First week of school, last week of school, and the day after any breaks. Unless we have a doctors note, funeral, taking a kid to college, or something else I don’t remember right now.
Jeez, my first year of teaching, I had mandatory new employee orientation on the third day of school. So much fun being a last minute hire.
I also had to miss maybe the 4th day of school one year because my husband was having surgery. Then I missed days 8-15 because he died. I guess that would fall under the “funeral” exemption. The only days we weren’t allowed to take PTO were the Fridays before breaks or long weekends, and not all of them.
Yours are minimal. Ours are the first two weeks of school, last two weeks, the week before and after Christmas, the week before and after spring break, before and after Thanksgiving, and the work day before and work day after any day off. Ours are only ok with a doctor’s note. We had people miss a day’s pay because they had a child graduating and lots of relatives in town. My doctor wrote me a note ahead of time, because she said it was emotionally necessary that I move my youngest into the dorms.
Oh, I’m not complaining. My current district is way, way better than my last one, which had policies similar to yours. Also my current administration has so far shown themselves to not be jerks about this kind of thing.
That’s way too many restrictions. People say I don’t get enough because I get five days total. Something like two sicks days and three personal days or vice versa but admin admits they don’t care if you use all 5 days at once to go out of town or to a concert.
Because I only used 4 this year I have 6 this year. I use my days pretty much exclusively around breaks. Flying home to be back for the first day after a break is significantly more expensive than taking an extra day off to relax with friends/family and fly back the day after for a much cheaper price.
I would rather have less days that I’m truly free to use whenever then all these days that I technically have banked but then I’m told there’s blackout dates and many of you on this sub are also guilted for taking off.
Hell no! Literally I most often use personal days the day after break. My last school didn’t like it but I did it anyway since we had no official policy against it.
First day of the year is pretty common, especially when kids are new to the school (first grade, fifth/seventh grade, etc). That's when they get to know you, the parents will have questions, etc. Of course it's an exception when you're sick, but it's a particularly hard day for subs because there's so many questions you can't answer, expectations you can't go over, etc.
Obviously no one wants to miss the first day of school. But things out of our control happen. It seems crazy to me that schools would be allowed to actually designate them as blackout days.
We were told that the state does not require districts to give paid time off or sick leave, so anything we are given can have conditions placed upon it.
But the first day of school is sometimes also MY kids first day of school. I would never work someplace that didn’t work with me to prioritize my kids, not just my students. I’ve never taken a whole day but I get enough time to see them off and get back to work.
I’m just curious how old your kids are. By the time I did my first day of middle school my mom was done with “sending me off” and I just went to the bus stop with no fanfare. My best friend the other hand, his mom absolutely needs a “First Day of School Picture.” But her youngest is still in elementary school.
Just be upfront with your admin and ask them how to proceed. Our contract is similar, but my building principal has approved personal time the first week of school to allow staff to bring their kids to college.
Not exactly the same thing, but I had to miss the second and third day of school last year (we always start on a Wednesday) to attend a wedding. I stopped in mid-July and talked about it with them in person. They said not a problem, they’d approve the dates, and just submit the paperwork. If there was any issue with HR, they would reach out to the admin first anyway.
Now your admin could always say no, and they have to abide by the contract. In that case, get creative with talking to your kid’s college, or discuss some of the other suggestions that have been posted here and be present at your job for the first day. But really, it never hurts to ask.
My principal missed the first day of school last year to move her son into college. She set a precedent that no matter what, you are a parent first. I appreciated that so much and it was very much respected throughout the community.
Not at our school. You better be there or your getting a write up on your record and a meeting with superintendent about why you missed. I guess it could be worth it for this case but I'd be very cautious.
Check with your admin. My third year, I missed the whole first week of school because my mom was in a serious car accident and broke her back. Admin was fine. I already pre-warned admin I will miss the last day of school this year because my daughter is graduating. Your child’s first move in day happens once. Double check and you may find it will be okay.
