When do you tell the teacher about a vacation?

[floridascgirl]

I am a teacher, and personally, I just like a good week's notice. (Advance notice is nice, but with 150 students, I am likely to forget, and I really want to put effort into the work I create for the students - I don't just want it to be "busy-work", but feel strongly that I want to keep my students on track as much as possible.)

I hope this doesn't start something, but I had to say one thing about the comment about teachers having so much time off. While it is true that we have several unpaid breaks throughout the year, I am only able to travel during the busiest and most expensive times of the year - summer, Christmas, Spring break... I am very glad my district allows us to be professionals and use our professional leave for short family trips. Just like many of you, my vacations are based on my husband's work schedule, so it is nice that I am allowed to extend a three-day weekend by taking a couple of personal days during a non-busy time... Not complaining - just explaining...

Agreed!!!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Our school handbook actually addresses this and suggested about a week's notice. We are going mid-January and I plan to tell her the week they come back from winter break. I think any earlier than that it might get lost in the shuffle of the holidays and time off.

 

[cindyland]

We're going to be gone the two days before spring break. I notified my daughter's 4th grade teacher during conferences because they have a huge project due while we're gone. She'll just have to turn it in early, more pressure on us (California mission).

Problem is my son's (who is in 11th grade) teacher announced the dates for the Spring band concert after we booked our very expensive, nonrefundable plane tickets. I'll contact him after Christmas break. We haven't told our kids about the trip yet, it's their Christmas present. Luckily the high school principal is very big on travel so I should have his support...hopefully.

 

[brerdawg]

We are leaving in a month. My 3rd grader will miss 3 days of school. The decison has been made, so it's not debatable.

How much notice do we give?

Tell the teacher ASAP. Try to get the assignments. We have done it twice and both times things worked out fine.

 

[asmit4]

I am a teacher, and personally, I just like a good week's notice. (Advance notice is nice, but with 150 students, I am likely to forget, and I really want to put effort into the work I create for the students - I don't just want it to be "busy-work", but feel strongly that I want to keep my students on track as much as possible.)

I hope this doesn't start something, but I had to say one thing about the comment about teachers having so much time off. While it is true that we have several unpaid breaks throughout the year, I am only able to travel during the busiest and most expensive times of the year - summer, Christmas, Spring break... I am very glad my district allows us to be professionals and use our professional leave for short family trips. Just like many of you, my vacations are based on my husband's work schedule, so it is nice that I am allowed to extend a three-day weekend by taking a couple of personal days during a non-busy time... Not complaining - just explaining...

I don't begrudge this at all Teachers do so much! Take a day or 2 and enjoy I also think the teachers who have this attitude are more understanding toward parents taking their kids out of school for a few days too. Especially when they are younger.

 

[McIntoshTx]

We are leaving in a month. My 3rd grader will miss 3 days of school. The decison has been made, so it's not debatable.

How much notice do we give?

We just did this last month. Took our 3 kids, one 2nd grade, one 7th and one 10th grade as well my wife who works at the school (elem) and she used comp time to get the days off to go. We gave about 2 weeks notice, and only that much because my wife works there. I know schools push attendance due to the money involved but other than that it is really none of their business (nor do I need their permission) if I take my kids out for a family vacation so I do not feel the need for a lot of advance notice. I guess I just do not see what the big deal is, if the child was pulled for a illness or death in the family or any other reason would there be any difference from taking them to Disney as far as the school is concerned? They can make any lessons up upon their return.

It's Disney so it's better for than school for them anyways

 

[stitch34]

We leave Nov 23... for two of my kids, their parent/teacher conferences are Nov 17th- I planned on telling them then, then sending official note to school on the 23rd (they'll be picked up early that day).
My other daughter's conference is the 22nd... was going to tell teacher that day, that hey, she'll be picked up early tomorrow and miss the following day, and the three days after thanksgiving.
Now ya all got me thinking I need to give more notice than that! Will send a note in with my oldest the week prior I think instead of waiting till the day before!

 

[LWatson]

Some times it just isnt that easy. sometimes they aren't "silly" they are necessary. The teacher knows we will be on vacation, as will all other members of our unit since its predeployment leave, but to take our kids out of school we are required that note from the commander stating he is okay w/ it, and for him to be okay w/ it we have to have that educational aspect which he will include in his letter.

Dear Mrs. ___________

(Childs name) is going to be absent from school _____ to _______ due to a family vacation. If possible could you please send home any work he will miss.

No need for some silly excuse letter - you are going on vacation - tell the truth.

As a teacher I really appreciate when a parent is honest about why the child is missing school. I HATE those silly - it is an education Diseny vacation letter.

 

[bits-n-pieces]

Dear Mrs. ___________

(Childs name) is going to be absent from school _____ to _______ due to a family vacation. If possible could you please send home any work he will miss.

No need for some silly excuse letter - you are going on vacation - tell the truth.

As a teacher I really appreciate when a parent is honest about why the child is missing school. I HATE those silly - it is an education Diseny vacation letter.

Check your schools vacation policy. Our school requires the "silly education letter" . My first year I sent a letter much like your example and quickly got a call from the principal requesting a more "beefed" up letter. Not sure why but, I think that is why it's imp0ortant to just chek your student handbook and know your schools rules.
As for OP question I send in a note to the principal and all teachers about 30 days out and then a reminder to the teacher at 2 weeks. A 2 weeks notice is what is required by our school district.

