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For a translated version of this newsletter, please click HERE. Next click on the language icon in the upper left corner to choose your preferred language.
Para obtener una versión traducida de este mensaje, haga clic AQUI. Luego, haga clic en el icono IDIOMA en la esquina superior izquierda para elegir su idioma preferido.
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Dear Dogwood families,
Parents and extended family are the first teachers of all children. School is 7 hours a day but for real success, we must partner together to ensure all students are constantly learning. Below you will read about an opportunity to engage your child in ST Math, a math program that supports student learning online. Students' access to this program helps them understand increasingly difficult math concepts. If an adult attends our ST Math night with the student, they will be allowed to check out a computer during Winter Break to access this program. Dinner will be provided to make your evening go a little more smoothly. We hope you will come so that together we can teach our children.
Another way you can support your child is by having children read, or be read to, each night. We have a Little Free Library outside of our school that has books you may take home. Your child also brings home books from our school library as well as EVERYONE can get a library card to the Reston library. Reading to a child in ANY language is beneficial. If reading is a difficulty, looking at the pictures and telling stories from the pictures is also helpful.
If you are noticing your child needs additional help and you are busy working, or are unsure how to support your child, Tutor.com is a FREE tutoring service paid for by FCPS that can help. The information is below and is accessible for all academics from kindergarten through 12th grade.
As a partner in your child’s education we invite you to reach out to your child’s teacher and regularly discuss your child’s successes and challenges so that we can work through them together.
We look forward to partnering with you,
Kate Beckner, Principal
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Dogwood ST Math Night
December 8, 5-6 p.m.
We invite you to come to Dogwood for our ST Math Night. This will be a time that you will learn new ways to support your child in elementary math. ST Math is a computer program paid for by FCPS that supports student learning of math concepts. Accessing this program will help your child succeed.
During our evening you will learn about ST Math puzzles, how to set learning goals, and keep track of your child’s progress on ST Math.
Families that attend will have the opportunity to sign out a device to use over winter break to access ST Math with a chance to win a prize for participating while improving their math skills during our winter break,
If you’d like your child to participate, you must attend this evening.
Pizza and refreshments will be served to everyone who attends. Students must be accompanied by an adult.
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Winter Wonderland Party
We are excited to invite you to a Winter Wonderland Party, and celebrate the upcoming winter break with your students! On December 15th, A Little Bit of Hope, supported by Walmart’s Infosec team will host a Winter Wonderland Party at Dogwood Elementary School for our students and our families. This will take place between the hours of 11-3. There will be a DJ, treats and a photo booth as part of the fun. Parents are welcome to join their students. Please check in at the main office during your child’s designated time listed below.
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Please come for the time slot allotted for your child.
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6th grade
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11:00-11:50
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5th and 4th grade
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12:00-12:50
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2nd and 3rd grades
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1:00-1:30
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Kindergarten and 1st grades
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2:00-2:50
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Hope to see you there as we celebrate the Holiday Season!
Dogwood Ten Days of Cheer
Students and staff will celebrate 10 Days of Cheer with spirit days listed below. We look forward to you joining us as we work together to show our Dogwood Spirit!
Holiday/Winter Break Assistance
We realize that many of our Dogwood families may be struggling financially this holiday season. We will have a limited number of $25 gift cards available to assist families with the purchase of a holiday gift for their Dogwood student. Please understand we may not have enough gift cards to assist all families who request assistance; thus, please request assistance only if your Dogwood student will not receive a holiday gift otherwise. If you are receiving holiday assistance through another county program or community group such as Cornerstones or FISH, please do not request assistance through Dogwood. The cards will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to those who have completed a request form with a Dogwood staff member. Starting Monday, December 5th, through Friday, December 9th, please call the main office at 703-262-3100 to complete a request form between the hours of 9 am-4 pm. No further requests for holiday assistance will be taken after 4 pm on Friday, December 9th. Distribution of the cards will take place during the week of December 12. Once we determine the number of gift cards available, a Dogwood staff member will contact families with completed request forms, in the order they were received, to arrange for pick-up of the gift cards.
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Tutor.Com & Literacy Resources
Did you know? Students who’ve used Tutor.com have provided positive feedback. Unless they’ve been opted out, students can access Tutor.com through Schoology. Every session is personalized to meet the needs of the student from remedial to advanced levels. Sessions focus on conceptual learning and critical thinking—not quick answers. Learn more at FCPS’ Tutor.com webpage.
Reading Buddies- TV show on Youtube (perfect for K-2.)
Virginia Literacy Partnerships- Website full of different ways parents can support their child’s literacy development.
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Referrals for Full Time Advanced Academic Services Due December 15th:
Parents or guardians may refer students in 2nd grade who are not in the screening pool, and students in Grades 3-7 by submitting the Advanced Academics Referral Form to the school. You may turn in a paper copy or email a copy of the referral form to our AART at kksymionow@fcps.edu. The referral is due by December 15th. Please do not wait for test scores to arrive before submitting a referral for your student as there will be no referrals for Level IV screening accepted past the December 15th deadline.
Next Steps: The local school screening committee prepares and submits completed Level IV screening files to be evaluated by the countywide central selection committee. Multiple sources of information are reviewed to determine eligibility for placement in full time services (Level IV). You may also wish to complete the Parent/Guardian Questionnaire and return it with the referral. You can find more information on what you may include with the referral form and the referral process on the FCPS AAP website . If you have any questions please email Katie Symionow at kksymionow@fcps.edu
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Staying Healthy This Cold/Flu Season
Although the community level of COVID-19 in Fairfax County is currently low, cases of RSV, the flu, and other viruses are on the rise. It continues to be important to wash your hands regularly, cover coughs and sneezes, monitor your health daily, and stay home if you are sick. For more tips, visit our Return to School website.
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Attendance Matters
- Just a few missed days here and there, even if they’re excused absences, can add up to too much lost learning time and put your child behind in school. This is as true in kindergarten as it is in high school.
- Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day, make that the expectation.
- Help your child maintain routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
- Find out if your child feels engaged by his classes and feels safe at school. Make sure he or she is not missing class because of behavioral issues and school discipline policies. If any of these are problems, work with your school.
- Stay on top of academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors if necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.
- Stay on top of your child’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.
- Encourage meaningful afterschool activities, including sports and clubs.
Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, talk to your children’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. But remember, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that goes on in the classroom.
Visit our website for more attendance resources.
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Dogwood Elementary School Fitness Club Presents: Glow Walk
We have a fun event to promote community engagement and fitness with our 2nd annual Glow Walk hosted by our PE teacher, Jason Ericson. Wednesday, December 14th we will gather at Dogwood Elementary School at door 1 at 6:00 PM. Using glow sticks to light our way and brighten our streets we will walk through the community together and end at Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate to enjoy hotdogs, hot chocolate, games and music. A parent or guardian must be present. Please see the flier that was sent home in the Thursday folder.
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The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees, specifically at Dogwood. |
Upcoming Dates
December 5th-16th- Dogwood 10 Days of Cheer
December 8th- Dogwood ST Math Night 5-6 P.M.
December 14th- Dogwood Glow Walk 6-8 P.M.
December 19 - January 02- Winter Break (No School)
January 16- Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday (No School)
January 25- End of Second Quarter- 2 hour early release (Dismissal: 2:05 p.m.)
Bell Schedule
8:35 am - 3:35 pm
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