https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 30 May 2026 18:43:07 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2816722 Mon, 16 Apr 2018 21:13:10 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2816722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know I'm late to this discussion, but I just wanted to address all the "schools just care about the funding" comments about absences. </p> <p>I am a public high school teacher and having students miss a week really hurts the student's ability to succeed in the class and makes a lot of extra work for the teacher. A typical unit for my topic is 3 weeks long, so when a student misses a full week, then spends a week trying to catch up, the teacher is having to spend a fair amount of time reteaching content as they go along and the student doesn't have a good chance of picking up all they missed. I currently have one of my best studentslikely to make a B on this report card because she missed 6 days due to illness and she didn't get a great understanding of the material and performed poorly on the test despite doing makeup work on her own and coming to tutoring. </p> <p>If you are going to take your kid out for vacation, it's imperative that you contact the teacher before and make a plan, and that you adjust your expectations. At young ages it may be easy to catch up, but it may not at older ages. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2816201 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 11:52:50 +0000 Mrsbells 2816201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: yes illness is not considered truancy in our district. Truancy is anything not treasured to doctor our really emergency </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2816198 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 11:49:20 +0000 bhbee 2816198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: wow that seems pretty extreme for a few days! I get the sense our school or district must be more lax than some. We have a ton of kinder kids who missed some this year without anything being said. Not sure about older grades though. And we have an advantage I guess since illness days are counted separately. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2816186 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 11:21:31 +0000 Mrsbells 2816186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: DD is in kindegarten and we took her out for a few days to extend thanksgiving vacay. It had several unwanted consequences. We got a letter from our truancy officer about the days she missed with a warning that they would come to the home if she missed a certain number.<br /> Additionally her school gives our perfect attendance awards and she was very bummed to not get it for that term.<br /> Going forward we will try to avoid missing any days for vacation because our school district send out notices explaining how truancy ans attendance impact the funding they receive </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2816020 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 20:21:39 +0000 Tanjowen 2816020@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This has me kind of stressed out because DH gets 2 vacation weeks a year, and he has to work during vacation season because he's flying everyone around to their vacation destinations. So this year we have late September and early December. If we want to travel as a family it will have to be during non vacation seasons. </p> <p>We are looking at private schools solely for this reason even though I work for a prosecutor's office responsible for going after truancy issues and it really has to be bad before something is done. So I don't think we would get in trouble but not sure I want the hassle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2816016 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 20:14:23 +0000 lamariniere 2816016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DS is in 1st grade and we do not pull him out of school for vacation. It is highly discouraged by the school and I feel like he would miss so much by missing a day or two (or more!). Our spring break started this week and we flew out late after class was over. To me, this has nothing to do with where my kid is in school, but the idea that school is something we must take seriously and be respectful of, even when the kids are young. We get enough breaks in the year that we can figure out leisure time around the school schedule. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2816011 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 19:31:56 +0000 MamaCate 2816011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD is in K this year and we have taken 3 days of vacation. They were the day after Labor Day (driving back from Mexico is much easier the day after) and the Monday and Tuesday before thanksgiving (I was flying solo cross country Erin 2 kids, Wednesday was a holiday, so I just booked tickets for the full week).</p> <p>My DD is on target with her educational skills so I didn’t feel like it would risk her progress. I think we will probably do similar day or two here and there for the next few years but stop by 3-4th grade.</p> <p>We do know families who pull out for like a week and that seems like a lot, but it is kindergarten not senior year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2816003 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 18:42:58 +0000 Purpledaisy 2816003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, we definitely will. DD is already in public preschool and we have missed several days for vacation. Life is short and family time is important. It's also cheaper and less crowded (which equals more enjoyable) to travel during the week and not on school holidays. I just let her miss two days last month to go to Disneyland for her birthday. We went on a Tuesday and it was so dead and cheaper to get in because it was a "value day". Hotels/Airbnbs are also cheaper on weekends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815975 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 15:46:46 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2815975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't hesitate to because I know the main reason schools care is because attendance is tied to funding. That said, I think my decision to would be on a case by case basis. If my child was struggling in school as it is and falling behind, I wouldn't. But if they were doing well and I thought a lot could be gained by going on a trip, I would. I wouldn't want my kids to miss out on world experiences just because of school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815974 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 