If you are keeping your child home from public school for a major religious holiday..

[kep]

What do you say when you call the school to excuse the absence? Do you actually say the child is home for religious reasons (to attend Mass/prayers with the family)? I am concerned that it is not a "valid" reason to miss school, even though I know it is. For the record, said child has missed two days for illness during the last year. I am sure I am overthinking this.

[egoldber]

I would just say that you are keeping them home for a family religious celebration.

[missym]

I would just say that you are keeping them home for a family religious celebration.

You might also check your district's policy - in ours, absences due to religious observance are marked "as present." It doesn't even show up as an absence on the record.

[wellyes]

Yes absolutely.

[kep]

You might also check your district's policy - in ours, absences due to religious observance are marked "as present." It doesn't even show up as an absence on the record.

Wow, so interesting. I had no idea. I will ask when I call this morning. Thanks!

[JBaxter]

I would just do it and not worry. Nathan is missing 2 days because we are attending his brothers college graduation.

[PZMommy]

In my district students are allowed to be excused for 2 days due to religious reasons. You are still marked absence, but it is excused vs unexcused. I would just tell them he is absent due to a religious observance.

Does he have school on Good Friday?? I would imagine tons of students would be absent on Good Friday. My district actually started giving us two Jewish holidays off as unassigned days as so many students/teachers were missing those days.

[hbridge]

In our district, the parents have to write a letter and submit it a few days ahead of the observance to have the absence be excused and to prevent homework and assessments from being given...

[kep]

In my district students are allowed to be excused for 2 days due to religious reasons. You are still marked absence, but it is excused vs unexcused. I would just tell them he is absent due to a religious observance.

Does he have school on Good Friday?? I would imagine tons of students would be absent on Good Friday. My district actually started giving us two Jewish holidays off as unassigned days as so many students/teachers were missing those days.

Yes, our schools have class this week, including Good Friday. This is our first year in public school though, and obviously our private (Catholic) school had Thursday and Friday off.

[PZMommy]

Yes, our schools have class this week, including Good Friday. This is our first year in public school though, and obviously our private (Catholic) school had Thursday and Friday off.

Is that because of the snow days?? I've gone to public school all my life and teach public school and we have always had Good Friday off. That is awful that they scheduled school for today. I would take it off and not give it a second thought!!