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Dear Dragons,
What a wonderful first PTA movie event we had on Friday! With 180 attendees, it was a fantastic turnout, and our PTA did an incredible job preparing and organizing the event. I am so grateful for their hard work and dedication to Dogwood. It has been exciting to connect more deeply with parents, and we always welcome extra volunteers and new PTA members. Your involvement makes a difference—please consider supporting our school as we move forward!
Parent participation is a key factor in student success. When families reinforce concepts taught in school, students thrive. This Friday, we invite you to Pastries with Parents in the morning, where you can learn more about our literacy program and how to support your child’s reading journey. Plus, your child will be especially excited to be with you—because parents must be present for them to get a donut!
This week also marks the beginning of Ramadan. If your child observes and needs an accommodation, such as an alternative location at lunch or prayer time, please complete the Google form linked below. Additionally, for the first time, students who are fasting during the day can take home meal kits in the evening. More details are in the flyer below.
Thank you for being such a wonderful part of our Dogwood community. Your support, time, and dedication help make our school a place where all students can flourish. We look forward to seeing you soon—whether at Pastries with Parents, in the classroom, or at our next PTA event!
Together, we will.
Warmly,Kate
Pastries with Parents & Kids
Join our reading teachers this Friday in the Dogwood Cafeteria for pastries and learning about our new literacy curriculum. We hope you can join us to learn more about different strategies to implement literacy at home.
Dogwood Yearbooks
Families, don't forget, yearbook sales are now live online!
Yearbooks are $16 till 2/28, after this date, prices will go to $18! Buy your yearbook online today! Yearbooks are also available for purchase by exact cash or check, please provide this to your child’s teacher.
🐻 It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!
Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. Fairfax County public schools typically conduct kindergarten registration events, including orientation, between January and April. Eligible children can also be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps us prepare and ensure we have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school.
Families should prepare for registration by gathering documents and completing forms on the FCPS kindergarten registration webpage. FCPS offers support and resources for all families to help with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For support in other languages, visit the kindergarten registration webpage.
✨ A strong start is Goal 1 of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
Dogwood Elementary School will be hosting their Kindergarten Orientation event for families and rising kindergarteners on April 24th from 4:30- 6:30 PM. We hope to see you there!
Student Fasting Meal Kits for February 28 - March 28
Thanks to a new program from the Virginia Department of Education, students who are fasting during the school day between February 28 and March 28 can now take school meal kits home at the end of the day.Families will need to fill out a weekly Fasting Meals Request Form for their child or children to receive school meal kits. A separate form must be filled out for each week and each student.To receive meal kits for Friday, February 28, and the week of March 3, please submit the first request form by Monday, February 24. Visit the FNS webpage for more information, including weekly request forms and deadlines.
Eating Disorder Parent Information
The Code of Virginia, 22.1-273.2 requires schools provide, on an annual basis, parents/guardians educational information regarding eating disorders for students in grades five through twelve.
According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA 2023), Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights. In the United States, 28.8 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives. There is no single cause of an eating disorder. Rather, it is a complex combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that converge and set off an individual’s predisposed genetic vulnerability.
In collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department, FCPS has developed a web page with detailed information and resources to be provided to parents and guardians of Fairfax County Public Schools. This information may be found at Eating Disorders.
📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost
FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra learning resources. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes; on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring; essay editing; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.
📐 Breaking Down the Budget: Supporting Academic Growth and Algebra by Eighth Grade
The FCPS Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Proposed Budget invests in academic growth and excellence for each and every student, which is one of the priorities of the FCPS Strategic Plan.
Since the 2023-24 school year, FCPS has seen a 9.5% increase in eighth graders taking Algebra I or more advanced math and a 6.8% increase in fifth graders in advanced math.
Studies show that students who complete algebra in middle school have more opportunities to take advanced math and science courses in high school. This can open up new academic paths for students! Watch a video that shows why eighth grade algebra matters.
Learn more about the FCPS FY 2026 Proposed Budget.
VDH Immunization Packets for Rising 7th Graders
As required by the Code of Virginia, parents/legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend public school. All students entering seventh grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations:
- Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older.
- Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older.
- A complete series of 2 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent/guardian, at the parent’s/guardian’s sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with their child’s health care provider now to avoid the rush this summer. If your child does not have a health care provider, please visit the FCPS Immunizations Resource page to find out where to get an immunization.
Please review the Virginia Department of Health Information Packet for more information on rising 7th grade immunization requirements.
Ramadan
Ramadan begins at sundown on Friday, February 28. This day is an evening-only observance day. There is school on these days, but certain activities that cannot be made up can not take place after school. See the complete school year calendar.Throughout the year, as we celebrate and recognize various cultural holidays and observances, families are encouraged to contact your child’s teacher regarding accommodations, including but not limited to those around lunch, prayer/meditation and silent reflection spaces and times, and instruction.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Middle School Start Times
- New Lunch Items
- Talking to Teens About Tough Topics
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
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February 28: Pastries with Parents & Students Dogwood Cafe 8:00 AM
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March 28: Quarter End, Eid al- Fitr, and Student Holiday
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