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A Message from Ms. Kirkland
This week some of the members of the class of 2025 returned to Mount Eagle to be celebrated by our entire community. Students shared their many accomplishments and big plans for the future. From starting a food truck to studying engineering, business and biology, our alumnae will surely make a positive impact in our communities going forward. We are so proud of all of our graduates!
As we close down the 2024-25 school year, our team is reflecting on the great things we accomplished and experienced as a school including launching a new language arts curriculum, implementing full-time AAP services, the continuation of community events such as our Multicultural Fair and Earth Day just to name a few. Thank you for all your support of our administration and, more importantly, your child’s teacher(s) all during this year. The home-school partnership is what makes Mount Eagle so great!
Standards of Learning (SOL) test scores and other end of year data are coming in. Since the Virginia Department of Education’s new accountability system (explained here) includes components for which all schools will not have data for some time, it’s not yet clear where schools will end up in the new performance categories. Our own analysis of SOL tests shows a lot to be proud of this year. I’m happy to share that we’ve improved pass rates in Reading (up 10 points) Math (up 23 points), and Science (up 22 points) compared to last year. We also decreased chronic absenteeism 5.25 percentage points compared to last year (11.75% down to 6.5%). We are especially proud of the growth of our multilingual learners. Each year, their language skills are measured by an assessment called the WIDA. The percentage of students who made expected language growth went from 56.6% making their expected growth last year to 63.7% this year. This is also the third year in a row that our growth rate was higher than the Fairfax County average.
Thank you for welcoming me into the Mount Eagle community. The opportunity to work alongside you and our staff in service of our students is one that I embrace with care and humility. I'm so excited to begin a new year with you and build on the many successes from this year. If you are moving, I wish you and your family the best. Know that you're always welcome at Mount Eagle.
Kate
Kate Kirkland, Principal
kekirkland@fcps.edu
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Final PTO Meeting
The last PTO Meeting of the school year will be held on Zoom at 7:00pm on Tuesday, June 10. A Zoom link will be shared via Talking Points.
During this meeting, Ms. Kirkland will share more information about our end-of-year assessments and preview some exciting things coming next year. The new PTO board will also introduce themselves and begin taking community feedback to support planning for the 2025-26 school year. We hope you will join us!
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Medication Pick-up
The school health room is reminding parents and guardians that all medication stored in the health room must be picked up no later than the student dismissal time on the last day of school. Medication left in the health room after that time will be destroyed. It is school policy that medications must be picked up by the parent or guardian. Medication cannot be sent home with your student.
If your student will be enrolled in a summer program sponsored by Fairfax County Public Schools, the existing medication authorization form(s) may be used for the summer program, but you will need to pick up the medication on the last day of school and deliver the medication and completed forms to the summer learning site on the first day of the summer program. Please let the health room know if you would like a copy of the form(s).
All School Meeting - June 11
As is tradition, all grades will gather for a final All School Meeting for the year right after the news on Wednesday, June 11. Parents are welcome to join our meeting. Just come to the gym after drop-off. Plan to stand or join seating on the floor - we have limited seating available, as we all participate together.
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Limited Early Release Days Continue Next Year
Early release Wednesdays will start in mid-September 2025. Each elementary school will have a total of eight early release days throughout the school year, which is about one per month. Lunch will be provided on early release
Students will be dismissed THREE hours early at 12:30 p.m.
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September 10
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October 8
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November 12
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December 10
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February 18
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March 18
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April 22
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May 13
Early release Wednesdays will replace the early release Mondays that we had this school year. Please start to think about and plan childcare arrangements. We will again offer student supervision until 3:40 p.m. for families who have childcare hardships. Students will not be provided with extra instruction during this time. More information regarding student supervision will be shared next year.
Detailed information regarding FCPS early release Wednesdays may be found here
🍎 Make Every Day Count! The Importance of Attendance
As you plan upcoming trips and other family events, please remember the importance of sending your child to school every day. Review the FCPS School Year Calendar and try to plan any time away during breaks from school.
Children who show up for school regularly develop fundamental reading and math skills while building a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers. Research shows that children who were chronically absent (missing 18 days or more) in kindergarten and first grade were far less likely to read proficiently at the end of third grade.
Learn how families can help form good attendance habits.
Important Times
Kiss & Ride: 8:20-8:40am
Doors Open: 8:25am Tardy Bell: 8:45am
Dismissal Bell: 3:300pm
Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm
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Important Dates
Tuesday, June 10 | Sixth Grade Promotion, 10:00am
Wednesday, June 11 | Last Day of School - Students dismiss at 1:30pm. All School Meeting at 8:45am.
Access the full 2024-2025 calendar here.
Important Dates 2025-26
Week of August 11| Back-to-School dates (Open House, Welcome Walk) will be announced over the summer. Please keep an eye on your email for more information.
Monday, August 18 | First Day of School
Friday, August 29 & Monday, Sept 1 | No School
Wednesday, September 10 | Early Release Dismissal at 12:30pm
You can access the full 2025-26 calendar here. Days that are shaded pink or blue are holidays for students. Orange days are NOT school holidays.
Get Involved in Your PTO
At Mount Eagle, every parent is a member of the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). It's a great way to connect with other parents, learn about how to support your child, and have fun! There are many ways you can share your voice, talents, and time. Check out the PTO Website for more information. It's available in multiple languages.
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Parent/Guardian Handbook
Do you have questions about attendance or food/drink at school or what students can wear? If so, please check out our Parent/Guardian Handbook on our Mount Eagle website. It's available with translations. Click here to access it. Of course, if you have a question about a situation that is not listed, reach out to your child's teacher or an administrator. Their contact information is at the bottom of this newsletter.
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Your Partners in Education
We are honored to start the school year with your family, and will work everyday to ensure a safe and positive learning environment for your child. We can't do it alone. Please contact us when there is a question or concern, especially related to bullying. As a parent, you will often hear about something before staff might. Thank you for all of your support.
Kate Kirkland, Principal
kekirkland@fcps.edu
Leeanne Pinski, Assistant Principal
lnpinski@fcps.edu
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