Taking kids out of school for cruise?

[Gretel]

How many of you have done this and how did your kids fair when returning to school? We we would be going next Jan and the girls would be in 7th grade and 10th.
I can't rational paying $3000 more to take them over xmas break.
I took them out a year ago and the now high schooler had a bad return. It was at the end of a quarter though and it messed up finals, this time it would be 2 and a half weeks before the end of the quarter.

Any commets will be appreciated!!!

 

[Michelle]

I did it only when my daughter was in kindergarten and second grade, but would not take her out of school now (she's in fourth grade). I'm lucky that she is in a year-round school and gets long breaks in the winter and spring and we can sail then.

Honestly I personally would not take out a child that is in middle school or high school, it is just too hard for them to miss that much school and make it up. It's hard enough with one teacher, and much harder when they have several classes.

Good luck deciding!

 

[Bev J]

We have also taken our kids out of school for a trip to WDW and would for a cruise but once they got into Middle school+ we have not done so for a whole week. Our schoos get 1 week break at the end of each quarter so we have this option. Can you pick a week when they already have 1-2 days off so they don't get too far behind.
Personally I believe that travel is an education in itself, and on a cruise you meet people from all over the world and experience different cultures. Some of their teachers may see this and maybe require a report. If you are lucky the teachers will be able to set up the work to be done and have your kids take time each day for some school time to keep up. We have seen many kids half asleep on the airplane home trying to get caught up on their homework.

This is a hard decision and usually causes alot of debate.
Good luck and have a great trip no matter when you choose to go.

 

[fred ferdlap]

I am taking my 2 DDs out of school from 4th and 6th grade.
Again I cannot justify 2.5 times the cost to travel during spring break. This cruise is going to land at the beginning of the third 9weeks and our girls are good students.

The rules are 5 days of unexcused per semester. So this falls within the guidelines. Otherwise the DDs only stay home from school if they need to see the doctors and are really sick.

My 2 cents. I did a lot of traveling as a kid and saw the country. never won the perfect attendance award!!

Still don't see what that buys you in the world???

 

[Gretel]

I dont know about other states, but in Minnesota they also have what they call Grad Standards that have to be completed too, which adds to the work. I am all for taking our vac over xmas its the $$$$$ thing that gets me..............spending $7000 for the same cabin someone else is in the week later for $4000.

 

[Kim in TN]

Good luck with your decision what ever you decide is best for you and your family.
We took our DN out of school when he was a Freshman in high school, we too couldn't rationalize the extra money for in season,
we talked with DN and the school, they okayed the trip but the days would have to be made up after the first few which meant Saturday school. DN thought it over and felt the benefits outweighed Saturday school and make up work. We had a great trip, we came home and we supported him in making up his work. And now 4 years later he still talks about the trip and the new things and places he saw, but you know what, he nevers mentions the make up work or Saturday school, plus I can't remember him recently telling me what he learned in school that week or that freshman year for that matter, but for him, going with us was a once in childhood experience as his parents would have not been able to take him on such a trip

 

[TeamMom011]

It's funny how school districts are all different. My ds's trip will be considered an excused absense because it has our approval. We told his 3 teachers (6th grade middle school) at conferences in Nov. I'm sure I was visibly relieved when they showed great enthusiasm for the whole thing, not the least bit hesitant about him going. He'll be given homework to take along plus his english teacher is excited about assigning him the obligatory journal. His math teacher likes to give him extra problems to work on normally so I can't wait to see what sort of original homework he requires back from the cruise. We are lucky that ds is a good student and that he has very obliging teachers. Both work in our favor.

 

[Gretel]

Ours would be excused absences also.

 

[dis4me]

If it is an excused absence and your children are good students I would go for it.My dds are only in 1st and 2nd grade but I take them out every year for vacation. I try to plan around some type of vacation(We get 2 days in November for NJEA convention). I have yet to have a problem with the teachers.My kids are both straight A enrichment and complete every assignment they miss before they return.They may complain about the work however they wouldn' t give up the opportunity.
I realize yours are older but if the absence is excused the school must allow vacations.Talk to the teachers and see how they feel.

 

[mmouse37]

We have always taken our kids out of school for family vacations when the need arose.

We are doing the same next week with our 1/4 cruise. I have two in high school and 1 in college (she has next week off) and all did fine last year when we took them out also. Last year 1 was in 8th, 1 a junior in H.S. and 1 a senior in H.S.

