Wwyd??? I am a little sad!!!

[Sammy]

We have block scheduling at our high school as well and I agree...that's a LOT of work to miss. The school (I think the whole district) has a policy of NOT giving out work beforehand, so 7 days missed would be a monster-load of work to make up. Unfortunately, when the kids get older, you just have to travel differently.

 

[java]

Sorry I am with everyone else on this. You can't take a high schooler out of school for 7days and not think it's going to impact their grades. It'll be very hard to make up work and many teachers won't want to deal with it.

I assume it would be an Unexcused absence which in our high school is a HUGE no-no.

I would change the dates on my vacation. Don't put that pressure on your daughter.

 

[Nancyg56]

I just wanted to add that there is no way I would take a family vacation and leave one child home because she chose to go to school. IMO that is punishing a child because she is responsible and is committed to her studies.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Not too mention some schools have a school policy in which if you have so many unexcused absences, you have to repeat the semester even if you get an "A".

I know dd's school in TX (Flower Mound HS) had that policy. They would force zero's on her. I think the missed days were 7 in a semester, if I recall.

My dd went to school sick as most kids did so they would NOT miss ANY work. She was in all AP's. Missing one day of math was a huge deal for her. Not too mention marching band.

OP, please reconsider your trip. High Schoolers cannot miss school.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I would reschedule the trip. I think it would be more important to go on the trip as a family rather than worrying about a little weather or crowds. At 15, your daughter will be going off to college soon, and there will be fewer opportunities for you to have special times with her as she gets older. I would not leave her behind either. I would reschedule to a time that is more appropriate for the whole family.
It seems as if your daughter is being quite responsible and thinking of her grades and the impact it will have as she readies to apply to colleges. She should be commended for that.

I agree. Seven days is a lot to miss at high school. I'd consider rescheduling the trip, even if that meant going during the summer so your whole family can go together before she is off at college/working/on her own. Kudos to your dd for keeping her good grades a priority!

 

[mjkacmom]

As a parent who wouldn't (and didn't) hesitate to take kids out of ELEMENTARY school, I'd reschedule. I took dd13 out for a DAY last year (MS), and she almost had a heart attack. HS counts - I can't even imagine taking a child out for a few days, never mind 7. It's getting harder and harder to get into colleges. Bravo to your dd.

 

[just4today]

I just wanted to add that there is no way I would take a family vacation and leave one child home because she chose to go to school. IMO that is punishing a child because she is responsible and is committed to her studies.

Yes, and I can't imagine asking my child to make that choice between doing the responsible thing and going with the family to have fun.

 

[golfgal]

My kids don't like to miss even ONE day of school let alone 7. There is just WAY too much homework to make up on top of everything else they get when they get back. Most high school teachers will not give her that much work ahead of time for a vacation. I would have her fly out Friday after school, spend the weekend and fly back either late Sunday or miss Monday and fly back then. As kids get older the ability to take these kinds of trips just diminishes.

 

[allison443]

I just wanted to add that there is no way I would take a family vacation and leave one child home because she chose to go to school. IMO that is punishing a child because she is responsible and is committed to her studies.

I completely agree. OP didn't it even cross your mind that it might be a problem for your dd to miss seven days of block scheduling?

Your dd is being very responsible and reasonable, imo, and should be supported by her parent, not made to miss a family vacation.

 

[disneygals]

Our last trip during the school year was when my oldest was in sixth grade. The last times we have gone have been in the summer.

Do I miss going at quieter times? YES! But it's also nice to go when the threat of school and missed work is not hanging over everyone's head.

 

[cabanafrau]

If I was proposing this to DD15, I wouldn't be able to ask anyone's opinion on the DISboards or elsewhere, because I would be obliterated by her death ray eyes at the very thought! I cannot believe your school will actually give it's blessing, let alone in high school. Our district frowns in elementary, middle & high school are no go.

 

[wdwfan16]

I would reschedule to a time when she could join you.

 

[BelleWDW]

When My were teens we went during the Presidents day holiday and they missed additional 2 days-any more was impossible in their demanding High School.

 

[Tinkermom76]

We are going in Dec and it's just me and my 2 DD's. My DS15 has decided he doesn't want to go this time and not because he will miss school but because he says he's too old for Disney I am upset that he won't be with us but I respect his opinions too

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

I just wanted to add that there is no way I would take a family vacation and leave one child home because she chose to go to school. IMO that is punishing a child because she is responsible and is committed to her studies.

I agree with this. Try to find a time when she is on break to go if possible. We went the last couple of weeks before school started in August in 2008. It was hot, but I thought totally manageable. And, hey, it's Disney! Still totally fun. Good luck!

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

We are going in Dec and it's just me and my 2 DD's. My DS15 has decided he doesn't want to go this time and not because he will miss school but because he says he's too old for Disney I am upset that he won't be with us but I respect his opinions too

In that case, I'd leave him home, too, and go and have fun!

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Your dd sounds like a very responsible young lady, kudos to her That being said, I think missing 7 days of school for any of your children is going to cause stress. Maybe it's me, but I wouldn't want to put that extra burden on my kids. They have too much going on to have to makeup all the extra work. Perhaps you can suck it up and reschedule.

 

[bjgrazi]

I have a senior in HS, he's only going for part of our trip. He's flying down on Thursday night (after school) and coming home with us on Sunday. He didn't want to miss anymore school but he agreed to 1 day.

Maybe she can fly down with you spend a long weekend then take her to airport and have someone meet her on the other end.

7 days is too much for them to miss during HS. As for the argument they leave for college and you won't have opportunities, that's not true. My oldest lives 2,000 miles away and we still vacation together, it just takes more planning.

 

[Jeafl]

My kids are in high school and on block scheduling. There is no way I would take them out of school for 7 days!

I would let your daughter stay with relatives. If you really want to have a family trip with all the children I would reschedule the trip to sometime when they're out of school.

Its very difficult to make up work once the kids are at high school level. If she's a straight A student that means she's either in honors or AP classes, which cover a lot of material in 90 minutes, not including all the homeworks (I have an honors/AP student). If she missess 7 days it will affect her grades. DD missed a week due to illness one year and it took her almost the entire semester to get all the work caught up and her grades dipped. She's never missed more than a day since. She says its too hard to get caught up.

Also, as another poster pointed out, the teachers may not be willing to let her make up the work if its an unexcused absence. How will she/you feel if she gets zeros on everything she missed?

I took my kids out of school in elementary without any problems but stopped once they hit middle school (we have block scheduling there to). If it were me I would reschedule the trip for when they're out of school.

This is EXACTLY what I was going to say. I hate to "pile it on" you, but there are certain things at high school level that CANNOT be made up. Things like labs for example. Teachers are not going to set up a lab all over again just for one student.My kids were/are also A students and in AP and honors classes and freak at the thought of missing any days at all because they'd be so far behind.

Theoretically, the homework could be made up, but remember that she would be missing a lot of INSTRUCTION. Everything you learn in high school builds on other things and falling behind would be way too easy.

One last thing, we just went to WDW in July and it was pretty crowded. However, the longest we waited for anything was 20 minutes because we used the Ridemax program. Trips during busier seasons do not have to be a disaster.

Congratulations on raising such a great, responsible daughter!

 

[gonzo76]

I just wanted to add that there is no way I would take a family vacation and leave one child home because she chose to go to school. IMO that is punishing a child because she is responsible and is committed to her studies.

I think this needs to be repeated. Why pressure your child like that? You are the parent. Disney is not more important than school!