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Post by missysauter on Jan 21, 2015 14:51:54 GMT
DH and I went on our first cruise last November for our 25th wedding anniversary. We LOVED it. Now we would like to take our kids on a cruise too. 2015 is out for a family trip because DD is going to study abroad and that's where the allotted annual vacation money is going to go.
Now I'm looking at 2016. DS and DD's spring break weeks off are one week after each other - not at the same time. DD will be a junior in college and obviously can't afford to miss a week from classes. DS will be a freshman in high school. If we did the cruise, he would miss a week of school and then be off for spring break. DH and I would like to make a decision about this fairly soon so we can start making payments.
So, would you allow your freshman kid to miss a week of school? The prices are dramatically higher in the summer months and we don't know what DD will be doing that summer prior to her senior year of collage - internship, job, etc.
We are also thinking that as DD gets older and gets a for real job, that it is going to get harder and harder to try to plan a vacation for all four of us.
Please, no flames. Just looking for some opinions of some who may have done this and it was fine and those who don't think it's a good idea. Thanks!
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Deleted
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May 15, 2024 19:52:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 14:56:21 GMT
I'm always in favor of doing it. Life is short. Spend the time together. (And I'm a teacher. I never make my student's families feel guilty for taking vacations during the school year.)
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 15, 2024 19:52:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 14:57:29 GMT
I think for the situation and reasons you describe, I would do the same thing. I'm not one for missing school for (what I consider to be) frivolous reasons but 1-week family vacations do not fall under that. Travel *is* education. I'd try to gather DS's work/homework so when he comes back, he's not terribly behind (and he'll have Spring Break to make up the work). I'd also have him do a journal or something educational re: the trip. Have a great time making memories with your family!
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Post by pretzels on Jan 21, 2015 14:57:36 GMT
I would not. High school is when it starts getting real.
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ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
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Post by ginacivey on Jan 21, 2015 14:58:29 GMT
if my child was a good student - I'd make arrangements with the school in advance and have the work completed ahead of time, if possible
but yes - i sure would take my child on that trip even if it means missing a week of school
gina
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ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
Posts: 4,685
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Post by ginacivey on Jan 21, 2015 14:59:17 GMT
real what?
one week isn't going to make or break anyone
gina
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Post by gar on Jan 21, 2015 15:00:18 GMT
Provided he can make up the work satisfactorily then I probably would, yes. In the UK you'd be fined but that's another matter  |
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Dalai Mama
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Post by Dalai Mama on Jan 21, 2015 15:00:35 GMT
I've pulled mine out in grades 4 & 1 for a trip to Cuba, 7 & 4 for a trip to Sweden, and my eldest in grade 9 for a (non-school) choir tour of Nova Scotia. I would talk to his school and have him talk to his teachers.
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cheleoh
Junior Member
Posts: 81
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Post by cheleoh on Jan 21, 2015 15:00:40 GMT
From the 5th grade teacher's point of view:
1) PLEASE don't ask me for work ahead of time, to take with you, if you aren't going to have your child do it. I routinely spend upwards of 5 hours preparing a "plan" and getting materials together only to be given NOTHING when the student returns.
2) Realize that even if I prepare work for you, there are things that happen in the classroom that your child will miss and I cannot replicate.
3) Don't get mad when your child falls behind (usually in Math). Especially because #1. YOU will need to put in the time to get him/her caught up.
3) Otherwise, have fun. I'm not the boss of you.
Chele :-)
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pudgygroundhog
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Jan 21, 2015 15:00:43 GMT
I'm not opposed to kids missing school, but I personally would think twice about a freshman (I suppose it depends on how rigorous the classes are and how hard it would be to make up the work). Our district's policy is to not give out make up work ahead of time.
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Post by kristi521 on Jan 21, 2015 15:00:52 GMT
Typically I have been okay with this. However, now that my oldest, who does very well in school, is in high school and has a lot of homework every night, my opinion is different. I am not willing to take my high schooler out of school for a vacation and frankly she doesn't want to be out either. She has 7 classes and if she was out for a week she would have 7 classes x 5 days. Now the timing of it is good where he has that next full week to do it, so that might sway things a bit.