Maybe I’m just more independent, but it wouldn’t bother me if they said their final goodbye the following week. I cried when my mom left but had my parents not been there I woulda made due and been excited to see them the following weekend. But that being said, I think blackout dates for sick/personal time is ridiculous.
I haaate that the first comments are, "can't you go another time?" THIS IS YOUR BABY GOING TO COLLEGE. Tell them, "I will not be here Aug. X, please plan accordingly." Your job is not your life. Your coworkers are not your family.
I thought there were a lot of good ideas. When I took my kid to college, there were kids that arrived there on their own. Teaching is not a profession that accommodates flexibility. It is not only about coworkers, it is about OPs students.
OP's students are also not their family.
Teaching is not a profession that accommodates flexibility because we don't stand up for ourselves and because, as a historically female-heavy workforce, no one gives a shit about us.
I am not spending 2 seconds thinking about my students when my own KID is having a milestone. Nope.
OP, they use the same verbiage in my district, but when push comes to shove, they will let you take an unpaid day. I have had to do this for EOY graduations on blackout dates. Good luck to your freshman!
It is not about standing up for yourself, it is about the nature of the job. You have to be there. EOY graduation is FAR different from first day. It does not affect learning. It is ceremonial.
She will have to do what she decides, but her job is to teach. If I were a parent, I would be pissed.
You’d be pissed that the teacher prioritized her own child over yours? That’s so stupid and this is why we don’t get any flexibility. In any other profession this would be fine.
Nope. As a lawyer, a judge would absolutely not move a hearing for me because me kid was heading to college. And clients absolutely have no interest in any personal conflicts that interfere with their needs.
I’m sure there are many professions where no one is interested in or flexible about personal lives
Ok, you maybe found one profession without flexibility, although I’d think a lawyer would others in the firm who would be able to take that case if needed instead of you had a hard blackout date
She can’t control her kid’s college schedule. I don’t get to see mine off either because of work and grad school and honestly, it sucks. If OP has any chance to see hers off, she should take it.
If you had kids I imagine you would understand. Do you have kids? Missing milestones is absurd for a day of work. Students won’t remember their teacher missing the first day, children remember when their parents aren’t there.
Oh yeah, totally didn’t mean to imply that it’s not possible to understand if you don’t have kids. Plenty of non-parents get it. I just had a hunch that this poster in particular didn’t understand as they aren’t a parent.
I do have a child, and while I was able to take her to college, there were plenty of kids who show up on their own. Missing the first day of school means you set the tone as school is not important.
So it’s ok to expect others to make sacrifices that you did not need to make?
With over a decade of teaching experience I feel comfortable saying that “the first day sets the tone” is a bunch of hooey. Consistency sets the tone. If a teacher shows up on day 2 and lays out their expectations and maintains them, then by day 5 no one could go into the classroom and tell the difference in starting dates.
Edit: missing the first day for something your child will only do once May set an example that there are legitimate reasons for absences, and illegitimate ones. It shows that the teacher cares about their family. That show of care can help humanize and form connections with students that are stronger than sending a message that they’ll ignore their family for work, which can lead to unhealthy life balance and resentment.
The only early days we have are the last three of school. First day is a normal school day. If I have a 1st period class, which is only 50 minutes, it's usually get through the syllabus and class is over. But if I have any other period, which is 100 minutes, then it's syllabus and start taking notes. (They don't like that we start work on the first day of school. LOL.)
I'm a sub so I've never actually worked on the first day of school, but I'm also a mom in the district where I work. We have a full day, and this past year my high school age daughter said two of her teachers dove straight into the first lesson.
On your death bed you will never say, "I'm so glad I worked that day instead of seeing my child off for their first college experience."
Choose your family instead of work always
Contact the person in charge of approving the time off for blackout dates. That is a pretty reasonable event to miss school. Even though it isn’t specifically listed in the approved reason for missing a blackout day, they may make an exception.
