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Schools

Summer Still Learning Time for Dogwood Students

Dogwood administration institutes several programs to make up for loss of continuous class time.

 Dogwood Elementary School was one of several Fairfax County Public Schools that for years followed a modified year-round school schedule.

Classes were held for 45 days (or nine weeks) and then students would be off for 15 days (three weeks).  Inter-session programs would be held during those three weeks, but families also could use the breaks for vacation, travel or other down time activities.

The modified year-round calendar was loved by some, hated by others. Either way, studies showed that the schedule without a long summer gap was beneficial to students - particularly minority students - making gains in the classroom.

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Late last year, the administration at Dogwood knew that the FCPS proposed budget favored eliminating the year round calendar programs and returning those schools to the standard calendar.

"It was a good time to plan for the transition," said Robyn Cochran, Dogwood principal.

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In June, as Dogwood students started their first long summer break in years, Cochran and her team had several options for students to come to Dogwood during the day and to keep their school skills sharp over the summer.

The Reston YMCA provided their recreational "21st Century" program for 75 students at Dogwood; in addition, Rec-Pac (a Fairfax County Parks Authority summer camp program) was also held at Dogwood and served 200 children.

Perhaps most importantly, once a week the Dogwood library was available for Dogwood students to check out books, read stories and do special reading activities. Dogwood's librarian, Terry Orvis, also assisted rising seventh graders with their required middle-school reading assignments. Many children took advantage of the library time available to them each week at Dogwood.

Now as the beginning of the new school year approaches, Dogwood students are involved in "transition" programs.  Small groups of selected students in grades K, 1 and 2 are paired with Dogwood teachers in "Jump Start", to rev up their skills and really get ready to get going when Sept. 7 arrives.

A special science and technology is also taking place in the school. This program, led by Dogwood teachers and involves student assistants from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Two groups of 70 students have spent time studying pond life, both in the classroom and on field trips to a local pond and Walney Pond in Centreville. The science program will give project presentations on Friday.

The school team will then close is out summer and gear up for fall.

On Thursday, Sept. 2, from 10 a.m. - noon, Dogwood teachers and staff will be out and about in the neighborhoods and homes to visit families and students. On Sept. 3, the school will host an open house.

 

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