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 This week, Dogwood students were highly engaged, developing critical reading and writing skills and expanding their vocabulary across all grade levels.
December
Dec. 9: Winter Chorus Concert (5:30 pm)
Dec. 10: 3 Hour Early Release
Dec. 10: Family Life Education Parent Information Night - Join here virtually
Dec. 15 - 19: Winter Spirit Week (see schedule below)
Dec. 17: Chick-fil-A Night
Dec. 18: Glow Walk Night
Dec. 22 - Jan. 2: Winter Break (No School)
January
Jan. 9: Pastries With Parents - Math Night
Jan. 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No School)
Jan. 28: End of Quarter/2-Hour Early Release
Jan. 29: Staff Development Day (No School for Students)
Jan. 30: Teacher Workday (No School for Students)
PTA News
Chic Fil A Night
Wednesday, December 17, 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Our next spirit night will be at Chick-fil-A Night on Wednesday, Dec. 17th. 25% of the profits will go to Dogwood. Help us make a difference by raising money for our school!
Glow Walk
Thursday, December 18, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Glow Walk is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 18, and Mr. Ericson is looking for parents to volunteer. If you can volunteer, please sign up here.
🙋♂️ Attendance Is Important Every Day!
Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after winter break. Give your child the gift of education and help build a habit of attendance. Visit the FCPS website for more attendance resources.
Attendance Matters: Our Goal is Below 10%!
Your child's daily presence is essential for their learning and growth. Our current absenteeism rate is 10.3%, and we need your help to reach our goal of staying below 10% for the year! If your child received an Attendance Plan (5+ absences) last week, please check their bookbag, sign the document, and return it immediately. Please prioritize school attendance: plan family trips during breaks, send your child to school before or after necessary doctor's appointments, and remember that students with only a stuffy nose but no fever should attend.
Food Assistance and Resource Guide
Food insecurity impacts more than 96,000 Fairfax County residents. Learn how to help and discover the many resources available to support those who need food assistance or shelter. View the county’s Human Services Resource Guide.
Family Life Education
Students in grades K-6 participate in Family Life Education (FLE) instruction through their classroom teacher. Students in Kindergarten through grade three receive instruction in an emotional and social health unit.
Students in grades 4-6 receive instruction in a human growth and development unit and an emotional and social health unit. For more information about the FCPS Family Life Education program, please see the detailed grade-level program descriptions.
In addition, grade-level-specific curriculum lessons are available for review in multiple locations.
- Online in Schoology - Includes lessons and media titles that FCPS has streaming rights for. Any additional media or book titles that are not streamed are available at your child’s school library.
- Parents/guardians log in to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account.
- Your child’s school. Please contact the school to schedule a time to review lessons and/or media.
- City of Fairfax Regional Library – lessons only. Media is not available.
You are invited to attend an evening opportunity to preview the Family Life Education media and lessons and to hear from school staff about the program. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 6:00 PM.
Please use this link to access the meeting here
Parents/guardians who do not wish to have their child participate in FLE instruction may choose to opt their child out of any or all of the lessons. If you would like to opt your child out of one or more lessons, please complete the opt-out form available in Parent Digital Consent (PDC). If you are unable to access PDC, a paper opt-out form will be sent out this week in Thursday's folders. Should you opt your child out and then later decide you want your child included in FLE instruction, you must notify your child’s school principal in writing before instruction begins.
An alternative non-FLE health instructional program is provided for children who do not take part in FLE instruction, and every effort is made to foster understanding and respect for family choices and to avoid peer pressure for or against participation in the program.
Instruction of the instructional units occurs at various times during the school year. Please contact your child’s teacher for specific dates of FLE instruction. We look forward to working as your partner in providing information that will help your child make healthy choices related to the exciting changes and new challenges he/she will be facing in the next few years.