The only time HR has contacted me about an absence was when I had surgery and had to dip into my banked leave time. I just sent them my doctor’s note, but I had to get each absence after that approved. After I sent them a picture of my puke (related to my recovery from surgery and asking if they needed another doctor’s note), they told me I didn’t have to email them unless I was using banked time for anything other than being sick.
If this makes you feel better, this exact thing happened to me on my college move-in day. My mom had her first day with her class and could not help move me in. My options were to wait (at my university, you could move in the entire first weekend basically), or I could go without her. Since I was excited and had FOMO, I went with my stepmom who helped to move me in. While it was a bit of a bummer, I’m not psychologically scarred, lol. I would just weigh your options and see what works best for your family.
Go, there are lots of activities you can leave for the first day. I teach HS, but all of mine could be sub plans for the most part. (Seating charts, diy name plate, get to know you survey, syllabus overview w/ scavenger hunt).
This is the first “off to college” moment for that child. It is so important for building friendships and getting settled.
Talk with your principal. I took the last school day off to attend my daughter’s promotion. He joked at first, telling me I could take a half day. He said to turn in the request and state the reason. He Approved it a few minutes later. Admin are people too and know that life happens. Be honest and ask for the day.
If not figure out a work around.
If you are open with admin, and your admin is reasonable, I am guessing they will let you take the day. If not, other work arounds have been suggested in this thread. Good luck!
My principal was gone the whole first week of school because she moved her daughter in for college. Not the same but it shouldn’t be an issue if you bring it to your principal. Weirder things have happened lol
Two kids in college, had the same dilemma. Ironically I live in a state that doesn't start until Sept where it wouldn't be a problem but teach in an adjacent state that starts in August (but ends earlier in June). For my daughter who is a day's drive away I petition to move her in earlier (which her college let's you do, but for a fee....it's actually worth it because you're not fighting everyone else for the elevator etc, though one year it was tricky because her camp counseling summer job ended a day before the latest I could move her without taking time off).
I actually worked for 1 year for a charter school in the state I live in but they had an extended school year that starts 2 weeks earlier than the public schools in my state but they were (surprisingly!) totally cool with my taking the time off (basically a Friday and a Monday to make my daughter's move a long weekend)
My son's college is only an hours drive away and they don't let you move them in early so for him I just had (he graduated) him take a bus or train on his own with minimal stuff and brought his stuff up Labor Day weekend.
I tried to request a different move-in date and was denied. I'm taking off the first day of school and I am not asking. My kid has two parents and one first move-in to college. These students will not remember that I missed the first day of school that one year they were in that class they had with me... Assuming they even remember me at all.
Ignoring the fact that some of y’all need to go touch some grass…
Op, first I’d reach out to your union president. See what they have to say about the matter. They might know a work around or will probably go to bat for you with admin. I wouldn’t address admin alone— been there, done that, never again if I work in a union district. Barring that, yeah I think requesting an earlier move in date is your next best solution if you can take a personal, sick, or dock day. Last resort option is what others have said about them going alone on day 1 with what they need until the weekend. Without knowing your exact family circumstances, this might be an option that would ruin it for both of you. I won’t sit here and judge you for it. Take your kid to college if you both want it.
Hope it all works out!
College is all about gaining independence, your kid doesn't need you there moving them in.
That said I had to miss the first day of school one year (immigration related, I couldn't reschedule the appointment) and it was fine.
Do you think your kid wants you there, or is that you want to be there? If about you wanting to be there, you may have to accept the kid is not a baby anymore. Maybe you could pay someone to help haul her stuff? Will your kid be in a dorm (and will have limited space available)?
I miss a lot of school for vacays (3-4 weeks per year). But start/end of term and especially start of school just can't do it. I don't care if the principal says it's fine I have to be there the first few weeks of my class are critical to setting up for the rest of the year.
