Why does the School Schedule have no Summer

[lauralarissa]

I mean really if you think about it most public schools only have about 2 months of summer. My kids got out on May 23rd and go back August 4th. So ours was 2 months and 2 weeks. But when I factor in my sons high school summer baseball (which they have to do to be on the spring team). We had no Summer ! We had a "Dead Period" of 2 weeks in July so thats when we went to WDW. I would absolutly LOVE to go between Thanksgiving & Christmas and of coarse our schools get butt hurt if you pull you kids out for vacation! They will call Truancy Board on you! And I really wouldn't want to go on the actual holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas/ New Years.

 

[100AcreWood]

We get a week off in October for Fall break and that's when we plan our big vacations. My kids used to go to a year round school and that was pretty awesome. Lots of chunks of time off and no long summer to stay busy.

 

[DisneyLvr55]

Your getting 10 weeks off - Thats more than average . The fact that your son wants to play basketball, and has to play through the summer to be able to play on the team is his choice - Can't blame anyone else for that. I had to do the same for tennis in HS - It was my choice, and I dealt with it.
And if you want to take your child out during the school year, you should be able to do so with adequate notice, as long as its not over the specified amount of time already laid out by your school district. I'm sorry, but I don't see a valid complaint here....

 

[lauralarissa]

We get a week off in October for Fall break and that's when we plan our big vacations. My kids used to go to a year round school and that was pretty awesome. Lots of chunks of time off and no long summer to stay busy.

We do too it's always the week with Columbus Day. We went that week in 2012 did the MNSSHP. It just seemed to me to that we were rushed to get home to get the kids back to school. Maybe it's because we drive. It's an 800 mile road trip. We went this year in July because that was our only option. I actually prefer the 1st week in June. That's when we used to go. July was too crowded with teenage tour groups for me! And crowded in general! So I really don't know when we'll go back. i just wish we could go see the christmas season at WDW!

 

[lauralarissa]

Your getting 10 weeks off - Thats more than average . The fact that your son wants to play basketball, and has to play through the summer to be able to play on the team is his choice - Can't blame anyone else for that. I had to do the same for tennis in HS - It was my choice, and I dealt with it.
And if you want to take your child out during the school year, you should be able to do so with adequate notice, as long as its not over the specified amount of time already laid out by your school district. I'm sorry, but I don't see a valid complaint here....

My son plays baseball because he wants too and loves too! I wasn't blaming anyone. Just stating a fact. The same school district was 12 weeks not that long ago but they decided to give them a fall break and a whole week at Thanksgiving instead of just Thursday and Friday. That is my complaint. They take away the summer but add more days off during the school year. In 2012 we went to a family reunion for my kids Great Grandfather who was 85 at the time. They missed one day at school for that. And when my son handed them the note it was labeled unexcused. So he got all zeros for that day not allowed to make up anything for that day. The response was that's not and adequate excuse for an absence. So I'm pretty sure they would laugh in my face if I tried to take them out for a vacation.

 

[pfp258]

Guess you should check with a lawyer....you are the parent, you can take your child out of school for whatever reason you would like to. Now, excessive truancy might mean your child repeats a grade or your child may get zeros for the days they are gone, but YES you can call the school and let them know your child will not be at school for the day. I usually just state my child (or children) will not be in school for the day or days. If they are sick, I let the school know, if not I typically say their absence is not do to illness. It is none of the school's business (except for illness ) why your child is not at school.

 

[Aliceacc]

I mean really if you think about it most public schools only have about 2 months of summer. My kids got out on May 23rd and go back August 4th. So ours was 2 months and 2 weeks. But when I factor in my sons high school summer baseball (which they have to do to be on the spring team). We had no Summer ! We had a "Dead Period" of 2 weeks in July so thats when we went to WDW. I would absolutly LOVE to go between Thanksgiving & Christmas and of coarse our schools get butt hurt if you pull you kids out for vacation! They will call Truancy Board on you! And I really wouldn't want to go on the actual holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas/ New Years.

The SCHOOL schedule isn't a problem. My husband and I are both teachers, and we're off from late June until late August. We're also off at least a week for Christmas, a week in February, and at least a week at Easter.

It's the BASEBALL schedule that you have an issue with.

