What to tell School?

[DawnaJean]

Basically, just acknowledge that the child will be missing something, show interest in working with the teacher to make the trip educational and don't add burden to her workload by requesting work ahead of time. Offer to take it if it's available, but also be willing to let the teacher gather it as it occurs. I have a "while you were out" folder for each child and when they are absent we put work into it as we pass it out to the class.

Thank you for your post! It is great to get the view from the teacher's side.

Dawna

 

[IwannaseeMickey]

I took my Kindergartener out for 5 days this year and he will miss either 4 or 5 days in early Dec. next year as well as we are going back. I simply wrote a note saying he missed school due to us being out of town. It's not excused anyways, and I figured they really didn't need any other explanations in the office.

I did tell his teacher ahead of time and had her assign his work and will do the same. I do 2nd some of what camdensmom said, as a former teacher it was stressful at times when someone would want the work early to take along...I didn't always have it at my fingertips to send, and then sometimes we didn't do what we had planned. I figure we'll ask and take what she gives us and if we have to do work when we get back, so be it. That's part of being responsible!

I never begrudged any student a family trip though, IF the student was a good one and was responsible. I figured a family trip was always worth as much as a few days in school. I'm talking about the involved parents w/ kids that I knew wouldn't take advantage and deserved to go. My opinion only! At the school my son currently attends, I know 2 teachers (1st grade) that both took off days to take their families to DW, one for a week and one for 3 days. I see nothing wrong w/ that, I'm sure they both left their classes w/ meaningful work and the kids were fine while they were gone.

 

[mickeyluv]

I talked to our DD's teacher the other day about our trip in May. She informed me that the week we were going to be on vacation that the class was going to reviewing for EOG testing (our DD is in the 3rd grade). I understand that this is important. Our DD scored the highest you can score on the Pre-EOG at the beginning of the year. She has made straight A's on both report cards so far this year making the honor roll both nine weeks. Also, this is a new school for her this year and she has adjusted wonderfully. When her teacher told me about the reviewing for the EOG, she also told me that she would leave the decision up to me. She said she would leave it up to me to speak with the principal about this. That the principal was not to keen on children being taken out of school for family vacations. We do not have a normal reservation through Disney. We are renting from a DVC owner and to be honest with you, at an unbelievable rate! If we cancel we lose the money we've already paid, plus our AP's will expire before school gets out.

This being said, I really took everything into consideration. I contacted the DVC owner and explained our situation and he changed our reservation dates for us which I thought was extremely nice of him to do. Our DD's teacher told me that the principal is going to require our DD to do a project while she is on vacation regarding our trip (which we were going to do anyway). I am going to go and talk with our DD's principal next week, but I'm not going to apologize. I also am one who thinks quality family time and vacations are very important. School is very important, I'm not saying that it isn't, but I also think that family time is equally as important and we all know that you just don't get quality family time at home like you do when you are on vacation, no deadlines to meet, etc. Does anyone have any ideas or experience with this? I just would like some other ideas other than our own. Thanks!!

 

[disneyfan6301]

Speaking as a seventh and eighth grade English teacher, no, you,as a parent, cannot duplicate what I do in the classroom. Likewise, I, as a teacher, cannot duplicate family time for your student, and family time is extremely important. As a middle school teacher, I do not have a problem with students taking family trips (some of the teachers I work with do grumble). For the past two years I have had a student who has missed 5 days each year to go to WDW. I have other students who I know "lay out" of school. I would much rather a student miss for family time than just "lay out". I understand schools being strict on their absentee policy. Average Daily Attendance determines some of the money that the school gets, and No Child Left Behind seems to dictate everything these days. However, family time cannot ever be repeated; especially family time at WDW.

With all this said, I understand when my students take time off for their family, and I expect their parents to understand when I do the same. My family time is just as important as theirs. We have gone to Disney in September or October or December every year since my son was 4; he is 9 now. My principal is a wonderful man who knows that I go and tells me to have fun. I always get a substitute who I know can handle my class, and I leave enough work to keep them busy; however, I do not leave busy work. My child's teachers have always been totally agreeable with him being out and have given me all his work in advance.

With all due respect to my fellow colleagues out there, yes, most of us work our butts off to put together our lessons plans, and no, what a child gets from being in your classroom cannot be duplicated. But, unless you never take a personal day or a sick day when you are not sick, you should not complain when a student takes time out to be with his/her parents. Life is way too short to miss those special moments that are created through family bonding.

 

[jennifer293]

From what I have been told although I have never tried it. In DD's school it is frowned upon to miss school unless it is emergency or illness. Her teacher told me if they are out more than 5 days without a written excuse from the Dr. then the parents have to go to court. I don't know how true this is as I said I never tried it my DD has been out one day to have tubes put in her ears. All I know is that I will not chance it. The thought of me appearing before a judge to tell him I took her to Disney quite frankly ...It scares me to death!!! I will wait till school is out..

 

[Rainman]

We took our 1st grader out of school for 4 days this year in oct. We were very upfront with his teacher. He had a little bit of homework and some catch-up to do when we got back. We plan on going to the world yearly. We will always pull our kids out of school to do so. We are going to try and do the trips when there are days off.

 

[Vijoge]

We're taking the girls out next week. I sent a note to school the first week in Jan. that simply said they wouldn't be in school that week as we would be out of state. No problems from the teacher.

 

[dsnyfrk5]

Thank you so much for camdensmom for the teachers perpective. I give a lot of repect for how hard the teachers work. Should I send a similar letter to my daughters principle as well. Telling her how important school and family time is and that I have discussed this already with her teacher and that we set up what my daughter will be doing educational wise. Thanks

 

[Taratink]

I told my sons kindergarten teacher that we were going on vacation in March. She asked where and I told her the happiest place on earth. She laughed and asked about all the details. She has a Disney family too. As long as my kids are young and doing well in school I will take them out. I really don't think ds teacher was offended at all.
Tara

 

[Mommy Poppins]

My DH has just returned from an 18 month deployment. We are taking our 3 kids (10, 7 and 3--turning 4 on the trip) to Disney the last week of April and first week of May. They will miss 10 days of school. We will also be renewing our wedding vows while we are there. When I first talked with my kids' principal about it, his comment was "Have a wonderful time. You all deserve it!" Our school allows for 5 days excused for an educational trip. The other 5 days will be unexcused. All of their teachers have agreed to put together some work for them to work on while they are gone. My daughter is in 4th grade and a straight A student. Her teachers both said that they will have her make up the mandatory items and not worry about the rest.

We have always gone to Disney at "off-times" and will continue to do so. Usually our trip is not this long, but for us, this is a special occasion.

 

[helenm29]

We took our kids out of school December 10th through December 17th...they were 4th grade and 10th grade. We contacted the school as soon as we made the reservations and then every few months we would remind them..about a month before we left we let the teachers know so that they could give out any home work to be done. Usually for the little ones they did some kind of scrap book or later on a journal for where we were going. There was no problem as long as they did the work. We are going to be there 10/10-10/22 this year and we've already started to let the school know. Also, I tend to have us come back on a weekend so that the kids can finish up any work that wasn't done.

 

[pkitty]

Our kids wont be in school because we're GOING TO DISNEY WORLD !