Taking kids out of school

[battymum]

I have no problem with it - in younger years, in fact I think people get too worked up about it - even if they do miss stuff in year 3 or 4 - in the scheme of it, what does it matter. DD was put into an advanced class in year 4 - grouped with 5 & 6 -in effect she missed a lot of year 4 stuff, she has gotten by without it - (she missed Australian Colonialism and was pretty peeved that she didnt get to go on the excursion to the rocks with the rest of the year 4's) -

Have you ever pulled out your Year 4 report for a job interview?

I dont like them to take days off for no reason or even if they are not well as I think it helps in building a good work ethic - you cant just stay at home cause you feel like it.

But this is Year 12.....

If only we had gone these holidays - Easter was later, and holidays started from the 6th, teachers had a staff development day on the 5th and as it is Catholic school, Wednesday was taken up with Liturgy.

 

[BecBennett]

That's it. I'm taking a mental health day tomorrow...

 

[australiankaren]

That's it. I'm taking a mental health day tomorrow...

sounds like a plan.....I save mine for around term 3, mid way thru... sssshhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[aussietravellers]

That's it. I'm taking a mental health day tomorrow...

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all take a "mental health day". Really as Battymum said, it really does not set a good example for the rest of their life.

Everytime I hear someone giving their child a "mental health day". I say "what for" One mother just says "oh they are just so tired". So get them to bed earlier The one that gives each of her kids one each term, blows my mind.

Maybe I have it all wrong. I need DS to go to school for my mental health To occupy him all day when he's not at school, no thanks, send him to school

 

[jacs1234]

Gosh, I used to wag school all the time in year 12. Lol. and I didn't do any worse because of it, I did ok but I wasn't very motivated. Personally I don't think a week in the first time would hurt. I have a very academic friend I year 12 so I'll get her opinion on this. We takes school very seriously.

 

[Toy Story]

My DD was in year 11 when we took our trip, in the first week of school we were advised that students would need permission to take students out of school for extended periods (there was a lot of international students at the school).

In the ACT there is continual assessment we took her out during a class free week. In years 11 and 12 she had assessment to do during two lots of the school holidays.

My suggestion is to talk to the school and ask them what happens during that week that she might miss.

 

[australiankaren]

Gosh, I used to wag school all the time in year 12. Lol. and I didn't do any worse because of it, I did ok but I wasn't very motivated. Personally I don't think a week in the first time would hurt. I have a very academic friend I year 12 so I'll get her opinion on this. We takes school very seriously.

My friends and I spent many long hours watching monty python movies and zooming around the harbour in a tinny whilst in yr 12 ahhh, the 80's, gee I miss them, back in the days where 6-7 teenage girls could overcrowd a tinny on one of the busiest harbours (also after just discovering west coast coolers), and the harbour police didn't blink an eye......OMG how wasn't I killed!!!!!

and see, it didn't hurt me much at all....... I wouldnt be the pirate I am today if it wasn't for those times....

 

[emum]

We're in Hawaii at the moment, and won't be back until the start of May. The kids are missing various numbers of days of school, but I'm not too concerned with the first week back, because of the Anzac Day holiday mucking it up. They're also missing half of the second week. I was wary of DD1 missing so many days of Year 10, but not worried about the younger 3, since they're still in primary.

Plus, this is a major family celebratory trip, so wanted them all here.

I'm already attempting to tweak our next 2 holidays, but will not allow the kids to miss any more than one or two days of year 11 or 12. Just too important, IMHO. I'm even worried about taking DD1 going to Alaska in ideal stuvac time in year 11.

FWIW, I'm seriously contemplating Japan - didn't realise how good the airfare / FF redemption numbers were.

I think the most nerve wracking part is having to seek written permission from their various principals LOL !

Good luck.

Cheers,
Sally

 

[battymum]

OK, just so everyone knows apart from being beautiful, there is a lot of festivities on during cherry blossom time - that is why I am keen to be there at that time - its not just to see some blossoms.

