As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
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It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
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So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
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If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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We are leaving this coming saturday for DW, first time ever for me taking my kids out of school and I am so upset over this that I was contemplating cancelling the trip.
I need some advice please!!!
My kids have off on Monday and Wednesday so they are tech. missing just 3 days of school. My plan was to just call them out on tue/thurs/friday, but my friend told me that when she went to disney last sept. during the holidays she wrote the core teachers a note saying that they will be away for the week and would like to know if there is any work that can be given ahead of time, etc etc. just to show we are being proactive....
my oldest is in her first year of HS
and I have two middle schoolers and a 4th grader......
if someone can please help me calm my nerves so we can actually have a good time and give any advice i would be greatly appreciative .
Number 1 - Do not feel guilty about taking them out of school! You can make up school time, but you cannot make up family time!
Number 2 - I have a 4th grader who we took out this January (3rd grade) and will be taking her out again this coming Jan. I already contacted her teacher and told her we will be going and then I will also remind her a month out and request some work for her to bring. I will also write a letter to the principal about a month out to let her know of the absence. I know my school will not excuse it already, so I do not even try to ask for it to be excused. We are allowed 10 days of absences a year without issues.
As for the older kids with more than 1 teacher, I would write 1 letter that explains they will be gone and asking for some work and give one to each teacher.
Family is the most important.
Number 1 - Do not feel guilty about taking them out of school! You can make up school time, but you cannot make up family time!
Number 2 - I have a 4th grader who we took out this January (3rd grade) and will be taking her out again this coming Jan. I already contacted her teacher and told her we will be going and then I will also remind her a month out and request some work for her to bring. I will also write a letter to the principal about a month out to let her know of the absence. I know my school will not excuse it already, so I do not even try to ask for it to be excused. We are allowed 10 days of absences a year without issues.
As for the older kids with more than 1 teacher, I would write 1 letter that explains they will be gone and asking for some work and give one to each teacher.
Family is the most important.
Thank you!!!!
I think that's what I will be doing.
My 4th graders teacher is a disney fan herself but she already told us at meet the teacher night that she will not give out work ahead of time, its just too much, but she will NOT hold it against us for going on vacation, she said flat out, GO AND HAVE FUN.
I am more worried for my older kids ......thank you!!
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As a retired h.s. teacher, I think you've been advised well on how to go about notifying your kids' teachers.
Only one suggestion: With two middle schoolers and a high schooler, I would make this the last vacation during the school year until all three have graduated high school.
Yes, I know parents often cannot get vacations scheduled during school breaks. However, a week's absence from the upper grades can be difficult to make up satisfactorily for both student and teacher.
That's especially so for classes emphasizing participation such as the interpersonal communication I taught. It was difficult to assure students grasped such complex concepts when absent since the majority of the classwork was small group discussion and experimentation.
Something to consider--Is further complicating a teenager's often stressful life that much worth it?
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Let the teachers know ahead of time. Any missed assignments can be made up during your trip so they don't fall behind. Also if they miss any quizzes or tests, your kids will be prepared to take them immediately upon return. 3 days is probably about the most I'd want mine to miss though!
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I was always pulled out of school growing up and we always made the teachers aware and I was always given homework to do while on vacation. I went my sophomore year and after that we opted it was just too hard with all my advanced classes. I only had issues in one class/one teacher but that semester my B grade dropped to a C which I later brought back up. My favorite homework assignment as a HS student - a Spanish presentation of all things Disney with an emphasis on world showcase. It was so fun completing that project even if it was a lot of work.
Basically let everyone know prior & ask for work or an idea of what they will be missing. If after returning anyone is struggling get help and reconsider pulling them out in the future. If no none has issues than you can continue with the same vacation schedule in the future. Only you know your kids limits. Enjoy your family trip.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
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I have extended a long weekend break by one day, but no longer than that. It does get harder for high school and middle school students to make up consecutive missed days--not just the homework, but the lessons they missed during the school day.
