I called the local ps guidance counselor, and he told me to contact him in August for the sign up. I don't know if that is normal, or just how this school district does it.
My personal opinion is that those who use it that way care less about the real meaning of the word than they care about trying to make someone who doesn't agree with them look bad.
That depends on if you count family visits as vacations. We try to visit family once or twice a year. Actual, real vacations where we go away somewhere to relax occur once every 5-9 years.