taking kids out of school

[robinf66]

I've read all of the previous posts about taking kids out of school to go to WDW, but I didn't see anything about doing it at the end of the school year. My kids get out of school on 6/4. We are going on a once in their lifetime trip to the world and leaving on 5/22. They will be missing the last 9 days of school. Our reasons were 1) they have parties and field day and other "fun" activities at this time, so they will be missing the least amount of instructional time, 2) we can only go at this time or during the 1st 2 weeks of September or not at all, 3) the kids are in 5th and 2nd grade, this is our dd last year of elementary school and there's no way we'd take them out if one or both is in middle or high school.

So, is missing the last 9 days of school such a big deal? They will be doing school work everyday anyway since I homeschool them in the summer.

Thanks for your opinions!

 

[tink2]

As a second grade teacher, I say talk to the teacher. If you've read the previous posts, you might remember I'm taking a week out of school and taking DD out of K next December, so I'm not against taking your child out if they won't suffer. The only reason I could think of that this could be a problem is if they are taking any sort of end of the year tests or standardized tests. My school gives these tests way before the last 9 days of school, but some don't. They may also miss any end of the year awards programs and stuff like that- but that won't hurt them academically. If none of this is a problem, I say go for it and have a good time!!! I'd talk to the teacher and then make a final decision. I don't forsee that any of this should be a problem, just helping you think of things you may have not already thought about. Have a great trip!

 

[tboss]

I'm taking mine out for the last 4-1/2 days of school! I can't imagine it hurting even for 9, since they don't do very much at all that last couple of weeks.

I would just talk to the teacher and see if you can get any work that they might miss.

I'm not even planning to talk to mine until right before because I am confident that the last 4 days will be play time.

 

[BonSchwe]

We're leaving in 17-days for WDW and taking our DS13 and DD12 out of school for 8-days. We're leaving a week after the kids return from Easter vacation. I spoke to their teachers and principal and explained that we had been gifted a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and wanted to take full advantage of it. All the teachers were happy for us. Some are giving the kids some kind of project or work to do and some aren't. But just the same we received their blessings

 

[ndmommy]

Originally posted by tboss
I'm taking mine out for the last 4-1/2 days of school! I can't imagine it hurting even for 9, since they don't do very much at all that last couple of weeks.

I teach fourth grader students and I totally disagree with the statement that we don't do very much at all the last couple of weeks.

That being said, I agree that you just need to talk to their teachers. I am always more than happy to give my students their assignments and tests ahead of time so that they can enjoy themselves on their vacation and not have to worry about making up the work when they get back.

 

[mommyseven]

It also depends on the number of previous absences. If they have missed several days already this past semester, it could cause a problem. If not, it shouldn't be a problem - provided that there are no crucial examinations.

 

[torinsmom]

I am a teacher and at my school,we TRY to keep doing academic things, but it is a lost cause. The last 2-3 days especiallly is time to wrap up, parties and all that. Even before that, the kids are excited and tend to not work as hard. It is pretty much guaranteed that new complex concepts will not be introduced that close to the end of the year. And in my opinion, a trip to Disney, especially EPCOT and AK is as educational as being in school. When I took my son a few years ago, it was listed on the excuse form as educational and they accepted it as just that!

MArsha

 

[qtwns]

I am replying as a former teacher, current full-time mom and full-fledged WDW fan. There is nothing 5th and 2nd graders will miss--especially in the last days of school--that they will not get hit with again s'time in their academic careers. Talk to their teachers--they should be more than willing to work with you, especially with good advance notice and the knowledge that you are willing to do all you can to help the teacher and your children (afterall, your kids' education is his/her job.) If they balk, ignore them and have a blast at WDW! They are probably just jealous that they aren't going too!!

