WHEN to tell school?

[mjkean]

First let me say that I home school. So as soon as I pressed the enter key, the teacher knew that DS was going to be out for a week.

But I am also counting some of our trip as educational. We will be at Epcot for a day, that is a field trip day. We may also visit Animal Kingdom, that is another field trip day. MK and MGM might count together as one field trip day.

Our son will also help with the map getting to Disney and maps at the parks. He can also help with adding up prices to see what is a better buy.

There are lots of things at Disney and on family trips that are educational. Sometimes you just have to look.

 

[ilovejack02]

THis is what i thought however when i went to kindergarten orientation last week i told DS's new teacher about our trip the end of september i was immediatly handed a form stating the the school discourages vacation during the school year. i continued to read the paper and it asked for the educational aspects of your trip. I could think of many things to write if he was in older elem/jr high but he is ony 5 turning 6. How do i write it age appropriatly. Any help would be appreciated. TIA!

Now of course you will have to change stuff around of this... but this might be a help I found it on www.themouseforless.com

DATE:

TO: [school official]

FROM:

RE: [students name and vacation dates]

Please be advised that [student] will be out of school during the week of [date]. We ask that his absences be excused.

The reason for [student]'s absence is that our family will be out of the state during this week. While we are gone, we will be visiting Walt Disney World. We believe that [student] will be learning many things during this trip and that his education will continue in his absence from school.

Some things [student] will learn about:

* Different cultures of the world, including architecture, language, diet, and dress, by visiting the different countries in the Epcot World Showcase (Japan, China, Germany, Mexico, Norway, Canada, France, etc.) [student] will have the chance to explore the exhibits for each country and speak with natives from each country who work as cast members.

* American history by viewing the Hall of Presidents presentation in the Magic Kingdom and the American Adventure show in Epcot.

* Nature and conservation at Animal Kingdom.

* Science by exploring the Mission:Space ride in Epcot where he will have a chance to see and feel what it would be like to travel by rocket to Mars and by experiencing the Universe of Energy exhibit which teaches about fossil fuels, energy, and conservation.

* Economics by managing his own spending money and making budget decisions on how to spend his money.

[student] will also be learning about map reading by navigating in and to the different theme parks, as well as the resorts and water parks via the Disney bus system, sociological aspects of crowds including patterns and behavior, physics of the different rides, breakthroughs in technology at the Innoventions computer lab in Epcot, art and animation and the history of film, and mathematics.

We believe this will be a wonderful and educational experience for [student] and hope you agree not to charge him with unexcused absences as a result. If it is possible for [student] to take any assignments with him to be turned in when we return or to turn in before we leave any work that will be due while he is gone, please let us know as soon as possible.

Thank you for your attention to this. If you have any questions or need any further information, please feel free to contact me.

[Parent's Signture]

 

[badblackpug]

Pleeaase.
I understand that children are "little sponges" and absorb everything around them, sometimes whether we want them to or not! But, teachers see right through the artifice that this is an educational trip. If you wanted to teach your kids patience by standing in line, you cold take them to the DMV. If you wanted to teach them to share their space with others take them to the supermarket on a Saturday morning. As you said, you can take them to the zoo, or to a museum. Shoot, I have the birthplace of America 10 minutes away from me on the subway. This can all be done without missing a day of school. I am just being honest in stating this trip is about recreation and fun. I am further being honest by saying that I am doing it during the school year to convenience me. (weather, price, crowds, work schedules) Most children (aside from some special needs kids) reeaally don't *have* to go during the school year, it is just easier on us parents.
My main point in my post is that call it what it is. Teachers know that this is not an "educational trip."
I am not saying they won't learn anything, kids will learn stuff at the dry cleaners if they pay attention!
That being said, I am STILL taking them out of school to go to WDW. It is just too darn hot in the summer, and too darn expensive at Christmas!
Let's try not to not to take ourselves *too* seriously!

