Getting out of town and missing school Election/Veteran's Day week

[Anonymous]

We have decided to take a vacation the week of Election Day/Veteran's Day for a variety of reasons, but to summarize, this is what works for our family. Kids are off Monday and Tuesday and will be absent Wednesday - Friday. I know that Friday is Veteran's Day and a lot of parents have off but kids do not. Kids are late elementary and middle, and are OK with the plan, have straight As, and are good communicators with their teachers so they will let them know in advance that they'll be away.

I realize now that this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are the first three days of Q2. I wasn't concerned about missing three days when we planned this but this gives me pause. My other concern is that my 8th grader will be in the process of applying to high schools including competitive magnets. Will three unexcused absences in Semester 1 hurt her?

Are any other families planning on taking off that week? I believe in the past it's kind of been a lost week due to the odd schedule and we've never been part of that.

We have time to change this if necessary, but one thing Covid has taught me is that no day is that important and flexibility is more ok than it used to be.

[Anonymous]

Unexcused absences could have an adverse impact. One of the things we were told is that attendance is a significant factor in specialized programs in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

So you call in sick those three days. Covid exposure/testing. NBD.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t worry about it. They are good students.

I have a kid in a Magnet HS program now and would not do it. But if your kids are ES and MS, it is fine.

[Anonymous]

That week.
Apparently, you have not been paying attention to the news.

OP why are you asking clearly your parenting is well... Good luck.

[Anonymous]

All the unexcused absence means is that teachers do not have to let your kid make up the work.
However, I think most teachers realize that kids are not in charge of family vacation plans and choose not to penalize the students.

[Anonymous]

We learned from covid that the school system doesn't see
Missing many many days of school as particularly important, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, everyone. We also learned from COVID that they don't care about absences very much. We also inquired about a summer opportunity last year for one of our kids (academic program our kid was interested in in early June) and every single teacher said "this is great, missing a week of school for this would be fine with me" which was surprising. We didn't do it but I thought that was interesting.

What I mostly care about is my kids keeping up (not too concerned) and teachers not taking our frustration on our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unexcused absences could have an adverse impact. One of the things we were told is that attendance is a significant factor in specialized programs in MCPS.

What does this mean exactly? 1, 2, 4? Are they punishing parents that kept their kids home a week in January due to covid, for example?

[Anonymous]

Wouldn't worry about it at those ages OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That week.
Apparently, you have not been paying attention to the news.

OP why are you asking clearly your parenting is well... Good luck.

DP

What news? What am I missing here?

[Anonymous]

I found my kids schools kept really poor track attendance. I would get report cards with puzzling absences. Once a notice that my child was in danger of failing because of an excused sick day and 2 AP exam and a field trip. When I called the school they said just ignore. This was a magnet hs.
I would only worry about an oddball teacher who will not provide work in advance or allow makeups. It is a huge burden for teachers but they know parents will just lie if they enfonrce the rules.