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Dear Dragons,
Thank you to all the Dogwood families and students who attended Pastries with Parents & Kids last week! We had a wonderful turnout and hope you left with valuable strategies and resources to support literacy at home. A big thank you to our reading teachers and parent liaisons for making this event possible!
At Dogwood, we believe that reading is one of the most important skills your child can develop. It helps to spark imagination, build vocabulary, and improve understanding, which is why we want to encourage you to make reading and discussing books an enjoyable part of your daily routine at home.
Here are a few simple ways to support your child’s literacy development:
Read Together: Set aside time each day to read with your child. Whether it’s a storybook, comic, or even a magazine, sharing a book together makes reading a fun and meaningful activity.
Ask Questions: After reading, ask your child questions to spark conversation. For example:
- "What do you think will happen next?"
- "Why do you think the character made that choice?"
- "What was your favorite part of the story?"
This helps develop critical thinking and encourages your child to share their thoughts and ideas.
Explore New Topics: Let your child explore different kinds of books. Whether they love animals, space, or adventure stories, the more topics they explore, the more they’ll grow as readers and thinkers.
By nurturing a love for reading and conversation at home, you’re giving your child the tools to become a lifelong learner. Thank you for supporting your child’s literacy journey.
Your continuous partnership and support in your child's education is invaluable. Please reach out if there is any way that we can assist your child at this time.
Thank you,
Kate Beckner
Proud Principal
Three Hour Early Release- March 17th
Our next early release will be on Monday, March 17th, with dismissal at 12:35 PM. All students will go home at the usual time and by the usual mode of transportation unless we are notified of a change. We will follow the same schedule per the February schedule.
If there are any changes to how your child will go home or the time they will be picked up, please notify your child’s classroom teacher by Wednesday, March 12th.
Important: Only reach out to your child’s teacher if you are making changes to their pick-up time or transportation.
Please ensure your child is aware of how they will be going home on Early Release Monday’s.
Dogwood Cafe Hostess Hiring
Dogwood is hiring for a dining room assistant in which they assist students during lunchtime. They will supervise student clean-up, keeps order and dismiss students to their teachers. The position is Monday- Friday 10:00- 2:00 PM hourly $13.11.
Qualifications: Friendly, energetic and assertive in maintaining expectations of cafeteria behavior and loves working with students.
Dogwood Yearbooks
Families, don't forget, yearbook sales are now live online!
Yearbooks are $18 till 04/30, after this date, prices will go to $20! Buy your yearbook online today! Yearbooks are also available for purchase by exact cash or check, please provide this to your child’s teacher.
Read Across America Week
Read Across America Day was established by the National Education Association (NEA) in 1998 to help get kids excited about reading. Learn more about Equitable Access to Literacy in this video.
Let's ignite a love for reading and show off that incredible Dogwood spirit! We can't wait to see all the creative ways our students celebrate the magic of literacy next week March 10- 14th.
Monday- Rock your rainbow colors to celebrate diverse stories
Tuesday- Get your brain in gear and wear your best workout gear
Wednesday- Wear your favorite PJs and snuggle up with a good book
Thursday- Wear a shirt that spreads a positive message
Friday- Wear your Dogwood gear or the color green
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National School Social Work Week
March 3-7 is National School Social Work Week. Social workers in FCPS help to prevent social, emotional, and behavioral factors from affecting a student's ability to perform at their best. Their primary goal is to remove barriers that prevent a student from fulfilling their academic potential. Social workers are assigned to every school and center in the school system. Most social workers serve one to two sites. Learn more about the role of social workers in FCPS.
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Our AMAZING school social worker is Alicia Pitarque-Heishman! She supports students and families at Dogwood Elementary School. Her impact on our school community is immeasurable, and we want to express our deepest gratitude for her incredible dedication to the well-being and success of all of our students.
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We are hopeful that students and families this week will take a moment to share their appreciation with Ms. Alicia Pitarque-Heishman by writing her a letter or drawing her a picture. Your kind words and encouragement will undoubtedly mean a lot!!
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🐻 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!
Daylight Saving Begins (Spring Forward)
Sunday, March 9, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time begins. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour!
As a result of the time change, many students will be walking to school or to bus stops in the dark. Help your child stay safe by having them wear reflective clothing and bright or light colors, or add reflective items to their backpacks or clothes. Also, encourage your child to be especially alert for cars that are turning or backing up and not to run into the street or cross between parked cars.
Quarter End, Eid al-Fitr, and Student Holiday
Friday, March 28, is the last day of the third quarter. It is a full day of school for students.
All FCPS schools and offices are closed on Monday, March 31, for Eid al-Fitr. Tuesday, April 1, is a student holiday and teacher workday. See the complete school year calendar.
📖 Supporting Academic Growth and Reading on Level by Third Grade
The FCPS Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Advertised Budget invests in academic growth and excellence for each and every student, which is one of the priorities of the FCPS Strategic Plan.
Across FCPS, teachers, staff, parents, and even older students are invested in helping our youngest learners grow their love of reading from a strong foundation.
The goal is for students to move from “learning to read” to “reading to learn” by the end of the third grade. Reading on grade level is connected to other Strategic Plan goals, including completing advanced coursework and graduating on time.
Last fall, FCPS introduced a new reading curriculum that aligns with evidence-based literacy instruction. Between fall and winter, reading screener results show more than a 4% increase in the number of students in kindergarten to third grade approaching or meeting expectations. Similarly, 3.4% more third graders demonstrate strong foundations of reading and 8.4% more third graders are mastering grade-level standards.
Discover how an elementary school employs a science-based approach, including phonics, to supercharge students' reading.
Learn more about the FCPS FY 2026 Advertised Budget. View the Budget Development Calendar to stay up to date
🚀 Prepare for a Summer of Learning and Fun
Registration will be available soon for summer camps offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students. Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts (IFTA) camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Registration begins for these programs on Monday, March 10, and ends Friday, June 6.
Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp designed to allow current K-5 students to explore activities in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary arts, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Watch this video about CTE camps.
E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for students in grades 2-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students take part in four daily classes related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. They work with FCPS fine arts teachers who create fun and engaging classes.
For more information, see the Summer Learning page.
2025 Family Summit - Beyond Labels: Nurturing a Culture of Belonging! (an Extension of the Special Education Conference)
Families, educators, and community members are invited to the 2025 FCPS Family Summit: Beyond Labels: Nurturing a Culture of Belonging. Fairfax County Public Schools will be hosting the free, in-person event in collaboration with valued community partners. The summit will be held Saturday, March 15, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at South Lakes High School.
This event will feature:
- Opening Session: Julie Causton and Kristie Pretti-Frontczak — best-selling authors, motivational speakers, and advocates for inclusion — will share practical tools and evidence-based strategies to empower and assist all families, with a special emphasis on parents of students with individual education programs (IEPs) and 504 Plans.
- Breakout Sessions: Learn more about special education and global topics that benefit all families.
- Student Showcase: FCPS students will share their efforts in fostering inclusivity through posters, essays, videos, songs, art, and other mediums.
- Exhibitor Hall: Discover valuable resources and services in the community to support families.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with other families, staff, and community partners.
Childcare will be provided. Special education staff will be available to care for children with high support needs. You may sign up for childcare during the registration process.
Learn more about this event and register today! Contact FamilySummit@fcps.edu for more information.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Summer Camps and Learning Opportunities
- Supporting Academic Growth
- Preparing for Tough Conversations With Your Child
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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March 17: Three Hour Early Release 12:35 PM Dismissal
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March 28: Quarter End, Eid al- Fitr, and Student Holiday
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April 1: Student Holiday & Teacher Workday
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