Vacation During the School Year..

Do it while you can. You are on the edge of high school where no one misses for fear of a ton of make up work.

Yes, take the vacation, just get the work from the teachers ahead of time.

As Abbie said, there's much to be learned from travel, more than they will learn from one week of school.

Family time is important too, and when you have a paid-for vacation from grandma -- you take it.

It's not high school -- missing a little school will be fine,.

I would talk to the teacher's and see what they say. In the middle school and elementary school's that my kid's went to, I would just get a contract and they would have them be responsible for work missed, but would have them do a assignment on the awesome places that they visited. I think in 7th and 4th you would be able to get away with it. My oldest is in high school and they move too fast paced so taking a week off wouldn't work.

Good luck and have fun!

I'm a teacher and strongly believe that there is so much to learn from travel so I always support it. Yes your kids will have work to do but so worth it! I think when you ask the teachers you may to be as supported- do what's best for your family!

There is more value in travel out of the country than there is sitting at a desk all day. Go for it and have fun!

The current amount of homework kids have these days is ridiculous and does not make them smarter. Just more stressed out and obese.

What do you want your kids to remember about their childhood? A week of school or a week of family? I believe vacations bring families closer and are also learning experiences.

Get the work ahead of time so they aren't behind. Have fun!

In our district, vacations like that can be excused for educational reasons. The children are asked to keep a journal of their trip and talk about what they did with the class when they return. Often they bring back souvenirs to share and the whole class learns something from the trip.

I am saddened that there are some people who think that being in school is more important than learning outside of school. They can catch up on work, and I doubt, being the beginning of a semester, they will miss any tests. My mother has taken each of my children on a trip to a historical place around the age of 10-11. They got more out of those trips than they would have had they stayed in school the few days they missed.

School years are arbitrary creations to begin with, having been originally set up according to agricultural time tables, so the kids would be home in the summer to work the fields. Not everyone's life is going to perfectly coincide with this schedule, and life is too short to adhere to it when a child is offered a trip such as this. Go! Talk to the principal and see if they can get the days excused by doing what out school district allows.

As an educator myself, I understand that family travel can be an education in itself for children.

Personally, we chose to plan our vacations around the school year calendar.

4th & 7th grades are not like missing a week of K-2. The amount of material that is covered at those levels can be huge.

Makeup work is not easy.

Also, what are the attendance policies at your school. Around here there are so many days per semester and if you go over that, your child is facing possible retention due to absence's excused or not.

One particular year for us... Daughter was in 10th grade. She had flu, walking pnenumonia, and missed overall 13 days or so ( WITH Dr excuses and medical bills to prove it). We were forced to prove it. Think about the potential if your child losing 5 days on vacation and it does not leave you much room to play with if they are sick.

Some schools give final exams the week back to school from winter break!

Personally, at those grade levels, no way would I just allow daughter to miss school for vacation, no matter how fancy the vacation is.

Education is vital and at the 7 th grade level, that child is being prepped for high school.

Our daughter graduated this past June and she hardly missed a day through high school unless it was a school sponsored event she was required to go on because she was cheer captain. She hated missing classes because the workload always doubled.

It's up to you. If you are dead set on it... Write a letter to the principal and teachers explaining what you are dong and why. Get detailed assignments for each child and make them do it in a timely manner.

My daughter (6th grade) will be going to Europe with her grandparents this year during school time. We homeschool, so luckily we're able to work around the typical school schedule, but if she were in a traditional school setting, I'd still let her go. Travel is so educational for kids, even if you're only going a few states away. In our case, they'll be going to Rome and Athens, so that fits perfectly with the 6th grade Ancient Civilizations history curriculum. Wherever you're going, I'd look into any interesting historical sites and then offer to have your kids complete a report or write in a travel journal while you're on vacation. They could turn it in for credit. Or the teacher may be willing to send them home with a packet over winter break that they could complete (before you leave for your vacation, or while you're there - they have to have SOMEthing to do on the plane, right? ;).

My parents would very often do this, adding a week (or 2! *gasp*) to winter vacation or spring break or whatever. They'd get whatever assignments we'd miss while we were gone and we'd do them in our downtime while in the car or hotel room or whatever. My brother and I never suffered academically at all for it.
There is so much more to learn from travel and family time is so very important!!
This is a fantastic opportunity! I wouldn't pass it up!

We did it last year and will do it again next year. Our kids get vacations for Christmas instead of tons of stuff, and last year (2012) and next year (2014) will be cruises. The price drops drastically just after the new year, so that's when we go. I have NO problem taking them out of school for 5 days to visit other countries and experience things that will be far more beneficial to them in the long run than a day of school.

My kids keep journals of their trips and turn them in at the end. We have taken work before, but I know that doesn't work on a cruise - we are far too busy. So talk to the teachers ahead of time and see what works for you all.

But yes, take the vacation!

