Whats the longest you pulled your child out of school and how old were they?

[roliepolieoliefan]

My DS just started 2nd grade and we are leaving for WDW in 3 weeks. He will miss 7 1/2 days of school.

I know this is a hot topic and I know the pros and cons. Just wondering how long and what grades were your children in, if you pulled them out of school for vacation?

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

My dd will turn 4 a week from today, and she will be missing 9 days of school at least ( I say at least, because if she starts having a runny nose before we leave, she will miss even more days).

Julie

 

[hezreck]

My DD is in the 3rd grade and will miss 6 days right after Thanksgiving for our trip. When she was in 1st grade she missed 5 days for Disney.

 

[HayGan]

DS#1 will be missing 5 days of Kindergarten in December.

Personally, I wouldn't take him out for any more than that but that is just me doing what is best for my child. No judgements from me on what others do

We will likely continue to take our WDW vacation in early December and our beach vacation in early June (once the kids are out of school.) The kids will only miss the 5 days in December.

 

[tms295]

When I was in 10th grade... (I'm now 24) I was out of school from the day before thanksgiving to 2 days after new year's. I went to disney/out of town for business with my grandparents... and business lasted about a month too long...

I was an average A/B student and caught up with out a problem... kept calling the school once a week to get new assignments. Even the teachers were envious of my vacation .

 

[Makdyn]

dd 6 missed 7 days last year in K. In 2008 we will be going in sept (I think) and dd #1 will be in 3rd and dd#2 will be in K and they will miss 9 days. Unless we go in august.

 

[markandtrish]

My DD 11 and my DSs both 8 will be missing 7 days in May. I know it isnt the best thing to do, but Ill be talking to their teachers and they will be doing some homework either before we leave or a little each day while we are there. I want them to have this experience. They deserve it(and yes I think Disney is worth it), as it may be the only time I get to take them as children. They are good students, so Im not overly concerned. This is just my opinion.

 

[Brooknwdw]

Mine will miss 6 days for our sept/october trip. They just started 2nd & 4th.
I was nervous at first because they have never had unexcused absenses like that.

But I read up on the attendance policy and talked to their teachers. The 4th grade teacher's daughter (same school) missed 6 days last year for DW...she can't say too much!

As long as they don't have three MORE unexcused this same year they are fine.

 

[laceemouse]

We only did it once, when dd1 was in 3rd grade and dd2 was in first. They missed a week of school in early December. The teachers were fine with it, but when we got back there was a big article in the local paper with school officials complaining about taking kids out for vacation, and our principal was quoted compaining about WDW!!! Dd2 also missed a Christmas performance at school, she was okay but I know she would have enjoyed it. I think it is okay in elementary school as long as your district does not have strict rules about it and the kids are good students (and you have nice teachers!) I think as soon as they hit middle school and have different teachers for each subject it gets MUCH harder to make up all the work. Also, we were always in very competetive districts, tough gifted classes, ect. I also think it makes a HUGE difference if this is a ONCE IN A LIFETIME trip or if this is something you do every year (which is not really necessary and also no longer educational much by that point.) I also understand that some parents have limited opportunities to get time off, but if not there are plenty of times when the kids are out of school and you could go. As they get older there are also sports and other activities to consider. We homeschool now but we still have lots of activities to plan our trips around, that is just life!

 

[isla bonita]

We go twice a year during school. I have a 16, 10,and 5 and they will again miss 5 days in a row 2 times in the school year.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

We've pulled DS out since kindergarten. He usually misses 5 days. He makes up the work and his teachers have no problems. This year he will only miss 4 days because his school is closed the day we will be traveling, and a day during the next week. So it works out great- he's even off that Monday we return for Columbus Day.

 

[laceemouse]

We go twice a year during school. I have a 16, 10,and 5 and they will again miss 5 days in a row 2 times in the school year.

Wow, I'm shocked that teens would agree to that! They must have really easy classes!! Most kids are taking AP classes and stuff by that time and would never want to risk their grades dropping. Also, they must be Disney nuts! I can't see my teens wanting to go that often, even if school had nothing to do with it.

 

[laceemouse]

My DD 11 and my DSs both 8 will be missing 7 days in May. I know it isnt the best thing to do, but Ill be talking to their teachers and they will be doing some homework either before we leave or a little each day while we are there. I want them to have this experience. They deserve it(and yes I think Disney is worth it), as it may be the only time I get to take them as children. They are good students, so Im not overly concerned. This is just my opinion.

HUGE difference between what you are talking about (going ONCE) and what a lot of folks do around here (taking them out every year, sometimes more than once a year!) Go and enjoy!!!

 

[Dis_licious]

I am really relieved reading this thread! I have a preschooler and a 1st grader and I am really nervous about taking them out of school for 6 days beginning their 3rd week of school. I have already talked to the prek teacher and she was fine with it, enthusiastic really. I am more worried about what the 1st grade teacher will say. I recently read on another thread here a mom's position was, she wouldn't be in fear of the school's reaction and I think I need to adopt that approach.

 

[PRINCESSMOMX3]

My DD is in first grade. She will miss 5 days next week. Her principal called friday and said not to worry about her missing the days just go and have fun!

 

[momof1princess]

we arrive at wdw in 13 days, and my DD8 will miss 5 days of school. all i had to do was send a letter to the principal (found it on mouseforless.com and tweaked it to suit my needs) and i just found out today her absences will be excused. now i'll send a note to her teacher to get her schoolwork, and we're all set! enjoy your trip!

 

[chrisn]

We have pulled both our kids out of school for 2 weeks during the school year every year since 2000. DD has been pulled out of every grade since 6th grade. We pulled her out all through Jr. High and all through High School except her senior year. We would have done it that year too except she had college classes and obviously could not. She has always been an A student on the Honor Roll every term. She had no problems catching up or keeping her grades.

We've also pulled our DS out of school every year since Kidnergarten. He's in 4th grade this year and yes we are pulling him out again in order to take them both to WDW the week before X-mas. School is out for DD on December 8th with Finals held the week of the 15th so our trip is the 16th-23rd. He has also never had a problem lagging behind, keeping his grades up or missing information. My schools and teachers have always been really great about it and so that has definitely helped.

Education is very important to us (DD is on an academic scholarship), but special times with those you love most is just as important and I know that we've made memories that will last a lifetime. I'm so glad and thankful that we've had these wonderful experiences and hope that we can and will continue to have them. I certainly plan to. I don't want to look back and wish I would have done it because you never know what tomorrow will bring.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

I have 3 children and have never taken them out of school for a vacation. As a school administrator, I don't see myself ever doing this. Fortunately, my dh has little difficulty taking vacation time when the kids are out of school.

 

[luvmy2sams]

DD missed 4 days when she was in Kindergarten in 2004 and missed 7 days last January when she was in 1st/2nd combo. She'll miss 8 for our trip next year. Teachers and administration have never had a problem with her missing this many days in a row. We'll continue to pull her out until she no longer wants to miss the days. Then, she can stay with grandma and the rest of us will still go.

 

[Caitsmama]

My dd (Kindergarten) will miss 3 days this yr for WDW at Thanksgiving time, then next yr she will be again missing 3 days at TG, and then 6 days in January for her bday - we are taking the DCL.
As far as i am concerned i will be doing the TG trips for however long we can, and will continue to take her out for them.
Family trips with those you love are more important in my book than 3 days in school -hands down.