Taking a kid out from school for a family event

[zumbamama]

I think it's worth it to go. It's a family experience. That teaches him so much.

When I was in high school my parents took me to Japan and the Philippines for a month. I took all my class/homework with me and did it on the beach.

Just ask the teacher for your DC's work in advance and say you have an important family event.

[Anonymous]

thanks everyone!

[Anonymous]

Definitely go. Not sure how to handle the school thing. I know a parent with a child in a magnet program in MoCo who went into a panic when she got a call from the school saying that her child had 3 unexcused absences from a certain class. It turned out to be a big misunderstanding, but the mom was freaked out b/c of the possible "consequences" (which she didn't share with us). So, I guess they take this stuff pretty seriously. So, how do you get an excused absence? By calling in the day of school and saying the kid is at home b/c of an illness? If that's all it takes, then that's what I would do.

FWIW, my parents took us out of school for an entire week every year in early June b/c my Dad was a lawyer who was active in the state bar association --- and that's when the bar met in Ocean City. We looked forward to it every year, and we really didn't miss much in school. We went to parochial school, FWIW (as opposed to public), and I think the rules regarding absences were more lax there (presumably b/c parents wouldn't let their kids skip school if they were paying big bucks for them to attend).

[Anonymous]

The rules about absences in private school are much more lenient than public, because you the parent are paying tuition.

Pubc schools get a certain amount of money per day per child, I believe, from the federal government or the state.

Also, I think that part of the reporting requirements of NCLB involve individual schools now being required to report their truancy rates, and to lower these rates each year.

[Anonymous]

Do not worry, just go.

[Anonymous]

Agreed, as a teacher and a parent, I say go, no questions or info necessary. The teachers nad principal don't really care (no offense). But I would ask for work ahead of time and try to have my kid do some of it while gone. PS Ask the teacher a week or two in advance for the work not the day before...she/he might not give it to you until the day before but don't ask for it that day and expect it.

[Anonymous]

OP update:

We made the trip! I sent an email to my son's teacher explaining the situation, and offering to supervise any work he would miss, and the teacher could not have been more supportive.

She wrote him a letter outlining the work sh'd like him to do while he was off from school and gave him a copy of the book they'd be starting in reading group on Friday. She also asked him to keep a journal of the trip and party, which he has been doing -- and this is a kid who hates to write! We're taking pictures, etc. for the journal, pressing leaves for mementos, etc.

I could not be happier with his teacher and school right now. Thanks everyone for your help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP update:

We made the trip! I sent an email to my son's teacher explaining the situation, and offering to supervise any work he would miss, and the teacher could not have been more supportive.

She wrote him a letter outlining the work sh'd like him to do while he was off from school and gave him a copy of the book they'd be starting in reading group on Friday. She also asked him to keep a journal of the trip and party, which he has been doing -- and this is a kid who hates to write! We're taking pictures, etc. for the journal, pressing leaves for mementos, etc.

I could not be happier with his teacher and school right now. Thanks everyone for your help.

I didn't see this thread originally, but that's great news!

[Anonymous]

I bet the teacher and principal will work with you. These system-wide rules do not always have top-to-bottom support. If they seem uptight, you can consider sending DC to school on Friday morning and then taking him out early. You'll have to be flexible and make your plans when you know more next year.