What to tell the teacher? 11/7 Wonder

[jillnan]

What should I tell my daughter's 5th grade teacher regarding her upcoming absence in November? We are doing the Land/Sea deal from 11/3-11/10/02. 3 day Wonder on 11/7. She's only missing 1 1/2 days of school. 1/2 day Mon, Tues, Wed, No school on Thurs, Fri. Thank goodness for NJ Teacher's convention!

I know it's probably not a big deal to miss 1 1/2 days, however, we will be missing Parent Teacher Conferences too. I have a daughter in Kindergarten as well.
Any advice is appreciated......

 

[imgoingtodisney]

I sent a note to DSs 5th grade teacher just the other day. DS will be missing 5 days of school Dec 2-6. I told her it was an excellent opportunity for DS to learn about life outside the United States. "We are taking a family cruise to St Marten & St Thomas" Did I mention that it's a Disney cruise? well, no
Teacher told DS she thinks it is a good idea and will send me a note to explain what she would like done.

 

[jillnan]

imgoingtodisney - Thanks for the advice!! Great idea.

 

[alexandrew]

we thought about telling our DS's teacher we had a family emergency - then it dawned on us that DS will be telling all his friends and the teacher about his "emergency' on DCL (he's only 6)LOL

I guess honesty is the best policy

 

[WDWADDICTS]

Tell the teacher the truth! We'll be taking DD age 6 & DS 11 out for a week in early May for the Magic (3rd time cruise) and we plan on being honest with the teachers. They both get good grades and by then they are winding down the school year. LY they took fieldtrips and had fun days for most of May.

We'll tell them that the weather is cooler, less Hurricane chance than in the summer, and we can save $2000.

I don't think there will be any problem. Any work they might miss we will be able get ahead of time or they can make it up when they return.

Have a great trip!

 

[Towncrier]

No advice, but I hope we bump into you on the cruise. My DW Sue and I will be cruising w/o kids on the November 7th sailing of the Disney Wonder. It will by my wife's 3rd Disney cruise this year!!!

We took our kids out of school for 4 days this past January in order to do the 7-day cruise. DD was in 6th grade and DS was in 8th grade. We discussed it with their teachers and they were willing to give them their assignments ahead of time so that they could keep up with the rest of their classmates. In our school system, the teachers are not required to let students make up work from "unexcused" absences (such as family vacations). Everything worked out and both of our kids didn't suffer a bit from missing 4 days of school (although our son would have had perfect attendance otherwise).

Please send me a PM so we can arrange a time to get together. There are a bunch of other DISers who will be on board for the 11/7 cruise. Hope to see you then.

 

[mcnuss]

Honesty is the best policy, besides it's less than 2 days! They will not care.

 

[MelissaE1]

We will be taking DS8 out for a week in January. I approached his teacher about it at the beginning of the year, asked her what the protocol was for advanced notice, and talked about the wonderful educational opportunity for DS such as seeing other countries, ship programming that is learning through fun (making flubber --hey, that's science!) and the like. I asked if he could have his work for that week a little early so he didn't have to actually do it on the cruise. She said no problem, and is actually sending a stuffed hedgehog (class mascot) on the cruise with us and expects a full report!

I admit that I do tend to take the attitude that it's my decision, not the school's, whether he goes. IMHO it's much more educational than being in school that week. I know there are absence standards, but I think those are in place mostly for people who just don't care enough to get their kids to school. My DS is ahead in his class and I don't think him missing a week will make much of a difference academically.

Wait till they find out he's missing a week in May for WDW.

 

[CRUZFAN]

Just tell the teacher you will bring her a great souvenir from the ship and I'm sure all will be hunky dory!

 

[jmalk]

I've already told my kids' teachers about our cruise Oct 31, and every one of them were very accomodating. I think they appreciate when you give them the consideration of advance notice. They all asked me to remind them 1-2 weeks prior and they will get homework packets ready. Actually, a good number of teachers sounded jealous

 

[kshabare]

We met face-to-face with teacher. She was jealous. She also felt it was a great life experience. DS7 was given a little blue journal that he wrote in every day. It actually turned out to be really neat and we were given it back to keep. It went into our memory folder.
DD16 has trouble in school but we coordinated with school counselor to get all assignments up front. She had to make up tests/quizzes when she returned. No real effect on grades.
Help your kids to take responsibility but don't leave it be theirs alone - they're just kids. Long after school's out they'll reflect back on a great family trip.

Kim ºOº

 

[jillnan]

Thanks to everyone who posted a reply. I agree, it's best to be honest and will send a note to school with each daughter this monday.
All of your ideas are great - especially keeping a journal and getting homework/lesson plans ahead of time. I also plan to pick up a few souveniers for the teachers too! I better pack an extra tote bag!

 

[MnParrothead]

jillnan and Towncrier,

We (17 of us!) will be on the November 7 cruise too. 18 of us cruised in January and now 17 of us are using our $99 vouchers for that cruise.

See you all soon.

 

[disboo]

We're traveling on the Nov 7 trip, too! It will be me, DH, DS (17), and our exchange student (17) from Hungary. Any other teens out there on ther Nov. 7?

CAN'T WAIT!!

 

[jillnan]

I'm happy to see DISers will be onboard the Wonder 11/7. Looking forward to meeting all of you!

 

[Towncrier]

I checked our Dreams Unlimited reservation status and realized that there are NINE cabins booked through DU on the November 7th cruise. Did I mention that we too are using one of our $99 vouchers for this cruise as well?

DW Sue leaves on the Disney Wonder on Thursday with her mom and her aunt to scope things out for our 11/7 cruise.

Perhaps we should try to get together at the sail-away party. We usually hang out on deck 10 on the starboard side slightly back from midships. That way we have a good view of all the action on the stage and have a great view of the terminal as we leave Port Canaveral.

List of DISers on our cruise:
Towncrier
jillnan
Carrieberry
carycrew
jdbdisney
leanne2255
Poohbr618
MnParrothead
disboo
moccachinnosmith
Larry Nice

 

[SC Minnie]

For our January cruise DD was out of school for 4 days (2nd grade). I wrote the teacher a note and explained about the cruise and where we were going. I also asked if there was anything 'educational' she would like for DD to do while vacationing. Well, the week before we left her teacher sent home a list of homework- she had to graph the weather at home and on the cruise, look up and learn about a bird that is native to the carribean, and something else I don't remember. It was all 'fun' for DD and helped her learn a little more about where we were going.

 

[leanne2255]

Hey! I saw my name mentioned. Yes, we'll be on this cruise, with DH, DD's ages 16 and 13. MNparrothead- I'm sure my daughters would like to meet up with your son and exchange student.

DD's will be out of school for 4 days. We are telling all the teachers ahead of time, and hope to get some of their school work before we leave.

Hope the sail away party is dry! Last time we cruised, it was pouring rain. We'll see you all on deck. Going to try to get lime green ribbons so we can be identified as DIS'ers.

 

[jlawall]

Hey, teachers love Disney, too! Most will totally understand, especially because it's only elementary school. I am a teacher and a Disney freak! Just let them know, it's only a few days. Your daughter will make up the work. Your little one should be fine. Have a blast!!!

 

[Larry Nice]

we too will be on the 11/7 wonder sailing,see ya all on board