Taking time for vacation when school is IN session

Hello,

My daughter is going to Kindergarten next year. We are thinking of taking a trip in October when school is in session. So my daughter would miss a week. What are your thoughts? It's the last vacation that we can go on where kids will be in short supply. We are thinking Disney.

And let's face it, I work FT, I need a peaceful R&R, too!

Thanks for your thoughts!!

In our district, the trip must be deemed "educational" --yep--even for a kid in Kindergarten AND they must complete all work from the week (days) they miss. That said, throw in a trip to Epcot, and go! It only gets harder the higher grade they're in.

go!
khairete
suz

Go for it! You can get an independent study packet from her teacher so she doesn't "fall behind," and that will give her something to do on the plane :)

I personally don't like taking kids out of school - but I totally understand your wanting to have a RELAXING vacation.....talk with the teacher and find out what she might miss - are their little things you can bring with you to help her while you are gone?

I know that when I go on vacation - i bring learning activity books for my boys - geography, Presidents, etc.

HAVE FUN!

For kindergarten, I would totally do it! This will be the last year you will probably get to and it not "affect" her schooling! Have fun!

Just find out what work she'll be missing from the teacher and get some 'make-up' work for her to do. It's kindergarten, so I can't imagine it would be much more than a few worksheets. Have fun!

It's kindergarten. Go and have a great time!

I'm sure I will be dealing with this often come fall. Up until this point we have homeschooled the kids, so if there is an experience that they can have we skip lessons, or shorten lessons for the day. I won't have that freedom for every little thing come fall when they go to public school, however, I have no issue pulling them out for things.

You have to take vacations when you can, sure it's a school week, but this isn't likely something that she will get to do a million more times.

I have heard about different districts having strict rules on taking your kids out for non-family emergencies so I would definitely first check with your district to make sure they don't freak.

With that said- I would say go and have a good time!! Its kindergarten and kids should have fun!! If it were jr high or something I would say aim for the fewest days out as possible because of getting caught up, but in my personal history of mising school for vacation, it was hard, but ALWAYS worth it!

It's not my first choice, but I've done it and it's worked out well. Kindergarten shouldn't be a problem, but sometimes it can depend on the child. I've actually pulled my kids out of school for vacation up until 7th grade. They do well in school and it hasn't been a problem, but there's NO WAY I can do it once my oldest starts high school next year. It's nice to take advantage of those less busy times at popular vacation destinations. Does your school or district have any fall breaks or days off for Teacher/Staff Development, conferences, etc.? Sometimes you can minimize the amount of time they miss school by taking advantage of those types of days off. Maybe she'll miss 3 days of school instead of 5. Give both the school office and the teacher a heads up in advance. My sons' teachers have had them keep travel journals--even just drawing pictures if your daughter doesn't know how to write yet. Have fun!

I don't like taking kids out of school. Its hard enough to get mine there! If I were planning the trip, I would try to make it around scheduled days off. They always get a 2 days off (4 day weekend) at the beginning of November, or Thanksgiving or Christmas where there are already off for like 5 days.

Also, in our district, trips have to be pre-approved by the Principal. If approved, the week's work is sent with the kid, and is due when they return. The time missed goes as an unexcused absence. That goes against the attendance. My son has missed 6 days for various illness and asthma attacks. Just got a letter home that if he misses 10 days total, excused or unexcused, he could be recommended for grade retention...

Just a thought.

Megan

It's been a very long time since I have taken my daughter out of school for fun because she loves to be there. When she was in first grade she was going to have to miss the Friday before winter break because we were going to Paris. My daughter did not want to ruin her perfect attendance (they had the party already) but her teacher was able to convince her that it was fine because she was going to learn so much more in nine days in France than one day in first grade.

We went on a vacation during school. We just cleared it with my daughter's teachers first. They gave us a homework packet to complete and we also took her to visit the California missions. We took video she could share with the class as well as brought back souveniers. We made our fun trip educational and her teachers were thrilled that we were so diligent about it.
It can be done, just ask for some work to do on the road trip.
Your daughter is only in kindergarten so it's not the end of the world, for sure.

Have fun, let the teachers know ahead of time.

Best wishes.

Family is as important as well as school. A week of fun will not hurt her education and will do a world of good for ALL OF YOU. We have taken my dd out every year for vacation, we can't stand the crowds while school is out. She is in 3 grade now our time is about over. The lower grades are just fine and it has always been easy for her to catch up. With your dd going to K one thing to think about is the social side? Will she have friends in school? The social part of going to school and missing a week might be harder to pick up than the learning. You know your dd and might have to give her a few tips on how to get back into the swing of things. Then again she might just be Miss Popular for getting to go to Disneyland and not have and worries.

Yikes! This is a really bad habit to start. Seriously, you can't take a vacation when school isn't in session? Right now, school is her "job" and she's just STARTING her career... meaning she hasn't earned vacation time yet.

Kindergarten is about "learning how to learn" and establishing learning patterns and routines. Taking her out of school in the first couple of months isn't the end of the world, but don't expect the teacher to be thrilled and provide you with the work ahead of time. If you really HAVE to do this, tell the teacher as soon as possible and if you take work with you- DO IT.

