WHEN to tell school?

[AMaloy314]

I can't get the search option to work, so please forgive me if this has been asked a zillion times.

What are your thoughts on when to tell your child's teacher/school that you will be taking the child out for a WDW vacation?

I know there is a big difference of opinion about taking kids out of school to go to WDW. I feel that it is everyone's personal decision. Having said that, our decision is to take my DS who is starting kindergarten this year to WDW in Feb. Now the question becomes, WHEN do I tell his teacher? I feel a little strange announcing it right at the start of school, but on the other hand, surely she's going to know that we've been planning it for a while. After all, most people don't go to WDW on the spur of the moment. I don't want to her to think that I was hiding it from her.

Thanks everyone!

 

[loopner67]

You're going to have to tell ahead of time to get approval (or that is how our school district works). I would say a month ahead of time would be a good amount of time? If your child has a good teacher, he/she will put together a nice packet of work to do while you're gone. Also, check out the printables link at the top of this page for ideas.

Back to your subject, send in a note or call the teacher and ask what you have to do to take your child out of school for any given amount of time. We have to fill out paperwork and answer questions about what educational benefits our child will get out of the trip. With Disney, this is pretty easy (go through the Epcot Future World Pavilions in your mind). We've done this twice and never had a problem. I think they'll also look at how many days your child has missed so far.

Good luck! I'm with you, I would want to tell the teacher right off the bat because we want to tell everyone about our Disney Trips, don't we? So exciting!

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

When I was taken out this year (I'm in high school, obviously different from kindgergarden) we left on a tuesday and I told my teachers the friday before to give them time for work to be given or test reschedules, etc. It was enough time to get everything I needed. Mind you, I don't know about how your school system is. I took my note into the office with the reason for missing 3 days as 'personal' so they couldn't ask questions (well, they could, but we weren't required to answer) however, I told my teachers why. I couldn't imagine having to do paperwork and other things in order to leave!

 

[bethann1970]

I work in an elementary school and I must say, if your child is only in Kindergarten, don't worry too much. If you go in for a parent-teacher conference anytime in the first half of the school year, that would be a great time to bring it up. I've never heard of a kindergartener having to make up any work or take any on a vacation. Usually that doesn't happen until 3rd or 4th grade. I'm pulling my 2nd, 4th and 7th grader this year for 4 days in the first week of December!

 

[Alex2kMommy]

We were scheduled to take our first trip to DL last April, and I think I told DS's kindergarten teacher as soon as it was scheduled. He said it was no problem, he'd send some math worksheets and a journal along with us for DS to complete.

We had to reschedule our trip for September, so we will go only 2.5 weeks into the school year. Certainly a less than ideal situation, but it was the best we could do. I'm going to email the teacher as soon as we know who it is, partly because I don't want her to think we don't value our son's education, and also in case she wants to have DS work ahead or bring work along with us.

I would not give the teacher just a few days' notice, in case they need to do a lot of preparation, I think probably 2 or 3 months' notice I gave was too much; I agree that about a month ahead is probably good.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I send in the form as soon as I know about the trip. Last year I sent it in on the 2nd day of school this way everyone is on the same page and I have time to move the trip in case I ever get turned down.

 

[Pirate&Princess]

Hey! First of all I'm totally interested in when you are going, according to your countdown, we may be there at the same time. We are going Feb. 2- 11th, when are you going? Everything we read says this is a great time to go, (less crowded, good weather)

This is actually our 4th trip with our DD's - 8 & 5. We have never told the teachers earlier than about 4-5 weeks out! We try not to make a big deal of it. About that time, I send them a note letting them know when we will be gone, and that we would be glad to help them with work at home prior to leaving so they can get a jump on any work or tests they may miss. I've never had a teacher tell us anything other than, "Don't worry about it, go and have a great time!

 

[Fainfamily5]

As a teacher, I would suggest tell the teacher as soon as you feel comfortable with him/her. The teacher may be able to tell you what your child will miss while they are away and you could start working on those concepts beforehand. I see this question a lot on these boards and I think that sometimes we forget that teachers are parents too and we also take personal time off to do things during the school year. Don't sweat it, tell the teacher and no matter what their reaction is you know what is best for you family! Have a great time.

 

[slo]

We go to WDW every September, and I tell my DD's teacher the first time I meet her. Granted you aren't leaving until February, but I would still tell her ASAP. This way she/he knows they have an open relationship with you, and you have nothing to hide.

 

[lady9]

I am a teacher and I have families tell me they are going on vacation as much as 8 months in advance. Quite frankly, I don't need to know that far ahead. There is no way I will know exactly what I will be teaching then. I tell the family to remind me about 1-2 weeks in advance which is when they are required to fill out paperwork for the district. Our district is liberal on vacation policies for students. I appreciate that they understand family time is important, too. I do not send a packet of work for the student to complete. I'd rather they spend the time having fun and not worry about homework. I can help the child catch up after the vacation is over.