EDITED to fix grammatical errors
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Post by shannoots on Jan 21, 2015 15:02:19 GMT
Could you do a cruise during Christmas break? We go with my whole family every year. We were going during spring break when the kids were younger but now they all have different breaks. We started going over Christmas break a couple of years ago. We do a New Years cruise and it is a blast. I do think it might be a little more expensive but I'm not entirely sure.
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Post by elaine on Jan 21, 2015 15:02:49 GMT
Make arrangements ahead of time and have a wonderful family vacation. Those memories will last a lifetime.
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smartypants71
Drama Llama
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Post by smartypants71 on Jan 21, 2015 15:03:01 GMT
My limit for missing school for vacation is 2 days for MY ds. I just know him, and he would have a tough time catching up.
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Deleted
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May 15, 2024 19:52:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 15:03:32 GMT
I would do it in a heartbeat.
You know your child and his abilities. Will he be able to catch up? Most of the time, one week won't break a student's grade unless they're borderline passing/failing. In the big scheme of things, it probably won't make that much of a difference.
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J u l e e
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Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
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Post by J u l e e on Jan 21, 2015 15:03:42 GMT
What does your son think?
I am not against taking my child out of school, and we've done it for lots of different reasons over the years. Some educational, some not. My daughter, on the other hand, does not like to miss school, and she would hate missing a week. She's only in the seventh grade, but she just doesn't like missing days, missing work, having to keep track of what was missed and what needs to be turned in when, etc. She would say that your plan would stress her out.
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garcia5050
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Post by garcia5050 on Jan 21, 2015 15:06:57 GMT
My SIL pulled her son out of school for a one week cruise. Later in the school year, her son got really sick (maybe even needed minor surgery), and missed a lot of school. He ended up failing a class and she was reported (not sure to who) for truancy. It was a mess. He had to take a summer college course to make up that class.
In that situation, there was a teacher who had parents and students sign a contract that stated she would give an automatic fail to any student who misses more than 10 days. He missed 15.
But a few years later, guess what she did again? Yep, pulled her second son from school for a week long cruise.
So, I wouldn't do it. Paying a higher price for a summer vacation is, to me, is part of the territory with having school aged children.
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Post by moveablefeast on Jan 21, 2015 15:08:38 GMT
It depends on the kid, the grades, the classes, and other factors.
The problem is that missing a week can absolutely set you behind in some classes. If I could be really confident that it wouldn't be an academic problem, sure, I would consider it. But that is a big if.
The bigger problem for me is, what if someone gets the flu or breaks an ankle and misses even more school and we've already missed a week to go on vacation?
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Post by bearmom on Jan 21, 2015 15:09:24 GMT
I've taken dds out of school for a week at a time. Until older dd was in high school, then it would have been too much for her.
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Post by pretzels on Jan 21, 2015 15:11:08 GMT
real what? one week isn't going to make or break anyone gina Obviously your children have never been in pre-AP or AP classes... My kid missed one afternoon of Pre-AP Chemistry last week to go to the orthodontist, and he just finished his make-up work yesterday. He's been working on it pretty steadily, but it was solving equations or something that took a lot of steps. |
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Deleted
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May 15, 2024 19:52:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 15:11:39 GMT
I wouldn't, but because of the way my kids are. My daughter would freak out at missing an entire week's work, it would make her very anxious. My son wouldn't be able to keep up if he missed a week, and his grades aren't high enough to take that big a hit.
But you need to make that decision based on your kids and your school's policy.
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Post by JustKim on Jan 21, 2015 15:12:00 GMT
Go!! the memories will mean more than missing a week of school
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Post by Aheartfeltcard on Jan 21, 2015 15:12:13 GMT
if my child was a good student - I'd make arrangements with the school in advance and have the work completed ahead of time, if possible but yes - i sure would take my child on that trip even if it means missing a week of school gina Yes^^^ |
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grinningcat
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Post by grinningcat on Jan 21, 2015 15:12:41 GMT
Life is way too short to worry about this stuff. So yes. It's a very common occurrence in my family and friends. Everyone survived missing school and family is way more important.
