For a random vacation, no I would not. I wouldn't want my kid to miss that much scheduled school. It's not so much the academics, but the structure and the idea that school is important.

I would do it for a family emergency, or a very important non-moveable event like a family wedding or funeral or something like that. But not something that I am in control of scheduling.

Anonymous wrote:YES! DO IT NOW BEFORE GOING ON AN OFF-SEASON VACATION MEANS THEY WILL FAIL GEOMETRY!

Sorry for the all caps but man, middle school is a bummer.

It really is. HS too. The elementary parents have no idea how good they have it.

YES! DO IT NOW BEFORE GOING ON AN OFF-SEASON VACATION MEANS THEY WILL FAIL GEOMETRY!

Sorry for the all caps but man, middle school is a bummer.

Anonymous wrote:In second grade— sure. Wish I’d done it more when my oldest was younger (we took him out for a day or two sometimes for family reunions, etc, but never for a full week. Yes, most of elementary school is filler. No, your kid will not be behind.
However, my kid started taking classes that count in his HS GPA in 7th grade… so do it while you can.

OP here. I'm not even slightly worried she would be behind. She's already ahead and like I said, I don't think they do a whole lot of new learning in May from what I experienced last year.

YES

We do it every fall, Its not really that big of a deal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In second grade— sure. Wish I’d done it more when my oldest was younger (we took him out for a day or two sometimes for family reunions, etc, but never for a full week. Yes, most of elementary school is filler. No, your kid will not be behind.
However, my kid started taking classes that count in his HS GPA in 7th grade… so do it while you can.

To add, it’s true what others are saying about the pandemic & how it affected parental attitudes. If schools can teach literally nothing for the last three months of a school year & say it’s “fine” and kids can make it up later, what’s a week?

I live in Loudoun county and had this attitude even before Covid due to all of the ridiculous "snow" days. If my kids can miss all these days in the winter due to cold temperatures or dustings of snow then its obviously not that big of a deal. That said, I always told our elementary school the truth ("family travel") and the absences were all marked excused and no one said boo to me.

Maybe, it really depends on the trip. We have not done anything like that with out 5th grader but who knows.

Practically speaking, we have not and we aim to schedule travel and visits during school vacations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In second grade— sure. Wish I’d done it more when my oldest was younger (we took him out for a day or two sometimes for family reunions, etc, but never for a full week. Yes, most of elementary school is filler. No, your kid will not be behind.
However, my kid started taking classes that count in his HS GPA in 7th grade… so do it while you can.

To add, it’s true what others are saying about the pandemic & how it affected parental attitudes. If schools can teach literally nothing for the last three months of a school year & say it’s “fine” and kids can make it up later, what’s a week?

Yup! One week is nothing compared to months and months of school closures due to covid.

Without question, don't even need to know the details. Go and enjoy!

Anonymous wrote:In second grade— sure. Wish I’d done it more when my oldest was younger (we took him out for a day or two sometimes for family reunions, etc, but never for a full week. Yes, most of elementary school is filler. No, your kid will not be behind.
However, my kid started taking classes that count in his HS GPA in 7th grade… so do it while you can.

To add, it’s true what others are saying about the pandemic & how it affected parental attitudes. If schools can teach literally nothing for the last three months of a school year & say it’s “fine” and kids can make it up later, what’s a week?

In second grade— sure. Wish I’d done it more when my oldest was younger (we took him out for a day or two sometimes for family reunions, etc, but never for a full week. Yes, most of elementary school is filler. No, your kid will not be behind.
However, my kid started taking classes that count in his HS GPA in 7th grade… so do it while you can.

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely would

+1 From a former teacher.

It's fine. It's five days. Not a big deal.

I wouldn’t but I realize we are in the minority here.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t be honest with the school about why. Made that mistake at a charter school and was told I was violating the attendance policies.

Oh? Rules apply to you too?

Just lie. Then you don't have to worry about rules or consequences.