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 At Dogwood, we take pride in creating an engaging, supportive environment where our students and community thrive together. From collaborative math lessons and hands-on classroom support to the excitement of our book vending machine ribbon-cutting and a visit from local firefighters, every moment highlights our commitment to student growth. 🐉
Important Dates
April
April 10: School Planning Day (No School for Students)
April 10: Kindergarten Orientation from 4:30 - 6:30 pm
April 16: PTA Meeting at 6 pm in the library
April 21: Teacher Workday (No School for Students)
April 22: 3 Hour Early Release - CANCELED
April 24: Stuff the Bus at Dogwood
April 25: Bicycle Giveaway
April 28: PTA Chick Fil A Spirit Night at 4 pm
April 29: Spring Chorus Concert at 5:30 pm
April 29: Advanced Academics Parent Night at 5:00 pm
May
May 1: Pastries with Parents (Literacy)
May 6: Reading SOL Test (Grades 3 - 6)
May 13: 3 Hour Early Release
May 14: Math SOL Test (Grades 3 - 6)
May 20: Science SOL Test (Grade 5)
May 25: Student Holiday (No School)
May 26: Teacher Workday (No School for Students)
May 27: Student Holiday (No School)
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Action April
At the heart of being an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School is agency and empowering our students to take action. Throughout April, we will engage in Action April, in which our students will be presented with different ways to take action every day. Our students will also reflect and share ways that they took action and how it made them feel.
Please ask your child, “How did you take action today? How did it make you feel?”
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SOL Testing Updates
As we head into May, our students in Grades 3–6 are gearing up to showcase all the incredible growth they’ve made this year! Our teachers and students have been working hard, and we are confident in their ability to tackle the upcoming Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments.
📅 Save the Dates
Please mark your calendars for our primary testing windows:
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Wednesday, May 6th: Reading SOL (Grades 3–6)
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Thursday, May 14th: Math SOL (Grades 3–6)
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Wednesday, May 20th: Science SOL (Grade 5 only)
Preparation & Support
Over the next few weeks, students will be conducting in-class reviews to revisit key grade-level concepts and sharpen their test-taking strategies.
We also want to extend a huge "thank you" to the families whose students participated in our After-School and Saturday Test Prep sessions. These extra hours of dedication are a testament to our students' commitment to their own success!
How You Can Help at Home
To ensure your child feels confident and energized on testing days, we recommend:
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A Good Night's Sleep: Aim for 8–10 hours of rest the night before.
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A Healthy Breakfast: Fueling the brain is key to staying focused.
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Positive Encouragement: A simple "You've got this!" goes a long way in reducing test anxiety.
We are so proud of our students' hard work. Let's finish the year strong!
Stuff the Bus
On Friday, April 24, an FCPS bus will be traveling to local schools to collect donations for the South Lakes High School Food Pantry. We are looking for various items to help our community, including:
-Canned Goods: Tuna, salmon, soup, and fruit.
-Dry Goods: Pasta, rice, cereal, and macaroni & cheese.
-Hygiene Products: Toiletries, diapers (sizes 4 and 5), and feminine products.
-Pantry Staples: Cooking oil, peanut butter, and spices (plastic jars only, please!).
Participating schools include Dogwood ES, Forest Edge ES, Fox Mill ES, Hunters Woods ES, Lake Anne ES, Sunrise Valley ES, Terraset ES, Langston Hughes MS, and South Lakes HS.
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🚲Back on Two Wheels: The Community Bike Giveaway!
We are thrilled to announce the return of our Community Bicycle Giveaway, a wonderful collaboration between the Dogwood and SVES PTAs! After the astounding success of our first event, we are once again teaming up to get more wheels into the hands of our community members.
The Team Behind the Gears
A huge shout-out to parents Mr. Sasha Hafner and Gary R., who have been working tirelessly alongside Jennifer Glynn from the SVES PTA. Together, they have been collecting donations, performing expert repairs, and shining up gently used bicycles to ensure they are safe and ready for the road.
📅 Event Details
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When: Saturday, April 25th
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Where: Dogwood Parking Lot (Tentative location)
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How it Works: This giveaway operates via a bicycle lottery. Winning parents will be notified in advance and can claim their family's new ride during the event!
April Statewide Election: No School for Students
There will be no school for students on Tuesday, April 21, for the Virginia statewide election. Student activities, athletic practices, and events may proceed as scheduled.
FCPS will offer lunch and a snack at no cost to children aged 18 and under on Tuesday, April 21, at participating schools. The meals must be eaten on site, and enrichment activities will be available for the children. For more information, visit the FCPS Food and Nutrition Services webpage.
Help FCPS Sustain Excellence: Make Your Voice Heard on the FY 2027 Budget
About 70% of the FCPS budget comes from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. There are several upcoming opportunities to provide feedback to the county on its budget before final adoption in May. This includes public budget hearings (April 14-16) and an online survey. Learn how the FCPS budget helps us sustain our excellence.
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on:
Click on a date to register to attend that event. Registration is not required, but it helps with planning, especially for child care and interpretation services. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
Halfway Through Journeys and Themes in Language Arts
We are halfway through Benchmark Unit 6 in Language Arts! Across grade levels, students have explored stories involving quests, challenges, and problem-solving.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: Which character has been your favorite from this unit and why?
- Activity: With your child, brainstorm a brand-new invention to solve a problem, like shoelaces that tie themselves or a clothes dryer that folds clothes. Ask your child to tell or write a story about someone using the invention.
At the end of the unit, your child will take their unit magazine home. The magazine includes an activity calendar with fun ways to help students build on what they’re learning at each grade level. You can also find information on how to support your child’s reading at home on the Benchmark Families website.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Support Military Children
- National Merit Finalists
- School Board to Present Budget to Board of Supervisors
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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