Family Vacations

Avatar for kel7col4
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Family Vacations
5
Mon, 03-27-2006 - 10:41am

I have never dealt with this with a normal school, so I have no idea how this works. My kids have always been in DOD schools overseas that are very accomodating to military families. We are living in the real world now and my kids attend a real school. DH has been gone since January and won't be back until July - and then he leaves for Italy in August (we are going to Italy as well, but not sure if it will be a month after or a year after - depends on if he deploys). Also, my parents are moving from Penn. to New Orleans and I won't be able to see them again before we leave for Italy.

Anyways, the kids and I plan on driving down to visit both dh and my parents. Spring Break is the week after Easter and I want to beat the Easter traffic so I planned on pulling the kids out of school that Wed. before Spring Break. In reading the school handbook, it says something about "for Family Vacations to be excused absences you must request written permission from the Principal" - I emailed the Principal this morning but have yet to hear back from him. Anyone have any experience with this?

My biggest concern is I am guessing that week is the end of the grading period and dd's grades right now aren't the best - how does this normally work in the real world?




iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
In reply to: kel7col4
Mon, 03-27-2006 - 10:55am

Up until this year, we pulled both kids out of school to go on a week's vacation. Our school district allowed us to utilize 'Independent Study Contracts' for that week. Basically, we would fill out a bunch of paperwork a couple weeks in advance and when it came time for us to leave, the kids would have a list of all the assignments, reading, etc., that would be assigned for that week, as well as worksheets, spelling packets etc. It is a PITA for the teachers and they don't like to do it if they don't have to. BUT ... if the ISC is filled out in advance and the school knows in advance that this is happening, it still gets the money as if the kids were in school those days.

This is probably why you're having to jump through hoops -- if this is a public school you're talking about, it's all about the money. When your children are not in their desks at school, the school doesn't get it's money.

We usually didn't have any problems in elementary and middle school. My DD is now in high school, and a private one at that, and now we face a whole new set of rules and complications. Not to mention the amount of work (huge) she will miss by not being in school. DD and DS' spring breaks do not match up this year. It is a total drag because we will not be able to take a family trip like we have in the past. DD is quite in a snit about it, but it's just the way it is this year.

Good luck. I think that in the grade and middle school years, it's not such a big deal. It's when you get into high school that things get more complicated. At least here, anyway.

 

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2006
In reply to: kel7col4
Mon, 03-27-2006 - 12:00pm

IF I'm reading this correctly, your DH who you've not seen since Jan will be here in the states for your family to see?

We're a military family too. I have never asked for permission, I've told them when I've had to pull the kids out. Often what I've done is to email/call each teacher directly to inform them, asking for the missed work, after explaining the situation. When you're talking about an active duty military member who hasn't seen his family, nobody is going to stop this.

Btw, elementary / middle aren't the problem. My DD in HS is the issue because of the amount of work. Often they won't give it in advance and she's required to complete it upon return which is ok too.

Avatar for kel7col4
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: kel7col4
Mon, 03-27-2006 - 12:16pm

Sorry I wasn't clear - kids and I are going to drive down to visit dh who is has been in Virginia since January and will be until July, he then leaves in August to go to Italy. I don't know when the kids and I are going to Italy - anywhere from a month to a year later. My parents are moving next month from Pennsylvannia to New Orleans. On my way down to see dh, I am stopping by to see my parents, since it will be the last time the kids and I will see them before we go to Italy.

The school handbook states "When families wish to have their children excused for family trips, requests should be written to the principal in advance. Students are expected to make up the work they miss within two weeks of their return."

I normally wouldn't be concerned. I would just pull them out and let them make the work up - my question is how does that work when that is the last week of the grading period? I'm sure they are not going to wait to do her report card, for her to make up her work.

When they attended DODDS schools it was never a problem but were are very much in a civilian atmosphere (recruiting duty) and I'm not sure the protocol.




iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2006
In reply to: kel7col4
Mon, 03-27-2006 - 12:23pm

Ok, got it! :)

You've already emailed so thats covered. I would also notify the teachers though. Work you'll make up upon return. They will not wait for her return, you're right. What grade is she in? Unless she's in HS, I wouldn't worry. If she's in HS, talk to her teachers and ask if she could do it ahead of time.

Btw, what branch are you in? We're Navy here in Virginia.

Avatar for kel7col4
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: kel7col4
Mon, 03-27-2006 - 12:44pm

She's only in 8th Grade, so middle school still, but as you saw in my other post as of last week she has 3 C's and 1 F in the core classes, so thats my biggest concern. Basically, she has 2 and half weeks to bring those grades up and with my plan she will miss the last half of the last week LOL probably not a good plan! Her teachers tend to give a test a day or 2 before the end of the grading period.

We are Army but started Navy - Dh was stationed in Norfolk (on the Decom'd Milwaukee) when I met him (I am from the VB area) When we moved back stateside from Germany, dh was slated for Recruiting so we bought a house in his hometown and we were supposed to finish up here. Two days after we closed on our house, we found out he made Warrant Officer. Since then we have been assigned 3 different PCS assignments - Texas, Germany, and now Italy. Needless to say, if you remember my other posts, I think this is where a lot of dd's problems with school are coming from. She loves being here with family and she loves the school (it's huge and the school she will go to in Italy only has about 300 students 7th - 12th grade). She has been extremely lucky considering this is only the 2nd school she has ever gone to as a military brat, but as a Military Brat myself, I know how hard the moves are when you hit the teen years!

It's been an extremely crazy year!!

Anyway, we are very much looking forward to our trip, I just don't want it to be detrimental to dd's grades. I almost said she couldn't go if she didn't pull the grades up, but that to me would be extremely cruel.