Back to School Edition
A Message from the PTO New Parent Liaison

Dear New Families,

On behalf of our PTO, I want to welcome you to Dogwood Elementary School!  We are thrilled to welcome you into our Dolphin Family!  We want to make this transition as easy as possible for you, so please feel free to contact me with any questions.  All of us look forward to getting to know you and serving our school community alongside you.

I hope to see you at the New Parent Reception on August 9th from 5:15-6:15 pm in the cafeteria.  You will hear from our teachers, staff and PTO Board some very helpful information to get our school year off to a great start.  The Kindergarten Parent Meeting will be immediately following in your child's classroom.  We ask that parents only are in attendance this night.

Kindergarten Families are invited to attend the Kindergarten Meet and Greet on August 11th from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at Dogwood Park.  Drop by to meet new classmates and their families!  We will take a special Class of 2031 picture at 11:00 am that you won't want to miss!  (In case of inclement weather, an update will be posted to the Dogwood Elementary PTO Facebook page on Saturday morning.)

See you there!

Carie Alley
New Parent Liaison
901-378-1452
cfinche@yahoo.com
PTO Website

Please visit the PTO website to learn more about the PTO, our events, and ways you can get involved! The PTO Guidebook can also be found here!



Dogwood Elementary PTO Facebook Group


Join the Dogwood Elementary PTO Facebook Group. This is a closed group for parents of Dogwood students only. 

When you request to join the group, you will asked to confirm that you are a parent or guardian of a child currently attending Dogwood. 


My School Bucks

Skip the lines at Open House!  MySchoolBucks is open to accept pre-orders and payments for:
  • student instructional fee
  • class t-shirts
  • Dogwood spirit shirts 
  • 3rd grade chair bags (these are the same bags used in previous grades)
  • 2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th Dogwood agenda books
  • 4th & 5th musical recorder instruments
  • 3rd, 4th, & 5th Gifted supplemental math program
Kindergarten and New Parents: You can pre-pay using My School Bucks. Within 48 hours of your registration being approved, you can create an account for your child using their birthdate. You will not have a Student ID yet. Use a computer, not the app.

 

School Supplies
If you pre-ordered school supplies through Kidzschoolbox, you will pick up your box at Open House and take it to your child's classroom. If you are unable to attend Open House, your child's box will be delivered to his or her classroom.

If you did not pre-order your school supplies, you can
 
find your child's school supply list here!

PTO Membership

Please support our students and teachers by joining the Dogwood PTO!

Once again, we will use the secure online PTO membership management system and directory, MySchoolAnywhere. If you haven't registered, please go to the site below and follow the steps to join the PTO and register your family. You can specify what information you'd like to appear in the directory - or choose not to appear at all.





If you prefer, you can still join the PTO at Open House on Tuesday, July 31st. We will have computers available in the gym. All PTO memberships will be purchased online. We will not be accepting cash or check.

All PTO members will have access to the online directory. With the free MySchoolAnywhere app, you'll have the ability to click to call, text, email or map directions. The app is available on iTunes or Google Play.

The PTO is also offering a limited printing of the Dogwood PTO Directory for pre-purchase. Join today and secure your copy of a printed directory. Printed directories will be delivered early fall.

Events
Open House

Tuesday, July 31st, 3:00 - 6:00 pm

At Open House you can:
  • Meet your child's teacher. Class lists will be posted at every classroom.
  • Pickup pre-ordered school supply boxes.
  • Drop off supplies in your child's classroom.
  • Receive bus or car line number.
  • Set up lunch account.
  • Purchase items from the Dogwood Bookstore (agenda books, nap mats, recorders, chair bags, etc.)
  • Sign up for before/after care with REACH.
  • Pay the Student Instructional Fee.
  • Order your class t-shirt.

We can't wait to see you there! Remember to bring your checkbooks, or prepay for items via My School Bucks (see information on My School Bucks above).

Open House FAQs

1. Where do I go first? Your student will of course be eager to go and see who their teacher is for the year. Class lists will be posted outside of each classroom. After meeting your child's teacher you can proceed to the gym where all tables, supplies, and information will be set up.

2. I have a Kindergartner. How do I know what day we start? Kindergarten will have a staggered start the first week of school. Your child will only go one day that week (Monday - Wednesday). When you visit your teacher during Open House, you will select what day you prefer.

3. If I ordered pre-packaged supplies, where will they be? Pre-packaged supply boxes will be in the GYM. Once you pick up your box, you will deliver it to your classroom.

4. Can I set up my locker (4th and 5th grade)? Lockers will not be assigned until school starts. Teachers would like the opportunity to discuss locker responsibility first. Supplies are still welcome in the classroom.

5. How many checks will I need? If you plan to write checks at Open House, between class t-shirts, lunch accounts, bookstore purchases, and the student instructional fee, you will want to come prepared.

6. Will Nurse Maddie be there? We know several of our little Dolphins have medicine on file with Nurse Maddie. However, we ask that you bring that (along with your paperwork) on the first day of school.

7. Do I have to purchase a class t-shirt? Yes. All students must have a class t-shirt, as students are required to wear them for all field trips, class pictures, and field day.

8. Do I have to get a car line number? No, but if you ever plan to pick your child up via the car line, you must have a car line number.

9. If I do not have the opportunity to make all the purchases that I need to, will there be another opportunity to do so? Yes. You may continue to make purchases on MySchoolBucks until August 5th. Lunch accounts and REACH registration can be updated online. The Dogwood Bookstore is open each school day from 8:30 - 8:45 a.m.

