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IT’S TIME!!!!!!
We are SO excited to welcome everyone back to school tomorrow! This is such a beautiful time of year, filled with excitement, fresh starts, and so many possibilities. Our incredible teachers and staff have been working hard to prepare for your children, and we cannot wait to fill our hallways with students again. This is going to be an amazing year!
A few important reminders to help us have a safe and smooth start:
Kindergarten
Our kindergarten families may walk their children to their classrooms during the first week of school. Please make sure kindergarten students wear their ID necklaces for the first two weeks of school. These help our staff quickly identify students and make sure everyone gets where they need to be safely.
First Grade
First-grade families may walk their children to their classrooms on the first day of school. First-grade students will also wear ID necklaces during the first week to help us make sure everyone gets to the right place.
Grades 2-6
For the safety of all students, parents of students in grades 2-6 will say their goodbyes outside the building. We will have plenty of staff members throughout the hallways ready to greet students, help them find their classrooms, and make sure everyone gets where they need to go.
Transportation
The first week of school can be a little tricky when it comes to transportation! Please make sure your child’s teacher and the front office know how your child will arrive at school and go home before the first day.
Whenever possible, please avoid changing your child’s mode of transportation during the first week. Consistency helps us keep dismissal safe, organized, and smooth for everyone.
A Little Patience Goes a Long Way!
Dismissal may take a little longer during the first few weeks as we carefully make sure every student gets to the correct place and heads home safely. Buses may also arrive a little earlier or later than expected as routes and routines settle into place.
We appreciate your patience, flexibility, and partnership as we work together to keep all of our students safe!
Quick Arrival & Dismissal Reminders
- K-6 walkers enter at Door 5 at the back of the building for arrival.
- Walkers will be picked up on the blacktop at dismissal.
- Kiss & Ride families must remain in their vehicles, pull through the bus loop, and wait for an adult to assist.
- Arrival begins at 8:35 AM. Please remember that students are not supervised before 8:35 AM.
- Dismissal is from 3:35-3:50 PM.
We cannot wait to see our students on Monday! Thank you for helping us start the year safely, smoothly, and with lots of excitement. Here’s to a wonderful first day and an AMAZING school year!
Sincerely,
Kate Beckner
Principal
Important Dates
August
August 24th - First Day of School for Kindergarten - 6th grade
August 27th - First Day of School for PreK students
September
September 1st - PTA Information Session (See information below)
September 4th - Student Holiday (No School)
September 7th - Student Holiday (No School)
September 14th - 18th - Hispanic Heritage Week
September 21st - Student Holiday (No School)
September 24th - Back to School Picnic
September 30th - 3 Hour Early Release (Information coming soon)
PTA Info Session
Mark your calendar for the first PTA meeting of the year. Tuesday, Sept. 1st at 6 pm at Dogwood Library (+virtual option).
At this meeting, you will:
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Meet and greet current members of PTA.
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Learn why we started a PTA two years ago and some of our goals to support Dogwood students and staff.
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Learn about some of the events happening this year.
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Learn some of the small and big ways you can get involved.
Join us in the Dogwood school library Tuesday, Sept. 1st at 6 pm. Virtual link to be provided for those who can't come in person.
Virtual option: Join with Google Meet meet.google.com/hwj-tsqd-quw
Join by phone (US) +1 316-789-6631 PIN: 483 336 880#
Many Permission Forms Now Available Online
Families can now easily grant permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account and parents can easily opt in or opt out their child from a variety of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, tutoring services, and how student information is managed.
Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system.
If you do not have a SIS ParentVUE account, contact our school’s Registrar, Erin Silvan ~ ensilvan@fcps.edu, for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
Student ID Cards for Dogwood Bus Riders
We will begin distributing student ID cards to all our students who ride the school bus or use FCPS transportation services.
[Add details about how student ID cards will be provided to families.]
Students who have student ID cards should begin tapping as they board and exit the bus. Only students who use FCPS transportation services will be provided with a student ID card at this time.
We ask for your patience! Bus drivers will begin checking in students next week and may need some extra time at each bus stop while they do this. The transportation team is working hard to minimize any potential delays.