I am finding a Japan trip very hard to research - all the names start sounding the same. I dont know which area to stay in or avoid - and its difficult to find accommodation for our family.

Its early days, but i wish the Tokyo board was as active as this one.

 

[australiankaren]

OK, just so everyone knows apart from being beautiful, there is a lot of festivities on during cherry blossom time - that is why I am keen to be there at that time - its not just to see some blossoms.

I am finding a Japan trip very hard to research - all the names start sounding the same. I dont know which area to stay in or avoid - and its difficult to find accommodation for our family.

Its early days, but i wish the Tokyo board was as active as this one.

I loved Tokyo.....awesome country, strange but awesome

a tad expensive (but that was 4 yrs ago when our dollar was ), and OMG cold in December but would love to go back in sept/Oct..perfect weather...did I mention how cold it was in December???

best travel sites are actually the official government ones....and yes, the names do all sound/ look/ smell alike

keep us informed re your plans

 

[BecBennett]

Yeah Japan is hard to plan for! I looked into it once before, and due to the flights I would have only had 2 weeks to plan - it was just too hard so I gave up...

I'd love to go during Cherry Blossom time, I think I figured it was too expensive to go then though...

I spent all of my StuVac at my boyfriend's house... I actually got more studying done then what you might think, but I'd say the info wasn't really sinking in like it would have if I'd been at home...

 

[battymum]

My DH has said for a long time "I'd love to go to Japan one day", then I read those awesome reviews of the Disney Parks - looked at airfares , saw some photos of the cherry blossoms and some temples, and thought yeah, that would be good

But not sure of any details, might have to ask DH what he thought he would be doing in Japan.

So many TR's have been started on the Tokyo board - but noone seems to finish them!

So I have been thinking maybe leave on Wednesday 10th (QF is an overnight flight, with no time change) DD misses 2 days of school- we spend Thurs, Fri, Sat Sun Mon in Tokyo, hopefully the blossoms will still be blooming - then do the Disney Parks Tues / Wed /Thur maybe Friday (I have learnt to go midweek) then take the Shink (train) to Kyoto for the historic sites, temples and hopefully see a Geisha. Spend 5, maybe 7 nights there, taking day trips, then hopefully fly out of Osaka.

Accommodation is proving tricky though. Sheraton Grande, a Disney good neighbour hotel has a room that will fit us - but I have no idea of the cost, waiting on email. But would like something more central for the first few days and then something in Kyoto.

Oh well, I need a project

 

[WAMUMOF4]

My DH has said for a long time "I'd love to go to Japan one day", then I read those awesome reviews of the Disney Parks - looked at airfares , saw some photos of the cherry blossoms and some temples, and thought yeah, that would be good

But not sure of any details, might have to ask DH what he thought he would be doing in Japan.

So many TR's have been started on the Tokyo board - but noone seems to finish them!

So I have been thinking maybe leave on Wednesday 10th (QF is an overnight flight, with no time change) DD misses 2 days of school- we spend Thurs, Fri, Sat Sun Mon in Tokyo, hopefully the blossoms will still be blooming - then do the Disney Parks Tues / Wed /Thur maybe Friday (I have learnt to go midweek) then take the Shink (train) to Kyoto for the historic sites, temples and hopefully see a Geisha. Spend 5, maybe 7 nights there, taking day trips, then hopefully fly out of Osaka.

Accommodation is proving tricky though. Sheraton Grande, a Disney good neighbour hotel has a room that will fit us - but I have no idea of the cost, waiting on email. But would like something more central for the first few days and then something in Kyoto.

Oh well, I need a project

Have you checked out expedia and Hotels.com i was looking at them the other day just for a rough estimate of what accommodation would cost for the 6 of us i have no idea where any of them were but it gave me an idea of costs.

 

[queenie82]

I went on lots of family holidays. In year 7 I missed a week either side of the sept/oct holidays to go to WA for a Month. Taking time out of school was a regular thing growing up....but not in year 12.......

It depends a bit on the school but the face time when it happens in year 12 can be VERY important. Yes you have a few free periods but to be honest my days at school were very important. But maybe that's the nature of a private school with lots going on?? Not all schools are like this.