This is your kids' lives-- they will not remember the last week of 5/2 grades. They will absolutely remember this special time together with their family. Have a wonderful trip!!!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Not sure if your 5th grader is "Graduating" elementary school, but if so.... that is something your child will miss. Nine days is a lot of time... and yes, academics are still going on... In our county (maybe entire state too...not sure) after you have a certian amount of unexcused absences (and that is an unexcused one...and any "sick" absence will require a dr's note after the 3 straight day) you can be retained. I know the total for the year is 19. Then it is broken down to 9/10 per semester... Don't get me wrong.... I have pulled my kids out many times over the years...but never for more than 4 days in a row. You may want to check your district's policy on absences.....

 

[mudnuri]

Boy what a hard position to be in!

I am taking both DD's out of school for a total of 6 days in the next 2 weeks...1 before vacation, and then 5 after it....no problem with my teachers, school etc.. and the kids have already been given their projects to complete while gone.

BUT....

I do not think I would pull them out those last 9 days...I dont think I'd pull them out for 2 days if it was at the end of the year. We may think those days are not eductional, however they are a very big part of our kids school lives. I remember our end of year days while in elementary school, and they were great fun. It may not seem like much to adults, but I'm sure it does to your children.

Think about what it means to them to miss those days, and please done put it in a question like "would you rather go to WDW or school"......talk about a loaded question!

Brandy

 

[torinsmom]

I remember some of my last days of school activities too, but none of them could compare to Disney! I think taking them out at the end of school is much better than at the beginning of next year(your other alternative) Beginning of the year would mean that they would miss that important phase of getting to know classmates, teachers, what is expected and all that. Also, I know at our school, the first few weeks of school is what our attendance is based on for money purposes. We receieve less money from the state for the whole year if we have kids missing for those first few weeks.

Good luck!

MArsha

 

[traydog]

As a teacher myself, i can admit that not too many new concepts are learned the last week of school. I am all for taking children out of school for vacation since the vacations we are given are always more expensive and more crowded. However, the last two weeks of school is the last time these kids see their friends all together in their classroom for 2 months. This is a very FUN time. I even remember loving this time as a child. Will your children be upset to miss this? On the other hand, would I have preferred to go to disney during these last 2 weeks when i was a kid......definitely!!!

 

[CDoobee]

I'll be taking my DD12 out of school for 6 days toward the end of the year. I've taken her out 5 days at a time in 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades (only the last one was for a WDW trip). The first 2 were in Spring, and the last one was the week after Thanksgiving (WONDERFUL time to go to WDW!!) I was a little worried about taking her out this year, 7th grade, with it being a new school, several different teachers, etc. But it was the only time my DH is allowed to travel this year. We talked to her "main" teacher at Open House in the fall, who said it would be fine! And that they all knew her well enough already to know she would have no problems catching up! We found out when the standardized testing would be going on, and the date for her Choir performance (big part of grade), and planned around those. So, she'll be missing school Friday, May 22 and the whole next week. She'll return the day after Memorial Day on June 1st and only have 5 1/2 days of school left! We know that in Middle School there will be more "catching up" to do, and that there aren't so many "play" days at the end of the year. But, we also know that she'll do fine! If her teachers had that much confidence in her after only knowing her a few weeks, I don't think we have any worries! We'll be sending a note to each teacher in a week or so, letting them know the details. Hopefully, they'll give her assignments she can do on the long car ride there and back, and maybe even things to do there. But if not, we'll deal with it later, and have a GREAT trip with extended family!

All that being said, I NEVER would have taken DS out of school!

Debbie

 

[crazywig]

with the low southwest fares, we got a credit so decided 2 wks ago to ask my 15yr old niece to come with us the first week of june. (we have a 2yr old ds and i will be 6 months pregnant, so she will be a help.)

because she is an A student and only missed 3 days all year she had no trouble rescheduling her final exams for a week earlier so she can come with us (she talked to her guidance counselor first, then needed a note from her mom and then her teachers had to sign off on it).

so if you have a good student it is possible to take a high schooler out