Go. No one will care. The way APS takes attendance they may not even notice.

Also, get used to the robocalls saying your kid is absent when in fact you know they are there. Their attendance taking is a complete joke.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t do it in high school and would depend on my kid for middle school. Wouldn’t think twice about going for elementary if circumstances called for it. (I think much needed vacation after a family loss qualifies.)

It’s okay. Lots of students are out. Go on your vacation. If there is a test, arrangements will be made to make it up at a different time. Do not ask for the work ahead of time since that’s more work for the teachers or expect them to tutor your kid after school to catch up when you get back. -HS teacher

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Anonymous wrote:Don’t worry, half the teachers will do the same.

APS is getting strict on approving leave before holidays. That being said I can see a lot of potential “illnesses” I wouldn’t doubt that we end up combining some elementary classes due to lack of teachers and students

In our experience middle school is heavy on tests/projects right before breaks. If possible, I would hold off booking until your kid starts and then reach out to the teachers to ask - explain the situation and see if they can tell you the plan or if they can't - would they be willing to give your kid the test early before you go.

I think my kid watched 3-4 movies during the days leading up to break this year. They do nothing in the lower grades. Upper grades do work but none of mine have had tests.

Don’t worry, half the teachers will do the same.

I think a lot of kids are going to be “getting wisdom teeth out” or have a “minor medical procedure” that week.

I wouldn’t do it in high school and would depend on my kid for middle school. Wouldn’t think twice about going for elementary if circumstances called for it. (I think much needed vacation after a family loss qualifies.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares. Schools are a mess. There aren’t even enough teachers.

Do what works for you.

Sadly, agreed. I have no qualms missing school days. In the long run, who cares (schools certainly don’t).

Well, the issue is that OPs kid is an eighth grader and would potentially be taking classes that count for high school credit which ends up on their college transcript.

In my experience, some middle schools are more lenient than others, and teachers don’t typically have graded assignments the first few days before break lets out but if they do, it is not an excused absence, and the teachers are not required to let them make it up. At our middle school there seems to be a culture of leaving early for spring break and even though the eighth graders had a math test last year right before break, the teacher allow them to do it the week before.

Anonymous wrote:Who cares. Schools are a mess. There aren’t even enough teachers.

Do what works for you.

Sadly, agreed. I have no qualms missing school days. In the long run, who cares (schools certainly don’t).

For older kids, I've found that there are often tests/exams that last week before break.

Who cares. Schools are a mess. There aren’t even enough teachers.

Do what works for you.

We are in APS, we have been going away every winter for two weeks over the last few years and have booked flights to Hawaii for two weeks (starting prior mid-week) before the 18th. Lots of people go away for this time period, so I'd be quite shocked if anything would be scheduled those few days before the break.

Our oldest is in 8th grade and after cancelling all of our summer vacation plans due to my father being ill, DH suggested we look into taking a trip over winter break. No guarantees we’d even be able to go, but it would be nice if we were able.

How sparsely attended to you think December 18-20 will be? And for a kid who hates missing school, do you think many tests will be given that week?

We were new to APS this year and aren’t sure what to expect. In our previous school in GA, it is unheard of to have less than two weeks at winter break.