*** Official November 2018 Thread - It's Turkey Lurkey Time! ***

[SLim501]

By writing it’s an ‘educational’ trip, do they excuse his absence?

It is excused up to 5 days. It used to be 10 days, but the district changed the policy over the summer. The principal is fully supportive of vacations and it is almost expected that most kids will miss some time for vacation over the course of the year. It is elementary school, so I'm sure attitudes change in the upper schools.

 

[pghmom]

Someone decide for me - do I keep our Garden Grill dinner ADR or do we do another restaurant at Epcot?

We're on the DDP and already planning on 1900 PF, BOG (lunch), H&V holiday dinner.

 

[mrsap]

It is excused up to 5 days. It used to be 10 days, but the district changed the policy over the summer. The principal is fully supportive of vacations and it is almost expected that most kids will miss some time for vacation over the course of the year. It is elementary school, so I'm sure attitudes change in the upper schools.

That’s awesome! What state do you live in?? Our schools are supportive of vacations, but they’re definitely not excused!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Someone decide for me - do I keep our Garden Grill dinner ADR or do we do another restaurant at Epcot?

We're on the DDP and already planning on 1900 PF, BOG (lunch), H&V holiday dinner.

There are so many great choices in Epcot and the Epcot resort area. I would probably pick somewhere else.

 

[gulliesmom]

I just did my son's educational trip absence request. I am laughing at the reasons this trip is "educational", but the school is supportive of trips, even to Disney.

Ugh, I am dreading this actually. We are pulling them the Tuesday and Wednesday of Thanksgiving week and the following Monday. I am really hoping nothing is going on that Tuesday, Wednesday is a half day and the following Monday hopefully everyone just getting back so not too much going on. My son is in 7th and my daughter is in 5th. We were not originally planning to pull but had to switch dates around. I really wanted to surprise them with this trip but feel like I can't now because of the stress of having to give school a heads-up and let the kids get their work to do while they are away.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Our schools aren't anti vacations but I wouldn't say supportive either. Now in my district only absences that are excused are religious holidays and sick days with a letter from an actual physician. Letter from Mom doesn't work.

When my son was in elementary school we pulled him out twice. I think 3rd and 4th grade. One teacher was fine with it and the other teacher really didn't want to give us the work ahead and let us know it wasn't her job to do so (she wasn't rude about it and I really don't take many things personally so I was good with it). I completely get it. I was making her do extra work so we could go on a vacation. After that we stopped pulling him out since he was entering the middle school anyway.

Once in middle school/high school if you miss more than 4 days in a marking period you automatically get put on attendance probation. You also get an automatic "no pass" in your classes. They give you your actual grade back if you miss less than 4 days the following marking period.

This trip I'm pulling DD out for one full day before Jersey Week and then the two half days during Jersey Week (our district closes the Tuesday, Thursday and Friday). It's the end of the marking period so she knows she can't miss any days until the following marking period unless she's very ill and then I'll get a doctors note.

Also after 10 days of unexcused absences the parent is sent to truancy court.

 

[SLim501]

That’s awesome! What state do you live in?? Our schools are supportive of vacations, but they’re definitely not excused!

We are in suburban Philadelphia. The only way it is excused is if you say it is educational. I put that we were learning about different cultures (Epcot), American History (Hall of Presidents), nature and conservation (Animal Kingdom), hydroponics (Living with the Land) and map reading.

 

[mrsap]

Our schools aren't anti vacations but I wouldn't say supportive either. Now in my district only absences that are excused are religious holidays and sick days with a letter from an actual physician. Letter from Mom doesn't work.

When my son was in elementary school we pulled him out twice. I think 3rd and 4th grade. One teacher was fine with it and the other teacher really didn't want to give us the work ahead and let us know it wasn't her job to do so (she wasn't rude about it and I really don't take many things personally so I was good with it). I completely get it. I was making her do extra work so we could go on a vacation. After that we stopped pulling him out since he was entering the middle school anyway.

Once in middle school/high school if you miss more than 4 days in a marking period you automatically get put on attendance probation. You also get an automatic "no pass" in your classes. They give you your actual grade back if you miss less than 4 days the following marking period.

