Tips for Taking Kid Out of School

[santa's surpriz]

I have been wondering about this. I will be taking my daughter out of school for 7 days for our WDW trip in January 2009. She is in kindergarten, I believe the school is fairly flexible based on some comments made by the principal during orienation. I am not sure how far in advance I need to communicate the plans with her teacher and make a plan so that we can have a learning time while at WDW. Should I send an email or note to the teacher, call the principal, or wait until conference time and do it in person? Also do I do it now or wait until closer to the trip? Thanks in advance!

 

[slo]

I email the teacher a couple of weeks ahead of time telling her that my DD won't be there, and any makeup work would be appreciated.

All my DD's teachers have been really great about it, and have always gave the makeup work.

 

[KEH113]

We are taking DD out of 4th grade for a week at the end of this month. We typed up a letter to her principal & teacher, which was required by school policy. We just said we are taking her out of school for week, we are aware of the school's attendence policy, & we'll make sure all her make up work is completed. They just started school this week, so we spoke to her teacher about it and she said "Have Fun!" She was willing to work with DD when she returned on all the make up work.

 

[jkCT]

We've never taken the kids out of school for Disney trips, but have to visit family in New Zealand (a three week trip we do every other Christmas). I wrote a note to the teachers a month ahead and told them the dates the kids were missing (7 days total) and asked what their preference was for giving work/making up work. Both teachers (2nd and 4th grade) said they'd give the girls makeup work after they came back and asked them to keep journals and take lots of pictures to share with their classes. Both teachers responded well to the advanced notice and to me asking what their preferences were for homework/make up work.

 

[RachaelRol]

Thank you all for the really great tips on handling with the teacher and school. I'll make sure I check the unexcused absence policy ahead of time. Our son had great attendance last year and is a very good student so it should be okay.

My boss will give me grief for wanting to take the time, but it is what it is.

Love the ideas. Definitely will do the money handling idea and the hello and goodbye in each language. maybe a passport about each country and learning something about each culture in Epcot.

What about in MGM I mean DS?

And of or the teachers, thank you for your opinions and the work you do. I know I could not do it. His teacher is very good and i am involved with school stuff so hopefully it won't be too bad.

 

[bellebud]

It really depends on the individual teacher and the school policy. Our school is fairly strict, and will mark the kids with an unexcused absence no matter what (for vacation). I totally understand this. Some teachers want to know, so they don't think the child is in the hospital or something when they don't show up for a week, and some teachers don't want to know beforehand, because it gets them mad. In our school, I know the teachers well enough now to know the ones I'd tell beforehand and the ones I won't. I'll simply send a note when we come back that we had a family trip. And the policy in our school is NO work can be given beforehand. So we just make up whatever when we get back. my kids are going into 4th and 2nd this year, so we're still in the young grades and able to teach them anything they missed. As my kids get older, we may not take them out for vacation during the school year. All depends on the stress level for my kids.

 

[joiev98]

I took my 4 kids out of school in May of 2007 and their teachers had no problems with it.
This year we are going to WDW the week before Christmas holidays so they will have 2 weeks afterwards to get caught up on their work. I plan to tell the teachers as soon as they start school (in Ontario we don't start until the Tues. after labour day) and I will remind them again about a month before.