When to notify teacher?

[123SA]

We are going to WDW Nov 30 - Dec 11. When should I notify DD6's teacher? (1st grade) Does anyone have a sample letter?

 

[MariDisney]

We are going to WDW Nov 30 - Dec 11. When should I notify DD6's teacher? (1st grade) Does anyone have a sample letter?

Our district has a particular form that you have to fill out (Request for Absence for Family Travel or some such). I think it's due 10 days before the requested absence. So, at least for us, you don't need to write a letter, just fill out the form. I did let DD6's (2nd grade) teacher know about 10 days ago, which would have been about 2 weeks before our actual trip.

 

[Moonpie]

Hi! I'm a first grade teacher in California. If your child's teacher needs to create a packet of work for your child, it might be best to let the office, and your teacher know as soon as you can so that your child's teacher doesn't have to rush to put something together. I like to know at least two weeks ahead of time so that I can get the right signatures (from parents and administration) on everything.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

Thank you so much for reminding me! I need to send mine in tomorrow. In general, I have always given the teachers about a month's notice before our WDW vacations. I will send in a reminder the week before, since I know teacher's are extremely busy and don't always remember such details about one student.

Here is a copy of the letter I am sending.


Dear Ms. ____,

___ will be absent from school from October 17-October 19 of this year. We have the opportunity to spend some time in Florida to visit distant, extended relatives. We will also spend some time in Walt Disney World. We chose this week to minimize her time away from school, since it incorporates two days off.. School attendance is extremely important, but having the chance to visit with rarely seen relatives in such a special place is also an important part of childhood.

We will do our very best to make this an educational trip for ____, and will look for every opportunity to reinforce skills she is working on in school. I am making an activity book for ___which will incorporate many of the concepts she has been learning.

We understand that ____ will be responsible for classwork and homework during her time away. If it is at all possible, we would love to have some of this work sent home before our trip. We will work with ____ to complete all missed work soon after our return.

Please feel free to contact me at the above number if you have questions regarding Allison’s absence.

Sincerely,

 

[123SA]

Thanks!!!

 

[angel's momma]

You should check on your District requirements.

Our District used to require a note to the principal also.

 

[suezpqt]

I informed my DDs 1st grade teacher 3 weeks before we are scheduled to leave. I was getting ready to write "the letter" and she called to check in and she how she was doing. The teacher was in the process of calling all the parents just to touch base and see if we had any questions. Funny that you ask I said -
She said that there was no problem, would get the work pulled together for me and to have a WONDERFUL time. Phew - went alot easier than I thought!!

 

[misshilda1]

Okay extra pixie dust this way please. I sent the letter to the teacher today and offered to help my daughter do an extra essay on what she learns and all so I'm hoping she will be as understanding as the teacher was last year. My daughter is never late, never misses a day and is on the honor roll. Each year during the end of the year awards ceremony she always has a neck full of awards and a hand full of certificates. However this year they sent one of tho rules and regulations book home for the current school year and this year its at the teachers discrection whether or not they have an excused or unexcused abscence. Luckily she won't miss but a couple days bacuse the week we're going (1st week of Oct.) they have a teacher inservice and parent/teacher conference and the teacher said we didn't need one of those so she might be okay since they're gonna be out some anyway.. I really respect the teaching profession and I know it must be a very hard but rewarding job but honestly as a grown woman I am still afraid of the teacher. I was a good student and always had a good relationship with my teachers but it's just like Mom and Dad you sorta always fear them. I think it's because of the certain kind of respect I was taught to have for people growing up. But anyway she seems nice so throw extra pixie dust this way that she will understand and not mark my daughter unexcused......

 

[Tiffer]

You should check on your District requirements.

Our District used to require a note to the principal also.

I would do this first, then VERBALLY tell the teacher. Some teachers, as in my DD's school, will not give homework ahead of time, and usually only 2 or 3 days to make it up. I have offered faxing..nope!