10. What if I can't attend Open House? If you are unable to attend Open House, you may want to ask a friend to take a photo of your child's class list so they know who their teacher is. You may get your bus/car line number from the office during the first week of school. Pre-ordered school supply boxes and bookstore items purchased through MySchoolBucks will be delivered to your child's classroom.
Welcome Back Party in the Park

Join us for a back to school party in Dogwood Park (behind the school) Sunday, August 5th, from 1:00 - 3:00!

Our guest of honor is our new Assistant Principal, Ms. Joye Phipps.

Mama D's will be selling popsicles and Italian ice for $4 each.


 New Parent Reception

Please join us for our New Parent Reception on Thursday, August 9th, from 5:15 - 6:15, in the Dogwood cafeteria.

This is an event for parents only. We look forward to seeing you!
Kindergarten Meet and Greet

Kindergartners and their families are invited to attend the Kindergarten Meet and Greet on Saturday, August 11th, from 10am to 12pm in Dogwood Park.

A special Class of 2031 photo will be taken at 11am.
Curriculum Night

Save the date for our upcoming Curriculum Nights! Your Curriculum Night will be held in your child's classroom. We ask that only adults attend Curriculum Night.


Thursday, August 9, Kindergarten 6:15 - 7:15 PM
(please note, Kindergarten Curriculum Night will be immediately following the New Parent Reception, which will be held in the cafeteria at 5:15.)

Monday, August 13, Grade 2, 5:00 - 6:00 PM

Monday, August 13, Grade 1, 6:00 - 7:00 PM

Tuesday, August 14, Grade 3, 5:00 - 6:00 PM

Tuesday, August 14, Grade 4, 6:00 - 7:00 PM

Thursday, August 16, Grade 5, 5:00 - 6:00 PM

Thursday, August 16, PreK, 5:00 - 6:00 PM

Thursday, August 16, Apex, Special Ed, and Specialist, 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Community Involvement
Amazon Smile

If you shop with Amazon, be sure your AmazonSmile account is set up to support the Dogwood PTO!

If you have done this in the past, please double check your settings as we have recently updated our account with Amazon.



Treasures for Teachers

For the past two years, the Germantown Education Foundation has worked with donors like you to help our teachers buy needed supplies for their classrooms. As we enter into our 3nd annual Treasures for Teachers campaign, we need your help again!  
 
Only with community partners like you can we help our teachers make their classrooms special places to learn and keep Germantown Municipal Schools a leader in statewide education. Again this year, our community partner Knowledge Tree is contributing $20 for every $100 you give to Treasures for Teachers. This will provide a $120 gift card to each GMSD teacher to spend on classroom supplies.
 
For your $100 Treasures for Teachers sponsorship:
 
  • Your individual or business name will be listed on a large print media display at each school for the entire school year.
  • You will be invited to a public recognition of sponsors and the announcement of the additional funds during the GMSD district-wide teacher in-service on August 3, 2018.
  • You will be recognized in media coverage at the in-service with City of Germantown Aldermen and staff present; including social media recognition, website recognition and public promotion.
 
Choose your way to be part of the 2018 Treasures for Teachers program:
 
 
Here's to a successful school year for our GMSD teachers, students and families.
Kristi Ransom
Executive Director
Germantown Education Foundation
Edie Fleming
Chair- Treasures for Teachers
Germantown Education Foundation




St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer

Join the GMSD Team as we race to support St. Jude! The St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer will be held on September 22, 2018. 

Click here to  Join the Dogwood Team - Be sure you select the Dogwood Team from the list of schools.

Whether you are walking, running, or cheering on our team, you can order a t-shirt to support the cause. There are cotton and dri-fit options! Orders are due August 17th.

Click here for more information or to order your t-shirt!  GMSD St. Jude Walk/Run T-Shirts


Shop and Support the Dogwood PTO
Please note: Two dollars per haircut will be generously donated to the Dogwood PTO. A previous version of this flyer mistakenly stated that a discount of $2 would be applied. 
You Don't Want to Miss...
Upcoming Events

Tuesday, July 31
Open House 
3:00 - 6:00 PM
Sunday, August 5
Welcome Back Party in the Park
1:00 - 3:00 PM
Monday, August 6
First Day of School
8:45 AM - 3:45 PM
Monday, August 6 -
Wednesday, August 8
Kindergarten Phase-In Week

Thursday, August 9
New Parent Reception
5:15 - 6:15 PM
Thursday, August 9
Kindergarten - Curriculum Night 
6:15 - 7:15 PM
Saturday, August 11
Kindergarten - Meet and Greet
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Monday, August 13
Grade 1 - Curriculum Night
6:00 - 7:00 PM
Monday, August 13
Grade 2 - Curriculum Night
5:00 - 6:00 PM
Tuesday, August 14
General PTO Meeting
9:00 AM
Tuesday, August 14
Grade 3 - Curriculum Night
5:00 - 6:00 PM
Tuesday, August 14
Grade 4 - Curriculum Night
6:00 - 7:00 PM
Thursday, August 16
Grade 5 - Curriculum Night
5:00 - 6:00 PM
Thursday, August 16
PreK - Curriculum Night
5:00 - 6:00 PM
Thursday, August 16
Apex, Special Ed & Specialists - Curriculum Night
6:00 - 7:00 PM


Dogwood Elementary PTO | (901) 756-2310 |   Email | Website

Germantown Municipal School District provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, handicap/disability, sex, genetics or age.
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