|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
Dear Dragons,
There is so much to celebrate at Dogwood! Our school community continues to shine through your involvement and support.
Last week, our PTA hosted a fundraiser at Baskin Robbins, and it was a wonderful success! Our incredible teachers stepped behind the counter to serve ice cream, and many of you came out to support us. Thank you for making it such a fun and meaningful event, your participation strengthens our PTA and, in turn, our entire school.
On Thursday evening, we marked the completion of the Loving Solutions parenting class with certificates and a celebration filled with food and connection. This class is designed to support parents of strong-willed children ages 5–10, and several families shared how the program has positively impacted their home life. If you’re interested in participating next year, please connect with our Family Liaisons, Carmen Fonseca Londono or Andy Sigle.
Saturday brought another example of Dogwood’s strong community spirit. Vanessa Shield and Britt Williams led a group of volunteers in cleaning up our fenced-in garden space. Thanks to their efforts—and many helping hands—we were able to transform the area in just a few hours. A big thank-you to everyone who participated, including the students who joined us and took pride in their contribution.
This Thursday, we invite you to attend Multicultural Night, a cherished Dogwood tradition that celebrates the vibrant diversity within our school community. It is a special opportunity to come together, learn about one another’s cultures, and appreciate the many backgrounds that make Dogwood unique.
On Sunday is our annual Color Run! This is a great event that gets our kids moving and then hopefully they’ll nap for you when they are done. We encourage all families to join us. A great deal of time and effort has gone into preparing this event, and your participation makes it even more meaningful.
Looking ahead, next week is Teacher Appreciation Week. Our educators give their all each day to ensure every student feels seen, supported, and challenged. Our PTA has planned a week of gratitude, and I encourage each of you to take a moment to thank a teacher. A kind word goes a long way.
Finally, I want to emphasize the importance of consistent school attendance. Chronic absenteeism is highest in kindergarten—a critical year when foundational skills are developed. Missing just two days a month can lead to significant learning gaps. Unless your child has a fever over 100.1°F or is vomiting, please make every effort to ensure they are in school. Our teachers are working tirelessly—often on Mondays, after school, during Spring Break, and even Saturdays—to help students catch up. Your partnership is essential.
With great appreciation,
Kate Beckner
Proud Principal
Stuff the Bus 2025
We successfully collected nearly 3,000 pounds of food last Friday while visiting schools across the South Lakes High School Pyramid! Thanks to your generous donations—pasta, beans, cereal, granola bars, hygiene products, and more—our community came together in a big way. The families supported by the SLHS PTSA Food Pantry will be truly grateful!
Dogwood PTA
We are excited to announce our Dogwood PTA Facebook Page! Like the page today to stay connected, learn more about upcoming events, and how to continue to stay involved with Dogwood.
Multicultural Night
SOL Testing Schedule
SOLs Start Next Week! Check the schedule below and be sure your child is at school on time and ready to learn! If you have any questions about testing you can email our Student Testing Coordinator, Kara Armstrong, karmstrong@fcps.edu .
Teacher Appreciation Spirit Week
Reston Food Pantry
Reston food pantry is open on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., including this coming Saturday, May 3rd.
We encourage students and their families to stop by the pantry if they are in need.
Pre-K Program Accepting Applications for Fall
The FCPS PreK Program serves 3 and 4 year old students with a high quality, full-day preschool program with no cost to families at 78 Fairfax County elementary schools.
Students may qualify with a variety of economic or educational risk factors. Learn more about the Pre-K and Early Head Start Program by watching this video (English) or video (Spanish).
Spaces fill quickly, so complete an application online now or call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish) for more information.
Social and Emotional Learning Screener: Parent Reports
Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of March. The screener provides information on their SEL skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how much their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
Individual student SEL Screener results are available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. Families who do not have an active ParentVUE account will receive their results via postal mail.
For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the SEL Screener Results Family Guide or reach out to our school staff with any questions.
☀️ Discover Exciting Summer Learning Activities and Ideas
Attend the FCPS Summer Extravaganza on Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at Woodson High School and get a jump on summer learning and fun! At this free event, participants can engage in educational and enrichment activities designed to inspire curiosity and growth.
An FCPS Student Program Marketplace will feature student-made goods for sale. Proceeds will support the students’ programs.
Learn about summer programs and resources available from community and business partners. Enjoy face painting, touring a fire truck, student performances, and much more! Visit the Summer Extravaganza webpage.
Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award
Nominations are now open for the 2025 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award. The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors this award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families.
This award recognizes an employee, student, or community member who has demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.
Any staff, student, or community member can nominate an individual for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Monday, May 19. Visit the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage to access the nomination information form.
Protect Your Child from Measles: What You Need to Know
Measles cases continue to rise in the US. About 1 in 5 people who get measles end up in the hospital. Measles can cause severe complications like a lung infection (pneumonia), brain inflammation (encephalitis), and possibly death, even with medical care. Symptoms of measles typically include:
- High fever (may spike up to 104°F)
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- A rash that appears around 3-5 days after other symptoms begin. The rash typically starts on the face and spreads down the body.
The best way to protect a child from measles is by getting two doses of the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
If you are unsure of your child's vaccination status or your personal vaccination status, talk to your health care provider. If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your health care provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or view other Immunization Resources.
✅ Share Feedback With County Health Department on School Health Services
The Fairfax County Health Department and Fairfax County Public Schools School Health Services invite parents/caregivers of FCPS students to participate in a survey on satisfaction with school health room services. The survey takes about five minutes to complete and will be open until Monday, May 5.
School health rooms (clinics) are managed by public health nurses and school health aides. Those staff provide care for students who become sick or injured during the school day, who require medications during the school day, and/or who have a chronic health condition that requires management during the school day.
Additionally, the school health room staff:
- Provide health education, communicable disease prevention, and health screenings.
- Work with schools to help address the root causes of population health disparities so that all students have equitable access to educational and health opportunities.
- Ensure that students have care for minor injuries and illnesses, and chronic health conditions, thus helping to minimize health barriers to learning.
Survey results will provide a basis for quality improvement of school health room services as well as inform future planning for schools.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Protect Your Child From Measles
- Going the Extra Mile: Thank You School Bus Drivers!
- Prepare for Summer Learning and Fun
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Fairfax County Public Schools 2024-2025 Standard School Year Calendar
-
May 1: Dogwood Multicultural Night at 5:30-7:30
-
May 4: Dogwood Color Run at 10:00
-
May 5- 9: Teacher Appreciation Week
-
May 6- 21: Standards of Learning (SOL) Grades 3- 6th
-
May 19: Three Hour Early Release Dismissal 12:35 PM
-
May 29: 6th Grade Basketball Game at 5:30-7:30
-
June 2: Field Day
-
June 3: Strings and Band Concert at 6:00 Gym
-
June 5th & 6th: PYP Exhibition (PYPX)
-
June 11: 6th Grade Promotion at 9:00 Gym
-
June 11: Last Day of School Early Release 1:35 PM
|
