Absences the week of Thanksgiving

[Anonymous]

We’re planning to travel out of state this year for thanksgiving, and to make the trip worth it, weare planning to take the whole week off. I’m wondering how big of a deal it will be for our middle schooler to miss the two half days. I guess I’m worried about unexcused absences and missed work/not being able to make it up because of the unexcused absences. Am I overthinking it?

[Anonymous]

Yes. Your kid can miss weeks and weeks and nobody will do anything about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re planning to travel out of state this year for thanksgiving, and to make the trip worth it, weare planning to take the whole week off. I’m wondering how big of a deal it will be for our middle schooler to miss the two half days. I guess I’m worried about unexcused absences and missed work/not being able to make it up because of the unexcused absences. Am I overthinking it?

Two half days. So many students out that teachers really can't give big assessments. It will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re planning to travel out of state this year for thanksgiving, and to make the trip worth it, weare planning to take the whole week off. I’m wondering how big of a deal it will be for our middle schooler to miss the two half days. I guess I’m worried about unexcused absences and missed work/not being able to make it up because of the unexcused absences. Am I overthinking it?

Two half days. So many students out that teachers really can't give big assessments. It will be fine.

Realistically, the periods on half days are so short that even if a particularly strict teacher wanted to give a test those days, there wouldn’t be time. They may have assignments due those days, but probably no tests or quizzes.

And yes, teachers can refuse to let students make up work from unexcused absences. But if they talk with their teachers in advance, chances are most will work with them. It’s certainly worth being upfront with teachers the week before, because the hardasses won’t let them make it up either way, but many will give them the assignments in advance so they can turn it in on time.

[Anonymous]

You’re overthinking it.

-Teacher

[Anonymous]

This is interesting. My family never did anything like this. I do understand why it’s unexcused but at the same time it seems kind of unreasonable for teachers to blame minor children who really have no control over what vacation plans their parents make for them. (Not blaming OP or anyone else, just hoping most teachers are kind.)

[Anonymous]

Go for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re planning to travel out of state this year for thanksgiving, and to make the trip worth it, weare planning to take the whole week off. I’m wondering how big of a deal it will be for our middle schooler to miss the two half days. I guess I’m worried about unexcused absences and missed work/not being able to make it up because of the unexcused absences. Am I overthinking it?

Two half days. So many students out that teachers really can't give big assessments. It will be fine.

Realistically, the periods on half days are so short that even if a particularly strict teacher wanted to give a test those days, there wouldn’t be time. They may have assignments due those days, but probably no tests or quizzes.

And yes, teachers can refuse to let students make up work from unexcused absences. But if they talk with their teachers in advance, chances are most will work with them. It’s certainly worth being upfront with teachers the week before, because the hardasses won’t let them make it up either way, but many will give them the assignments in advance so they can turn it in on time.

Thanks. That’s good advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re planning to travel out of state this year for thanksgiving, and to make the trip worth it, weare planning to take the whole week off. I’m wondering how big of a deal it will be for our middle schooler to miss the two half days. I guess I’m worried about unexcused absences and missed work/not being able to make it up because of the unexcused absences. Am I overthinking it?

Two half days. So many students out that teachers really can't give big assessments. It will be fine.

Realistically, the periods on half days are so short that even if a particularly strict teacher wanted to give a test those days, there wouldn’t be time. They may have assignments due those days, but probably no tests or quizzes.

And yes, teachers can refuse to let students make up work from unexcused absences. But if they talk with their teachers in advance, chances are most will work with them. It’s certainly worth being upfront with teachers the week before, because the hardasses won’t let them make it up either way, but many will give them the assignments in advance so they can turn it in on time.

Some schools are making modified schedules that have longer class periods on one of the two days. My HS has 1 hour periods and of course we are going to learn something substantial. However, the graded assignment will be available on Canvas the week before and due on the Monday after Thanksgiving. Kids who are in school will get more individual assistance during that one hour class to complete it. Kids who are not in school have the same process as usual for absences - responsible to make-up work.