This trip I'm pulling DD out for one full day before Jersey Week and then the two half days during Jersey Week (our district closes the Tuesday, Thursday and Friday). It's the end of the marking period so she knows she can't miss any days until the following marking period unless she's very ill and then I'll get a doctors note.

Also after 10 days of unexcused absences the parent is sent to truancy court.

Crazy. I’d be in trouble!!

 

[Newsies]

Random question. Does anyone here on this thread have any type of ADR for the Sci-Fi Dine-In on Tuesday, Nov 20? Not looking for a trade, just want to know if people were able to book it for the 20. It was my 60+2, but when I tried to book it the morning my window opened, it was the only restaurant with no availability. I was able to book everything else, including California Grille Thanksgiving Dinner, which is weird to me.

Following the current topic, it's crazy how lenient college has been compared to high school and even middle school in terms of absences. In high school, I had a teacher try to fight me because I had a paper due on the ONE day I'd be gone for a weekend vacation in December. I offered to hand it in the day BEFORE the paper was due for the rest of the class and got a lecture about how important attendance was in her class and how going forward, she needed her work the day it was due.

This semester, I walked up to my 300-level speech composition professor and told him I'd be missing a class period during November for this trip and he said-- and I quote-- "Sounds like fun. Can you email me to remind me during the first week of November?"

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Crazy. I’d be in trouble!!

It's really not a big deal to us. My son hated missing school because it takes him a while to catch up and DD is a perfectionist so she hates missing school too. They would both refuse a week long trip during school.

 

[mrsap]

It's really not a big deal to us. My son hated missing school because it takes him a while to catch up and DD is a perfectionist so she hates missing school too. They would both refuse a week long trip during school.

Mine are exact opposite... An extra day of vacation is a-ok with them!!

 

[dnllmz]

Our schools aren't anti vacations but I wouldn't say supportive either. Now in my district only absences that are excused are religious holidays and sick days with a letter from an actual physician. Letter from Mom doesn't work.

When my son was in elementary school we pulled him out twice. I think 3rd and 4th grade. One teacher was fine with it and the other teacher really didn't want to give us the work ahead and let us know it wasn't her job to do so (she wasn't rude about it and I really don't take many things personally so I was good with it). I completely get it. I was making her do extra work so we could go on a vacation. After that we stopped pulling him out since he was entering the middle school anyway.

Once in middle school/high school if you miss more than 4 days in a marking period you automatically get put on attendance probation. You also get an automatic "no pass" in your classes. They give you your actual grade back if you miss less than 4 days the following marking period.

This trip I'm pulling DD out for one full day before Jersey Week and then the two half days during Jersey Week (our district closes the Tuesday, Thursday and Friday). It's the end of the marking period so she knows she can't miss any days until the following marking period unless she's very ill and then I'll get a doctors note.

Also after 10 days of unexcused absences the parent is sent to truancy court.

I'm Jersey here too. Our school doesn't excuse sick days even with a dr's note. I'm not sure if the middle/HS 4 days in a period is the same here because my kids aren't at that age yet but we do have the 10 days of unexcused absences parents go to truancy court. I guess it's state wide. This may be the last year we pull our kids out. We're thinking about doing the end of August next year before school starts. They are only missing 3 days of school this trip but my kids are only off Thurs and Friday.

I'm glad the school discussion came up because I forgot to contact my kids' teachers. That's done now.

 

[ScreenCook]

Re: FOP FastPasses....when you are snagging them are you "updating" a current FP that you have or just searching for a new one? We have 3 FastPasses on our DAK day (and it's early in our trip so I knew finding one would be difficult), but I check multiple times a day and would love to know how everyone searches, how often, etc. I too feel like it's a great challenge and I'd feel pretty awesome if I snagged one! LOL!

Yes, you definitely have to update. I don't believe the system will allow you to look for a "new" one if you already have 3 booked. Also, if you have Na'vi River Journey booked, make sure that's the one you're modifying. You can't modify a Tier 2 to FoP if you already have another Tier 1 (Na'vi) booked. If you don't have Na'vi then you can modify any of your other ones. But keep in mind, the system will also only be searching times that don't conflict with your other 2 FPs.