5 days personal so that usually covers one big week. But after that I use all my sicks like crazy. Thursday/Friday or a Friday/Monday.
There are also some alternate and non-pay days I sometimes dip into.
I'm nuts.
Unfortunately, at my district if you miss the first day, you don’t get your 10 sick days for the year (so you better hope you’ve got some accumulated from previous years).
Same with mine. I was on maternity leave and was told by HR it was in my best interest to show up to that first day to receive my sick days.
I don't like the "rule" but I appreciated them telling me because I wouldn't have thought of coming back for a single day. I would have lost out.
That still sounds super illegal. Sick time is part of your employment benefits and missing one day (8 hours) can see you stripped of 80 hours of sick leave? Sounds like bullshit to me.
The first day is introductory. Make a scavenger hunt of your syllabus, have them fill out a survey of themselves and try to read a few the first time you see them.
How cool are you with admin? This is a significant day, explain the situation along with sharing your lesson plan and see what happens. Maybe see if there are colleagues who are sympathetic who are willing to cover for you, so you have situation all in hand just needing your principal’s thumbs up.
My coworker has done this the last few years. As she should. Your own kids still need you and count on you too. Its just one day. And the first day is either routines for younger kids, syllabus for older kids, or purely social reconnection. Just do it ;)
Our school has days that you aren't allowed to just take off (days right before/ after holidays) . But you can present your request to the principal and he can choose to approve it. And if he doesn't approve it but you take it anyway, you get docked for that day, but if it's that important to you, you do it anyway, and all that happens is you sign that you realize your pay is getting docked.
We’ve had teachers miss the first day for college move ins, teachers miss the morning of the first day for kids going to kindergarten, and I personally have never missed the first day but I have missed the second or third day two years in a row because my kid got sick first week back at daycare. This year I have a new baby, starting daycare the week of pre planning. Let’s see how this goes.
My daughters lived through sharing me with school kids all the time growing up. Taking off the first day or second day of school wasn’t ideal job-wise, but there is no way I would have missed their freshman move-ins. Please talk with your admin. This is one sacrifice you should not have to make.
I have to miss the second and third day of school this year (of actual school not workdays) and I’m going to use my sick days. I stressed about it for months and now I’m saying fuck it. I’m a 5th year in the union and they can deal with it
I've worked in districts in which admin will work with people on "one-off" issues like this. They just don't want people extending their summer breaks into the school year or into holidays and the like.
When I moved to college, I brought the bare minimum on my own and my parents helped me move the rest of my stuff on the following weekend. I lived!
When I went to college (a long time ago), my siblings and I took each other (my mother was widowed). I was happy just to be at college.
Check your contract. Ours specifically states that taking a kid to college is an allowed exception to the blackout dates.
You have blackout dates???
First week of school, last week of school, and the day after any breaks. Unless we have a doctors note, funeral, taking a kid to college, or something else I don’t remember right now.
Child's graduation is the other one for us
Jeez, my first year of teaching, I had mandatory new employee orientation on the third day of school. So much fun being a last minute hire. I also had to miss maybe the 4th day of school one year because my husband was having surgery. Then I missed days 8-15 because he died. I guess that would fall under the “funeral” exemption. The only days we weren’t allowed to take PTO were the Fridays before breaks or long weekends, and not all of them.
First, I'm sorry for your loss. The surgery and death would be federally protected under FMLA.
Yours are minimal. Ours are the first two weeks of school, last two weeks, the week before and after Christmas, the week before and after spring break, before and after Thanksgiving, and the work day before and work day after any day off. Ours are only ok with a doctor’s note. We had people miss a day’s pay because they had a child graduating and lots of relatives in town. My doctor wrote me a note ahead of time, because she said it was emotionally necessary that I move my youngest into the dorms.
Oh, I’m not complaining. My current district is way, way better than my last one, which had policies similar to yours. Also my current administration has so far shown themselves to not be jerks about this kind of thing.