I sent letters to all the teachers explaining we were taking a family vacation and none had a problem with it. They did not go above the absence standard and they made up all their work when they got back (even got some beforehand). They didn't find it too difficult to make up the work when they returned. This year the only time we could go was when my college DD had her break.

MJ

 

[pagemaker]

We took our DDs (5th and 1st grade) out of school for 2-1/2 days prior to thanksgiving for the 11/23 Magic 7 day. My 1st grader couldn't have cared less about missing school. My 5th grader, on the other hand, fretted the whole way home and through the rest of the weekend about the work she had missed and was totally obsessed the following week making up every bit. And she's a straight A student. Go figure. I'm glad we didn't take her out for a full week when the rates were cheaper. I definitely think it depends on the individual child. Our next cruise will definitely be during summer break!

Good luck with whatever you decide to choose.
Deb

 

[vicnmickey]

Your correct on it depends on the child. I pull my two out of school and it has never effected them.( 5ht and 6th) We get the work before the vacation and do it together. Its no different than home schooling. I do have strong learners also, so that helps. Also with our school district, it is excused. My childrens teachers are all for it. To them its an added learning bonus even if it is fun and sun. How many american kids really get to travel that much anymore. Enjoy them while they are young.

 

[my3kids]

We have done the take out thing twice. Once for a week trip to WDW and once for the cruise. (Ijust mentally can't get over the price increase for summer and holidays when I know the off season cost.) The first time all were in elementary school, the second time one was in 7th grade. So far so good. We have aimed the next cruise for spring break week(which is supposed to fall in the off season of March) but now they are talking that they might move break a week in which case we'll likely do it one more time with the oldest in 8th grade. After that....no more. Our high school really just won't permit it. Sure, I could pull him anyway, but without the blessing of teachers who would provide the makeup work(for unexcused absences, they aren't required) my suddenly A student would likely fall in his term grades and we just wouldn't do it at that point. Through middle/junior high, I'll pull. Once we hit high school, it is back to two weeks at the beach in the summer and a no go on these interesting off season Disney excursions.

 

[logan1_2000]

I will add my voice to the depends on the child. I was able to swing the 7 day eastern for Jan. 11, 2003, but to have gone while school was out was too much $$$. DS is in 1st grade, and his teacher was so enthusiastic when I told her and started recommending the Trunk Bay excursion to St. John! We will take some extra work sheets, etc., to make sure he uses some brain power along with the fun during the week, but he is very advanced so we are not worried. He also missed most of a week of kindergarten in May '02 for a 4-day. And re: the NJEA conference in November mentioned above, we have joined with my NJ DSister's family at WDW during that week, too. I would pull DS out of school for next WDW trip in a couple years again, too. I'll just avoid exams or major school events. And it will likely be that NJEA week with my sister's family then, too ( she's department of defense and the Shades of Green accomodations are available to us when we go with her, and DS sees long-distance cousins in a fun atmosphere.)

It goes beyond the $$$, though. Life is busy for everyone, and we all pour so much of our hopes and dreams and expectations into a Disney vacation. Off season at WDW, with less crowding, adds to the quality of the experience, and fewer lines with children is attractive. The cruises are pretty much full whenever, peak or off-peak, so that might well be mostly a $$ decision, although airfares for those who must fly might add a peak vs. non-peak crowding and hassle element that I won't encounter driving down to Port Canaveral.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Quote:
we all pour so much of our hopes and dreams and expectations into a Disney vacation. Off season at WDW.....

So true!!! I would take my DS out of school in a heartbeat... The heat in Summer, The 'iffy' weather during the Holiday, the huge crowds, lines, etc... I would hope that going during a cheaper (very important to us!!$$$$) and less crowded (also very important to us!!!) time would really make a difference on realizing our hopes and dreams and expectations. These are valid considerations.

PS: about late April... That is one of my favorite times for Disney!!! The weather can be GREAT!! And, boy, the crowds - Well, they all left after Spring Break and will not return until a few weeks later in June!

I agree that with high school children that timing can be important - finals, big projects or events, etc... However, other than that, whether or not the school approves, or frowns upon, my vacation decision, well that means nothing whatsoever to me.

