A Message from Mr. Bowe

Dear Dogwood Hill Community, 

It is with great pride and excitement that I welcome you to the 2024-25 school year and the Dogwood Hill School website.  This site provides a central location for parents, community members, and students to obtain information about our school and access the resources available to facilitate the educational process.  

The core of our academic program is based on a solid foundation of study in reading, language arts and mathematics. Our literacy program affords students a supportive environment that immerses them in authentic reading experiences which focus on the strengths and needs of each child. In the primary grades, children begin to develop strong reading skills through a comprehensive program in letter sounds, word recognition, phonemic awareness, phonological awareness and digraphs. As students become proficient with these foundational skills, they learn to become proficient readers through the implementation of mini-lessons, guided reading, read-alouds, conferencing, independent reading,word work and literature response journals. These components and the time allocated for each will vary by grade level. However, the ultimate goal of our literacy program is to establish a solid foundation of essential life-long, passionate readers and critical thinkers. Complementing the reading program is a writing program which aims to foster lifelong writing through relevance, consistency, authenticity and independence. Here as well, units will vary by grade level. Your child's teacher will provide you with a more specific, grade-level overview of each program during our annual Back to School Night program in September.

Go Math! is used to facilitate math instruction in grades K-5. This comprehensive program is tailored to address the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) and has differentiated activities to meet the needs of all students. Every lesson includes materials to assist students having difficulty with a concept as well as those who are looking for an extra challenge. Lessons are organized according to the 5 E’s: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, & Evaluate, which is also a component of our science curriculum. Throughout the year, information is disseminated about online resources available to both parents and students to bridge the connection between home and school. 

Our science program includes both Discovery Education and FOSS kits to meet the requirements of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The combination of each component fosters a student-centered, hands-on approach to science.  Discovery Education is updated with new content continuously and allows our students to see science in motion all over the world. Foss kits facilitate hands-on activities to further explore the scientific process, student engagement, cooperative learning.

Throughout the school day, students are exposed to different areas of our district's curriculum according to the NJSLS. This includes Social Studies, Health, Physical Education, Art, Music, and Library.  Technology is also integrated into our curriculum as we continue to develop our learning strategies. We strive to provide educational experiences to develop well-rounded students who are prepared for the next step of their educational journey at Valley Middle School.  

Along with the curricular experiences described above, we work hand in hand with the Dogwood Hill PTO to provide various enriching opportunities for our students throughout the year. Whether it is an engaging assembly or an evening event, the PTO is there to support interaction between educators and families within the Dogwood Hill community.    

Thank you for exploring our website, and we look forward to working together to ensure a successful school year for our students!

Sincerely, 

Sean Bowe