Some families have no problem missing school; it's a decision you have to make for yourself.
Anyway: This one has been planned, and you may lose money by dropping or shortening it, so notify the teachers and go ahead and enjoy yourself! Note whether this was worth it after you return, so you won't be second-guessing yourself on future vacations.
What do your kids think about it, especially the one in high school? My brother & his wife used to go for 10 days every September, and their son decided not to go with them when he hit high school, because it was so hard to make up that time--obviously, he was gone much longer than your kids will be!
I have extended a long weekend break by one day, but no longer than that. It does get harder for high school and middle school students to make up consecutive missed days--not just the homework, but the lessons they missed during the school day.
Some families have no problem missing school; it's a decision you have to make for yourself.
Anyway: This one has been planned, and you may lose money by dropping or shortening it, so notify the teachers and go ahead and enjoy yourself! Note whether this was worth it after you return, so you won't be second-guessing yourself on future vacations.
What do your kids think about it, especially the one in high school? My brother & his wife used to go for 10 days every September, and their son decided not to go with them when he hit high school, because it was so hard to make up that time--obviously, he was gone much longer than your kids will be!
I HEAR YA!!
This will be the first and LAST time i do this again lol, not worth the stress....
my high schooler is ok with it, she has confidence that she will be able to do all the work
i emailed all the teachers and only heard back from 1 which is fine, and i do NOT expect the work but i wanted to give them the opport. to know ahead of time if they can do it or not that's fine, other wise my kids will get it all when they come back.
We have done many trips where we took one or more kids out of school (my kids all attended a non government school and they always sent me a reply which requested we reconsider our plan and take vacation in the school holidays only).
Some years the teachers gave work, some made the child do an assignment on the countries visited, in later years our youngest has been able to do some online learning and some said go and enjoy but mainly we were told to have our children write a journal and decorate it as the project whilst we were on vacation.
Don't feel guilty! On your deathbed do you think you'll remember the fun family times or the guilt of missing three days school?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pixiemom
I HEAR YA!!
This will be the first and LAST time i do this again lol, not worth the stress....
my high schooler is ok with it, she has confidence that she will be able to do all the work
i emailed all the teachers and only heard back from 1 which is fine, and i do NOT expect the work but i wanted to give them the opport. to know ahead of time if they can do it or not that's fine, other wise my kids will get it all when they come back.
Good, sounds as if you didn't need to stress yourself so much, yay!
I'm glad you're feeling better about this, so you can enjoy your vacation without that guilt. Have a magical vacation!
Don't feel guilty! On your deathbed do you think you'll remember the fun family times or the guilt of missing three days school?
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We have done many trips where we took one or more kids out of school (my kids all attended a non government school and they always sent me a reply which requested we reconsider our plan and take vacation in the school holidays only).
Some years the teachers gave work, some made the child do an assignment on the countries visited, in later years our youngest has been able to do some online learning and some said go and enjoy but mainly we were told to have our children write a journal and decorate it as the project whilst we were on vacation.
Don't feel guilty! On your deathbed do you think you'll remember the fun family times or the guilt of missing three days school?
lol good point , lol thank you!!!! i sent emails to all the teachers and so far just got 1 reply back but that's ok, since we are off from school these past two days, my kids also have notes as a back up for tomorrow.
thank you!!
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I hope your older children are able to make up their work and aren't missing any science labs (those usually can't be made up). Many teachers won't give make-up work when it's an unexcused absence (which this trip will be).
I hope your older children are able to make up their work and aren't missing any science labs (those usually can't be made up). Many teachers won't give make-up work when it's an unexcused absence (which this trip will be).
I spoke to my HS'er and asked her about the labs, she said she will be fine, the teacher is having them do 22 labs as opposed to the 20 that is mandatory for matters just like this, and or if anyone is sick....i am more stressed then her, she told me to relax
but thank you!
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