As a teacher (I teach middle school Language Arts and 9th grade English) I have to say that it's none of the school's business if you take your children on vacation!
Don't get me wrong - the letter is great - use it! Still, we go every year during the school year. I inform the school that my children will be absent for a week and that we will be out of town - that's all they need to know. Other than this week, my children are rarely absent except, of course, if they are sick or there is an emergency. If they are sick, we get a Dr. excuse - just as my husband or I would do (if necessary) for our work.
Our school system allows for missing a certain number of days, sort of like the same system my husband and I have at work (sick or personal days). We truly treat school as a job. We expect our children to work (go to school) every day - but they also know that vacations and sickness is part of life and are acceptable reasons for not being "at work."
School is important but family is MORE important!
23 Days, 21 Hours til we're back at WDW and Fort Wilderness!