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A Message from the Principal
Welcome Home Dogwood Families! I hope everyone had a wonderful summer and enjoyed the time off. We have been extremely busy this summer with new furniture for the library, paint in the cafeteria and hiring new teachers. We also attended professional development in Las Vegas, Chicago and Boston. Even our teachers go to school! What that really means is that we are packed full with new ideas and are ready for our family to be back together! This year we will work towards strengthening our kid voice. We will do this by involving our students in Dogwood's story, their grade level goals, self-advocacy and personal goal setting. We will continue with clubs in 4th and 5th grade. We will meet with our team about our Boosterthon fundraiser and we will include students in this process. Choose to Be Nice campaign will continue but we will be adding lots of great things to this program. We are super excited to get the year started and cannot wait for our Dolphins to walk through the doors!
Teresa Price
Principal
Dogwood Elementary School
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Welcome New Teachers!
Please give a huge Dolphin Family welcome to our new Dogwood teachers!
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Friendly First Day Reminders
We can't wait to see you on the first day of school! Here are a few tips to help you plan your day!
- The front parking lot is closed to traffic between 8:15-9:00 a.m. and 3:15-4:00 p.m.
- Please do not park on the school side of Dogwood Road except east of the Dogwood campus.
- Morning drop-off will begin at 8:30 a.m. when the school door opens and staff is present to receive students. Therefore, the car line will not begin to move until 8:30.
- Parents are welcome to walk their child in on the first day of school.
- Afternoon car line begins moving at 3:45 p.m.
- Make sure your child knows how they are getting home on Monday (e.g. car line, bus, front door walker or back door walker).
- Car line riders may want to write their car line numbers in sharpie on their hand so they remember it!
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Morning Drop Off and Car Line
Get your playlist and your patience ready! Car line is just around the corner (and down the street, and around the bend)! The start of school means it's time for a few friendly reminders about car line.
Please remember that car line will be long and slow for the first few weeks of school as parents and students acclimate. So put in your favorite tunes and enjoy the time with your kiddos before drop off and the quiet time before pick up!
Here are some car line reminders and tips to help things move as efficiently as possible.
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Open House Questions
Thank you to everyone who attended Open House! We have gotten a few questions that we wanted to clarify for everyone:
Can I still make purchases on MySchoolBucks?
Yes, but the deadline for all purchases on MySchoolBucks is
TODAY!! Go to
www.myschoolbucks.com to buy your class t-shirts, communication folders, spirit shirts, chair bags (2nd & 3rd), recorders (4th & 5th), and agenda books (2nd - 5th), as well as pay your Student Instructional Fee.
Sunday, August 5th, is the last day to order from MySchoolBucks!
What is the Student Instructional Fee?
The $30 student instructional fee will cover Accelerated Reader, subscriptions for classrooms, technology, and other consumables and needs as requested by teachers. Parents will receive a full accounting of how the funds are spent at our evening PTO meetings. The fee is not mandatory but is requested for each student in order to provide our students and teachers with additional educational tools and materials.
When will my child receive the items I purchased on MySchoolBucks?
Items will be delivered to your child's classroom as soon as they arrive at Dogwood.
Can I still purchase a nap mat for my Kindergartner?
The Bookstore will have a limited number of nap mats available for purchase at a later date. We will keep you posted on when nap mats will be for sale.
Can I change my student's class?
The school is not making any class adjustments at this time.
I purchased a school supply box, but did not come to Open House. How do I get my child's school supplies?
School supply boxes not picked up at Open House will be delivered to the child's classroom.
If I purchased a school supply box but it was not available at the school at Open House, what should I do?
Please contact the school supply company at:
Can I still purchase a Class T-Shirt?
Yes! All students must have a class shirt for field trips and other school events. You may still purchase a class t-shirt on MySchoolBucks. Today is the last day for MySchoolBucks orders!
Do I need a new car line number this year?
Your number will stay the same.
Where can I pick up a car line tag?
The PE teachers will have them available.
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Get Involved with the PTO - There is a Place for You!
The PTO needs you! Do you enjoy decorating for dances, are you already excited for Field Days, do you like graphic design? The PTO has a place for everyone.
Please follow the link to the PTO Volunteer Interest Form and tell us how you want to get involved! You will fill out your contact information and indicate which committees or events you are interested in helping with. The chair of that committee or event will reach out to get you connected!
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Car Line Volunteers Needed
In need of a few friendly men or women to help our new Dogwood families navigate car line next week!