It's hard for school districts to fit in the 180 days they want, work around the holidays and holy days of a variety of different religions, and give people what they want. As much as I don't always agree with their choices, I have to admit that they're doing what they can.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

My son plays baseball because he wants too and loves too! I wasn't blaming anyone. Just stating a fact. The same school district was 12 weeks not that long ago but they decided to give them a fall break and a whole week at Thanksgiving instead of just Thursday and Friday. That is my complaint. [\B].

Ummm have you checked with the actual students to see what they prefer? Thinking back to my school days, by the end of the summer I was over it and ready to get back to a routine. Had you offered me a full week off in November, I would have grabbed it like a man dying of thirst being offered a Dole Whip.

 

[lauralarissa]

Guess you should check with a lawyer....you are the parent, you can take your child out of school for whatever reason you would like to. Now, excessive truancy might mean your child repeats a grade or your child may get zeros for the days they are gone, but YES you can call the school and let them know your child will not be at school for the day. I usually just state my child (or children) will not be in school for the day or days. If they are sick, I let the school know, if not I typically say their absence is not do to illness. It is none of the school's business (except for illness ) why your child is not at school.

I really don't understand how the schools these days especially in our area act like your kids are theirs and you have no say so over it

The SCHOOL schedule isn't a problem. My husband and I are both teachers, and we're off from late June until late August. We're also off at least a week for Christmas, a week in February, and at least a week at Easter.
It's the BASEBALL schedule that you have an issue with.

No I think I really still have a problem with the schedule. My kids have way to much time off during the school year. I would rather have a longer summer than all the days off during the year.
They start August 4th
Off Labor Day, off Fall break 10/13-10/17, off Thanksgiving Week 11/24 -11/28, Off Christamas Break 12/22 - Jan 5, Off MLK Day, Off Presidents Day, Easter Break 03/30-04/03, and 10 alotted snow days/severe weather days if needed, summer starts memorial day.

 

[tajz90]

I really don't understand how the schools these days especially in our area act like your kids are theirs and you have no say so over it

No I think I really still have a problem with the schedule. My kids have way to much time off during the school year. I would rather have a longer summer than all the days off during the year.
They start August 4th
Off Labor Day, off Fall break 10/13-10/17, off Thanksgiving Week 11/24 -11/28, Off Christamas Break 12/22 - Jan 5, Off MLK Day, Off Presidents Day, Easter Break 03/30-04/03, and 10 alotted snow days/severe weather days if needed, summer starts memorial day.

I agree with you on the schedule. We have the same issues where we live from baseball/football/ basketball, to dance team, and band. Seems like this year we've had no time off when summer reading was factored in. It's like he was in school while reading and answering a 250 question package. I remember summer as being nothing but summer fun. And we can't take our children out of school either. It's up to the discretion of the teachers, but the rules state that zeroes will be issued for unexcused absences. In fact, if a student has two excused absences, they have to take finals which is 20% of the child's grade.

 

[lauralarissa]

Ummm have you checked with the actual students to see what they prefer? Thinking back to my school days, by the end of the summer I was over it and ready to get back to a routine. Had you offered me a full week off in November, I would have grabbed it like a man dying of thirst being offered a Dole Whip.

I can say is that my 14 year would rather have a longer summer. My daughter is 7 she really doesn't understand all of that yet. All of our week breaks the weather can be iffy. Fall break is is usually ok, Thanksgiving is cold and wet, Christmas is colder and more wet, sometimes snow and ice we usually get ice storms and not as much snow, our Easter break last year was not Easter break it was spring break and it was still cold. This year we actually have our spring break over easter so hopefully the weather is nice. There is just so much more we/they can do with a longer summer. They are not stuck in the house like they are with most of our breaks.

 

[luv2sleep]

Our school district has a short summer too. The kids have a fall break, spring break, and a 3.5 week winter break. Anyone know WHY districts have decided to add MORE breaks during the year and take them away from summer? What's the rationale for this? There has to be some logical fiscally related reason. It's always about $$.

 

[lauralarissa]

I agree with you on the schedule. We have the same issues where we live from baseball/football/ basketball, to dance team, and band. Seems like this year we've had no time off when summer reading was factored in. It's like he was in school while reading and answering a 250 question package. I remember summer as being nothing but summer fun. And we can't take our children out of school either. It's up to the discretion of the teachers, but the rules state that zeroes will be issued for unexcused absences. In fact, if a student has two excused absences, they have to take finals which is 20% of the child's grade.

