Missing school for vacations

[Anonymous]

I have a toddler and we've only done 3-4 Florida vacations. Got a condo, rented a car and kept it simple. We used to travel a lot and hoping to start again soon. Couple of our friends who love to travel with their 4-8 yr olds routinely Have heir children miss school (preschool and kindergarten, elementary school) and believe that's the best way to travel. They did three and four trips respectively last year from 4-9 days long.

They've kept it to domestic trips and the Caribbean. One of them did Disney in April after spring break and loved it. For spring break they stayed in DC and did all the museums. Both spouses work but have some flexibility where they work even on vacation for 3-4 hrs and the children (3 out of 4) still nap when on vacation and sleep by 9ish?
What does DCUM think about this I am curious?

[Anonymous]

I thought many did that at least till high school starts. It's very crowded traveling anywhere now and this really helps.

[Anonymous]

I have no problem missing school in preschool but would limit it more in K-2nd grade. Once in 3rd grade and beyond we've missed the occasional 1-2 days of school to extend a long weekend but I'd only take them out for a week+ for a really important family event like a wedding, funeral, etc. and only that long if it's a really great distance to travel. I know families that have taken their 5th graders out for a week for a trip to Disney (for no other reason than they just want to go when it's less crowded) and I think that shows a lot of disrespect for their kids' education.

[Anonymous]

I'm not a fan at all of missing school for regular vacations. Special ones (international, family-related, etc.) But I just did it this weekend with my 3rd grader. So I'm a hypocrite.

I am given to all or nothing thinking, so take it with a grain of salt. I think it depends on the totality of the circumstances. And I agree with PP, the older the kids get, the more difficult it is to miss school. I can rearrange my own work, or do things ahead of time, but school isn't as flexible.

[Anonymous]

Numerous threads on this.

Personally, we don't miss school for vacation. Ever. And it gets tough. Even if my kid misses a day for being sick, it's hard to make up the work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem missing school in preschool but would limit it more in K-2nd grade. Once in 3rd grade and beyond we've missed the occasional 1-2 days of school to extend a long weekend but I'd only take them out for a week+ for a really important family event like a wedding, funeral, etc. and only that long if it's a really great distance to travel. I know families that have taken their 5th graders out for a week for a trip to Disney (for no other reason than they just want to go when it's less crowded) and I think that shows a lot of disrespect for their kids' education.

+1 It's selfish, shows kids that your priorities are wrong and probably creates a lot of extra work for your kid's teacher.

[Anonymous]

Do I care? No I don't care one iota. To each his own. What is this, general gossip? Jeez.

[Anonymous]

Lots of families do this (including our family).

Given the diversity of our mcps school, many kids travel to India, Mexico and Central America, Asia and Africa for weeks at a time to visit relatives---so I don't feel guilty pulling my kids out for a few days here and there.

I just read that either the UK or a specific district (maybe London) just adjusted their school calendar to build in a random week off that isn't around any holiday precisely so families can afford to travel (to avoid the Christmas/Easter/summer travel mark-ups). Brilliant!

Mcps sort of unknowingly did this with the crazy week in November 2016 where there's no school Mon, Tues--full day Wed--and half days Thur, Fri. Everyone I know is planning a trip to disney, the Caribbean, the mountains or west coast. We're still exploring options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem missing school in preschool but would limit it more in K-2nd grade. Once in 3rd grade and beyond we've missed the occasional 1-2 days of school to extend a long weekend but I'd only take them out for a week+ for a really important family event like a wedding, funeral, etc. and only that long if it's a really great distance to travel. I know families that have taken their 5th graders out for a week for a trip to Disney (for no other reason than they just want to go when it's less crowded) and I think that shows a lot of disrespect for their kids' education.

Agreed with everything.

Also, there's no way I'd pull a child from school for a week following Spring break to go to Disney.

[Anonymous]

A week a year until oldest goes to middle school. No issues.

[Anonymous]

It is impossible once your child is in middle school. I have had numerous honors students drop multiple letter grades after missing a week of school. It's just too hard to catch up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is impossible once your child is in middle school. I have had numerous honors students drop multiple letter grades after missing a week of school. It's just too hard to catch up.

Does honors matter in middle school? My totally average kid earns straight As in 6th grade at mcps---and I feel the grades are pretty meaningless.

[Anonymous]

To each his/her own.

[Anonymous]

Take all the vacation you can until oldest reaches 7th or 8th grade.

[Anonymous]

DCPS calls child services after 10 day of unexcused absence. You will have to appear in Court to defend your vacations.