Pulling 8th Grader (Longfellow) out for week and half before winter recess

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my daughter’s 7th-grade class last year, multiple students missed over three weeks of school (January–February). Same story, usually India or Asia-bound. The current warnings seem overly alarmist. The gradebook initially showed low grades that were usually updated to the students’ actual grades once the work was completed.

Except her kid is missing end of December and won’t have that much time to make up work.

To be fair, the OP is weighing an eight-day absence at the start of Winter break, whereas this poster is claiming that kids missed fifteen days or more during the middle of a quarter—two very different situations. The OP's child will certainly miss some quizzes and tests, but if he’s strong in math (as his invitation to IMO training camp suggests), he’ll likely handle the Geometry exam just fine when he returns. Making up eight days of work at the start of winter break is also manageable; many students have already mentally checked out by then even though classes are still in session. Some replies in this thread feel unduly judgmental of another family’s choice.

OP, take the steps others have recommended: speak directly with each teacher about the absence. They’ll probably remind you it’s your child’s responsibility to complete any missed work and that they can’t provide additional instructional time. Informing them—and the school administration—of the planned leave ensures everyone is prepared and the attendance record is handled correctly.

OP here. Thank you for this. I have been monitoring this thread and honestly the judgement was a bit much, especially about how little we care about our kids education. If any of you knew much about the IMO invite-only training circuit from one of the top ones in the world (which you wouldn’t find on a random Google search!), you would know the compromises and sacrifices we make as a family to enable education and its privileges in our family. Unfortunately this year we are stuck in a bind and need to make this trip and I came on here to get some guidance on how to do this properly and ended up receiving a lot of judgment for asking the question. Shameful!!

[Anonymous]

Not shameful. There is never a reason to pull a kid out of school for 8 days that’s a week and a half before an already long break. You have all summer to go, winter break and spring break. Find a way to go. Or leave you child home and let him fly once he’s out of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The international vacations have been going on for years and pose a tremendous burden on teachers. Choices for family have to be made but bear in mind that attendance is important for both school and work. Do employers grant such long vacations? Know colleges don’t.

OP here. Funny you should mention that. Both my husband and I work so yes employers do grant this request. Colleges offer much more than 2 weeks.

College professor here - your student would automatically fail my class for this many absences. Medical reasons would be the only exception, and that would lead to a medical withdrawal, not a make-up situation.

I've taught at four universities - from small privates to R1s, and the same would be true at every single one, in every single field.

Dude, I went to Columbia University and barely showed up for my Intro to Philosophy class. I still managed an A in that class. So I don't know what the hell you're talking about when you say "fail my class for this many absences." Let's not fib to this poor woman. I think it's a poor idea also because it puts pressure on the kid moreso than a teacher I think. But if her kid is ok with that, then what does it really matter.

Hmm, do we listen to someone who is actually teaching at the college level today or someone who was in college 25 years ago? Nothing regarding the college landscape has changed since then.

I don't think profs have time to take attendance in a 500 person lecture

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my daughter’s 7th-grade class last year, multiple students missed over three weeks of school (January–February). Same story, usually India or Asia-bound. The current warnings seem overly alarmist. The gradebook initially showed low grades that were usually updated to the students’ actual grades once the work was completed.

Except her kid is missing end of December and won’t have that much time to make up work.

To be fair, the OP is weighing an eight-day absence at the start of Winter break, whereas this poster is claiming that kids missed fifteen days or more during the middle of a quarter—two very different situations. The OP's child will certainly miss some quizzes and tests, but if he’s strong in math (as his invitation to IMO training camp suggests), he’ll likely handle the Geometry exam just fine when he returns. Making up eight days of work at the start of winter break is also manageable; many students have already mentally checked out by then even though classes are still in session. Some replies in this thread feel unduly judgmental of another family’s choice.

OP, take the steps others have recommended: speak directly with each teacher about the absence. They’ll probably remind you it’s your child’s responsibility to complete any missed work and that they can’t provide additional instructional time. Informing them—and the school administration—of the planned leave ensures everyone is prepared and the attendance record is handled correctly.

OP here. Thank you for this. I have been monitoring this thread and honestly the judgement was a bit much, especially about how little we care about our kids education. If any of you knew much about the IMO invite-only training circuit from one of the top ones in the world (which you wouldn’t find on a random Google search!), you would know the compromises and sacrifices we make as a family to enable education and its privileges in our family. Unfortunately this year we are stuck in a bind and need to make this trip and I came on here to get some guidance on how to do this properly and ended up receiving a lot of judgment for asking the question. Shameful!!

Well, if he is that smart, what are you concerned about?

[Anonymous]

It doesn’t matter if he was invited to IMO training. It still shows a lack of respect for education and school to skip that much school for non-medical reasons. And it will be a huge hassle for him to try to make up work and get zeros on assessments that will be given in the week or two before break. I just hope you don’t badger the teachers to give him special treatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my daughter’s 7th-grade class last year, multiple students missed over three weeks of school (January–February). Same story, usually India or Asia-bound. The current warnings seem overly alarmist. The gradebook initially showed low grades that were usually updated to the students’ actual grades once the work was completed.

Except her kid is missing end of December and won’t have that much time to make up work.

