Dogwood Elementary School - September 26th, 2025

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 09/26/2025 05:56 PM EDT

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BTSN

What a fantastic Back-to-School Night! ✨ Thank you to all the parents who came out. We loved connecting with you and sharing our vision for the year. Here's to an amazing school year ahead!

Important Dates

September

Sept 27: World Garden Club Breakfast & Meeting from 9:00-10:00 am

Sept 29: Summit K12 Family Information Session (Pizza provided) - Invite Only from 4:00-5:00 pm 

October

Oct 1: Summit K12 Family Information Session (Breakfast provided) - Invite Only from 8:00 - 8:45 am

Oct 2: Yom Kippur (No School)

Oct 3: Family Fun Night Fundraiser for 1st Grade at Chuck E. Cheese

Oct 6: Picture Day

Oct 9: Pastries with Kindergarten Parents from 8:15 - 8:45 am

Oct 13: Staff Development Day (No School)

Oct 17: Dogwood PTA Movie Night at 6 pm

Oct. 20: Student Holiday (No School)

Oct. 29: 3 Hour Early Release

Oct. 30: Trunk or Treat

Oct. 31: 2 Hour Early Release/End of Quarter 1

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Chuck E Cheese

Join Us at Chuck E. Cheese - Family Fun Night on Friday, October 3rd

Get ready for a night of family fun at Chuck E. Cheese in Herndon, located at 2465 Centerville Rd. We're thrilled to invite all families to join us for this fantastic event! 

Date: October 3, 2025

Time: 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Don't forget to bring your fliers or mention "Dogwood" with every purchase! If you use the kiosk, make sure to check “yes” when asked if you are there for the fundraiser. This event is all about coming together as a community, and here's the best part: all proceeds will go towards supporting an exciting field trip for our first graders. See you on October 3rd for an evening of laughter, games, and good times at Chuck E. Cheese! 

Summit K12 Parent Session

Some families have been invited to attend a Summit K12 Parent Session to learn more about how this program will be used for homework and how it supports student success. During the session, you’ll discover how Summit K12 works, how it helps your child succeed in school, and get tips to support English learning at home. Families will also receive important information about laptop expectations and will be able to sign permission forms for their child to take their laptop home.

 summit K12
South Lakes

SLHS PTSA Food Pantry

The SLHS PTSA Food Pantry will be hosting its 8th Annual FUNdraiser, the “Do It Your Way 0.5K” on October 5th from 2-4pm at Lake Anne Plaza. I hope you will join me and others in our community for lively music, pre-race warm-ups, yummy cookies (baked by the SLHS Culinary students) to put a little pep in your step, a live raffle, and the most rewarding 650 steps you’ll take all year. Register online now or in person on the day of the event. All proceeds will directly support providing food to over 550 local students and families in the SLHS Pyramid each week. 

Supporting Your Child with Dyslexia

Join us on October 15, 10-11:30 a.m., for an informative webinar on Dyslexia Awareness, specifically designed for families in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). This session will provide essential information about dyslexia and the resources available within FCPS to support students with this learning difference.

    • What You'll Learn: 
      • Understanding Dyslexia: Gain a clear understanding of what dyslexia is, its common signs, and how it can affect students' reading, writing, and spelling.
      • FCPS Support Systems: Learn about the various supports and interventions FCPS provides, including evidence-based, structured literacy approaches and the role of reading specialists.
      • Virginia Literacy Act: Discover how the new Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and FCPS's Equitable Access to Literacy (EAL) Plan are changing literacy instruction to benefit all learners, especially those with dyslexia.
      • Resources for Families: We'll share practical tools and strategies you can use at home to support your child's literacy development and partner effectively with their school.
      • This webinar aims to empower families with knowledge and resources to help their students with dyslexia succeed.
    • Register here

Reading Plans and Your Student 

This 1.5-hour webinar on October 22, 10-11:30 a.m., is designed to help parents and caregivers understand the new reading plans in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Parents will learn about:

  • What a reading plan is: A reading plan is a support system for students who are not meeting literacy benchmarks. It outlines specific, evidence-based instruction and interventions to help them improve their reading skills.
  • Who requires a reading plan: All students from kindergarten through eighth grade who are identified as needing additional support based on literacy assessments will receive a reading plan. This is part of a broader effort by FCPS to implement the Virginia Literacy Act.
  • How schools will support students: The webinar will explain how FCPS is using a science-based reading approach and will discuss the role of reading specialists, the curriculum used, and the assessments to monitor student progress.
  • Resources and tools for parents: Parents will leave with practical resources and tools they can use at home to support their child's literacy development. The webinar aims to empower families to be active partners in their child's reading journey.
  • Register here

K-12 School Start Times Survey

FCPS is continuing to explore options for adjusting school start times, with the primary goal of starting the middle school day at 8 a.m. or later. In order to minimize any cost for this project, elementary and high school start times would need to shift as well.

Providing feedback opportunities for the community is a critical part of this effort. Since 2024, FCPS’s consultant has hosted five community forums and administered two surveys. That feedback helped in developing two options for adjusting school start times. The options are designed to support student well-being, align with research, and balance transportation logistics.

We invite you to provide input on the two options by taking a short survey. This voluntary survey will close on Tuesday, September 30. Visit the FCPS website for more information on adjusting school start times.

2025 Student Rights and Responsibilities 

FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. 

Parents/caregivers should talk to their child(ren) about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to your child’s school by Tuesday, September 30. 

Community Conversations

🎤 Join a Community Conversation with Superintendent Dr. Reid

Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school and in life. 

A series of Community Conversations will be held across the school division to discuss current challenges and future opportunities. These events are also a chance for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events are planned for the following dates:

Registration links will be shared soon. Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all.

bond

What Will the 2025 Bond Referendum on the November Ballot Fund? 

The $460M bond referendum on the November ballot is expected to fund the next stages of several ongoing projects, as well as others referenced in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). 

The building and renovation of our schools is not funded through the division’s operating budget. Voter-approved bonds allow payment for these projects over time. Read more about the 2025 Bond Referendum. Learn more about registering to vote. Make a plan to vote by Tuesday, November 4.