Anyone's DC missing 1/2 day before Thanksgiving-MCPS?

[Anonymous]

We have a long drive to upstate NY to make on Wednesday. DH wants to leave first thing Wednesday a.m., but MCPS are in session for a half-day. DC is in K.
During parents' night the Principal stressed not to have kids miss school due to vacations, etc.

Are others missing the half day to travel? Am I making too big of a deal out of this?

[Anonymous]

Yep, you're worrying too much. It's only a half day and your child is only in kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

My SIL is a teacher in Loudoun and will be leving early and taking her kids out of MS and ES early as well so she can get a jump on the traffic to NY.

I personally have issue with what she is doing - but obviously her principal is OK with it.

I would not stress too much about it.

[Anonymous]

We are doing that w/our sons, who are in grades 6 and 3. I wouldn't sweat it.

[Anonymous]

Half the school will be absent that day.

Traffic is wretched starting at about noon, so starting early is a good idea.

[Anonymous]

I'm a teacher in MCPS and I would tell you to take the day off (shhh!)....especially for a K student! There will be tons of students absent and it ends up being a "wrap up"/busy work type day because teachers don't want to introduce anything new with so many absences and then a 4-day break to follow. To be honest, EVERYONE is focused on the upcoming holiday/vacation anyway.

[Anonymous]

OP, I took my 2nd grader out of school for 2 days for a family event. I was worried about doing it, because it wasn't a "lawful absence" but it turne dout not to be a big deal. The thing is, just understand that the absence is not "excused" and that if you have too many unexcused absences, there could be problems down the line. However, I'm not sure what the trigger point is for "prblems down the line" -- 5 unexcused absences? 29? Certainly not 2 or 3.

[Anonymous]

Yes, we're actually out of town for a family event the weekend before and will have kids out for all of Tgiving week.