Learn more about the bus navigation and student ID cards.
You Can Manage Student Web Access at Home
At Dogwood, we acknowledge that parents are our students' first and most important teachers. Parents now have greater control over their child’s FCPS-issued device outside of school hours through Lightspeed Parent Portal.
In addition to monitoring weekly internet activity, parents can now also customize web access at home on FCPS devices through Lightspeed using Schedules and Web Rules.
With Schedules, you can set tailored times to automatically pause or restrict internet access. This makes it easier to enforce rules around homework time, family dinners, weekends, or bedtime.
In Web Rules, you can create Custom Block Lists to block specific, individual websites they do not want your child accessing at home. This allows parents greater control over what is happening online, under their own roof.
These new custom controls take effect at home, outside of school hours, and when the device is off the FCPS network. They will not override standard district filtering policies during the instructional day.
Customize Your Lightspeed Settings
All parents should be receiving weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report emails. To set up these new features, click the “Log in or Register” button at the bottom of your weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email.
Visit the FCPS Lightspeed Parent Portal Guide for more information. If you have additional questions, submit a Parent Technology Support Ticket.
Parents are encouraged to discuss internet boundaries with their children so that they can understand the reasoning behind any limits and the differences between access at home and at school. Get tips on talking to your children about technology safety.
 💻 Catch Up on Your Child’s Classwork in Schoology
Teachers use Schoology to post their classroom materials online; to provide a secure forum for students to discuss their ideas and collaborate on projects; and to assign and collect homework electronically. It helps students stay organized, and it keeps the class connected.
A Schoology Parent Account gives you access to:
- Your child’s classes.
- Your child’s upcoming assignments.
- School, class, and group announcements.
To access Schoology, parents will need to have an active SIS/ParentVUE account. Get more information on how to login and use Schoology.
Get Ready for Day One with the FCPS App!
🎒As we gear up for the first day of school, make sure you have the FCPS mobile app downloaded! It's the quickest way to check the school year calendar, view lunch and breakfast menus, find school contacts, and jump to ParentVUE or Schoology from your phone.
Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
SEL Screener Parent/Guardian Notification
The Spring Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3 through 12 in October. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
Family Information Line Available in Nine Languages
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
Update Your Child’s Immunizations and Records
Please check with your healthcare provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up-to-date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Before the start of school on Monday, August 24, please submit your child’s immunization documentation. If your child has an appointment to receive their required immunizations after August 24, please submit an Immunization Action Plan to confirm the appointment.
You can check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to a school’s front office. If needed, families may also provide other immunization documentation including a healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption or a notarized Religious Exemption Form. Please visit the FCPS How to Submit Immunization Documentation webpage for step-by-step instructions on how to submit each of these items.
Immunization Events for FCPS Students
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary.
Additional immunization resources are also available.
Advanced Academic Programs
Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. A continuum of Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) services is available to students in Grades K to 12 and is designed to match services to each student’s unique academic needs.
Identification for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP services occurs throughout the school year. Full-Time AAP services have two identification cycles:
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Fall identification: Students in grades 3 to 7 who have enrolled in FCPS since January may be referred by October 15.
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Spring identification: Any FCPS student in Grades 2 to 7 may be referred by December 15.
FCPS uses ability testing as one consideration in the holistic identification process for AAP services:
- All students in Grade 2 take the Naglieri General Ability Test (NGAT).
- Students in Grades 3 to 6 who do not have a multi-domain ability test score take the NGAT.
- Students in Grades 3 to 6 may retake an ability test one time. Families may request the ability test retake by contacting Ms. Jillian Bell, school testing coordinator, at jmbell@fcps.edu by September 30.
Families are invited to attend two AAP information meetings led by Ms. Marissa Dyment, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART):
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AAP Continuum of Services: October 6th at 5:30 pm in the library. Families will learn about the continuum of advanced academic services available to FCPS students.
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Full-Time AAP Identification: November 11th at 5:30 pm in the library. Families will learn about the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services.
For more information, please contact Ms. Marissa Dyment, AART, at midyment@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs webpage.
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