 

[ilovejack02]

Pleeaase.
I understand that children are "little sponges" and absorb everything around them, sometimes whether we want them to or not! But, teachers see right through the artifice that this is an educational trip. If you wanted to teach your kids patience by standing in line, you cold take them to the DMV. If you wanted to teach them to share their space with others take them to the supermarket on a Saturday morning. As you said, you can take them to the zoo, or to a museum. Shoot, I have the birthplace of America 10 minutes away from me on the subway. This can all be done without missing a day of school. I am just being honest in stating this trip is about recreation and fun. I am further being honest by saying that I am doing it during the school year to convenience me. (weather, price, crowds, work schedules) Most children (aside from some special needs kids) reeaally don't *have* to go during the school year, it is just easier on us parents.
My main point in my post is that call it what it is. Teachers know that this is not an "educational trip."
I am not saying they won't learn anything, kids will learn stuff at the dry cleaners if they pay attention!
That being said, I am STILL taking them out of school to go to WDW. It is just too darn hot in the summer, and too darn expensive at Christmas!
Let's try not to not to take ourselves *too* seriously!

Poster said that teacher gave her a form to fill out and turn in about what was educational about her child's trip to WDW and needed some help filling it out. The letter I found should help her do that.

 

[maxtomsmom]

First let me say that I home school. So as soon as I pressed the enter key, the teacher knew that DS was going to be out for a week.

But I am also counting some of our trip as educational. We will be at Epcot for a day, that is a field trip day. We may also visit Animal Kingdom, that is another field trip day. MK and MGM might count together as one field trip day.

Our son will also help with the map getting to Disney and maps at the parks. He can also help with adding up prices to see what is a better buy.

There are lots of things at Disney and on family trips that are educational. Sometimes you just have to look.

You can add to that with keeping a journal about the day. Writing a postcard to a family member or even the school. You can take a picture of your child writing the postcard. Take a quick poll while waiting on lines. Questions could be- What is your favorite Disney character? Favorite theme park, ride, etc. Then, when you're back home you can make a bar graph with your child. Your child could present it which is also building communications skills.

I truly believe and I said this before, any trip and time spent with family should be valued and is also educational. We are not merely expecting our children to grow up to be on their own one day and work. We are also expecting them to learn how to manage free time, learn the value of family time and develop long lasting relationships. Trips always bring us closer and give us something to enjoy together as a family.

 

[Microcell]

We are going to have fun, and that is really all there is to it. We will see hall of presidents to help the kids learn more about them, but we also have dinnertime discussions about the same thing.

We are going to see Philharmagic 20 times just because I want to see Donald's antics!

Do whatever you feel is best, but I just told the teacher we had to take our vacation because of DH's work schedule. She is not the sugar coating type though!

 

[Tricia1972]

Now of course you will have to change stuff around of this... but this might be a help I found it on www.themouseforless.com

DATE:

TO: [school official]

FROM:

RE: [students name and vacation dates]

Please be advised that [student] will be out of school during the week of [date]. We ask that his absences be excused.

The reason for [student]'s absence is that our family will be out of the state during this week. While we are gone, we will be visiting Walt Disney World. We believe that [student] will be learning many things during this trip and that his education will continue in his absence from school.

Some things [student] will learn about:

* Different cultures of the world, including architecture, language, diet, and dress, by visiting the different countries in the Epcot World Showcase (Japan, China, Germany, Mexico, Norway, Canada, France, etc.) [student] will have the chance to explore the exhibits for each country and speak with natives from each country who work as cast members.

* American history by viewing the Hall of Presidents presentation in the Magic Kingdom and the American Adventure show in Epcot.

* Nature and conservation at Animal Kingdom.

* Science by exploring the Mission:Space ride in Epcot where he will have a chance to see and feel what it would be like to travel by rocket to Mars and by experiencing the Universe of Energy exhibit which teaches about fossil fuels, energy, and conservation.

* Economics by managing his own spending money and making budget decisions on how to spend his money.

[student] will also be learning about map reading by navigating in and to the different theme parks, as well as the resorts and water parks via the Disney bus system, sociological aspects of crowds including patterns and behavior, physics of the different rides, breakthroughs in technology at the Innoventions computer lab in Epcot, art and animation and the history of film, and mathematics.

We believe this will be a wonderful and educational experience for [student] and hope you agree not to charge him with unexcused absences as a result. If it is possible for [student] to take any assignments with him to be turned in when we return or to turn in before we leave any work that will be due while he is gone, please let us know as soon as possible.

Thank you for your attention to this. If you have any questions or need any further information, please feel free to contact me.

[Parent's Signture]

Thank you for posting this letter. It will help me wade through the paperwork when I take my DS (now 3) out of school for WDW in the future!