I think they're at the age where they really shouldn't be missing a whole week for a vacation- especially after they were just off for winter break. At my child's school, they always come back from break hitting the books hard, so a lot of material would be missed. Plus, our teachers frown on missing class for non-medical reasons. They make it clear that assignments will not be given before hand and they will not go back and reteach the material missed. There are just so many opportunities to take vacation during school breaks and the summer and school should be top priority. I understand its a time share and her week probably couldn't be changed, but they kids are getting to the age where missing class would probably be detrimental.

ADD: I do think international travel can be very educational- I traveled extensively as a child, but it was always during school breaks. If this were a once in a lifetime trip, I could possibly understand it, but they've been there before.

Our school system has really cracked down on it.

Parents get a letter at the beginning of each year:

" The Code of Virginia requires Compulsory Attendance.
Teachers and principals shall require students to be regular and punctual in attendance. Regular school attendance and being on time to school and
each class is important in the academic development of the students. Excessive or unexcused absence from school is harmful to such development.
Parents of students who accumulate five (5) unexcused absences are required to meet with the school administration to develop an Attendance
Improvement Plan for the student. At six (6) unexcused absences, a determination will be made if outside help sources can provide assistance. At seven (7) unexcused absences, students will be referred to court services. (Code of Virginia 22.1-258) 13
To receive credit for courses using traditional class schedules, a student shall not miss more than 30 days for a full-year course and not more than
15 days for a semester course, unless extenuating circumstances, such as a long illness, that would affect the student’s school attendance are
established. To receive credit for courses using the 4 x 4 block schedule, a student shall not miss more than 9 days for a course unless extenuating
circumstances are established. The principal shall be the judge of extenuating circumstances.
Sickness of a student, medical appointments, severe illness or death in the family, exposure to contagious disease, religious holidays, or extenuating
circumstances such as fire, accident, or extremely inclement weather shall be considered the only legitimate excuses for absence or tardiness unless
an exception is authorized by the principal. In all cases of absence or tardiness, the parent or guardian shall give an excuse, in writing, stating the
cause of the absence or tardiness. Absences for any reason other than those stated above must be with the advance permission of the principal
or his or her representative. Such requests must be made in writing stating the reason for and time of absence."

Too many kids waltzing in and out of classes make it too hard to keep the class together.
Especially in middle and high school, they really miss too much and it makes it really hard to catch up.

My daughter is in college now but in high school she missed two days to go to a party in Rhode Island and two days for her wisdom teeth extractions. She missed the Friday before winter break in first grade because we were going to France and she was pretty upset about missing school.

Other than that there are enough three days weekends and breaks for family vacations. In reality the kids are in class I think 182 days...that leaves plenty of time to schedule trips. She also would have been buried with makeup work in high school and if you're not at school you don't get to go to softball practice. If you don't get to practice you don't play ball.

I plan on doing it this year. The entire family is going to Hawaii to scatter my dad's ashes. We are going on the anniversary of his death, which happens to be during school. I am not worried my son will get behind and I think he should know the importance of family.

I think you should be able to take your kids and go any time you like. If they have big tests during that time they could simply take them early so the teacher knows they didn't talk to someone to find out what was on them.

They can make up any work they miss so I'd go. Plus school isn't back in until that next week right? So they'd only miss a few days.

i always have (entering 4th grade now). this last year, i got plenty of fuss from the teacher (we did it a week before school was out). i explained to her that my husband doesn't get much time off and that we try to incorporate 3 day weekends wherever we can so it adds to vacation days for us. i asked a mom to pick up all my kids' schoolwork and homework that friday (after we had been gone a week) and to drop it off at my house. she did. my kids spent the major part of that weekend doing homework and catching up. the first three days of school they took make-up tests, scored 100s. i don't think they missed much at all.
i will continue taking such vacations as long as i am able to afford them.

It is tough the older they get, the more important their attendance at school can be.

They get the entire summer off for a reason.. I know it does not really help since your mom gets this time share at a bad time for the kids.

Really put a lot of thought into this. and find out the rules for their attendance in your school district.

Missing a week here after Christmas break is a pretty important week of middle schoolers. . New classes, new teachers, sometimes new schedules..

Also take into consideration the type of students your children are. Will they be able to make up this work, if they need help with the things they missed? Are they going to ask for help? Are their teachers going to be able to meet with them before or after school to help with concepts?

Only you know what they can handle. Find out what the rules about this are.

International travel is always an opportunity for learning. However, you need to follow the policy for your school district. Schools do not get paid by the state for days the students are not in school. Please consider the school policy and what impact it will have on your child's grades. If these are considered unexused absences, they will be required to make up the work and they may get a 0 or a 70 on their make up work. Check into this and see if you can get approval for the days in advance.

THe older they are, the hard it gets and there's more work and homework to make up and does your state schedule some sort of standardized test at certain particular days of the year?..Check how many unexcused (yes, vacation is unexcused) days are allowed....Can your MIL switch/trade her timeshare week to correspond with the kids' school vacation?

If your kids can get the work they'd be missing ahead of time and the school allows it, I say go for it. Be very careful though, because I've lived in a lot of different places and some school s are cracking down on kids missing school. I know the last school district my kids were in, only allowed eight days of absence INCLUDING sickness. More than eight days absence was an automatic failure for the whole year and the kids would have to repeat the same grade, no matter if they had straight As. Crazy.

