What to say in letter to school?

[schlepsnort]

I am starting to draft our letter notifying the school that our DSs will be out of school for the week of Sept. 20th for our vacation.
I already checked the student/parent handbook and it doesn't say anything against taking the child out for family vacations..only that they (the school) then are relieved of any academic responsibilities during that time. Not quite sure what that means...But I know of people who were out of school for vacations last year and they still did their make up work with no problem. Besides as it works out they are off for 1 and a 1/2 days that week due to open house and teacher inservice, so they are technically only out of school for 3 1/2 days, not 5.

So how do I word this letter? Just Dear So and So, Jonny and Jack will not be at school these days due to a family vacation? Please let us know what work will need to be made up and it will be done?

I don't know how to write dang it!!

Why is it I'm over 30 years old and I still get nervous at the idea of talking with the school principal? Of course it is also a parochial school so it's like talking to a priest as well...
Maybe I should throw a Hail Mary in there...

Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[notsosnowwhite]

Ahh...you worry too much! I promise no one will smack a ruler over your knuckles. Your child will certainly not be the only student in the school taking a vacation during the school year. I would simply talk to the principal and the teacher to decide how much work can be made up and do this in plenty of time. Nothing worse than trying to get packets of work together at the last minute for students! If you're really intimidated by the principal you could do this via note delivered by your child or sent through the homeroom teacher. This is really common - again, don't stress. If a few Hail Mary's or Lord's Prayer's make you feel better, add these in for good measure. Lord knows they never hurt!

As a teacher / administrator I have always been excited for my students who get to go to family vacations during the school year. I hope this is the reaction you get from your school faculty. Have a great trip!

 

[dis75ney]

I made sure that I stressed what DS would be learning while we were on vacation. We plan on driving down to FL from IL, so DS will be helping us plan our route on the atlas (I've already printed directions from randmcnally.com). We'll be spending a day at Kennedy Space Center before we hit WDW, and thanks to the fantabulous DISigners here, I'll be making up a travel journal for DS to complete. DH also happens to be a math and science tutor, as well as a freelance writer, so I think we'll have our educational bases covered...

I have a copy of the letter that I wrote to DS's 1st grade teacher (before we postponed our May trip to October). If you want, PM your email address and I can send you a copy. Feel free to tailor as needed...

Hope this helps!

 

[wdwmaw]

These are from another site. Mods ~ I hope I can put links from this site

http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/kids/SchoolExcuse/SE1.shtml

http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/kids/SchoolExcuse/Schoolexcuse.doc

 

[SoThisIsLove]

Hi,


I work in a public school and the best used excuse is that you have an out of state family wedding. Hey, its even considered a religious event......can't get any better then that for a parochial school!......lol. Then you just happened to take advantage of the family reunion to go to Disney together since the weding was in Florida! .....lol Honestly I wouldn't worry too much.....just bring something sweet back for the prinicpal and teacher!

Have fun!

 

[cmul04]

You have to write a formal letter? Wow, okay. Can you just tell them you'll be out of town and give the dates and be willing to do any homework or assignments the teachers feel necessary?

We went to Disney last year and it was 5 days off school and there were two other families from our elemtary school there the same week! How funny is that? First week of Feb!

You'll be fine.

 

[LovinPooh]

I worry about this too.
I feel better that is really isnt such an issue. There is another thread where there is alot of 'just dont go' people.
I guess the fact is, is that we are going, and going to have a great time.
I like the wedding idea though

 

[Disney_Angel]

In another thread a poster suggested citing religious reason because who knows you could have a religious experience in Disney.

I am still laughing over that one!!!

 

[momto2inKC]

Short, sweet and to the point
Dear xxxxx,
<insert childs name> will be absent from school from <date> to <date>. If the teachers wish, they may send home the work that will be missed on thier last day. If not, we will be sure to make up any missed work in a timely manner.
Thank you

I do not expect the absences to be excused when my kids miss for vacation. I also would never tell them we are going for all the educational experiences I can guarantee that many of the staff at the school have been to Disney and are quite aware of what you do there

 

[mom2jcc]

We will be taking our son out the last week before Christmas break. Usually this week is filled with crafts, movies and parties, but I am still concerned about the written excuse.

Subbing

 

[Darcy03231]

..only that they (the school) then are relieved of any academic responsibilities during that time. Not quite sure what that means...

