Taking Kids out of School for a trip

[highland3]

We'll be taking ours out of school the week before March Break. I told the admin folks, but not the teachers... yet.

 

[Tootles]

Thanks for sending another message... I thought you were mad at me! I really don't like it when I get someone upset.

Thanks Tina! (just read your trip report!) It is SO hard to understand someone's "tone" in an message board, isin't it? After I posted it, and re-read it..I thought I had better send another (nicer sounding!) one. Again, sorry for using "your" quote, it really could have been anyone's for that matter. Well, let me just say, I give you credit. Teaching is such a tough job. I have a new appreciation for it with regards to my son's situation. I'll leave you with this...

"Fifty years from now, it will not matter what kind of car you drove, what kind of house you lived in, how much money you had in your bank account, or what your clothes looked like. But the world may be a little better place because you were important in the life of a child."

 

[MomtoEmIs&Ow]

It is funny how this same question on a different board gets some VERY different response from our American friends!

I was thinking the same thing!!!! I always felt a little guilty when I read those posts, not totally though. We have taken our kids out of school twice now, at the most was 7 days. and we plan to do it many times more. I don't think it's a big deal.... My kids do really well in school.

 

[laxcdn]

Taking my son in grade 3 out for 8 days. I am sure he won't miss much at all. I will get him to keep a journal of each day.

 

[sheilag]

Just returned from WDW last month, pulled DD8 out of grade 3 for 8 days. Spoke with teacher and got homework to do on trip, including reading. Every morning, she worked before we went to parks (she gets up early) - came back, she was ahead of class.

Will that work for everyone - no. Will it work for us when she gets a bit older - probably not. Would I do it again - in a heartbeat. Low crowds, free dining, and MNSSHP - definitely worth it!

 

[epicureangirl]

My daughter (grade 5) just got pulled out during the first week of school (this September) to go to Disneyland. We were gone for 14 days, which is the longest I've pulled her out of school. I felt a small pang of guilt, but we asked the teacher well in advance if she thought it would be okay (which she did). I guess I consider travel a 'different kind of education'. If her grades were going to suffer because of the absence, I would have still done the same thing -- I would have just added a tutor to the vacation budget to help her catch up when she got back!

 

[Chester's Mum]

I have taken my kids to Disney since they were toddlers and always taken them out of school because of the cost and the crowds during school vacation times. Never had a problem with the schools. DD is now in university and can't miss classes. DS is 13 and doesn't want to miss school because of the catch up when he comes back. So I have to go on March break for the first time. Enjoy it while they are small! I did.

 

[Magpie]

We're pulling our fifth and sixth graders out of school for the last week of school in December - Dec 15th to 22nd. My mum was a bit concerned, but I explained our reasoning this way:

1. It's the last week. Reports are done, and the kids won't be doing much.

2. Last year my daughter had a hard time at the class Christmas party because her "secret santa" didn't come through. Meanness, basically. The santas were randomly assigned, and I guess my dd got someone who didn't like her.

3. It's - hopefully - a slowish time of year for crowds.

4. My son is hypoglycemic and can't eat sugar. I really don't think he's going to have a good time at the class Christmas party watching the other kids chow down on candy canes and cupcakes.

Our kids are decent students - both are in the gifted program. I've got no concerns about my daughter. My son, however, has a fairly serious learning disability.

And actually, it's in part *because* of his learning disability that we want to go to Disney this year. He's worked damn hard to keep up. His teacher doesn't assign homework, but he brings work home every night because he can't finish it in class. And that's even with them giving him "modified" goals (less writing, fewer assignments, oral reports, etc...). He's very serious and reliable, and I think he's more than earned a reward. I'm proud of him! I want to see him relax and just have fun for a week.

 

[coastgirl]

Magpie, your post rang true here! I was worried about missing Christmas stuff but my kid had a really hard time with a lot of that stuff last year, including waaaaaay too much stress over the holiday concert. New school this year, better set up, and he may do fine, but I so don't need the stress! My guy has sensory processing disorder, also very bright, but doesn't cope well...so taking him out before Christmas and bringing him back when everyone else is transitioning back to routine as well (not til January), makes it a lot easier. I went from worrying about missing the concert to seeing it as a bonus that we're missing it! Hope you guys have a great trip.

 

[Magpie]

Magpie, your post rang true here! I was worried about missing Christmas stuff but my kid had a really hard time with a lot of that stuff last year, including waaaaaay too much stress over the holiday concert. New school this year, better set up, and he may do fine, but I so don't need the stress! My guy has sensory processing disorder, also very bright, but doesn't cope well...so taking him out before Christmas and bringing him back when everyone else is transitioning back to routine as well (not til January), makes it a lot easier. I went from worrying about missing the concert to seeing it as a bonus that we're missing it! Hope you guys have a great trip.

I think Christmas is a major source of stress for school kids, and not just the ones with sensory issues! Every year my son has his holiday meltdown - part of that was due to the undiagnosed hypoglycemia, but part of it is just the stress of huge expectations, crushing disappointments, and all the emotional craziness that goes with holidays. (Is Santa real? Arrgh!)

The one thing that struck me most about our first trip to Disney was special all the CMs made us feel. I mean, we were doing it on the cheap - staying off site, and eating counter service, and not buying anything, but every CM we met seemed genuinely delighted to meet us. It really felt like everyone just wanted to make our visit absolutely perfect - with the sole exception of the lady running the KidCot at the American Pavilion. She was a bit cranky, but we didn't mind because everyone else was so lovely, and maybe she was just tired or having a bad day.