We are taking my son out for at least a week this school year. All my extended family lives out of the country. One of my cousins is getting married, and both my kids are in the wedding. At my son's school, parents can set up a "contract" for planned extended absences, where the teachers send home the work that the kids will miss for the time they are gone.

Definitely check with the teachers. But honestly, unless your kids have some reason that they wouldn't be able to catch up (struggling in school or whatever), I would definitely go. It's a time of year that they are still easing back after the holiday break. They will probably be ok to miss those days.

not a fan. There's plenty of time to do this without disrupting classrooms.

& as your kids get older, you'll be looking at finals that week after the New Year. (our school district ends the calendar before Christmas, but we're it for the entire family!)

Check the attendance policy. I know schools here are seriously cracking down on missing school for vacations. In our schools, ANY absence longer then 3 days requires a doctors note, or a note explaining a family health crisis, family emergency, or death in the family. Absences can also be for religious holidays, visiting a college, an outside of school activity approved by the school board (academic related, but extracurricular,) and court proceedings. When 3 days are missed, a parent MUST pick up all missed school work. You could not get away with a week vacation here.

Really check into this with you school and their policy. It could really seem ridiculous to take an entire week, immediately following an extended Christmas holiday.

I think so much can be learned from traveling and other cultures, but your children still have state requirements regarding school.

Hello
I would first find out that which they would be missing. Also, see if they can bring their homework with them (that is what I would do)
I think I would also take into account my child's ability to catch up or not. For example, due to allergies, my son did miss quite a few days in a row last year, However I always got his homework and too, he is a particularly good student so catching up for him is very easy. I tend to play it by ear, if it's going to be a slow week at school, then I would take the vacation. Lastly, I tend to think 7th grade is an important year (more than 8th) because by 8th if you haven't gotten your grades up, it's hard to play catch, so 7th is the year you want to really excel (pending you want to get into a great high school) Therefore, I'd make sure the 7th grader isn't missing out on some important stuff..

good luck in whatever you decide..

Check with the attendance policy with your school. Vacations are treated as unexcused absences, so you need to know how many are allowed for your district so you don't violate the policy. From there you can make the decision. If it's not an every year thing, then it may be worth it. I would definitely work with the teachers to get the schoolwork that they will be doing while gone taken care of so they stay caught up.

We did it once in late elementary. My older daughter's teacher was very understanding. She had to make up the work she missed, plus she was asked to write about the country we visited. By middle and high school, the volume of work missed from even a few days was too much. We might have done it for a "once in a life" time trip, but not something that we could replicate at another time without the logistical nightmare of makeup work from 7 to 8 courses.

Double check your district's attendance policy and feel out admin before you buy the plane tickets though. In my district, vacations are not an excused absence. High school teachers are not obligated to offer makeups for work missed during an unexcused absence. As a result, families frequently lie and claim that a relative is dying abroad.

As you might see from some other posts, there is a danger here that the stress caused by "making up for missed class time" will outweigh the fun of the trip for your children.

Be very careful about this. Try to negotiate the amount of make-up work that your children will be required to do. Maybe you can "make a deal" with the teachers - each of your children will do a report on the country they visit, instead of having to do the class work they missed? Stress and tears over having to rush through a week's make-up schoolwork...is not fun.

Our school district allows family vacations up to 10 days as excused absences if you arrange it in advance, so long as it isn't during state testing days or similar important school dates. The work still has to be done - sometimes it will be due before they leave or due within a couple days of their return.

Check with your kids' schools for their rules and procedures, and follow them carefully.

Welcome to the world of the military child. Children usually miss about 30 days with moves during school sessions. Most parents try to get the move in the summer to avoid what you are trying to do - take time off.

I have traveled several times with workbooks of the school year the child was in and working with them at least 2 hours a day to keep them caught up. We came home for 30 days from Germany and brought the school books with us and did homework at the kitchen table to keep caught up when we returned back. That was one of the longest stretches we have ever done with both children studying.

Traveling around the world is a great way to learn about the world. Since your kids have gone to grandma's before it isn't new. It's just when grandma can get the time share. Soon the kids might protest about going because of the amount of work they have to do to get caught back up.

Is there anyway she can put in for an earlier time? This might help the kids keep current and on track. Otherwise you may pay the cost of the children repeating the grade they are in because they took too many days off.

As others have said, the school system gets paid for the number of kid attending daily not the number of kid enrolled. Hence you have about 20 days for absences per the whole year which equals about 5 days off per semester (4 sessions).

Good luck to you.

the other S.

I think this makes it very difficult for the children. They miss out on a whole week(?) of education and usually a test after a week. How many subjects does that cause them to miss?

We just went on vacation for one week and my daughter is 3 days behind on her Kumon. We did some catch up on the plane, but that made her sleepy.

I would say your children would be more than willing to take the vacation and miss school, but it creates too much of a hardship on them.