But definately check the district's rules on how many unexcused days are allowed. You may have to call your child in sick each morning to avoid violating a policy.

 

[misshilda1]

Okay I heard from the teacher the pixie dust must have worked!!!She said that as long as my daughter writes an essay about waht learning experiences she has in Disney it would be an excused abscence and she could make up her work. She said that from the educational stand point that since we were interested in our daughters education upfront and send her a nice letter she would work with us.So I highly recommend for your childrens benefit and your sanity looking at your schools regulations and trying the route we took....Yeah Disney here we come Oct. 1st

 

[sgmom]

I think it also depends on what grade your child is in. My DS is in 1st grade and we had an open house last night. His teacher discussed vacations and said to let her know and she would try to give some homework assignments, but alot of the work they do in the classroom and it cannot be duplicated to send home. He is only getting homework every other day right now and feel that he will make up some of the missed work during refresher time when he returns.

I told her that we will be going the 2nd week in December and she said that is fine, just remind me. So, I will probably let her know around T-giving time which will be between 2 and 3 weeks.

We will have DS do some writing and reading and games that he won't know is helping him to learn while we are park hopping

Again, I think it depends on your school requirements and the grade your child is in.

 

[Lucy2005]

I wait until the first report card comes out so the teachers can at least learn a little about DD and the kind of student she is. Hopefully all will be going well. When your child is in MS with multiple teachers some might be ok and others not. I'm holding my breath. I will ask for work in advance. I will get her help upon return if she is struggling with anything that she missed. I think this will be the last trip that I pull her out because I worry alot about it. What will I do then?

 

[Mommyto2Princesses]

My DD2 told DD6's first grade teacher that we were going to see Pooh. UUUUUGHHHHH! I wasn't ready to tell her yet Anyway, the teacher looked at me and grinned and said "Are ya'll going to Disney World?" I said "Yes, but she'll only miss 3 days of school - it's the week of Fall Break"

Teacher's reply - "I'm taking my kids in February, I totally understand!"

Go Teacher!!!!

 

[seashoreCM]

(copied from another post)

Why not survey what the curriculum already done by your child has been and include in your letter a specific proposal for what your child plans to accomplish and when? In other words you prepare the packet and thus make it easer on the teacher who then only has to rubber stamp what you proposed.

(copied from another post)

Submitting the letter at least two weeks in advance is not a bad idea. In fact your child should accomplish some of the work in advance of the trip so that among other things catching up upon return is not so horrendous.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Brooknwdw]

I informed my 2nd graders teacher at the beginning of school, and my 4th graders homeroom teacher (he has five teachers total) by phone.

Then, I typed out formal letters to all the teachers and the office, we are leaving next Thursday after school and they will miss 6 days of school. I gave out the letters at the beginning of this week, so almost two weeks in advance of absense.

I read up on the school policy beforehand. They are allowed 10 unexcused absenses. This will be six of them. However I am not worried because they will have no other reason to have an UNexcused absense for the rest of the year.

Our school's policy is that they have as many days as they are absent to make up the work.

2nd grade teacher thanked me for the reminder and said she does her lesson plans a week ahead of time, and will give me the work ahead!

4th grade teachers haven't said yet what they are doing..oh except his English teacher she said have a nice time, she's give the work when he returns.

The homeroom teacher said it was no problem, her daughter missed school last year for Disney.
He is in advanced classes so I am not stressing over it.


I am just going to stop in each of the rooms Thurday and see if they have anything to send with us..if not that is fine too.

#1 tip I would say is be familar with the school's policy! So you are prepared for what may be said. If you know what is written in the rules, you can be ready.

Also don't apologize & hang your head. I have just SO gotten over feeling timid & nervous . It's your kids, and you can take them out of the public school system if you wanted to. There is nothing to feel guilty over (I would say the only exception to that would be IF missing a few days of school would fail your child..which I am sure wouldn't happen).