I like the idea of going and being pampered for a week before Christmas, and then coming home to a nice quiet family celebration around the tree. No stress.

 

[drag n' fly]

We're pulling our fifth and sixth graders out of school for the last week of school in December - Dec 15th to 22nd. My mum was a bit concerned, but I explained our reasoning this way:

1. It's the last week. Reports are done, and the kids won't be doing much.

2. Last year my daughter had a hard time at the class Christmas party because her "secret santa" didn't come through. Meanness, basically. The santas were randomly assigned, and I guess my dd got someone who didn't like her.

3. It's - hopefully - a slowish time of year for crowds.

4. My son is hypoglycemic and can't eat sugar. I really don't think he's going to have a good time at the class Christmas party watching the other kids chow down on candy canes and cupcakes.

Our kids are decent students - both are in the gifted program. I've got no concerns about my daughter. My son, however, has a fairly serious learning disability.

And actually, it's in part *because* of his learning disability that we want to go to Disney this year. He's worked damn hard to keep up. His teacher doesn't assign homework, but he brings work home every night because he can't finish it in class. And that's even with them giving him "modified" goals (less writing, fewer assignments, oral reports, etc...). He's very serious and reliable, and I think he's more than earned a reward. I'm proud of him! I want to see him relax and just have fun for a week.

Magpie! What part of Canada are you from? With a user name like that I think I might know already!

 

[Tootles]

And actually, it's in part *because* of his learning disability that we want to go to Disney this year. He's worked damn hard to keep up. His teacher doesn't assign homework, but he brings work home every night because he can't finish it in class. And that's even with them giving him "modified" goals (less writing, fewer assignments, oral reports, etc...). He's very serious and reliable, and I think he's more than earned a reward. I'm proud of him! I want to see him relax and just have fun for a week.

Perfectly said Magpie! I couldn't agree more! We're in the same boat it seems! My DS8 is so looking forward to the break from school. It's such a struggle for him everyday (severe ADD, CAPD, rages, depression etc). I feel so confident that this is a good decision we've made (going to WDW-giving him a break). You sound like you really understand and sympathize what your DS is going through, which is a wonderful thing for him! Enjoy your trip!

 

[Magpie]

Magpie! What part of Canada are you from? With a user name like that I think I might know already!

I don't know! What part of Canada would a Magpie be from?

I picked this user name because everything else I tried was taken, and then I finally remembered an old childhood nickname my mother used to use for me. But now I'm really curious to know where you think I'm from!

So I'll tell you, if you tell me your guess first!

 

[Boomer1]

We have taken our children out of school for Disney vacations the last six years. The last three it has been at Christmas time and I have no regrets. This year they will miss the last six days of school before Christmas. My father taught school for 30 years and has often said that the last two weeks before Christmas is not the time to begin new material as the children are too distracted. Some teachers have sent work for the children to do and we always completed it. Sometimes the children were actually ahead when they came back, other times they have had to catch up. We drive down and our children (DD-13, DD-11, and DS-9) know their US eastern states probably better than some of their American counterparts. They can read maps, understand about the currency exchange factor, and spend three weeks a year together with their family experiencing the magic of Disney. I believe children learn better when they feel belonging and love, and like adults should be able to look forward to a reward for hard work.

 

[secretdisneytrippers]

life goes by way too fast to not seize every opportunity to spend time with you children...that's our philosophy anyway. We have taken our kids on trips during the school year for the last several years and I wouldn't trade the time we spend (when the crowds are fewer and the travel is cheaper) for anything. Things get busy when we get back but as DSs are only in grade one and grade four we can get caught up in about a week. This year we are going the week after they have a PD day on the friday so that this will be our day to get all the work done before our trip--hope that works out as well as I think it might.
learning happens out of the classroom too, right?

 

[drag n' fly]

I don't know! What part of Canada would a Magpie be from?

I picked this user name because everything else I tried was taken, and then I finally remembered an old childhood nickname my mother used to use for me. But now I'm really curious to know where you think I'm from!

So I'll tell you, if you tell me your guess first!

I thought you might be from Western Canada because there are literally thousands of them in Alberta. My daughters nickname when she was little was Magpie Maria because she nevers stopped chatting.
Probably Ontario like everyone else!

 

[Magpie]

I thought you might be from Western Canada because there are literally thousands of them in Alberta. My daughters nickname when she was little was Magpie Maria because she nevers stopped chatting.
Probably Ontario like everyone else!

Yep - you got it! Ontario!

Apparently I never stopped chatting either, when I was a little girl. My daughter was the same until she got heavily into reading, and my son took a bit longer to learn to speak, but now... phew! That boy can go for hours nonstop. Unfortunately he's also got some syntax issues that can make it *very* hard to figure out what he's talking about - though it's always interesting! I feel for his teacher when she's scribing for him on tests!

 

[mickeywho?]

We've taken the kids out of school for the past two years and will again this February. At first I felt guilty and asked the teachers ahead of time to make sure it was fine - none of them have ever had issues. We try to time holidays so they are not missing out on special events, major test time etc. but for the most part have come to realize that family time is as important as school time.
This year my son's grade 5 teacher told all the parents on curriculum night that she expects that a few of us will want to take our kids out of class for holidays and to NOT ASK for work ahead of time. She said she will take note of who's away and what work was missed and will decide herself if they need catch up work. Makes sense to me - when we took him out of class is grade 3 the teacher kept all worksheets for him to do when he got back - half of which was unneccessary - so it really added to his stress.
Both of my parents are teachers - mom is elementary and dad is high school and both agree that we should feel free to take them out - just keeping in mind timing.