Totally fine to pull kindergarten child out for a week?

Anonymous
100% fine.

And for some of the posters above, it is perfectly possible to message to a child that there is a balance between family fun and school time that gets more difficult as the child gets older - no high schooler is going to demand that parents take them on vacation on school days based on a trip in K.

When my kids were in ES, we did take some fun days off, but as they got older/harder work/grades matter we stopped. They were capable of grasping the difference.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm considering pulling my child out for 4 days in November to go to Disney. Child is in kindergarten.

This is totally fine to do, right?


It’s your child, right? Not the school’s. Not the government’s. Why would it not be alright?


Actually, Virginia law requires a kid to go to kindergarten.


Actually it doesn't. You're not considered a truant until 1st grade.


K is not required in VA. Also, I have heard FCPS will "disenroll student" if out for two weeks so then you just re-enroll? its public school so nothing is preventing you from re-enrolling after your vacation.
Anonymous
K is not required in VA. Also, I have heard FCPS will "disenroll student" if out for two weeks so then you just re-enroll? its public school so nothing is preventing you from re-enrolling after your vacation.


I believe it's when you are absent for 10 consecutive school days that will get you disenrolled. So, if there is a school holiday/teacher workday somewhere in there, that resets the clock.

But for OP- yes it's perfectly fine. We did that in January for my 1st grader last year, and timed the week around the extra teacher workdays so she only missed 3 days of school. It was even counted as an excused absence.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Mom of high schoolers here. Totally fine in November. The only time it wouldn’t be a good idea would be the first month of school and the last week — those transitions are important.

Go and enjoy yourselves. Once they get to middle and high school, pulling them out isn’t as easy or advisable.


Oh, if some random mom of high schoolers says it's ok, then surely it must be!

Kids should learn from Day One that schooling is very important and that you don't skip it for things like Disney. It doesn't really matter whether the kid is actually "missing" something.
+1 it is unexcused


Seriously, who cares? Unless you're raising idiots, I think they can understand that school is important, even if family trips take them out of it for a week or so every year.
Anonymous
FCPS had no problem canceling school for weeks at a time during 2020, so now I really don't care if we pull the kids out for a few days.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:FCPS had no problem canceling school for weeks at a time during 2020, so now I really don't care if we pull the kids out for a few days.


Oh.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Mom of high schoolers here. Totally fine in November. The only time it wouldn’t be a good idea would be the first month of school and the last week — those transitions are important.

Go and enjoy yourselves. Once they get to middle and high school, pulling them out isn’t as easy or advisable.


Oh, if some random mom of high schoolers says it's ok, then surely it must be!

Kids should learn from Day One that schooling is very important and that you don't skip it for things like Disney. It doesn't really matter whether the kid is actually "missing" something.
+1 it is unexcused


Which means exactly nothing for a Kindergartener. It only matters for students who are taking high school classes if they aren't allowed to make up a test or assignment that was given on a day on which they have an unexcused absence. Otherwise, it doesn't matter at all. Just don't expect the teacher to provide you with a packet of work for your child before you leave. Enjoy the trip, OP!
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes. No one ever thinks at HS graduation/dropping their kid off at college “I wish I’d spent less time with my child”


Oh please. OP just doesn't want to spend the extra money to go during actual school breaks.


Why is that wrong if OP doesn't want to spend extra money. I do this every year. Less crowds to deal with and less expensive. WIN WIN.

- Mom of 4th and K
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes. No one ever thinks at HS graduation/dropping their kid off at college “I wish I’d spent less time with my child”


Oh please. OP just doesn't want to spend the extra money to go during actual school breaks.


Why is that wrong if OP doesn't want to spend extra money. I do this every year. Less crowds to deal with and less expensive. WIN WIN.

- Mom of 4th and K



It is fine, but then don’t complain about the calendar and not enough instructional time. If you are purposely taking your kids out, you have no right to complain.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:FCPS had no problem canceling school for weeks at a time during 2020, so now I really don't care if we pull the kids out for a few days.


^ This. Mic drop.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes. No one ever thinks at HS graduation/dropping their kid off at college “I wish I’d spent less time with my child”


Oh please. OP just doesn't want to spend the extra money to go during actual school breaks.


Why is that wrong if OP doesn't want to spend extra money. I do this every year. Less crowds to deal with and less expensive. WIN WIN.

- Mom of 4th and K



It is fine, but then don’t complain about the calendar and not enough instructional time. If you are purposely taking your kids out, you have no right to complain.


Yup, not complaining. Let's not connect dots where there is no connection to be made. It's a straight up question from the poster and so many on here are making assumptions that we're the same people complaining about the calendar and/or instructional time. We're not. We supplement at home regardless of time away from school and the kids are doing just fine.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Mom of high schoolers here. Totally fine in November. The only time it wouldn’t be a good idea would be the first month of school and the last week — those transitions are important.

Go and enjoy yourselves. Once they get to middle and high school, pulling them out isn’t as easy or advisable.



Mom of high school aged kids. I was just thinking of how silly I was when the kids were in preschool and elementary school and worried so much about attendance and grades. I highly recommend you going to Disney if you want. Enjoy this special time. The preschool years are precious!!!
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes. No one ever thinks at HS graduation/dropping their kid off at college “I wish I’d spent less time with my child”


Oh please. OP just doesn't want to spend the extra money to go during actual school breaks.


…so? She wants to do something with her kid. The kid spends time with her family at Disney for a week *and* sees her parents at school breaks. Who is the victim here?
Anonymous
Yes, go to Disney. FCPS teaches nothing so he won't miss anything.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Yes, go to Disney. FCPS teaches nothing so he won't miss anything.


I am a kindergarten teacher and that is just rude.

I’m sure this child is fine missing days but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t miss anything. I’ve had kids out already who have missed fun projects and there isn’t a lot of time to do them Otherwise.
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