Middle schooler missing 1 week of school - how to handle?

[Anonymous]

My family is going on a multigenerational trip to celebrate the 100th birthday of a family member. For reasons I won't get into here, it is not during a school break so my DD in 8th grade will miss a week of school in early May. She's a good student who should not have a problem with the missed time, and she has a really experienced math tutor who can help with any new concepts covered in math. Has anyone done anything similar and have any tips on how to best approach it? Will teachers/admin be helpful if we come clean about the trip in advance and try to make arrangements to keep up with the work?

I know some people will tell me how horrible I am for pulling my kid out of school for a trip, but we've decided that this is worth it for our family. Still I'm hoping for advice or insights from those who may have done this before.

[Anonymous]

Everyone does this, OP. Just warn teachers ahead of time, so that they can either get their act together and send work early (most won't), or take her absence into account and give her work when she comes back. Say it's for the 100th birthday of a relative, and they will understand. Actually, most of them won't care

[Anonymous]

You'll likely get some snotty and snarky responses from some teachers or admins, who are supposed to discourage families from booking travel outside of breaks, but you'll be fine. Just make sure your daughter does a good job of understanding what work she will miss and making up whatever she does miss when she gets back.

[Anonymous]

If you write a note that she is missing for a 100th bday, or family trip, teachers do not have to supply the work, and can give her zeros for anything missed. I am not saying they WILL, I am saying they CAN, because it will be an unexcised absense.

If you say she is missing for religious reasons, it is excused, and teachers must provide the make up work, and cannot give her any zeros for time she's missed.

[Anonymous]

You are going. She might miss SOLs but it is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you write a note that she is missing for a 100th bday, or family trip, teachers do not have to supply the work, and can give her zeros for anything missed. I am not saying they WILL, I am saying they CAN, because it will be an unexcised absense.

If you say she is missing for religious reasons, it is excused, and teachers must provide the make up work, and cannot give her any zeros for time she's missed.

I've never heard of any teacher doing that. What would be really mean. In high school, my kid has had jerk teachers, sure. But middle school? Haven't heard of any.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you write a note that she is missing for a 100th bday, or family trip, teachers do not have to supply the work, and can give her zeros for anything missed. I am not saying they WILL, I am saying they CAN, because it will be an unexcised absense.

If you say she is missing for religious reasons, it is excused, and teachers must provide the make up work, and cannot give her any zeros for time she's missed.

I've never heard of any teacher doing that. What would be really mean. In high school, my kid has had jerk teachers, sure. But middle school? Haven't heard of any.

It's not about jerk teachers. That's the MCPS rule. And it's not a good idea to lie about the reason. The principal can authorize an excused absence for a reason that's not religious, sickness, etc. If you explain the situation, most principals will excuse the absence -- problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Doesn't your school have a form to fill out for absences like this?

[Anonymous]

You just have to make sure it is not a time of major tests in a subject for high school credit. Otherwise she just has to make up the work. NBD. We did it all the time for sports and honestly the only issues were the county tests.