Thank You!! Last year my DS played football for the 1st and last time. He was hurt during a practice. Long story short he broke is wrist and his growth plate shifted. Since the growth plate moved we had to go to the ortho Dr. every week for a month to make sure it stayed in place. He was tardy those 4 times and 3 more after every 2 weeks. Our schools say 4 tardys equal to 1 unexcused absence. So he had an unexcued absence with Dr's notes due to the tardys. I guess I should have just kept him home all day lol.

 

[MandiC]

My kids and I would all prefer a longer summer to all the breaks. We are in WI and all the other breaks just stink our week long 'spring break' this year featured a foot of fresh snow The extended Thanksgiving break (we don't have a week but do have Wed.-Fri) stinks because I am trying to get ready for Thanksgiving...4 little helpers don't make that easier
Compare that to summer, we have so much planned, and now with only a month left I am worried we may not have time for it all. Summer is short in WI, I'd much rather have my kids home during the good weather and at school when it's too cold to be outside

 

[lauralarissa]

Our school district has a short summer too. The kids have a fall break, spring break, and a 3.5 week winter break. Anyone know WHY districts have decided to add MORE breaks during the year and take them away from summer? What's the rationale for this? There has to be some logical fiscally related reason. It's always about $$.

I'm am sure it's all about the $$! I'm a stay at home mom so I don't have to worry about finding childcare for all these breaks. But I feel for those that have to.

 

[lauralarissa]

My kids and I would all prefer a longer summer to all the breaks. We are in WI and all the other breaks just stink our week long 'spring break' this year featured a foot of fresh snow The extended Thanksgiving break (we don't have a week but do have Wed.-Fri) stinks because I am trying to get ready for Thanksgiving...4 little helpers don't make that easier
Compare that to summer, we have so much planned, and now with only a month left I am worried we may not have time for it all. Summer is short in WI, I'd much rather have my kids home during the good weather and at school when it's too cold to be outside

My point exactly!! Our winters are not brutal like yours but never the less it's winter not summer!

 

[luv2sleep]

I'm am sure it's all about the $$! I'm a stay at home mom so I don't have to worry about finding childcare for all these breaks. But I feel for those that have to.

We have child care year round to cover all of those breaks so thankfully that's not an issue. I just wish my kid had a longer summer. Would give us longer summer options for travel also.

 

[lauralarissa]

We have child care year round to cover all of those breaks so thankfully that's not an issue. I just wish my kid had a longer summer. Would give us longer summer options for travel also.

Me Too!!

 

[monorailmom]

I feel your pain. We start school in late Aug, and don't have a real break until Christmas. Then we have a week in Feb., a week in April, and get out of school in mid June. (depending on snow days)

What bothers me, like you, is that there really isn't much 'time off' anymore. We used to take our kids out of school for a week in Nov. (no flames, please!) when they were younger, but switched to August when our oldest were in High School. Here's the thing: even over Christmas break, my kids have had projects to work on! Our daughter is in the Drama Club, and if you want to participate in Drama Fest (their regional competition) you have to be available for rehearsals on February vacation week. There are always "math packets" to work on or something over our supposed 'breaks'. How is it fair that they tell us not to take them out of school because they'll miss work, only to assign them work/required activities for the extracurriculars they love during OUR time off??!!!

I think life should have a balance. We all need to work hard, but we also all need time off with our families. It shouldn't be this much of a struggle!

 

[Toadlover]

I feel your pain. We start school in late Aug, and don't have a real break until Christmas. Then we have a week in Feb., a week in April, and get out of school in mid June. (depending on snow days)

What bothers me, like you, is that there really isn't much 'time off' anymore. We used to take our kids out of school for a week in Nov. (no flames, please!) when they were younger, but switched to August when our oldest were in High School. Here's the thing: even over Christmas break, my kids have had projects to work on! Our daughter is in the Drama Club, and if you want to participate in Drama Fest (their regional competition) you have to be available for rehearsals on February vacation week. There are always "math packets" to work on or something over our supposed 'breaks'. How is it fair that they tell us not to take them out of school because they'll miss work, only to assign them work/required activities for the extracurriculars they love during OUR time off??!!!

I think life should have a balance. We all need to work hard, but we also all need time off with our families. It shouldn't be this much of a struggle!

I could have written this post! Im looking at spring break for our next disney trip but who knows if snow days will eat into that like happened last year.