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 It’s been an incredible week at Dogwood, from our talented students performing at All County Chorus and competing in the Science Olympiad to engaging musical lessons in the classroom. We also loved seeing so many families join us for a successful "Pastries with Parents" morning to build community and connection. These moments truly highlight the dedication, creativity, and school spirit that make our students and families so special!
Important Dates
May
May 4 - 8: Staff Appreciation Week
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)
🌞Teacher Appreciation Week – Parent Help Needed!
Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4–May 8) is coming up! The PTA is helping support this special week and would love your help in making sure all of our teachers and staff feel appreciated. We are collecting donations for a Dessert Bar and Snack Lounge - sign up using the link below to contribute. All donations must be dropped off by the morning of Wednesday, May 6th. Thank you for supporting our amazing Dogwood staff!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4FACA922A4F5C34-63634757-teacher
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!
Join Us for Summer Learning at Dogwood!
We are excited to host our Summer Learning Programs right here at Dogwood from July 6th through July 24th! Our sessions will run daily from 8:55 AM to 12:55 PM, and bus transportation will be provided for students who normally ride the bus during the school year.
This summer, we are offering several specialized programs:
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Bridge to Kindergarten: Helping our newest learners build essential school routines.
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Explorers: Focusing on academic English development for 3rd–6th grade Multilingual Learners.
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SOAR: Providing core Math and Language Arts reinforcement for students in grades K–6.
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Young Scholars: Offering academic enrichment for students from historically underserved groups.
Action Required: Permission forms were sent home this past Thursday in student folders. Please check your child’s backpack and return the completed form as soon as possible to secure their spot. We look forward to a summer of growth and discovery!
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Yearbooks
Yearbooks are now available to order! Capture the memories from this school year with a keepsake your child can look back on for years to come.
Yearbooks are $25 each. Order forms went home in Thursday's folders. Please be sure to send in your order as soon as possible so your child doesn’t miss out!
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Laptops to Remain at School…Beginning May 4
Beginning Monday, May 4, all student devices will remain at school and will no longer be sent home. This weekend will be the final opportunity for students to bring their devices home to complete their online learning homework.
As we prepare for upcoming testing, devices will be kept at school so they can receive important updates, be checked for any needed repairs, and ensure that every student has a working device ready to go. Keeping devices at school also helps us account for all laptops as we approach the end of the school year.
Students who have been consistently completing their SummitK12 assignments may continue bringing their devices home, as this program runs through June 5. Families of these students received a notification through TalkingPoints earlier this week.
Thank you for your continued support.
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow. We All Belong Here!
In FCPS, we all belong. From the first day of school to the last day of school, every child matters. If your student is having a hard time finishing the year strong and attending school, please contact a trusted adult at our school — a teacher, counselor, or administrator. Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.
Required Immunizations for Rising 7th
The following immunizations are required for students entering 7th grade each school year.
All students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations before the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY), and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- To meet the Tdap requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 7 or older.
- To meet the MenACWY requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.
- To meet the HPV requirement, the vaccination should be given between the ages of 11 to 12 or as early as 9 years old.
As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child will not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.
Discover Exciting Summer Learning Activities and Ideas
Join Fairfax County Public Schools for a free, family-friendly community celebration filled with hands-on STEM, arts, and creative experiences for students of all ages. This year’s Summer Extravaganza takes place on Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Woodson High School.
Explore summer learning resources and connect with FCPS offices and community partners. Don’t miss the Student Market and a full day of engaging activities designed to spark learning, growth, and inspiration for the whole family.
For more information, visit the Summer Extravaganza webpage.
Family Information Phone Lines
FCPS family information phone lines are available in nine different languages. An FCPS employee will respond to your call in your preferred language within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.
Call the phone line with questions about your child’s education or FCPS, and someone will help connect you to resources or arrange for you to speak to the appropriate school employee. Learn more about family information phone lines.
Your Child's Mental Wellness Matters: Access Comprehensive Services
Reach out to the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) for specialized youth mental health services designed to help your child succeed. The CSB has individual and family counseling, psychiatric diagnostic evaluations, medication management, parenting groups, peer support, crisis response, recovery supports that include medication-assisted treatment (MAT), intensive services, and other services.
Contact CSB Entry and Referral to get started by calling 703-383-8500 or emailing csb@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Additional Mental Health Resources
FCPS has resources available to support your child’s mental health. During after-school hours, parents and students who need additional support can use the 988 Lifeline to get free, confidential guidance from trained crisis counselors on how to best help someone experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. You can call or text the number.
Recent reports have shared an 11% drop in suicides among young people since the rollout of 988. Please note, the hotline is not only for those experiencing suicidal ideation (or thoughts), it is also available for any mental health or substance abuse-related crisis and those with a loved one experiencing those crises or suicidal thoughts.
And as always, if your concern is an emergency, you should call 911.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Summer Learning
- Mental Health Resources
- Thank You, Bus Drivers and Food Service Workers
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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