Taking kids out of school for a cruise?

[Jump4Joy8390]

We will be going to WDW and on a Disney Cruise in late Feb/early Mar 2010. Our DD (Grade 3) will be missing 11 days of school. We informed her teacher of this in early December and she said that she will have to do really well on the tests and assignments in order to get a good mark on her report card.

The teacher also mentioned that if she were to miss a total of 15 days, she would be withdrawn from the school and we would have to re-register her! Has anyone ever heard of this before? This is our first year in this school board. We did not have this issue the past 2 years with our old school.

 

[wannago2disney]

No doubt that the GTA has more rules than the rest of us in Ontario due to population but if you are truly concerned, may I suggest that you contact the school board for the actual "rules"? If you are not in the school that is registered as your home district perhaps that gives them more opportunity to tell you what to do, but if you are registered in your own district, I don't understand why they would tell you that you would need to re-register. Private schools will certainly have their own rules but a public school must answer to their board of education.

 

[drag n' fly]

I am not a big fan of pulling kids for holidays. With that being said I am sick and tired of the crowds, being gouged by airlines and every other yahoo out there trying to make a fast buck during the high season when kids are out of school. For our grand gathering (non Disney) the kids have 2 days off during that time period plus the weekend. They will miss 4 days of school. Dh is now consulting and I have started my own business so our travel times have opened up completely. We will work with and around the school schedule in lower seasons and take our time off then.

 

[Cdn Gal]

I am a teacher. If I had kids, and if able, I would take them out of school for travel without a doubt. Kids learn soooooo much when they travel. Technically it creates more schema (background knowledge) and allows students to make connections to what they are learning to what they have experienced. That said, in our board if you miss more than 30 days the truancy officer is called in. Things are different now, everything is electronic and the data goes to the board office. (This does not count for students who have outstanding medical issues) As for "proving it?" I have seen students who have been held back a year for missing 2 months of school. (Grade 8) I have also sat in meetings where the principal has brought out the Education Act and has read it to parents in a meeting where not only parents were invited but CAS as well. (Grade 4) Every board and district is different. Taking kids out for travel and just letting them stay home and play video games are two different things. You should have no problem taking your kids out of school. Tell the teacher ahead of time, ask for work. I hope you have a great time!

 

[LSmith]

I am a teacher. If I had kids, and if able, I would take them out of school for travel without a doubt. Kids learn soooooo much when they travel. Technically it creates more schema (background knowledge) and allows students to make connections to what they are learning to what they have experienced. That said, in our board if you miss more than 30 days the truancy officer is called in. Things are different now, everything is electronic and the data goes to the board office. (This does not count for students who have outstanding medical issues) As for "proving it?" I have seen students who have been held back a year for missing 2 months of school. (Grade 8) I have also sat in meetings where the principal has brought out the Education Act and has read it to parents in a meeting where not only parents were invited but CAS as well. (Grade 4) Every board and district is different. Taking kids out for travel and just letting them stay home and play video games are two different things. You should have no problem taking your kids out of school. Tell the teacher ahead of time, ask for work. I hope you have a great time!

Missing school for truancy and missing school because of travel are treated completely different in the school system. As previously stated I have taken my kids out of school for over 30 days in total for years without any problems whatsoever. They still manage to be at the top of their classes academically and athletically every year.

 

[joandegennaro]

Traveling can be educational! I sent my DD 12 at the time to live with her Aunt and Uncle in England from the May long weekend till the end of school in both Grade 6 and Grade 7. She traveled by herself. This alone was and increadable experience, and has given her the confidance to do many things other kids her age never would. Pulled her out of school for 1 week in Grade 8, 2 weeks in Grade 9 and 10 to travel to Disney. Not once was it a problem. While in High School it was more important that she make up any missed work only one teacher gave her a hard time. It is not up to the schools when families can travel together. I am a child of a teacher who only traveled during scheduled school holidays. As a parent, I have pulled my kids out to leave early for the cottage, weekends away, and even pulled them out on occasion to visit people we have met on vacation. All of these to me can and have beeen educational.

 

[staceykari]

As a teacher and lover of the Disney Cruise, I too say go! Follow all of the advice given above regarding missed work and early notice to the teacher, as well as notifying the office. One thing that hasn't been mentioned is EQAO testing (which your child in grade 6 should be writing), takes place around that time. The school may have an issue with this, however I know many parents who have decided for their own reasons, not to have their kids participate in this testing and kept them home for those days. Just something to think about.