 

[Teacher510]

One of my students left today and won't be back to school until the 15th. Because we're in NJ, she's only missing 1 day this week and 4 next week. Our district doesn't have a rule about notification. Her mom told me at Back to School night more than a month ago and gave me a note about 2 weeks ago. I'm the last one to discourage a family trip to WDW! I told them that they just had to take me with them!

 

[KS Dis Mom]

We arrive in FL the day after Thanksgiving. Kids out of school for 5 days.

We told DD 3rd grade teacher and school at the Meet the Teachers night at the beginning of the year. She just said to email her a reminder in November so she could start putting together the work that DD would miss. We were told that most of the work could be made up after we return. She told DD to have FUN!

DS is a 7th grader (Jr. High here). Told all of his teacher at Parent/Teacher Conf two weeks ago....No teacher had a problem with this. Geography teacher said that DS has to keep a journal in which he will describe his day and interview at least two people per day. This will be his grade for the week that he will miss. Every other teacher said have fun and make up the work when we return.

 

[jennbunn]

We are going the first week of march. ds will miss 6 days. I have confrence's on thursday and will let his teacher know then. Looking foward to our first major family vacation : )

 

[cm8]

As an elementary teacher, I agree with many of the PP. Tell them as soon as you know, then again a good 7 school days ahead of time to give the teacher time to collect work.

 

[Mary T in PA]

Our school has a trip form we must fill out at least 2 weeks in advance and have the teachers and principal sign off on it. Our kids are in 3rd and 6th grades and high honors, so this form is to alert the teachers to prepare the make up work so we can do it on our trip. We are going the week after Thanksgiving, and the kids will be missing 4 days of school. We also alerted the teachers during parent teacher conferences which were held a few weeks ago.

Our form will be turned into the school next week,

 

[Eeyore's Queen]

I just received the OK from all 3 of my children's principals saying our trip was approved. We sent the letters in about 1 month before we plan on leaving. Our school policy is to send it in at least a week in advance and it does have to be "educational". So yes, it was one of those "silly" letters. I don't care how silly it is, they are excused absences which is all I care about. My oldest is in 8th grade so this will be the last year we can take our kids out of school. I won't do it to him when he is in High School. Also our school policy says that the teachers do not have to send work with us ahead of time. My kids will have their hands full when they get back but at least they can enjoy our trip. So excited to be there at Thanksgiving.

 

[caroline1851]

My son is also in 3rd grade. We're leaving at the end of next week so i let his teacher know last week. The school policy is not to give out work ahead of time, but she's going to give me some work for him so he doesn't fall behind. Yipeeeee

 

[princessmom29]

I like to know at least a week or 2 in advance that my students are going to be out. It gives me time to plan for the after school sessions that will be needed when the child returns to get them up to speed. I have to rearrange mt schedule to accomodate that. I told DD's teacher that she would miss the 2 days before Thanksgiving on meet the teacher day. I sent a reminder email last week, and will send a note the day before.

 

[ccgirl]

We leave Nov 23... for two of my kids, their parent/teacher conferences are Nov 17th- I planned on telling them then, then sending official note to school on the 23rd (they'll be picked up early that day).
My other daughter's conference is the 22nd... was going to tell teacher that day, that hey, she'll be picked up early tomorrow and miss the following day, and the three days after thanksgiving.
Now ya all got me thinking I need to give more notice than that! Will send a note in with my oldest the week prior I think instead of waiting till the day before!

I would definitely check your school handbook and see what the requirements are. Some need to get approval from the principal prior to the vacation being excused. It varies widely.

I like to know at least a week or 2 in advance that my students are going to be out. It gives me time to plan for the after school sessions that will be needed when the child returns to get them up to speed. I have to rearrange mt schedule to accomodate that. I told DD's teacher that she would miss the 2 days before Thanksgiving on meet the teacher day. I sent a reminder email last week, and will send a note the day before.

Do you really do after school sessions? That is so nice of you to spend your personal time to help a child that was out for vacation. That is also very much against our school policy. And I agree with it. I've said it before and I will say it again. Why should a teacher be overburdened because I decided to pull out my child for vacation so I can save money? The teachers also do not prepare work ahead of time. The work sits in her bin until her return.

To the poster that asked why vacation can be different from illness or a death in the family? I would say that is because a vacation can be scheduled during school vacations and summers while illness or a death cannot be scheduled.

 

[Nayan]

I just received the OK from all 3 of my children's principals saying our trip was approved.

I am not trying to cause trouble or be snarky or anything like that, but would you have canceled your trip if one or more principals had said no, you can't go? Or would you have gone anyway?

 

[princessmom29]

I would definitely check your school handbook and see what the requirements are. Some need to get approval from the principal prior to the vacation being excused. It varies widely.



Do you really do after school sessions? That is so nice of you to spend your personal time to help a child that was out for vacation. That is also very much against our school policy. And I agree with it. I've said it before and I will say it again. Why should a teacher be overburdened because I decided to pull out my child for vacation so I can save money? The teachers also do not prepare work ahead of time. The work sits in her bin until her return.

To the poster that asked why vacation can be different from illness or a death in the family? I would say that is because a vacation can be scheduled during school vacations and summers while illness or a death cannot be scheduled.

I teach high school honors/ AP. the only way to catch them up is after school and i can only do it for excused absences like college visitation days, scholarship interviews/ auditions and educational trips. I have seniors who are applying to several colleges in the hope of getting scholarship money and have ot travel for interviews and aduitions. They can be gone a couple of days each time with travel, a day at the school, and travel back.