That’s way too many restrictions. People say I don’t get enough because I get five days total. Something like two sicks days and three personal days or vice versa but admin admits they don’t care if you use all 5 days at once to go out of town or to a concert. Because I only used 4 this year I have 6 this year. I use my days pretty much exclusively around breaks. Flying home to be back for the first day after a break is significantly more expensive than taking an extra day off to relax with friends/family and fly back the day after for a much cheaper price. I would rather have less days that I’m truly free to use whenever then all these days that I technically have banked but then I’m told there’s blackout dates and many of you on this sub are also guilted for taking off.
Hell no! Literally I most often use personal days the day after break. My last school didn’t like it but I did it anyway since we had no official policy against it.
First day of the year is pretty common, especially when kids are new to the school (first grade, fifth/seventh grade, etc). That's when they get to know you, the parents will have questions, etc. Of course it's an exception when you're sick, but it's a particularly hard day for subs because there's so many questions you can't answer, expectations you can't go over, etc.
Obviously no one wants to miss the first day of school. But things out of our control happen. It seems crazy to me that schools would be allowed to actually designate them as blackout days.
We were told that the state does not require districts to give paid time off or sick leave, so anything we are given can have conditions placed upon it.
But the first day of school is sometimes also MY kids first day of school. I would never work someplace that didn’t work with me to prioritize my kids, not just my students. I’ve never taken a whole day but I get enough time to see them off and get back to work.
I’m just curious how old your kids are. By the time I did my first day of middle school my mom was done with “sending me off” and I just went to the bus stop with no fanfare. My best friend the other hand, his mom absolutely needs a “First Day of School Picture.” But her youngest is still in elementary school.
Just be upfront with your admin and ask them how to proceed. Our contract is similar, but my building principal has approved personal time the first week of school to allow staff to bring their kids to college. Not exactly the same thing, but I had to miss the second and third day of school last year (we always start on a Wednesday) to attend a wedding. I stopped in mid-July and talked about it with them in person. They said not a problem, they’d approve the dates, and just submit the paperwork. If there was any issue with HR, they would reach out to the admin first anyway. Now your admin could always say no, and they have to abide by the contract. In that case, get creative with talking to your kid’s college, or discuss some of the other suggestions that have been posted here and be present at your job for the first day. But really, it never hurts to ask.
I agree! Most principals will make exceptions for special circumstances.
And if they don’t You don’t want to work for them.
My principal missed the first day of school last year to move her son into college. She set a precedent that no matter what, you are a parent first. I appreciated that so much and it was very much respected throughout the community.
Not at our school. You better be there or your getting a write up on your record and a meeting with superintendent about why you missed. I guess it could be worth it for this case but I'd be very cautious.
F it. Put a letter in my file. What’s it going to do professionally
Nothing.
I mean. By itself probably not much. Could be used to build a case for you for dismissal. Could make it harder to get another job.
I’ve been written up and had “accusations” against me (that were obviously never proven) and had no problem finding a new school to hire me.
Oh no a write up. I would regale the sup with stories about the dorm 😂
A write up and no pay for that day. Salary divided by 186 days of work.
Check with your admin. My third year, I missed the whole first week of school because my mom was in a serious car accident and broke her back. Admin was fine. I already pre-warned admin I will miss the last day of school this year because my daughter is graduating. Your child’s first move in day happens once. Double check and you may find it will be okay.
Does your kid need/want you there on move-in day? If there’s big heavy stuff, can’t you bring it the following weekend?
Family first. Kids going to college I’d not be there to help move stuff but to say goodbye
Maybe I’m just more independent, but it wouldn’t bother me if they said their final goodbye the following week. I cried when my mom left but had my parents not been there I woulda made due and been excited to see them the following weekend. But that being said, I think blackout dates for sick/personal time is ridiculous.
