Teachers are okay with it....

[DizzyFORDisney]

Okay - I've read sooooo many negative things about taking the kids out of school and about all of the flack people get from the teachers and / or principal.

Well I thought I'd share a positive story! I recently told the teachers (grades 2,4,and 5) about our December trip. I asked how they wanted to handle the missed school work and classwork and that we relaistically will not be doing any work during the trip - and they ALL said they are not concerned in the least. Basically they will have to make up tests and each will have a couple of workbook pages.

Now - I will say that the lowest grade for any of the my boys is about a 94 so I guess that helps in this situation!!

I am soooo excited and relieved!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

My kids are in 1st, 4th and 9th grade. They are missing 4 days starting Friday. The 1st and 4th grade teachers are totally fine with us going and said if they could go they would too. I don't know about the 9th gade teachers. I sent letters the begining of school and again last week. I never heard any reply to any of them. DD said a coupe, teachers will be giving her homework whcih I said they could if they wanted and we will do, but knowing they may not have the work planned out I didn't demand it and said if they didn't send it she would work over time evenings and our first weekend back to get it done. She didn't say anyone said anything negative, so that's good. I explained that we only get a family vacation every other year and that my DH has many times that he can't take off and Thanksgiving is a time he can get off that they kids are out of school. It bothers me that they are considered "unexcused" and treated the same as if she skipped school to go hang out behind the bleechers doing who knows what, but I am over it. It's 4days. She is a great student and will be able to make up the work. Our family needs this time to have fun, relax and get away from our hectic lives.

 

[Starr W.]

I only take my kids out for 2 days and I have never been met with any snarky comments.

My eldest is now a 6th grader and he had to go around to all his teachers and have them sign off on "the form". Everyone told him to have fun(though his one trimester class starts Monday, so he needs one more teacher to sign off).

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

I'm a teacher.

I'd say go, and have an AMAZING time!!!

 

[pyrxtc]

I love that our teachers are okay with it, at the elementary level so far anyways. This will be the first year I have to deal with the middle school teachers.

 

[delmar411]

yay! I'm glad the teachers are ok with it! I too don't understand why it's unexcused. It's not the child's choice to be out of school and I think that should be more of a baseline for unexcused absences IMO.

 

[sritter78]

I am a special education teacher. I have one student that missed school 3 times last year to go to WDW with her family.
She was able to stay caught up, so I don't care.

DH is also a teacher and he is going to take paternity leave (I will be on maternity leave) in May so that we can go to WDW!!!!!

 

[mickeymouse1017]

I teach first grade and have only one thing to say to the parents when they tell me that they are taking their kids out of school to go to Disney World, "TAKE ME WITH YOU, PLEASE!"

 

[mommytoone]

I took my DD out for 6 days in Sept and her teacher, and the principal was as excited as my DD. We did have homework to make up and we did that. My DD also received straight A's on her report card, and is well above where she should be.

Have a great time, I wish I was going!!!!

 

[brightvalleyjrts]

I just talked to my son's kindergarten teacher about him missing a whole week in March. She was totally ok with it and said "go book your trip!" I was so excited!!!

 

[LovinPooh]

My kids are missing 6 days in Feb. I was super stressed when I booked the package because the principal is a real witch. (this is her last year, she resigned) Since this is her last year and she was bascially pushed out by teachers and parents, she is just even witchier than ever. But, its so hard to be so excited for hte trip and worry about that. so now I am like, whatever, what is she going to do about it? My kids get perfect attendance every year. Not like they miss alot of school and get poor grades.
My DD is in 4th and DS is in 6th. Not worried about them making up the work. I dont let my kids slack.
Not sure when we will ever be able to go back. and its mine and DHs 13th anniversary. So we are going to live it up, and deal with any aftermath when we get home. I wish more people would be happy for families going on vacation than criticize. Family time is so important. They aer only little once.
thanks to you teachers... you made me feel better

 

[JamesMom]

I just submitted a note to my Kindergarteners teacher today for our weeklong December trip. I mentioned it at the beginning of the school year so *fingers crossed* that there will be no problems.

 

[december]

I teach high school, and had a 9th grader tell me the other day that if his grades were good (has an A in my class) that he will get to go with his family to WDW in January for his step-mother's birthday. This is a child whose mother killed herself 2 years ago, and he's had lots of step-mommies since! Do you think I fussed? I started telling him about the birthday promotion, to tell his step mother to be sure to ask for her birthday gift card, the buy 4 get 3 free deal, the $200 gift card.......I practically planned their trip! I wish more of my kids got that type of opportunity. He's a good kid-he'll catch up when he gets back! I wish I could go in January .

 

[LovinPooh]

I teach high school, and had a 9th grader tell me the other day that if his grades were good (has an A in my class) that he will get to go with his family to WDW in January for his step-mother's birthday. This is a child whose mother killed herself 2 years ago, and he's had lots of step-mommies since! Do you think I fussed? I started telling him about the birthday promotion, to tell his step mother to be sure to ask for her birthday gift card, the buy 4 get 3 free deal, the $200 gift card.......I practically planned their trip! I wish more of my kids got that type of opportunity. He's a good kid-he'll catch up when he gets back! I wish I could go in January .

Good for that kid! What a good story!
When someone tells me they are going to WDW, I pretty plan their trip as well

 

[bigfish2215]

My kids DD 8th gr, DS 5th gr are going to be missing 5 days. I'm ok with b/c they are good students and their teachers are willing to get me the homework before we leave. One teacher is having DD do a special project to make up the points she'll miss.
I'm glad we are taking the trip this year b/c next year our distict policy will change. If we would take the trip next year we would be fined $25 for missing a week of school. Per kid!! Can you believe that!! Making you pay a fine for spending time as a family.

 

[LovinPooh]

$25!!! That is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard. Arent these OUR kids and not the school districts? I can see if a child is constantly missing school, but a family vacation....

 

[CoffeeCup]

My kids DD 8th gr, DS 5th gr are going to be missing 5 days. I'm ok with b/c they are good students and their teachers are willing to get me the homework before we leave. One teacher is having DD do a special project to make up the points she'll miss.
I'm glad we are taking the trip this year b/c next year our distict policy will change. If we would take the trip next year we would be fined $25 for missing a week of school. Per kid!! Can you believe that!! Making you pay a fine for spending time as a family.

Yes, they are YOUR children, but your child's school is evaluated on the basis of daily attendance and test scores. If you want your child to take advantage of public education, you need to follow the rules of your child's school district. I've never heard of a $25 fine for being absent for a week, but I understand the intent behind the rule. Does that include a child who is ill and absent for a week, or is it only for vacations?

 

[Disneyfan2928]

I hate to admit this, but I have been putting off telling our teachers (except for preschool, lol), but reading this thread has given me courage Thanks!

 

[LovinPooh]

I had been feeling badly about it, and then 2 teachers at my kids school took time off. One of them got married and took a week off for her honeymoon in September. I guess I live in an reasonable district. The whole $25 thing still blows my mind.

 

[Starr W.]

I hate to admit this, but I have been putting off telling our teachers (except for preschool, lol), but reading this thread has given me courage Thanks!

This is my 3rd yr doing it for our Thanksgiving trip. I haven't had a problem and I'm even dealing with Jr 6th grade teachers this year. Though DS had to go around and have them all sign off on the form. Now Friday he has to go to each teacher and get his assignments.

Perhaps it helps that we are only taking him out for 2 days though. I think missing a couple of days around the big holidays is really common in our district. When I stopped to get the form, the guidance office was pretty nonchalant about it. I know the elementary school was easy, but was surprised about the Jr High.