

When the kids were taken to Disney for the first time when the twins were six and the oldest was 9. We went at the end of June and they had to be taken out of school for about a full school week. Their teachers were informed and it was no big deal. Since they were only in elementary school it was good, because they only had one teacher who gave them a packet of things that they were missing and had to do. They worked on it on the plane and it passed time pretty quickly. It may be a better idea to take the kids out of school for a few days and go to Disney, because it is not supposed to be that crowded and the weather is supposed to be good in the months such as October and November. It really isn't that big of a deal.

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[rbork]

OMG- it's 2 days. I 've had to explain 6 day absences. lol.
I simply put "will be out due to planned family travel". Yeah, the kid's spill the beans when asked. I don't care. They tell the truth. I don't discourage it.
Now, having taken the kid's out of school a week at a time several years in a row. I've learned - it depends on the teacher and county system how well it is received. Never had a problem until this year. Kid's keep perfect attendance with the exception of the week "travel" absence every year. My DS9 asked for work ahead of time. The teacher refused and said he was "not going to control her time!" Oh brother... so she gave him a journal and he had to make up tests/work during recess the week he got back. Then had the nerve to tell him he couldn't miss anymore days. BTW the kid's a well mannered A/B student.
Good Luck - I wouldn't really start to worry about 2 days and Have a GREAT time. There's nothing being taught in 2 days, you can't teach in an hour at home!

p.s. try to arrange travel not during state testing days. This is important as they get older.