Help with taking dd out of school for trip - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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The absences were still unexcused, but only because they only excuseable absences, really, are for illness or emergencies. But they get no more than 24 days per school year that they are allowed to miss school.
I also informed the principals of my older ones' schools that this was the order of excused absences/tardies: God, ME, judge, doctor, dentist. If I excuse her, she's excused. Period, end of story. If I say she's UNexcused (which I did more than once), then she is unexcused.
I missed more school than I attended, would have graduated at 16, but for needing one more English credit and the principal refused to sign off for me to take it in summer school (only fail-ees or special permission were allowed). I did graduate at 17 after wasting a year of my life taking Senior English along with Office Aid, Office Aid, Office Aid, drafting and late come/early release. Quite a lot of my high school days were spent travelling. My dad worked for American at the time and sometimes we'd just get a hankerin' to fly to Dallas for the day, y'know? Back then, a call or a note was all it took and that's all it should take now, too.
do what you think is right...the school district will not give you any trouble...they yell a lot but they cant hurt you childs kindergarten experience unless YOU let them....
I would put together a little vacation education plan to present to the teacher before you announce that you'll be pulling her out of school for a week.
I did this for Calder when he was out for a week in 1st grade. I made a little journal with things he had to write and calculate that related to the trip. (It's on my website -- Eileen's Mouse House and you're welcome to download it and modify it -- you'll need Microsoft Publisher to do that.)
I haven't found it a problem to take my son out of school through 5th grade. He's never missed a day (not EVER) from being sick, so taking him out 5 days a year hasn't really affected things through Elementary School. (Middle School is going to be a whole other ballgame )
That said, if he was struggling in one or two subjects, if he was being heavily burdened with homework, if missing several days in a row would adversely affect him (or classmates with whom he was paired for group projects), then... by all means... I would not take him out of school.
I completely understand the school's point of view, but I find family trips to be invaluable in terms of bonding, learning, and enjoying each other!
Eileen
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the only excuseable absences, really, are for illness or emergencies.
Ya know, I got my knickers in a twist over the "unexcused" terminology when I first was told that Calder's absences would be "unexcused." Then I talked to my sister who teaches in a high school.
I think "unexcused" is a term the schools use (unwisely, IMHO) for anything other than the limited list of "exuseable" reasons for absences.
This system *isn't* in place at the schools for those parents who are involved in their kids lives, who support their education, who know where they are each day. The "unexcused absence" tracking is there for those kids who are ditching school and whose parents need to be notified and held accountable for their kids' whereabouts.
Unfortunately, family trips gets lumped into the "unexcused" column. I just wish they had a third column on the report for just plain old "absences" that would cover those times when a kid isn't in school, but is with their family.
I've just finally grown my skin thick enough not to get upset when I see the 5 days Calder was on a big family trip listed under "unexcused."
Oh... and my sister reminded me that the school has pretty much no legal right to your child and you have all the "say" in when they go to the school and when they don't. The only time the school can give you a hard time is if the child won't meet the state requirements for total number of days in attendance.
Eileen
Robin - I took my kids out of school 3 times over the years for trips to WDW. When they were younger the teachers had them keep a trip journal to share with the class. They had to write in it every day. It made for a good transition time at the end of the day before bed. I still have those journals and they are so much fun to read. Enjoy your trip! (If Caroline does keep a journal you could title it her WDW Trip Report and post it online. I'd love to read it! )
I did this for Calder when he was out for a week in 1st grade. I made a little journal with things he had to write and calculate that related to the trip. (It's on my website -- Eileen's Mouse House and you're welcome to download it and modify it -- you'll need Microsoft Publisher to do that.)
Eileen could you save it in a PDF format? (there is a free download add on Microsoft's website that allows you to do this...not sure what versions it is for though).
I pretty much have every professional layout/graphics program, but none of them open Publisher!
We've taken our DD's out of school for WDW several times. And are going to take DD11 out at Thanksgiving for a week. We always let them know ahead of time, and, quite frankly, make our DD's do work they wouldn't normally. They have to plan, decide, budget, calculate... they have to learn how to speak at least a few words in languages they don't normally speak, learn how to navigate, develop social skills many adults don't (i.e., hello, my name is 'x' -- I would like to know if I could trade...; asking for directions; patience with grace - lines sometimes DO happen at WDW).
I know it's "frowned upon" but the experiences they get from travelling far outweigh those they get from a few days in school. I got to travel for a year out of school with my parents when I was 10-11 (we went to Europe on sabbatical) and it was absolutely the best thing ever!
We will be taking our boys out in Nov. for 7 days , This will be our 11 year olds third trip and the twins (age 7) first during the school year. We have never had any trouble - I ask the teachers to just save all thier work and we will get it done over Thanksgiving break. But we have a great school, I sub there and all the teachers know about the trip months in advance since I am raising Disney Crazy kids
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Quite a lot of my high school days were spent travelling. My dad worked for American at the time and sometimes we'd just get a hankerin' to fly to Dallas for the day, y'know? Back then, a call or a note was all it took and that's all it should take now, too.
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