Elizabeth, good luck figuring out the Attendance Zealot

rotfl: ). I just can't fathom all the trouble people go through with public schools. I missed SO many days in school, and it was for great reasons. Here is my favorite:
"Please excuse Jennifer from school today. She will be going to Kings Island to spend quality time with her family"
I also worked a really nice job, was involved in HS extracurriculars, and danced professionally for most of high school. If my mom wanted to get me out of school so I could get my haircut, she did, since there was no other time!
No lies, nothing. I did well in school, so as long as that stayed true and I could keep up with my academic load (not at all an easy one, so certainly I know I was very blessed being able to do so to begin with!) then I would miss days for just about anything!

Nobody ever batted an eye, in fact they were thrilled that my family was spending time together.
I hope DS can get by without too much "trouble" for spending time with his family!
(And sorry to all of you that disagree with this, maybe Amy

, other teachers, etc.... I did extremely well in school and never got out of any assignments, etc - and believe me, our teachers were ruthless with the load! (I learned this well in college when I was prepared but still ticked comparing previous lives with college buddies

... and I continue to learn this now when I hear about current HS assignments, etc)
I still appreciated the teachers and had a great relationship with them... and I look back and don't plan on raising my kids any other way! If they can get an excellent education and still spend special times with family then I'm all for it

)