Greetings Dogwood Families,

Happy New Year! We are excited for a wonderful 2024 at Dogwood. Last year, 39% of our students were considered chronically absent because they missed 20 or more days of school. Right now, our current number is 25%. We need our students to be in school so they can learn. Please help us reach our goal by ensuring your child comes to school every day. Students with perfect attendance for the month can win a special "Dalmatians Attend" wristband!

We are excited to have a busy month of events showcasing our amazing Dogwood Dreamers. We hope all families will join us at the Winter Concert, ELL Family Night, Literacy Night and Superhero Math Night. It is a great time to connect with staff members and community members while having fun!

From,

Mrs. Ables, Prinicpal

Ms. Harris, Assistant Principal

Ms. Smith, Assistant Prinicpal

Mr. Penn, Community School Facilitator

January 9 - Dogwood Elementary Winter Concert - POSTPONED!

January 15 - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - All Schools and Offices Closed

January 16 - Dogwood ELL Family Night

January 19 - Second Marking Period Ends - Schools Close 3 Hours Early for All

January 23 - Dogwood Elementary Reading Night

January 29 - Report Cards Distributed

The Dogwood Concert Band (flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, percussion students) and String Orchestra (violin, viola, cello students) will perform for the Dogwood Elementary Winter Concert on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the Dogwood Cafetorium. All Concert Band and String Orchestra performers are asked to report to Mr. Poissant’s room by 5:45 p.m. to get their instruments and music ready for the 6:00 p.m. concert performance. To ensure a successful performance, all Band and String students are required to perform as part of their Instrumental Music grade unless a student is excused from the performance prior to January 9. The attire for the evening performance is black slacks or skirt and a white top. Grade 5 students are also asked to add a blue accessory such as a blue scarf, blue tie, blue socks, or a blue pin. Please do not allow your child to wear hats, athletic clothes, t-shirts, or sneakers if possible. If for any reason your child will not be able to perform for the evening performance, it is very important that you email Mr. Poissant, mpoissant@bcps.org, as soon as possible.

I look forward to showcasing your child’s hard work and progress on his/her instruments.

All students who have been selected for roles in the musical must attend the meeting with a parent or guardian. A Parent signature is required on the casting agreement for their participation in the musical.

Rehersal Schedule : Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:45 - 5:00 PM, starting Tuesday, January 16.

Google Meet Link for Mandatory Musical Orientation Meeting https://meet.google.com/uog-cyhd-rrm

Dogwood Family! We are excited to invite you to our annual Family Literacy Night! Last year, Literacy Night was a HUGE success with over 200 people attending, and this year, we would like to beat that number! We will have interactive read-alouds, book giveaways for each student, literacy games, literacy information for parents, and dinner will be provided for families who RSVP!

Please join us from 5:00-6:30 on January 23rd to learn new ways to help your child with reading at home.

In order to receive food at this event, please RSVP using the link provided as soon as possible! https://tinyurl.com/dogwoodreading

Math is a Superpower! Come join this family event at Dogwood Elementary. Families and students are invited to dress up as a superhero, and come to Dogwood for a night of food for families who RSVP, Bridges Math curriculum resources, Work Place games, and fun prizes!

Please RSVP your attendance and for our meal at tinyurl.com/dogwoodmathnight

Beginning Monday February 12th, your child will be participating in a week-long Decades Dance program provided by Baltimore County Public Schools. On Friday February 16th, friends and family are invited to attend a student performance at Dogwood Elementary School! Our student performance will begin at 8:40 A.M. and take place in the gym.

The 5th grade class will adhere to the following curriculum:

Monday (Early Dances)

• One Step
• Animal Dances

Tuesday (1920s)

• Charleston

Wednesday (1950s-60s)

• The Twist
• Hand Jive
• The Pony/The Swim

Thursday (1970s – present)

• Disco dance
• The Hustle
• Hip Hop

Friday – PERFORMANCE DAY!

The students will perform for parents, friends, and family to show everything they learned this week! All will be invited to participate!

Dress code: The students will be most comfortable wearing clothing they can move easily in while they are learning the dances. Students will be asked to dress up for Friday’s performance. Suggested attire: students can wear clothing from any decade. Please, no high-heeled shoes. Note: no student will be dismissed from performing due to attire.

Sincerely,

Aaron Mann

Physical Education Teacher

RSVP English - https://forms.office.com/r/y2gQTmKesa

RSVP Spanish - https://forms.office.com/r/hnYSs5iMC3

Are you interested in joining the Dogwood Shared Decision Making Team. The SDMT is a strategy for the participation of parents, community members, teachers, administration, other school staff, and students in making decision! This team will listen, gather data, and make informed decisions together with the goal of improving the Dogwood School community!

If you are interested in learning more, please complete the Interest Form linked here:

https://forms.office.com/r/Z4qKmviECC

Thank you to those have signed up already! More information about meeting time and dates will be sent out shortly.

As a Community School, families and community members have access to many different resources including food, clothing, SNAP support, and more! If you are ever in need of support, please complete this confidential form and Community School Facilitator Mr. Penn will reach out to see how we can help! We are all in this together for our children!

As a Community School, families and community members have access to many different resources including good, clothing, SNAP support, and more! If you are ever in need of support, please complete this confidential form and Community School Facilitator Mr. Penn will reach out to see how we can help!

Click the link here to submit a Help Request: https://forms.office.com/r/tKD2m3X5eM

Dogwood Families! We will be hosting Career Week the last week of April. We would love to have you share your professional career with our students. If you would like to participate or know of an individual or company who would like to participate, please complete and share this flyer and the Sign up link at tinyurl.com/dogwoodcareerweek.

Contact Mr. Penn at (443) 809-2285.

Click the picture to see directions on how to download the Team BCPS Focus