Anonymous wrote:I would miss school to go somewhere I think will enrich them -- national park, foreign travel, significant family event.

Not Disney World.

I agree with this, I would only do this if there were an educational component to the trip. And I've heard of this being allowed to count as an excused absence in DCPS schools for the elementary grades at least- no idea about middle/high school.

OP, in your first post you said it was because it would be significantly cheaper, then later said it wasn't about the money so much but more about them being able to go before their too old to enjoy it. I'm not buying it. My 17 year old would love to go to Universal, heck I'm 47 and I'd like to go too.

Now if my kids were k through maybe 3rd or 4th grade I'd consider doing this, but no way in middle or high school.

Anonymous wrote:I'd be very concerned with the message we're sending.
Especially considering we had the whole summer for "family time."

You realize a lot of us work during the summer, right? And it may not be easy to take time off from June through August and/or have special family time

We usually took our vacations during the winter break, spring break and summer vacation.
Then you have some three-day weekends for Federal holidays, and teacher work-days etc.

My parents took me on vacation a few times during school. I have no recollection of the topics of the homework I had to take with me, nor do I care. What I do recall is the memories we created. I will always remember riding bikes with my brother and me crashing into a tree because I couldn't brake down the hill.

People need to think more long term. In 20 years, no one will care about the missed geometry lessons that you can make up later.

I would miss school to go somewhere I think will enrich them -- national park, foreign travel, significant family event.

Not Disney World.

bit of a technical question for OP: when you call the school to say the kids will be out what will you say?
Do they have excused absences and unexcused absences?
I assume you will be telling the truth?

Yes, and most years we do. We only allow it if all of the kids have no more than one course grade each that is a B or lower for the quarter prior to the planned vacation, and we would have stopped doing vacations if they had caused a significant reduction in grades for the quarter in which they were taken. As long as grades are good, however, it seems fine to us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes would. Your kid is in 6th grade. Not a big deal. HS woudn't work. Do it now.

I think middle school is 7th grade. Unless OP says otherwise

Np: MS is, generally, 6th - 8th grade

Anonymous wrote:I'd be very concerned with the message we're sending.
Especially considering we had the whole summer for "family time."

Np: you do realize that not everyone can travel during the summer, right? I know teachers who take vacations during the school year, outside of breaks/holidays, so why shouldn't students?

OP - I think you should do it and have a great time! I took my son (11 yo, 6th grade) this summer and it was awesome! I recommend buying the interactive wands if they're interested in Harry Potter and Park to Park tickets so you can ride the Hogwarts Express between the 2 parks.

I'd be very concerned with the message we're sending.
Especially considering we had the whole summer for "family time."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. There are SO MANY faculty work days and random days off, that you should be able to find a time. If they have a Friday off, plan for them to miss Thursday and book your flight to Florida on Wednesday night. You'll wake up there and be ready to start your day.

Im guessing OP is already doing this and not just going down there for 2-3 days.

I don't read it that way. Missing 2-3 days of school could be Wed/Thurs - Sunday, so a 4-5 day trip altogether.

Anonymous wrote:Yes would. Your kid is in 6th grade. Not a big deal. HS woudn't work. Do it now.

I think middle school is 7th grade. Unless OP says otherwise

It would depend on what type of student my child is. Do they pick things up quickly and not get frustrated if they are a day or two behind but know they can catch up?

Yes would. Your kid is in 6th grade. Not a big deal. HS woudn't work. Do it now.

Anonymous wrote:No. There are SO MANY faculty work days and random days off, that you should be able to find a time. If they have a Friday off, plan for them to miss Thursday and book your flight to Florida on Wednesday night. You'll wake up there and be ready to start your day.

Im guessing OP is already doing this and not just going down there for 2-3 days.