 

[mrsap]

I'm Jersey here too. Our school doesn't excuse sick days even with a dr's note. I'm not sure if the middle/HS 4 days in a period is the same here because my kids aren't at that age yet but we do have the 10 days of unexcused absences parents go to truancy court. I guess it's state wide. This may be the last year we pull our kids out. We're thinking about doing the end of August next year before school starts. They are only missing 3 days of school this trip but my kids are only off Thurs and Friday.

I'm glad the school discussion came up because I forgot to contact my kids' teachers. That's done now.

We are also in Jersey, but that’s definitely not the case with us. As long as you are sick, even without a doctors note, it is considered an excused absence. That’s crazy they don’t excuse them! Never heard of that!!

 

[lovingeire]

Yes, you definitely have to update. I don't believe the system will allow you to look for a "new" one if you already have 3 booked. Also, if you have Na'vi River Journey booked, make sure that's the one you're modifying. You can't modify a Tier 2 to FoP if you already have another Tier 1 (Na'vi) booked. If you don't have Na'vi then you can modify any of your other ones. But keep in mind, the system will also only be searching times that don't conflict with your other 2 FPs.

Perfect! That's what I'm doing so I guess I just need to keep plugging away! I already planned on rope drop for both Nov and Dec trips, but if I can score a FastPass instead I'd take it! LOL!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I'm Jersey here too. Our school doesn't excuse sick days even with a dr's note. I'm not sure if the middle/HS 4 days in a period is the same here because my kids aren't at that age yet but we do have the 10 days of unexcused absences parents go to truancy court. I guess it's state wide. This may be the last year we pull our kids out. We're thinking about doing the end of August next year before school starts. They are only missing 3 days of school this trip but my kids are only off Thurs and Friday.

I'm glad the school discussion came up because I forgot to contact my kids' teachers. That's done now.

We've done end of August twice. Once with a free dining promo and once with the Labor Day exclusive travel agent. It was really hot but the crowds were pretty low. Other than being on the edge of your seat about hurricanes it is a great time to go! If we go as a family of four again that'll be the time we go.

 

[ariane37]

All the talk about different school district policies on absences always gets to me! I had NO idea how vastly different the country was on this until I joined the DIS lol, and I consider us extremely lucky to be where we are!
We pulled our kids out every year of elementary school, took older DS out his 2nd year of middle school and first year of high school, and now next month they'll be in 7th and 11th and missing 2 days for our vacation. In our district it's 10 UNexcused absences before anything is done and being sick is EXCUSED and you do not need a Dr.'s note. To me, needing a Dr. note for it to be excused is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! So if your child is having a bad allergy day and they stay home, you need to take them to the Dr??? For the Dr. to say yup, bad allergy day Or they puke in the middle of the night and still don't feel good come morning so they stay home, you have to run them to the Dr? Crazy. Thank goodness our district considers those excused as long as I write a note. When they're only missing 2-3 days for vacation I don't even say we're going away anymore, for instance next month I'll just write a note when we get home saying they were sick those 2 days. In elementary school I did tell the teachers we were going away because I was very involved in the school and the teachers just said "ok cool! Thanks for letting me know!". Some gave some work for them to do, some didn't, no big deal.
Actually today my youngest had oral surgery. I'm emailing his teachers to let them know that's why he's out today and tomorrow. His social studies teacher already knows because they had extra credit due today and I asked if he could hand it in yesterday. Teachers response: "nah, he can hand it in for full extra credit whenever he comes back". And the note I write when he goes back will just say he was out these days due to oral surgery, no note from the surgeon needed for them to be "excused"absences

 

[mi*vida*loca]