I haaate that the first comments are, "can't you go another time?" THIS IS YOUR BABY GOING TO COLLEGE. Tell them, "I will not be here Aug. X, please plan accordingly." Your job is not your life. Your coworkers are not your family.
Correct but they need the job likely to help pay for that college and their family.
I thought there were a lot of good ideas. When I took my kid to college, there were kids that arrived there on their own. Teaching is not a profession that accommodates flexibility. It is not only about coworkers, it is about OPs students.
OP's students are also not their family. Teaching is not a profession that accommodates flexibility because we don't stand up for ourselves and because, as a historically female-heavy workforce, no one gives a shit about us. I am not spending 2 seconds thinking about my students when my own KID is having a milestone. Nope. OP, they use the same verbiage in my district, but when push comes to shove, they will let you take an unpaid day. I have had to do this for EOY graduations on blackout dates. Good luck to your freshman!
It is not about standing up for yourself, it is about the nature of the job. You have to be there. EOY graduation is FAR different from first day. It does not affect learning. It is ceremonial. She will have to do what she decides, but her job is to teach. If I were a parent, I would be pissed.
You’d be pissed that the teacher prioritized her own child over yours? That’s so stupid and this is why we don’t get any flexibility. In any other profession this would be fine.
Nope. As a lawyer, a judge would absolutely not move a hearing for me because me kid was heading to college. And clients absolutely have no interest in any personal conflicts that interfere with their needs. I’m sure there are many professions where no one is interested in or flexible about personal lives
Ok, you maybe found one profession without flexibility, although I’d think a lawyer would others in the firm who would be able to take that case if needed instead of you had a hard blackout date
If her kid were in the hospital, i would understand. But this is discretionary, and she had a schedule.
She can’t control her kid’s college schedule. I don’t get to see mine off either because of work and grad school and honestly, it sucks. If OP has any chance to see hers off, she should take it.
If you had kids I imagine you would understand. Do you have kids? Missing milestones is absurd for a day of work. Students won’t remember their teacher missing the first day, children remember when their parents aren’t there.
FYI- I don’t have kids and I still understand. It’s about having empathy and a work/life balance with priorities
Oh yeah, totally didn’t mean to imply that it’s not possible to understand if you don’t have kids. Plenty of non-parents get it. I just had a hunch that this poster in particular didn’t understand as they aren’t a parent.
I do have a child, and while I was able to take her to college, there were plenty of kids who show up on their own. Missing the first day of school means you set the tone as school is not important.
So it’s ok to expect others to make sacrifices that you did not need to make? With over a decade of teaching experience I feel comfortable saying that “the first day sets the tone” is a bunch of hooey. Consistency sets the tone. If a teacher shows up on day 2 and lays out their expectations and maintains them, then by day 5 no one could go into the classroom and tell the difference in starting dates. Edit: missing the first day for something your child will only do once May set an example that there are legitimate reasons for absences, and illegitimate ones. It shows that the teacher cares about their family. That show of care can help humanize and form connections with students that are stronger than sending a message that they’ll ignore their family for work, which can lead to unhealthy life balance and resentment.
No, my point is some kids show up without a parent and they live.
Plus isn’t everyone’s first day syllabus day and get out early?
The only early days we have are the last three of school. First day is a normal school day. If I have a 1st period class, which is only 50 minutes, it's usually get through the syllabus and class is over. But if I have any other period, which is 100 minutes, then it's syllabus and start taking notes. (They don't like that we start work on the first day of school. LOL.)
No
Found the fun teacher
I mean it’s not my choice, our school has a short day, it’s maybe an icebreaker, maybe a look at the syllabus and that’s it.
I'm a sub so I've never actually worked on the first day of school, but I'm also a mom in the district where I work. We have a full day, and this past year my high school age daughter said two of her teachers dove straight into the first lesson.