15:44:24 +0000 Mama Bird 2815974@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, not enough vacation time just to cover the school holidays and summer break. DS ends up in all kinds of sad care arrangements that don't involve quality time with the rest of the family. Definitely haven't considered taking on more vacation during regular school days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815946 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 14:21:45 +0000 JCCovi 2815946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter starts K in the fall and we are planning to take 5 days off for a Disney cruise. I’ll try to avoid it otherwise, but it’s a private school and their policy is you can’t miss a month without losing your spot. I’m not sure how they’ll actually feel about it, but it’s well within the policy allowance. </p> <p>Once the kids start public I would be less likely to take a whole week, but a day or two here and there for family visits is going to be unavoidable as long as we live across the country from our family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815940 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 14:10:17 +0000 Mamatimes3 2815940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My oldest is in K and I did this year for five days when we went to Disney. As they get older I would be less inclined to do so. I think it would be harder to make up all the work as they got older. I don’t really know how many absences are allowed but he goes to catholic school. </p> <p>I think it would also depend on the kind of students the kids are and whether or not missing days would cause issues with keeping up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815926 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 13:30:31 +0000 gotkimchi 2815926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: we often did this too, we never were allowed to stay home for illness but we did take off for vacation. Honestly, life is short, there are many years of school and a lot to be learned through travel. When my sister was in high school and I was in grade school she told me skip or take off as much as you can because it’s much harder to miss high school and I think that same sentiment holds through life. Like being an adult sucks and I can never choose to not go to work today so I’m all for letting the kids be kids and travel and all of that. I always tell my students on rotation take a block or semester or year off if you can. You will never get that opportunity again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815924 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 13:25:45 +0000 looch 2815924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Interesting, isn't it? We have a large Indian population in my son's school and this is a common thing to pull a child out of school for a month to attend a wedding or religious ceremony of importance in the culture. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815923 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 13:25:35 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2815923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We probably will. My husband gets breaks that don't line up with school breaks. I don't think there's a limit here (Ontario, Canada). Most of my friends pull their kids for vacations. </p> <p>We missed a week here and there for vacations growing up all the way through high school too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815921 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 13:15:36 +0000 LCTBQE 2815921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: this is fascinating and so useful to know, particularly from your perspective—thank you! Moving to nj in 2 weeks :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815906 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 12:30:08 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2815906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am this year but only because it's an important trip for extended family. I anticipate this being the only year that I will do that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815903 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 12:27:16 +0000 Adira 2815903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our school only allows 5 unexcused absences before you get reported, and family vacations count as unexcused absences, so I probably wouldn't do it (except maybe a day or two here or there surrounding a scheduled school vacation). It seems kind of crazy because I do NOT remember this issue growing up, but I'm a rule-follower, so I wouldn't purposely plan a trip that doesn't coincide with the school's vacation weeks or summer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815901 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 12:22:47 +0000 KT326 2815901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our school district strongly discourages parents from taking kids out for vacations. However, they do have a process for it. You have to submit it for approval at least a month in advance and if approved, you have to get all the school work the child will miss and turn it in when you get back. </p> <p>Personally, I probably won't because we don't usually do big vacations during the school year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815900 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 12:21:21 +0000 birdofafeather 2815900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’re going to Hawaii for 3 weeks this fall when DD1 starts Kinder at 5 (only missing two weeks due to a fall break in there). 5 year olds don’t have compulsory attendence in our state so not sure what the official “warnings” will be but I plan talking to her teachers early to get school work and being upfront. DH is a firefighter so there will for sure be more trips we take (probably not as long) during the school year but I refuse to stress about it in elementary. Jr High and HS I definitely think it matters more but family time is important and their educations won’t stop when we travel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815897 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 12:17:33 +0000 looch 2815897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I don't. There are 10 excused absences per year and after that, the principal is obligated to report you to the state for truancy. It also impacts funding, so unless it was an illness, I wouldn't do it.