All the talk about different school district policies on absences always gets to me! I had NO idea how vastly different the country was on this until I joined the DIS lol, and I consider us extremely lucky to be where we are!
We pulled our kids out every year of elementary school, took older DS out his 2nd year of middle school and first year of high school, and now next month they'll be in 7th and 11th and missing 2 days for our vacation. In our district it's 10 UNexcused absences before anything is done and being sick is EXCUSED and you do not need a Dr.'s note. To me, needing a Dr. note for it to be excused is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! So if your child is having a bad allergy day and they stay home, you need to take them to the Dr??? For the Dr. to say yup, bad allergy day Or they puke in the middle of the night and still don't feel good come morning so they stay home, you have to run them to the Dr? Crazy. Thank goodness our district considers those excused as long as I write a note. When they're only missing 2-3 days for vacation I don't even say we're going away anymore, for instance next month I'll just write a note when we get home saying they were sick those 2 days. In elementary school I did tell the teachers we were going away because I was very involved in the school and the teachers just said "ok cool! Thanks for letting me know!". Some gave some work for them to do, some didn't, no big deal.
Actually today my youngest had oral surgery. I'm emailing his teachers to let them know that's why he's out today and tomorrow. His social studies teacher already knows because they had extra credit due today and I asked if he could hand it in yesterday. Teachers response: "nah, he can hand it in for full extra credit whenever he comes back". And the note I write when he goes back will just say he was out these days due to oral surgery, no note from the surgeon needed for them to be "excused"absences

Thankfully our pediatrician gives us a note without being seen. I just call and tell them what's going on. They understand. And they don't want kids coming in that they can't really treat. Stomach bug and things like that unless they are dehydrated or doing really bad. They have told me bringing in a kid with the stomach bug is just spreading the germs to the healthy kids in the office. They would rather you stay home. Some people aren't so lucky and their doctor wants them to be seen before giving a note.

I'm not telling any of DD's teachers when we go. She's missing one full day, the Friday before Jersey Week, and the two half days during Jersey Week. They literally do nothing those two days but watch movies. The Friday she may miss some tests, etc. but she can make it up when she gets back.

 

[Ashby04]

Re: FOP FastPasses....when you are snagging them are you "updating" a current FP that you have or just searching for a new one? We have 3 FastPasses on our DAK day (and it's early in our trip so I knew finding one would be difficult), but I check multiple times a day and would love to know how everyone searches, how often, etc. I too feel like it's a great challenge and I'd feel pretty awesome if I snagged one! LOL!

We have a FP for our whole group for Navi River so that's the one we update when we're looking for FOP. But when I select the people, I just pick one person - maybe 2 - and search that way.

 

[dnllmz]

We've done end of August twice. Once with a free dining promo and once with the Labor Day exclusive travel agent. It was really hot but the crowds were pretty low. Other than being on the edge of your seat about hurricanes it is a great time to go! If we go as a family of four again that'll be the time we go.

Eeek! I am a little nervous about the possibility of hurricanes that time of year. We have gone in July a couple of times so I'm hoping the heat is similar. We've been able to deal with that.

All the talk about different school district policies on absences always gets to me! I had NO idea how vastly different the country was on this until I joined the DIS lol, and I consider us extremely lucky to be where we are!
We pulled our kids out every year of elementary school, took older DS out his 2nd year of middle school and first year of high school, and now next month they'll be in 7th and 11th and missing 2 days for our vacation. In our district it's 10 UNexcused absences before anything is done and being sick is EXCUSED and you do not need a Dr.'s note. To me, needing a Dr. note for it to be excused is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! So if your child is having a bad allergy day and they stay home, you need to take them to the Dr??? For the Dr. to say yup, bad allergy day Or they puke in the middle of the night and still don't feel good come morning so they stay home, you have to run them to the Dr? Crazy. Thank goodness our district considers those excused as long as I write a note. When they're only missing 2-3 days for vacation I don't even say we're going away anymore, for instance next month I'll just write a note when we get home saying they were sick those 2 days. In elementary school I did tell the teachers we were going away because I was very involved in the school and the teachers just said "ok cool! Thanks for letting me know!". Some gave some work for them to do, some didn't, no big deal.
Actually today my youngest had oral surgery. I'm emailing his teachers to let them know that's why he's out today and tomorrow. His social studies teacher already knows because they had extra credit due today and I asked if he could hand it in yesterday. Teachers response: "nah, he can hand it in for full extra credit whenever he comes back". And the note I write when he goes back will just say he was out these days due to oral surgery, no note from the surgeon needed for them to be "excused"absences

It's awesome that you can write a note yourself to get the sicknesses excused.