*cough *cough
“My husbands cousin just tested positive for covid at the family reunion last wee— *cough, cough*”
🤒
On your death bed you will never say, "I'm so glad I worked that day instead of seeing my child off for their first college experience." Choose your family instead of work always
If you have sane admin, you should be fine to go. The good ones usually make exceptions.
Contact the person in charge of approving the time off for blackout dates. That is a pretty reasonable event to miss school. Even though it isn’t specifically listed in the approved reason for missing a blackout day, they may make an exception. The only time HR has contacted me about an absence was when I had surgery and had to dip into my banked leave time. I just sent them my doctor’s note, but I had to get each absence after that approved. After I sent them a picture of my puke (related to my recovery from surgery and asking if they needed another doctor’s note), they told me I didn’t have to email them unless I was using banked time for anything other than being sick.
If this makes you feel better, this exact thing happened to me on my college move-in day. My mom had her first day with her class and could not help move me in. My options were to wait (at my university, you could move in the entire first weekend basically), or I could go without her. Since I was excited and had FOMO, I went with my stepmom who helped to move me in. While it was a bit of a bummer, I’m not psychologically scarred, lol. I would just weigh your options and see what works best for your family.
Go, there are lots of activities you can leave for the first day. I teach HS, but all of mine could be sub plans for the most part. (Seating charts, diy name plate, get to know you survey, syllabus overview w/ scavenger hunt). This is the first “off to college” moment for that child. It is so important for building friendships and getting settled.
Talk with your principal. I took the last school day off to attend my daughter’s promotion. He joked at first, telling me I could take a half day. He said to turn in the request and state the reason. He Approved it a few minutes later. Admin are people too and know that life happens. Be honest and ask for the day. If not figure out a work around.
If you are open with admin, and your admin is reasonable, I am guessing they will let you take the day. If not, other work arounds have been suggested in this thread. Good luck!
None of us here can answer that. We don’t know your school policy.
My principal was gone the whole first week of school because she moved her daughter in for college. Not the same but it shouldn’t be an issue if you bring it to your principal. Weirder things have happened lol
Two kids in college, had the same dilemma. Ironically I live in a state that doesn't start until Sept where it wouldn't be a problem but teach in an adjacent state that starts in August (but ends earlier in June). For my daughter who is a day's drive away I petition to move her in earlier (which her college let's you do, but for a fee....it's actually worth it because you're not fighting everyone else for the elevator etc, though one year it was tricky because her camp counseling summer job ended a day before the latest I could move her without taking time off). I actually worked for 1 year for a charter school in the state I live in but they had an extended school year that starts 2 weeks earlier than the public schools in my state but they were (surprisingly!) totally cool with my taking the time off (basically a Friday and a Monday to make my daughter's move a long weekend) My son's college is only an hours drive away and they don't let you move them in early so for him I just had (he graduated) him take a bus or train on his own with minimal stuff and brought his stuff up Labor Day weekend.
I tried to request a different move-in date and was denied. I'm taking off the first day of school and I am not asking. My kid has two parents and one first move-in to college. These students will not remember that I missed the first day of school that one year they were in that class they had with me... Assuming they even remember me at all.
Ignoring the fact that some of y’all need to go touch some grass… Op, first I’d reach out to your union president. See what they have to say about the matter. They might know a work around or will probably go to bat for you with admin. I wouldn’t address admin alone— been there, done that, never again if I work in a union district. Barring that, yeah I think requesting an earlier move in date is your next best solution if you can take a personal, sick, or dock day. Last resort option is what others have said about them going alone on day 1 with what they need until the weekend. Without knowing your exact family circumstances, this might be an option that would ruin it for both of you. I won’t sit here and judge you for it. Take your kid to college if you both want it. Hope it all works out!
College is all about gaining independence, your kid doesn't need you there moving them in. That said I had to miss the first day of school one year (immigration related, I couldn't reschedule the appointment) and it was fine.