 

[Mommy2Lots]

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[MickeyHereWeCome!]

I think I wrote a note to the teachers about 2 months ahead of time. I just stated that we would be out of town, due to a family trip to Disney World, and gave the dates. I also mentioned that we would complete any assignments missed (neither teacher sent any for k and 1st grades). I then sent a follow up reminder note 2 weeks before, so the teachers could have a better idea of what would be covered and could prepare materials, if needed.

This year, the teachers will get notice about a month early, due to timing (going in October).

 

[Evil Queen]

I normally inform the teacher about 2 weeks before the trip.

I'm 4 weeks out, as of this weekend for our next trip, and will either send the note end of next week or beginning of the following. Only being DS is in 5th grade, will be out longer this time and has commitments to the school (safety patrol and morning annoucements). I figured 3 weeks this time to make sure the school can get someone to cover him, if needed.

I really hope the teacher will only send work for maybe 1 or 2 subjects, then give him the rest after we return.

We leave on a Saturday this time, so he can knock out 1 subject Friday night and on the car ride to WDW if needed. We come home on a Saturday, so he'll have Sunday to do the 2nd subject.

Biggest mistake I made last year was asking for all the work. We hardly got around to doing it at WDW and it took up too much room in the car. I really don't want to worry about all those text books, notebooks, folders, etc. One subject or two, yeah, but not all 5-6 of them.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I don't think we have a form to fill out either. I'll mention it shortly after school starts since our trip is in November.

 

[ms.ojo]

We took ds out of K last Dec for nearly 2 wks! I was really nervous. But dh had a business trip for 1wk and I didn't want to fly home alone w/ 2 young children. Anyway, we did Disney and then stayed at Gaylord Palms which had alligators in the 4acre atrium! Talk about cool. But I digress.

I mentioned it to his teacher at the 1st parent teacher conf in Oct and was told to remind her just before Thanksgiving holiday as we were leaving over Thanksgiving. She gave us a few letter worksheets to work on but the big thing was a little journal. He was to draw a picture for each day away and write a little bit about it...I was to do the rest of the writing. Well let me tell you, that journal is my FAVORITE keepsake from our trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will be having him do one again this year. (I'm taking him out of 1st grade for 4 days leading up to Columbus Day weekend) Once again I'm nervous as this time it's so much earlier in the school year! I know soon we will HAVE to go during vaca'ns...but for now...we opt for taking him out of school (dd is in a private preschool so that's easier)

So my advice, even if you teacher doesn't assign work, or a journal...give your child a little notebook and have them draw a picture and talk to you about something neat or memorable (that maybe wasn't so neat) that happened that day. It's an amazing experience to see through their eyes!

 

[mousiemom]

Our dd is in 1st grade this yr. and I'm telling her teacher about our Nov. mtn. vacation Oct. 1st and for the Jan. WDW vacation I'm telling her Dec. 1st. I put mine in writing and last yr., they had her take her tests before we left. The only time we go to WDW is during value season, so she will always be taken out of school!
Have Fun!

 

[Disneyolic]

We will be taking our 2 sons out of K and 1st. Our school says they want to know 2 weeks ahead of time. I scheduled our trip around Columbus Day and a Superintendent conference day so they would only be missing 3 days. I can't wait for our trip!

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

I'm going to tell DS's 3rd grade teacher 2 weeks before we go.Thanks to days off he will only miss 4 days this year. We've taken him out every year since K and it was never a problem. In 1st grade he got work before hand to complete. Last year's teacher gave him the work when we came back. We'll see what ths year's teacher does. I prefer to have the work before hand though, it's easier. His teacher last year told me to enjoy the trip and don;t worry about the work.

 

[antree]

I have always told the teachers 2 to 3 wks before we leave so if there is any work they want to send they have time to get it together. But the last 2 times we went the teachers said just remind me a few days before. So this year I will be telling them 1 1/2 wks before we leave and I will be calling the school the day after we leave to remind them she is away. Every year we go away I come home to 5 calls from the PTO looking for my daughter.

 

[ribbot]

Boy, my son must be in a strict school, because he missed one day in Kindergarten because of pinkeye and he had 14 pages he had to complete. I could only imagine if I took him out for a week-long trip. No thanks, too much stress for him (and for me!) Actually, we normally go for 10 days, so that's definitely out and I don't wanna fight the holiday crowds to save a few days.

We've decided an August trip for next year. Something to end the summer vacation with If I were to take him out of school, I'd probably tell them about 2 weeks before.