To be fair, the OP is weighing an eight-day absence at the start of Winter break, whereas this poster is claiming that kids missed fifteen days or more during the middle of a quarter—two very different situations. The OP's child will certainly miss some quizzes and tests, but if he’s strong in math (as his invitation to IMO training camp suggests), he’ll likely handle the Geometry exam just fine when he returns. Making up eight days of work at the start of winter break is also manageable; many students have already mentally checked out by then even though classes are still in session. Some replies in this thread feel unduly judgmental of another family’s choice.

OP, take the steps others have recommended: speak directly with each teacher about the absence. They’ll probably remind you it’s your child’s responsibility to complete any missed work and that they can’t provide additional instructional time. Informing them—and the school administration—of the planned leave ensures everyone is prepared and the attendance record is handled correctly.

OP here. Thank you for this. I have been monitoring this thread and honestly the judgement was a bit much, especially about how little we care about our kids education. If any of you knew much about the IMO invite-only training circuit from one of the top ones in the world (which you wouldn’t find on a random Google search!), you would know the compromises and sacrifices we make as a family to enable education and its privileges in our family. Unfortunately this year we are stuck in a bind and need to make this trip and I came on here to get some guidance on how to do this properly and ended up receiving a lot of judgment for asking the question. Shameful!!

It’s so funny how you find one supportive message to latch onto and ignore the clear consensus that this is irresponsible and there is no way to do this “properly.” It seems clear that you are the shameful person here.

[Anonymous]

Don’t be a jerk to the Longfellow teachers. Let him finish his three full weeks in December and then he can fly out to meet you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know how hard this is to do? Our son would miss the last 8 days of school before winter recess and he's taking Geo H and Spanish 2, along with the other core classes. Will Longfellow administration give us issues with this?

You’ll probably get a letter regarding more than normal absences, but there’s not much they can do. Your student could have quite a bit to make up on their return, you shouldn’t expect teachers to prepare work in advance.

Can they provide the work being missed/due though? I don't want him to lose grades for missed work, so he'll need to submit anything due while he's away. I'm hoping the teachers allow that to be completed.

Anyone know who the geometry teachers are at Longfellow?

Don't expect them to provide work ahead of time. Work may change depending on what the geometry team decides for the coming week. He'll probably need to check Schoology for what can be made up at home (e.g. homework) and he'll have to make up missed assessments when he comes back.
Expect his grade to go down. Math isn't forgiving when it comes to falling behind.

This. Those teachers have enough on their plate. You accommodate a child who is ill not someone who is going on a trip that could be done during break or a summer. Geometry honors is fast paced and a student who cannot commit to all the class times (illness or other legit reason aside) does not belong there. It's your job as a parent to hire a tutor to help keep up and check Schoology if you insist on this. As someone mentioned changes are made last minute sometimes due to homework assignments/test dates, etc based on class needs. If you want good teachers to stay in the profession show some respect and don't ask them to do extra work because of your travel plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do it. Once they get to HS they can barely manage to skip a single day. Then they are gone.

They need to reach out to teachers and get everything organized and be prepared to bring their computer and stay on top of lessons.

YOLO, my friend.

OP here. We are thinking of high school and the inability to visit family (from two different countries in Asia) for the next few years while he's in high school. This is the last chance and their grandmother is very old and will likely not make another 6+ years (when both kids are out of high school).

You have the whole summer. If your child is in high school classes in middle school-treat it as high school. Do not take advantage of teachers. I'm sure plenty have family abroad they would prefer to see during the school year. Plenty of other families have elderly relatives in the US and abroad who will not make it another 6+ years and they see them during breaks.

[Anonymous]

Just posted, but it is not the job of a hard working teacher to take on more work to save you money. This whole request is so en titled. Be grateful you have children who are well and don't need to take off for surgeries and treatments. Wanting to save money on trips to Asia is not hardship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's fine just make sure the teachers give the makeup work and stay on top of them, they have a lot of students (too many) and forget things over break

Is this trolling? The teachers are not required to "give makeup work" or give any work ahead of time. Its not an excused absense.

We did the same thing , just get it in writing I had one English teacher that promised to allow makeups but forgot after break but we had an email.

Kids are barely attend school nowadays teachers are used to it and only pay attention to the ones where parents are involved.

[Anonymous]

Go for it. Kids miss school for periods of time for a number of reasons. Illness, sports injuries, etc.

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of entitled parents (and teachers) on this thread who don't have any cost concerns and assume everyone is living equal lives. OP, do what is right for your family and if that means you need to pull your kid out of school for 8 days, do it. Let the teachers and administrators know the reason (as you said you intend to) and you'll find that most are very understanding and will accommodate this request because you're not the first parent to request it. If your kid is a good student, which it sounds like he is, he'll be fine with making up the work when he returns. He'll likely be fine with his high school geo class as well. This board has become a smorgasbord of truly vile and judgmental people -- not what the original intent was for DCUM.

[Anonymous]

There are also many individuals who masquerade as "parents" and "teachers" who are anything but, and they like to come on to the school forum pages and troll to stir up controversy and righteous indignation.

[Anonymous]

8 days is truly insane at the MS or HS level. I would do 5 days max.