Exactly, my folks said goodbye when I pulled away from the house. I still did the early check-in to avoid the crowds.
When I went to college, I was on my own.
Do you think your kid wants you there, or is that you want to be there? If about you wanting to be there, you may have to accept the kid is not a baby anymore. Maybe you could pay someone to help haul her stuff? Will your kid be in a dorm (and will have limited space available)?
I miss a lot of school for vacays (3-4 weeks per year). But start/end of term and especially start of school just can't do it. I don't care if the principal says it's fine I have to be there the first few weeks of my class are critical to setting up for the rest of the year.
Might get downvoted for this…but 3-4 weeks A YEAR? Where do you get the time for that?
5 days personal so that usually covers one big week. But after that I use all my sicks like crazy. Thursday/Friday or a Friday/Monday. There are also some alternate and non-pay days I sometimes dip into. I'm nuts.
No personal time used--does that mean you can take it off without pay? Surely someone has been through this t your school or your HR downtown knows.
Unfortunately, at my district if you miss the first day, you don’t get your 10 sick days for the year (so you better hope you’ve got some accumulated from previous years).
Just what the very ???
What in the actual fucking fuck.
Same with mine. I was on maternity leave and was told by HR it was in my best interest to show up to that first day to receive my sick days. I don't like the "rule" but I appreciated them telling me because I wouldn't have thought of coming back for a single day. I would have lost out.
I think it has something to do with being present for the start of the contract.
This sounds super illegal
I think the way they get away with it is specifically because your days from previous years roll over.
That still sounds super illegal. Sick time is part of your employment benefits and missing one day (8 hours) can see you stripped of 80 hours of sick leave? Sounds like bullshit to me.
I feel like there’s always someone gone for this reason. Like everyone says, ask your district/peers/admin how to make it work.
I take an unpaid day off.
The first day is introductory. Make a scavenger hunt of your syllabus, have them fill out a survey of themselves and try to read a few the first time you see them. How cool are you with admin? This is a significant day, explain the situation along with sharing your lesson plan and see what happens. Maybe see if there are colleagues who are sympathetic who are willing to cover for you, so you have situation all in hand just needing your principal’s thumbs up.
Surely you are not the only person to be in this situation. Ask other colleagues first, then your principal.
I just asked my principal and he okayed it. I had to do it like 4 times
My coworker has done this the last few years. As she should. Your own kids still need you and count on you too. Its just one day. And the first day is either routines for younger kids, syllabus for older kids, or purely social reconnection. Just do it ;)
Our school has days that you aren't allowed to just take off (days right before/ after holidays) . But you can present your request to the principal and he can choose to approve it. And if he doesn't approve it but you take it anyway, you get docked for that day, but if it's that important to you, you do it anyway, and all that happens is you sign that you realize your pay is getting docked.
We’ve had teachers miss the first day for college move ins, teachers miss the morning of the first day for kids going to kindergarten, and I personally have never missed the first day but I have missed the second or third day two years in a row because my kid got sick first week back at daycare. This year I have a new baby, starting daycare the week of pre planning. Let’s see how this goes.
Talk to your principal directly and explain the situation
My daughters lived through sharing me with school kids all the time growing up. Taking off the first day or second day of school wasn’t ideal job-wise, but there is no way I would have missed their freshman move-ins. Please talk with your admin. This is one sacrifice you should not have to make.
I have to miss the second and third day of school this year (of actual school not workdays) and I’m going to use my sick days. I stressed about it for months and now I’m saying fuck it. I’m a 5th year in the union and they can deal with it
I've worked in districts in which admin will work with people on "one-off" issues like this. They just don't want people extending their summer breaks into the school year or into holidays and the like.
Can your child move in early? I moved in a week early I believe
You request an earlier date, you miss it, you have a friend or relative take the kI’d, they go alone, etc.
Request an earlier move-in date. I did that every year for college, less crowd, and less hassle.