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Post by MorellisCupcake on Jan 21, 2015 15:19:04 GMT
I totally agree with most of the posters, life is short and you need to just live it. But consider what a crap parent I am first.  We had a trip planned for December that was booked before we moved to a new state, and it turned out the exam schedules were different. I planned it around my DD's college schedule, but it ended up meaning that my high school senior, in all AP classes, would be away during final exam week. I tossed around cancelling it but ended up working it out that he could do his finals during the makeup week in January. Which, it turns out, he liked a lot better. I think it's entirely up to you as a parent. You know your kids, your life, the school they attend, what their grades are, etc. And if you decide it's okay, then it's okay and go have a great time. |
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pudgygroundhog
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Jan 21, 2015 15:22:02 GMT
What does your son think? I am not against taking my child out of school, and we've done it for lots of different reasons over the years. Some educational, some not. My daughter, on the other hand, does not like to miss school, and she would hate missing a week. She's only in the seventh grade, but she just doesn't like missing days, missing work, having to keep track of what was missed and what needs to be turned in when, etc. She would say that your plan would stress her out. No way is your daughter in seventh grade! :-O |
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cakediva
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Post by cakediva on Jan 21, 2015 15:28:21 GMT
No problem at all around here either.
Last May we took the kids to Disney for our 20th anniversary trip. DS missed a week of Grade 7, middle DD missed a week of Grade 11.
The grade school had no problem with DS missing. And at parent/teacher night, we talked to all of DD's teachers, and all but one said no problem, we'll catch her up when she gets back. The teacher with the problem? Her GYM teacher - because she would be missing the hands on weight room section. DD had to pop in to the hotel gym while we were away (we took a couple photos) and then had a project to do to make up the work. The teacher also wanted her to make up the weight room on her lunch, but DD told her she had other work to make up at lunch. I mean, come on, we were walking upwards of 5 miles a day - you needed her to weight room too?
But she passed all with good marks, so in the end, it was fine.
The family memories we made were amazing, ones that we still laugh and joke about.
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Post by scraphollie27 on Jan 21, 2015 15:32:03 GMT
I totally agree with most of the posters, life is short and you need to just live it. But consider what a crap parent I am first. We had a trip planned for December that was booked before we moved to a new state, and it turned out the exam schedules were different. I planned it around my DD's college schedule, but it ended up meaning that my high school senior, in all AP classes, would be away during final exam week. I tossed around cancelling it but ended up working it out that he could do his finals during the makeup week in January. Which, it turns out, he liked a lot better. I think it's entirely up to you as a parent. You know your kids, your life, the school they attend, what their grades are, etc. And if you decide it's okay, then it's okay and go have a great time. Same thing is happening to us. I had planned a week long vacation in Cuba for the first week of the new semester but due to the province wide teacher strike, our exam schedule was shifted one week. Now we are gone during exams. I made arrangements with all of DDs teachers to either write the day before we leave or during the make-up period. We have always pulled our kids (Grade 8 & 11) out for memorable family holidays but this will be the last time. It is getting too complicated as they get older and the workload is too great afterward. |
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mlana
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Post by mlana on Jan 21, 2015 15:35:22 GMT
Two things I would consider as I made my decision:
1) Spring Break season is a terrible time to cruise. The college kids are overrun the ships and things can get pretty awful. Seriously. I don't do cruises, Disney, or the beach during Spreing Break season.
2) In our local schools, family vacations are considered unexcused absences and a student is given zeroes for any work they miss and the teachers are not allowed to give them make-up work. any absence over 2 days requires a dr.'s note or special permission from the school superintendent. Very few Freshmen could handle a week's worth of zeroes.
We prefer to cruise in the fall or winter, when it's not quite so crowded or hot. Now that our DD is in college, we would go the first week she was out of school, before the rates change. In fact, we did just that one year and had a blast.
Marcy
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J u l e e
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Post by J u l e e on Jan 21, 2015 15:38:09 GMT
What does your son think? I am not against taking my child out of school, and we've done it for lots of different reasons over the years. Some educational, some not. My daughter, on the other hand, does not like to miss school, and she would hate missing a week. She's only in the seventh grade, but she just doesn't like missing days, missing work, having to keep track of what was missed and what needs to be turned in when, etc. She would say that your plan would stress her out. No way is your daughter in seventh grade! :-O I know!!! |
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We had a trip planned for December that was booked before we moved to a new state, and it turned out the exam schedules were different. I planned it around my DD's college schedule, but it ended up meaning that my high school senior, in all AP classes, would be away during final exam week. I tossed around cancelling it but ended up working it out that he could do his finals during the makeup week in January. Which, it turns out, he liked a lot better. 
Refupea #1142