This is an easy commitment - you just need to be able to smile and wave and direct new families as needed. We are looking for volunteers for each morning next week from 8:00 - 8:45 a.m.
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Volunteer to help in our Health Room
We need daily help from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. staffing the health room (located in the bookstore).
You will be dealing with minor issues like band-aids and ice packs. No medical experience necessary!
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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.
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.
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Library News
READO - Summer READO forms will be due in the coming weeks. Look for deadline information to be posted soon! Please see rules and forms based on grade level. Children will be rewarded with a treat for completed forms that meet requirements.
Grades K - 2 will blackout their entire READO form. Please note that being "read to" counts. Independent reading is NOT required. Download form here.
Shout out: Fourth grader,
Jack Turner, has been selected as a winner of the Tennessee First Lady's Statewide Summer Reading Competition. Jack was 1 of 100 winners invited to a Kid's State Dinner at the Tennessee Governor's Mansion. Congratulations to Jack!!!
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Locker Tips from the Teachers
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Lockers will be assigned this week to 4th and 5th graders once teachers have had a chance to properly review rules and etiquette with our students. In the meantime, here are a few helpful tips to get you prepared!
1. 5th grade students should use an "old school" Master lock (3-number code). The locks with alphabet and/or special coding often break and don't fit the lockers, making it more difficult if removed if necessary. Practice locker combinations before coming to school on Monday.
2. 4th grade students don't need a lock. We want them to learn how to use the locker without having to worry with a lock.
3. Decorating your locker is optional and must be done outside school hours. While decorating the inside of the locker door is acceptable, please avoid things that hang inside the locker, such as chandeliers. They break easily and take up too much room.
4. Adding a shelf is very helpful. It helps your student separate their books by morning/afternoon classes, and keeps them organized, making the locker process quicker and easier.
5. Please remember that decorating lockers for birthdays is prohibited.
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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. A portion of sales will be gifted to the Dogwood PTO!
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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!
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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.
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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
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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.
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.
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Houston Lacrosse Club
The Houston Lacrosse Club will be conducting 2018 Fall Ball program for boys in grades 1st-8th during the months of September and October. This program is for both experienced players and beginning players who attend public school in Germantown and is not intended to conflict with any other sport they may be playing. We use this as an opportunity to teach the game to new players and prepare our teams for the spring season. 1st-4th grade workouts will be on Sunday afternoons. 5th-8th grade will be on Tuesdays & Thursdays. Players should bring full gear and water to drink to each practice. Each player is required to be a USLacrosse member and can get a membership at www.uslacrosse.com. Registration fee is $125 for 5th-8th grade and $75 for 1st-4th grade. All practices will take place at Johnson Road Park lacrosse fields. Registration is online at
www.houstonlax.net.
1st - 4th Grade: Sundays 3PM - 5PM
5th & 6th Grade - Tuesdays & Thursdays 5PM - 7PM
7th & 8th Grade - Tuesdays & Thursdays 5PM - 7PM
For additional information on the boys Fall Ball program please contact Wally Gardner at [email protected] or (901) 218-9479. For general club information you can visit the HLC website at www.houstonlax.net.
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Shop and Support the Dogwood PTO
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Pigtails & Crewcuts Spirit Day
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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.
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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.
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You Don't Want to Miss...
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Upcoming Events
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Sunday, August 5
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Welcome Back Party in the Park
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1:00 - 3:00 PM
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Monday, August 6
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First Day of School
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8:45 AM - 3:45 PM
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Monday, August 6 -
Wednesday, August 8
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Kindergarten Phase-In Week
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Thursday, August 9
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New Parent Reception
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5:15 - 6:15 PM
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Thursday, August 9
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Kindergarten - Curriculum Night
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6:15 - 7:15 PM
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Saturday, August 11
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Kindergarten - Meet and Greet
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10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Monday, August 13
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Grade 1 - Curriculum Night
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6:00 - 7:00 PM
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Monday, August 13
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Grade 2 - Curriculum Night
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5:00 - 6:00 PM
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Tuesday, August 14
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General PTO Meeting
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9:00 AM
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Tuesday, August 14
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Grade 3 - Curriculum Night
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5:00 - 6:00 PM
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Tuesday, August 14
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Grade 4 - Curriculum Night
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6:00 - 7:00 PM
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Thursday, August 16
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Grade 5 - Curriculum Night
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5:00 - 6:00 PM
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Thursday, August 16
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PreK - Curriculum Night
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5:00 - 6:00 PM
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Thursday, August 16
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Apex, Special Ed & Specialists - Curriculum Night
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6:00 - 7:00 PM
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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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