As an educator, it makes me crazy when parents do this. It send a message to the teacher that school isn't important. I know that no one wants to hear that, but it's true. Bottom line. I have a friend who does this each year and next year her oldest will be in 3rd grade and actually told her that he doesn't like when they go on vacation in late September b/c he misses a lot and it's hard for him to get back on track.

A lot of people work FT (me included), disrupting your child's education for R&R doesn't make sense either. Would you take a week off of work at the start of a project? I know I wouldn't.

no matter how you justify it, you are still bombing on your commitment to your child's education. Will it harm them?.....No, but it does set a trend for picking & choosing the rules you choose to abide by! Between spring, Christmas, & summer vacation.....there's more than enough time built into the year for vacation.

I also don't like the mindframe where children have special treats/events, & then return to school with the attitude of "wooo-hooo, I went to Disneyland. Hey, look at me!" That doesn't sit well with me.......

As for your justification of "working FT".....many of us do & we still manage to abide by the guidelines! & as JC A mentioned, there are school districts out there with strict attendance policies. In our school district, if your child falls below 90% attendance, then the child is required to make up that time....either thru afterschool or Saturday detention....in order to move up to the next grade. Check with your district before making plans!

We do this ALL the time, and have done so every year while the kids are in elementary school. Next year when my one starts Jr. High, we'll have to stop taking them out of school. I'm bummed. Back to crowded vacations for a while.

Also, my kids are straight A student, excel in music, theatre, academics, extra-curriculars...Elementary education is designed so that kids can catch up.

Ask your teachers well in advance for any missed work sheets.

And I also used to ask other moms what their thoughts were and I stopped b/c there were some really rigid parents about what kind of educational message and priority I was making....Then I started just asking the teachers, and they were all for it....always asking if they could come along and hire a sub....

We recently moved from the states to Canada, and my goodness, it's a huge practice here in Canada. There are so many kids taken back to their homelands: China, Korea, Russia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Australia....those kids are absent on average 3-6 weeks. And they still catch up.

Have a great R&R!!

Wow! Some strong opinions! My kiddos are older and cannot miss school without getting way behind, and so we do not skip. However, in kindergarten it is not a big deal and crowds at the parks are smaller, weather is cooler. I say make a memory and skip while you still can. They are only young once. And family time is important too.

People do it all the time.

So much, in fact, that some school systems are cracking down on it.
My sons current school sends home this information at the beginning of the year so everyone is clear about the rules:

"This letter serves to advise you that the court takes very seriously any violation of our State's mandatory school attendance laws. As you know, your minor child is required to attend school, and you, as the parent / guardian, also have a legal duty and responsibility to comply with same. Pursuant to Virginia Code Section 22.1-254, "every parent, guardian,
or other person in the Commonwealth having control or charge of any child who will have reached the fifth birthday before September 30 of any school year and who has not passed the eighteenth birthday shall, during the period of each year the public schools are in session.....send such child to school....."
If you or your child disregard that legal obligation, you are subject to criminal
prosecution; and these types of cases are now handled routinely in the Chesapeake Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Recently, we have undertaken a more aggressive docketing procedure to have such cases brought before the Court in a timely manner. We view this as a serious matter and such cases are addressed with appropriate consequences, which may include confinement in the Chesapeake Juvenile Services Detention Home for juveniles or the Chesapeake City Jail for adults."

and

"Teachers and principals shall require students to be regular and punctual in attendance. Regular school attendance and being on time to school and
each class is important in the academic development of the students. Excessive or unexcused absence from school is harmful to such development.
Parents of students who accumulate five (5) unexcused absences are required to meet with the school administration to develop an Attendance
Improvement Plan for the student. At six (6) unexcused absences, a determination will be made if outside help sources can provide assistance. At
seven (7) unexcused absences, students will be referred to court services. (Code of Virginia 22.1-258)
To receive credit for courses using traditional class schedules, a student shall not miss more than 30 days for a full-year course and not more than
15 days for a semester course, unless extenuating circumstances, such as a long illness, that would affect the student's school attendance are
established. To receive credit for courses using the 4 x 4 block schedule, a student shall not miss more than 9 days for a course unless extenuating
circumstances are established. The principal shall be the judge of extenuating circumstances.
Sickness of a student, medical appointments, severe illness or death in the family, exposure to contagious disease, religious holidays, or extenuating
circumstances such as fire, accident, or extremely inclement weather shall be considered the only legitimate excuses for absence or tardiness unless
an exception is authorized by the principal. In all cases of absence or tardiness, the parent or guardian shall give an excuse, in writing, stating the
cause of the absence or tardiness. Absences for any reason other than those stated above must be with the advance permission of the principal
or his or her representative. Such requests must be made in writing stating the reason for and time of absence."

Notice there's an 'out' possibly for vacation by asking for advance permission from the principal.

For kindergarten and maybe grades 1 and 2, it's probably not such a big deal. Upper elementary gets more involved. Once they get to Middle school or High school - I wouldn't dream of taking my son out of school for a vacation. It's just too disruptive.