SLHS Robotics Bingo Night
Come support the SLHS Robotics team at their fun-filled Bingo Night! Join us for a great evening of games on Friday, December 5, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the SLHS Cafeteria. All are welcome to attend this community event!
Full-Time AAP Referral Window Reminder for Families
Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15
Parents and guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) services must submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Katie Symionow at kksymionow@fcps.edu no later than December 15, 2025.
Full-Time Referral Form (PDF)
Each year, families can submit a referral for Full-Time AAP services any time from the first day of school through December 15. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted.
Once a referral is received, our school will compile information related to the student. Then, a committee of six trained professionals from across the county will review materials to determine eligibility for full-time AAP services.
Next Steps for Parents
Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of their child’s materials after February 20, 2026, by emailing Katie Symionow at kksymionow@fcps.edu
Langston Hughes Middle School: Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night- January 14
Langston Hughes Middle School is hosting their Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night on Wednesday, January 14 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Parents/Caretakers and students are invited to attend. During this event you may tour our building, meet teachers, and learn about 2026-2027 course offerings and the course selection process. You may also review our Academic Advising website to learn more about the course selection process. Early bird sessions for special programs will begin at 5:25pm and cover the following topics: Advanced Academics, AVID, IB-MYP, Multilingual Learners, and Special Education. Translation services will be available in ASL, Arabic, and Spanish. If you require translation in another language or have any questions, please contact Marissa Brooks, Director of Student Services, at MLBrooks@fcps.edu. We are excited to meet our future Panther families!
KEY DATES
January 14: Curriculum Night (snow date: January 15)
January 20-21: 6th graders visit LHMS
January 26-January 30: LHMS counselors visit 6th grade classes for academic advising
Share Your Thoughts With Superintendent Reid
At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school.
Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid are underway across the school division to discuss current challenges and future opportunities. We encourage you to attend, share your thoughts, and ask questions about FCPS. Events are planned for the following dates from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.:
Click on a date above to register. Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Community Conversations are open to all. Please check FCPS’ website for additional updates.
Virginia Quality Birth to Five (VQB5)
FCPS is participating in Virginia Quality Birth to Five (VQB5). VQB5 is Virginia’s system for measuring and supporting quality in early childhood programs so children enter kindergarten ready to learn. VQB5 builds on health and safety standards by measuring the quality of teacher-child interactions and the use of the curriculum. Refer to “VQB5 for Families English/Spanish” for more information.
FCPS’ Budget Supports the Success of the Local Economy
When our schools have the resources they need, all of Fairfax County succeeds!
FCPS is one of Fairfax County’s largest employers, and every paycheck we issue helps support local businesses, services, and housing markets. FCPS’ annual operating budget flows through our local economy — supporting jobs, purchasing goods and services, and contributing to regional stability.
Learn more about the Fiscal Year 2027 budget and how FCPS supports the Fairfax County economy.
Fairfax County Joint Budget Committee Meeting
The School Board met with the Board of Supervisors December 2 to discuss the budget forecast. View the meeting materials and learn more about FCPS' FY27 budget.
Volunteer FCPS Helps Community Members Connect With Schools
Volunteer FCPS allows individuals to search and register for volunteer opportunities across the division. It helps ensure a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment at all of our schools. All volunteers must:
- Create a profile in Volunteer FCPS.
- Register for opportunities through Volunteer FCPS.
- Sign in and out of schools using our visitor kiosk.
Individuals can complete a volunteer orientation on the Volunteer FCPS website. View Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the volunteer levels.
Recent Updates to Volunteer Opportunity Levels
Due to the overwhelming response from our community, FCPS is temporarily pausing fingerprint requirements for most Level 3 volunteers. Those who have already been fingerprinted will be processed to be eligible for all Level 3 opportunities.
As part of the application, all volunteers sign a statement confirming they have not been convicted of violent crimes, crimes against children, or other serious misconduct.
Field trip chaperone opportunities are now classified as Level 2 (not requiring a comprehensive background check).
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