In my district it means that they do not have to give or accept make-up and can give zeros for all work missed. It also means that the teacher doesn't need to reteach whatever was taught during that time frame to your child. For example if a complex math idea was taught and your child missed it, its then up to you to make sure your child learns it somehow.

 

[boomar]

Ask if there is a form that you have to fill out. Our district has a form that you must explain what you are doing and for how long, and if it has any educational purpose. This will be our 2nd trip( we went 2 years ago) during the school year. We are going at the end of thanksgiving break so we will be missing 3 days. If there is a form you need to fill just simply put that you are going to WDW for how long, and yes I put that the kids will be learning educational info, we went to visit the hall of Presidents, so naturally they learned about the Pres., also they learned about hydroponics etc, yes we go to disney for the fun but when you stop to think, they are getting a little bit of an education while we are there to. In epcot they had a wonderful time learning hello in all the different languages. If your district does not have a form, simply start the letter To whom it may concern: explain when & how long you will be going to disney etc. I would request that they send you acknowledgemnt that they received the letter. Then just end the letter Sincerely: (your name), simple as that. No sweating the simple stuff. You will find its easy to do. We always request homework ahead of time so they are caught up when they get back.
BY THE WAY, LOVE the mad cow/PMS joke.

 

[Aristomommy]

I usually state that DD will miss school due to a "family function". I also say we will provide educational opportunities while out of town. I ask the teacher if he/she would prefer that we complete missed assignments ahead of time or after the fact. I don't assume the teacher wants to pre-plan and anticipate how much they will cover, so most of the time we have gotten an envelope after the fact with missed work. Usually DD has only missed 3 days, so it hasn't been too much.

 

[zoie101]

the unoffical guide has a great example in it as well
I am at work and dont have it with me...
I emailed it to the school several months in advance and then again with in 2 weeks before we left!
I am again takin DS12 and DS 5 out this year again
but instead of may we are going december

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

DD missed 6 days of school last year for our family vacation, she was in Kindergarten. I was so stressed about letting the school know. The handbook said that any unexcused absence would result in 0's, and that after 5 days a letter might be sent to child protective services.

I decided to keep the letter short and to the point, and offered to work with the school if it was too many days. The principal actually called me the following day that I turned it in. When I heard who it was on the phone I thought for sure she was going to say no way to that many days. Nope, she said it was perfectly fine and to have a wonderful trip! She told me that it wasn't really until middle school that they might have a problem with such a long absence.

Don't worry and have fun!!

 

[mrsturtle]

i think as long as you let them know the children won't be in school in advance, there will be no problem. schools only take action (generally) if they haven't heard from the parent/s and are concerned about the welfare of the child/ren. have a great trip!

 

[tttessa]

Hi,
you are lucky - over here in the UK we have to ask permission - not just notify the school. if you are not given permission and go anyhow, it is put against your child's educational record as truancy!!
Generally most schools here will allow up to 10 days in any year as a one off though - if it was every year just for a holiday ,there might be a problem.....

Tessa

 

[LilGMom]

All you need to say is that your child will be out on such-and-such dates and that you'd like to either get the assignments prior to those dates or immediately after those dates. If they need/want more info they'll ask for it. We've always talked with the teacher prior to sending the letter and have been lucky to get teachers that have had no problem with it and they both have been Disney fans too.

 

[surfergirl602]

We've always just let the teacher know that they won't be there during certain dates. It's also a military post school, so kids are gone alot, but we've never written a letter or informed the principle of it.

 

[crisi]

What you need to say is going to depend on state law and district policies. Check with your district policies, then craft a letter appropriately. Some states will excuse the absence if it is "educational" - so you need to make the educational pitch (I think its California you actually need to fill out special forms). If your state doesn't have that requirement, I agree, don't claim it (it causes smirks in the staff room). Don't lie, you are likely to get caught when your kid is overheard talking about Disney, and that will break any trust you have between you and the teachers. Don't spend any time justifying your decision, just state your kid will be out from X to X for a family vacation, and that if there is anything you can do to make this easier on both the child and the teacher they should let you know. If your teacher makes the effort to send work along, make sure its done to turn in the day you get back.

Our teachers have been great, when we cruised to Mexico my daughter's teacher helped her pick some age appropriate books about Mexico for her "homework."