When do you tell the teacher about a vacation?

[RMulieri]

My school has a pre-printed "educational trip request" that is to be filled out for ALL family trips.It does ask the educational value of the trip etc.We need to submit it no later than 2 weeks prior to our trip.But Like I said earlier I give a month notice to the teacher with a reminder the week before as well.

 

[macphrsn]

For the past 6 years we have taken our daughter, now 11 out of school for at least 4 to 5 days to go to WDW and in quite a few of those years we went twice within the school year. I have never had any teacher or school principal say that we shouldn't go, in fact most of them were thrilled that we had the opportunity to go. I make no excuses, this is what our family chooses to do and as long as my daughter continues to excel in school we will take our trips.

We have been fortunate that during two of those trips we were able to what the space shuttle take off, so our trips have been in my opinion learning experiences. What we also do while at WDW is make a point of talking to other guests while waiting in lines, on the buses, etc. It is amazing what we have learned about others and where they live.

Do it, take your trip and don't regret it.

 

[ccgirl]

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.

That's awesome. What a nice teacher.

 

[Crystal_27]

We took our daughter (then in K) out for 5 school days. Our county has a very strict attendance policy, but we gave about 3 weeks' notice, copying both her teacher and the principal. Her teacher (also a Disney fan) was fine, and we never heard anything at all from the principal. I think honesty is the best policy... Good luck!

 

[Limetree]

If it were me, I'd just use common sense. Or you could always find one of those hillarious "educational trip" excuse letters people post here.

 

[Eeyore's Queen]

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?

I would have gone anyway. Don't care. I already shelled out the money. They would have had 4 1/2 unexcused days. Like I said, they aren't in high school yet. However, I will say, I was very aware of our district's policies before I planned our trip. I have taken them out twice before. So I was pretty confident that they would be excused.

 

[ccgirl]

If it were me, I'd just use common sense. Or you could always find one of those hillarious "educational trip" excuse letters people post here.

I think it is ridiculous people have to write them at all. Anything can be educational. Heck, I can find education in doing the laundry.

I would have gone anyway. Don't care. I already shelled out the money. They would have had 4 1/2 unexcused days. Like I said, they aren't in high school yet. However, I will say, I was very aware of our district's policies before I planned our trip. I have taken them out twice before. So I was pretty confident that they would be excused.

So, is your district policy that they can have x number of unexcused days?

 

[Christy729]

Thanks for all the replies, they exceeded my expectations!

I decided to send the email yesterday, to the principal, attendance secretary, and his teacher. I kept it extremely short and to the point. I was already aware it would be declared unexcused, so basically it was just out of courtesy. His teacher thanked me for the advanced notice. She said she would prepare what she could ahead of time, the rest he could make up later. The principal's reply..."do you have room for me?"

 

[McIntoshTx]

For the past 6 years we have taken our daughter, now 11 out of school for at least 4 to 5 days to go to WDW and in quite a few of those years we went twice within the school year. I have never had any teacher or school principal say that we shouldn't go, in fact most of them were thrilled that we had the opportunity to go. I make no excuses, this is what our family chooses to do and as long as my daughter continues to excel in school we will take our trips.

We have been fortunate that during two of those trips we were able to what the space shuttle take off, so our trips have been in my opinion learning experiences. What we also do while at WDW is make a point of talking to other guests while waiting in lines, on the buses, etc. It is amazing what we have learned about others and where they live.

Do it, take your trip and don't regret it.

 

[njanimalkingdom]

My kids our 1st & Pre-K. Our District has the "educational trip" forms. I refuse to fill them out. Even if the request is denied we our still going to pull our kids out of school. If we pull the kids out it is only for a day or 2 anyway. We just call the kids out sick that day and send in a note for an excused absence. We don't tell the teacher that we are going away that way they are not caught between the policy & parents.

 

[Colleen27]

I mention it to the teacher a few months in advance, but I send the formal notification in just a week or two ahead of time. Every teacher I've talked to about vacations has said that anything more than a couple weeks and it is apt to be forgotten, so I tend to shoot for 2 weeks in advance of the first missed day.

 

[texasteacher35]

I let my DS5's teacher know about 2-3 weeks ahead...I let my DD15's teachers know about 1.5 weeks ahead, because the HS teachers do not remember and do not have the makeup work accessible too early, if notified. That's what we always do and it works...we will keep doing this until one child seems to struggle in the makeup work...so far, no worries...and my DD15 is #17 in her class of 600...so no worries there, even with AP classes! Have a great trip everyone!

 

[texasteacher35]

So, is your district policy that they can have x number of unexcused days?

I don' think vacation days are unexcused...our district has "medical excuse" absences that DO NOT EVER count against a child, i.e. doctor note, orthodontist note, dentist, etc.

We also have 10 days a year that parents can excuse their child, for vacation, or or personal reasons, or just home illness (with no visit to the doctor or documentation required).

Unexcused absences are skipping school with no parent phone call or communication/knowledge of the absence...OR over the 10 days allowed per school year.

 

[maryj11]

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?

I was wondering the same thing my 2nd grader will also miss 3 days. I hate to tell them but I know I have to lol .