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Dear Dogwood Families,
It is hard to believe we are entering our final week of the 2025-2026 school year! As we reflect on the year behind us, our hearts are full of pride and gratitude. It has been an incredible year of learning, growth, achievement, and community, and we are so thankful to have shared it with each of you.
These last few weeks of school are always filled with special traditions, celebrations, and memorable moments. Last week, we were thrilled to welcome many of our former Dragons back to Dogwood for their Graduation Walk before the South Lakes High School graduation ceremony. This is one of our most treasured traditions. Seeing these young adults return to the halls where their educational journeys began is both inspiring and emotional. Their smiles, confidence, and excitement for the future remind us of the lasting impact of our school community and all that lies ahead for our current students.
Today, our campus was filled with laughter, cheers, and excitement as we celebrated Field Day! Students enjoyed a variety of games, relays, and team activities that encouraged sportsmanship, collaboration, and fun. Whether they were racing, cheering on their classmates, or cooling off with a well-earned popsicle, our Dragons made the most of this special day. The joy on their faces was a wonderful reminder that some of the best school memories are made outside the classroom.
Later this week, we look forward to celebrating our 6th graders as they reach an important milestone at our 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony. We are incredibly proud of this class and all they have accomplished during their time at Dogwood. While Ms. Beckner will be out of state celebrating her own daughter's graduation, our wonderful assistant principals, Ms. Skerker and Ms. Bell, along with Ms. Holliday, will be there to honor and celebrate our students and their families.
The celebrations continue next week with one of the most significant events in the IB Primary Years Programme: Exhibition! Exhibition represents the culmination of our students' elementary school experience and provides an opportunity for them to showcase their learning, passions, research, and action. Through this process, students investigate real-world issues, think critically, collaborate with peers, and develop solutions that can make a difference in their communities and beyond.
Our 6th graders have worked incredibly hard, and we cannot wait for them to share their learning with you. We warmly invite all members of our Dogwood community to attend Exhibition and experience firsthand the creativity, knowledge, and leadership of our remarkable students. Their presentations are always inspiring and serve as a powerful reflection of the IB learner attributes we strive to develop.
As we close out another wonderful year, thank you for your partnership, support, and trust. Together, we have created a school community where students thrive, relationships matter, and every child is encouraged to reach their fullest potential.
Let's enjoy this final week together and celebrate all that our Dragons have accomplished!
With gratitude and Dragon pride,
Kate Beckner
Principal
Dogwood Elementary School
Important Dates
June 12: 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony 9:15am
June 15 and 16: PYP Exhibition
June 17: Last Day of School for Students- 2 Hour Early Release, 1:35pm dismissal
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🐉 Join Us for Our Final PTA Meeting of the Year!
The Dogwood PTA will hold its final meeting of the school year on Thursday, June 11 at 6:00 PM in the Dogwood Library. During this meeting, we will hold elections for next year's PTA Board and share a recap of everything we accomplished this year, along with exciting plans already underway for next year.
Have you ever considered getting involved with the PTA? We are always looking for parents and community members who want to help make Dogwood an even better place for our students and families. Whether your interests are in community outreach, family events, teacher appreciation, communications, fundraising, or behind-the-scenes support, there is a place for you on our team. Any amount of involvement is appreciated and makes a difference!
Come learn more about the PTA, meet other families, hear what's ahead for next year, and consider joining us as a volunteer or PTA Board member. We would love to see you there!
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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(FULL) Young Scholars: Offering academic enrichment for students from historically underserved groups.
Action Required: Permission forms were sent home in student folders. Please check your child’s backpack and return the completed form as soon as possible to secure their spot. Electronic forms were sent out via talking points. We look forward to a summer of growth and discovery!
📚 Yearbooks Are Still Available! 📚
Yearbooks are $25 and can now only be purchased by sending the exact cash amount ($25) to school. Online ordering is no longer available.
A yearbook is a special way for your child to remember the friends, teachers, events, and memories that made this school year unique. Don't miss the opportunity to give them a keepsake they can look back on for years to come!
Please send exact cash in an envelope with the student’s name and teacher's name to school as soon as possible, while supplies last.
Calendar Survey
FCPS values your input as we plan future school calendars. On Friday, June 5, all caregivers and FCPS staff will receive an email from noreply@fcps.edu containing a unique link to complete the FCPS Calendar Survey.
Your feedback matters. Please take a few minutes to share your priorities and perspectives by Monday, June 22, at 11:59 p.m.
Your individual responses will be kept confidential and will not be shared with school staff or used in any way that identifies you or your student. Only aggregate, summary-level results will be reported to the Fairfax County School Board.
If you do not receive a link to the survey or have technical difficulties completing the survey, please contact the FCPS Office of Research and Program Evaluation.
Summer Resources Help Students Stay Curious, Healthy, and Busy
The FCPS Summer Resource Guide has activities and tips on a variety of subjects and interests, from camps and activities to health and safety resources.
Be sure to check back over the summer, as more resources may be added.
Learning Doesn’t Take a Vacation and Neither Does Fun!The FCPS Summer Learning webpage offers ideas and strategies for families to keep students curious until August. Summer is the perfect time to help your student explore new interests, reinforce concepts, and stay engaged!
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Spanish:Los Recursos para el Verano Ayudan a que los Estudiantes se Mantengan Curiosos, Sanos y OcupadosLa Guía de FCPS de Recursos para el Verano contiene actividades y consejos sobre una variedad de temas e intereses que van desde, campamentos y actividades, hasta recursos sobre salud y seguridad.
Asegúrese de revisarla otra vez más adelante en el verano puesto que podrían agregarse nuevos recursos.
¡Aprender no Toma Vacaciones, y la Diversión Tampoco!
La página web Aprendiendo en el Verano de FCPS ofrece ideas y estrategias para que las familias mantengan viva la curiosidad de los estudiantes hasta agosto. El verano es el momento perfecto para que ayude a su estudiante a explorar nuevos intereses, reforzar conceptos aprendidos y mantenerse interesado en aprender.
Summer Meals for Students
Starting Monday, June 22, no-cost meals will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis at the sites and times listed on the FCPS Summer Food Service Program webpage. Students must remain on-site while eating their meals.
This year, thanks to generous support from Educate Fairfax, families may also receive one no-cost breakfast and lunch per adult at the following elementary schools: Braddock, Dogwood, Glen Forest, Hutchison, Hybla Valley, and London Towne.
Summer sites will continue to be added, so check the Summer Food webpage regularly for updates.
Summer Immunization Events for All FCPS Students
Inspire Health Alliance, in partnership with FCPS, will be providing school-required immunizations this summer. Immunizations will be provided at no out-of-pocket cost to students or families. Registering families will be required to provide insurance information, if applicable, but students without insurance may still participate.
Visit the FCPS and Inspire Health Alliance Student Immunization Events webpage for dates, times, and locations. Additional event dates will be made available and shared four to five weeks prior to the event on the webpage. Additional immunization resources are also available.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Graduation and Summer Resources
- Check Your Lunch Balance
- Mental Health Support
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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