</p> <p>I get that it's a bear to all be on vacation at the same time, but if everyone takes their kids out and asks for work packages to be sent home, it becomes a distraction and takes away from instructional time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815896 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 12:17:22 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2815896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <br /><p><i>This comment has been deleted by the original poster.</i></p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815890 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 12:05:38 +0000 bhbee 2815890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: that's interesting! I hadn't heard about the funding/ratings piece. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815878 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 11:18:04 +0000 gingerbebe 2815878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So DH and I actually talk about this a lot. For instance, when we were growing up, it was not a big deal to miss school for stuff and my mom often pulled me and my brother out of school (one time for a month!) to visit my grandparents in Korea. Given the time and expense to go there, it didn't make sense to take a short trip and for whatever reason, going in the summer didn't work for my parents. My mom just got all my school assignments and I did all my homework and it never affected my grades and we never skipped a beat. Granted, my mom stopped doing this during the school year once I hit like 4th or 5th grade, but even then I would routinely miss the first week of school back from winter break, for instance so that we could spend 3-4 weeks over the winter seeing my grandparents. My parents like NEVER let us miss school otherwise, but it was important to them that we had those family visits.</p> <p>Its amazing to DH and I how strict the policies are now at schools. Like, we get why with all the funding issues and what not, but we also feel like its our kid, its our family, we should be able to pull the kid when we want if its appropriate. And it was one of the many reasons we decided to send our kids to private school. My kids are not in elementary school yet and its not like any school wants a student to be out for no good reason, but we felt that with private school we were in the driver's seat with regards to missing school and arranging for our kids to be out. </p> <p>My job is SUPER dead in October and its the best time for me to take vacation. Like, I could be out that entire month and no one would care. And we HATE crowds, we HATE traveling when its super hot, and we LOVE Hawaii. And we like a good deal. :) Before kids we always took the most amazing trips in October and it was a nice treat before the grind of family obligations over the holidays. So one big perk of private school to us is taking our kids on a great vacation maybe every other year in October when its cheap and convenient and not feeling like its going to be this huge deal at school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815877 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 11:16:12 +0000 Anagram 2815877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One thing I should point out, is that public schools receive funding based on school attendance. And their rating usually has an attendance component, too. So if everyone was pulling their kid out for vacations, the school will be dinged financially and through ratings. Like my friend was shocked that our state issued new school report card, and her excellent suburban school district had 1 area of "low achievement". When I looked up the actual scoring profile, they were dinged very specifically for low Asian attendance. Specifically Asians (all the measurements are broken down into sub pops). This is a very well-to-do area. So my friend was like, why is there a problem with the asian students attending school? And I could only surmise that those families were more likely to pull their kids for long trips to India/China. And the reason doesn't show up in the state report card, it just dropped their school's ranking a bit down the list, and you know some parents are really competitive about living in a district with the "best" schools. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815875 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 11:11:09 +0000 bhbee 2815875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: I really like it being phrased that way! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815874 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 11:11:02 +0000 Anagram 2815874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Speaking from the teacher's angle. We do have some kids who are taken out of school for vacations, even in middle school. In our state, all non-school absences are unexcused. So illnesses are unexcused. And I think our number is similar--10 days before it becomes a truancy issue. So with an illness, if you are out more than 10 days, our state would assign you a home instruction teacher that would come to your house on certain days to give you work and keep you caught up. Obviously, for a vacation, I wouldn't risk it--so it's a numbers game. If you are reasonably sure your child won't need those days for illness, if you are sure your child can make up all the missed work in a timely manner, if you are sure this wont stress out your child even more, then why not?</p> <p>We've even had families withdraw their kids from school entirely when they have a long trip planned--say, to india. When their kids are fully withdrawn from school, they do not have to do any schoolwork while they are away, but they do have to re-register and they may not get all the same classes when they return. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815872 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 11:08:02 +0000 Mamaof2 2815872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, we are allowed 5 vacation days per school year :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elem-parents-do-you-take-your-kids-out-for-vacations#post-2815871 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 11:05:39 +0000 bhbee 2815871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m just curious how people approach it! (And does it vary by age, etc)</p> <p>My oldest is in (public) kinder so I’m less worried about her missing days at this age. I think we can have 9 unexcused absences before a warning at 10. I took her out 2 days early for spring break when we went to visit family, and we are going on a family trip where she will miss 5 days. I’m always a little worried her excused (sick) days won’t be properly recorded and we’ll accidentally hit the limit! </p> <p>Growing up we basically never did this, because my mom taught in the same district and had to work. But going when places are not insanely crowded is soooo nice. </p>