I do know that through a fall at school I missed about a week around trial exams and was stressed to the hilt.
It's very hard to know how each subject will fluctuate during the year and so it's not nearly as simple taking time off in Year 12.

Plus...we have gone from TER's to UAI's to something else now...

If there are changes in the curriculum and requirements who knows what will happen to the structure. While years 11 and 12 are linked and 'continuations' in a way...it doesn't mean what she's doing now and next year will be the same. But again. It depends on the school and the subjects...



As for planning to Japan....good luck with that. Just be thankful Tokyo Disneyland is advertising much more than before and generally more than before because they are DESPERATE for tourists.
We stayed at the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel and suffered at the dollar plummeting making it WAY more expensive than anticipated 3 years ago.
But it is AWESOME...

 

[5ofus]

My boys are only small, but I have no problems taking them out for a couple of weeks. In senior school, we'll have to re-visit the situation, but when I was in Year 12 - just a 'couple' of years ago now - was when I was whisked off to the US for my first Disney parks experience. I, along with a couple of friends since it was a sister city thingy - missed over a week of Year 12, including our trial HSC. I was not overly motivated at that time of my life and didn't get a fabulous HSC score, but I'll never forget those two weeks. I later went and did my HSC again (while working full time) and got into uni, once I'd figured out what I wanted to do with my life.

As for planning for Japan, it is really difficult, but it can be done! I've been twice now, once in 2006 and the second time in 2010. I like the sound of your plan. We spent half of our first trip in Tokyo and half in Kyoto, but the second trip, we basically just did TDR. Japan is a fabulous country to travel in. The Shinkansen are a great way to get from Tokyo to Kyoto. The two cities have a lot of signage in English and it's pretty easy to get around. We bought a rail pass and did day trips from Kyoto to Nara and Himeji as well. In Nara we hired bikes and rode around to different places all day (including the deer park where I was mauled by deer! ) and in Himeji we hiked all the way to the top of the castle.

As for accommodation for five, have you looked into Ryokans? I know that a lot of them are more family friendly than hotel rooms. In the end we decided to go with the western hotels, but we were on the verge of a booking a ryokan for a while.

If you do decide to go, maybe get your hands on a Lonley Planet Japan book. I LOVED ours, it was like my bible in the planning of our trip.

 

[Tara2004]

We have no problem with taking the kids out of school, they will learn more on an overseas trip than they will out of that same time at school.

Life experiences, you just can't beat that.

 

[Travel Mum]

Battymum, did you talk to the school and, if so, what did they say?

 

[battymum]

I have decided if we go - (always an if with me, until I buy flights) it will be on the 10th of April - Wednesday before school finishes - QF is a night flight so will only mean missing Thursday and Friday off school - so I figure thats OK, I dont need their permission!

Cherry blossom is a very fickle season and its not worth arranging around it - I am sure something will be blooming then !

Now Qantas needs to bring out some flights that are not 2k per person!!

 

[ExcitedSam]

Alannah is in year 3 and will miss 2 weeks, 1 either side of the school holidays. (we actually get back on the Tuesday so she might want to go to school TH or Fri?) not essential schooling, but she is planning on doing a blog when we can to keep track of our holiday for memories and for her friends at school.

If it were high school it would depend on how she was going and what was happening. I moved overseas twice as a child and the experience was very educational, just in different ways.

 

[Travel Mum]

I have decided if we go - (always an if with me, until I buy flights) it will be on the 10th of April - Wednesday before school finishes - QF is a night flight so will only mean missing Thursday and Friday off school - so I figure thats OK, I dont need their permission!

Cherry blossom is a very fickle season and its not worth arranging around it - I am sure something will be blooming then !

Now Qantas needs to bring out some flights that are not 2k per person!!

Oh that sounds like a good plan. I will be watching your plans with great interest as I need to find trips that can be successfully done in 2 weeks (school holidays) and Japan sounds like one of them. I feel 2 weeks is too rushed to go all the way to Orlando and back