As far as the absences being unexcused, there are too many parents who will just lie and send in a sick note for their kid, while other parents won't. No point in penalizing the kids whose parents don't lie and get the absence excused. For MS, you are definitely overthinking it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is interesting. My family never did anything like this. I do understand why it’s unexcused but at the same time it seems kind of unreasonable for teachers to blame minor children who really have no control over what vacation plans their parents make for them. (Not blaming OP or anyone else, just hoping most teachers are kind.)

It’s also unreasonable that the other twenty-some students in a class lose a day of meaningful instruction because one or two families took extra vacation and the teacher doesn’t want to “punish” those kids. Depriving 25 kids of learning isn’t kindness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re planning to travel out of state this year for thanksgiving, and to make the trip worth it, weare planning to take the whole week off. I’m wondering how big of a deal it will be for our middle schooler to miss the two half days. I guess I’m worried about unexcused absences and missed work/not being able to make it up because of the unexcused absences. Am I overthinking it?

Two half days. So many students out that teachers really can't give big assessments. It will be fine.

Realistically, the periods on half days are so short that even if a particularly strict teacher wanted to give a test those days, there wouldn’t be time. They may have assignments due those days, but probably no tests or quizzes.

And yes, teachers can refuse to let students make up work from unexcused absences. But if they talk with their teachers in advance, chances are most will work with them. It’s certainly worth being upfront with teachers the week before, because the hardasses won’t let them make it up either way, but many will give them the assignments in advance so they can turn it in on time.

Some schools are making modified schedules that have longer class periods on one of the two days. My HS has 1 hour periods and of course we are going to learn something substantial. However, the graded assignment will be available on Canvas the week before and due on the Monday after Thanksgiving. Kids who are in school will get more individual assistance during that one hour class to complete it. Kids who are not in school have the same process as usual for absences - responsible to make-up work.

As far as the absences being unexcused, there are too many parents who will just lie and send in a sick note for their kid, while other parents won't. No point in penalizing the kids whose parents don't lie and get the absence excused. For MS, you are definitely overthinking it.

My children will both have block days that Monday and Tuesday. It’s a smart use of instructional time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is interesting. My family never did anything like this. I do understand why it’s unexcused but at the same time it seems kind of unreasonable for teachers to blame minor children who really have no control over what vacation plans their parents make for them. (Not blaming OP or anyone else, just hoping most teachers are kind.)

It’s also unreasonable that the other twenty-some students in a class lose a day of meaningful instruction because one or two families took extra vacation and the teacher doesn’t want to “punish” those kids. Depriving 25 kids of learning isn’t kindness.

Sure, but I was thinking in terms of whether or not make up work would be accepted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is interesting. My family never did anything like this. I do understand why it’s unexcused but at the same time it seems kind of unreasonable for teachers to blame minor children who really have no control over what vacation plans their parents make for them. (Not blaming OP or anyone else, just hoping most teachers are kind.)

It’s also unreasonable that the other twenty-some students in a class lose a day of meaningful instruction because one or two families took extra vacation and the teacher doesn’t want to “punish” those kids. Depriving 25 kids of learning isn’t kindness.

It's way more than 1 or 2 kids out of class. More absences than before Winter break. A ton of people travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is interesting. My family never did anything like this. I do understand why it’s unexcused but at the same time it seems kind of unreasonable for teachers to blame minor children who really have no control over what vacation plans their parents make for them. (Not blaming OP or anyone else, just hoping most teachers are kind.)

It’s also unreasonable that the other twenty-some students in a class lose a day of meaningful instruction because one or two families took extra vacation and the teacher doesn’t want to “punish” those kids. Depriving 25 kids of learning isn’t kindness.

There are MANY days that very little 'learning' takes place. Open your eyes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is interesting. My family never did anything like this. I do understand why it’s unexcused but at the same time it seems kind of unreasonable for teachers to blame minor children who really have no control over what vacation plans their parents make for them. (Not blaming OP or anyone else, just hoping most teachers are kind.)

It’s also unreasonable that the other twenty-some students in a class lose a day of meaningful instruction because one or two families took extra vacation and the teacher doesn’t want to “punish” those kids. Depriving 25 kids of learning isn’t kindness.

There are MANY days that very little 'learning' takes place. Open your eyes.

Let me guess: you took your kids out of MCPS long ago.