We are traveling off season, this coming Fall... Due to the $99.00 cruise promotions, these cruises had been very very full for Fall 2002, ( 1000 plus kids onboard!!! ) But, I am thinking that next fall there should be far far fewer kids, less crowding at the kids clubs and the pools, etc. That is what I am hoping for anyhow. Especially for DS sake!

 

[ennazus]

My 2 cents. I did a lot of traveling as a kid and saw the country. never won the perfect attendance award!!

And I bet you are a more knowledgeable person for having done that traveling as opposed to sitting in a classroom.

 

[westjones]

We homeschooled K-2nd grades. This year, for 3rd grade, we had our girls go to school. We already had a cruise planned for September and I told the school BEFORE I enrolled them (and offered to wait and enroll them in October when we got back--after all, they had never been in school before). I was told to go ahead and enroll them at the the beginning of school and that it would be OK.

Well, when we got back, I received a letter threatening to report me to Children's Service. Now, from talking with other parents, I have been told that this is the 'standard' letter (I guess it is standard practice to threaten parents...almost every parent I know has gotten one). It is only after 9 that they report you (and we took a 7 day cruise). Well last month my DD was sick and we 'hit' the 9 days, so rather then have to deal with being reported to children service's, I pulled my kids out of school and we are homeschooling the rest of the year. Next year one of my girls wants to go back to school, and I have told her no more cruises for her birthday (I really don't want to go through the hassle of being inspected. Someone at church had an agent show up at her house, and she said that they asked questions, looked around and left....no big deal, but to me it IS a big deal and don't want to deal with it).

Another mother who had moved here from another state said that where they came from they were reported to children's services AND fined $500 (so at least we aren't fined here).

I would asked at your school (and ask parents too because the schools don't always tell you the whole truth--I asked and was told all would be fine).

I can tell there are many schools that are more understanding because on the cruises we have been I have talked to parents and they have had their school's blessings (some were asked to keep journels or something like that). We, unfortunately, don't live in a 'vacation friendly' school district. You really need to find out what your school district is like before you decide.

DJ

 

[OurDogCisco]

Here in my school district they can kick you out after 6 unexcused days of absence. Sickness is usually excused. Also, we have to take along homework which is about 6 hours of work a day. We must do the same amount as they do at school. So, that can really put a damper on the trip trying to keep up with the homework when you are suppose to be having fun.

I totally relate to what you are going through. I just priced a summer vacation verses a spring vacation at the end of April and the price is double. That is a HUGE difference.

Good luck on your decision!

 

[AnnMorin]

Our son is never sick, really he may get a cold or ear infection but is very healthy and has not stayed home sick from school collectively three days since he started preschool and he is in fourth grade now. He has classmates who are out sick at least once a week. I am upfront with his teacher in the beginning of the year (we usually go away right before christmas) and he brings assignments with him and finishes the rest over Christmas break. Mike is an excellent student -all A's except one B+ on his report card and his teachers have never minded him missing a week. I do try to keep it towards the first half of the year which is a lot of review-I've noticed they don't get into the "meat" of the grades requirements until mid-Jan. I wold not pull him in the spring when the MCAS tests are going on as that would be frowned upon and stressfull. I intend to pull him next year and probably in 6th grade too, we shall see when he moves up to the regional middle school in 7th how that will work maybe not.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Just read the OP to refresh my memory on this post - and now realize that Gretel, you say that your plans would be two and ahalf weeks. Wow, that is a lot of time, and I would imagine that you would indeed have to work with your school system on the whole deal.

That being said... DJ (westjones) I totally agree with you. As I had mentioned, I would choose to let my son miss school in a heartbeat, if that was the only way to arrange the Disney vacation of our dreams.... Our children are OUR children, not the school districts. What about families who need time off during the school year because of the parents work requirements during Summer... or whatever other reasons? If I did have to answer to the school district, child and family services, etc., simply because of a scheduled family vacation ( Just too Big-Brother to me. ) I would be sure to be at the next School Board Meeting about the whole issue. And, if problems occured, I would also be alerting the local media. I can see the headlines now "Family threatened by local authorities for taking children to Disney". I am like John Stossel here "GIVE ME A BREAK!"

Okay, I do not mean to get this thread booted over to the debate board or anything. But, we are talking about the issues of cruising during the school year.

This is indeed a personal decision which could be different for any given family and their particular situation. Gretel, I am sure that you will make the decision that is best for you!