What's Happening Mount Eagle | October 9, 2026

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What's Happening Mount Eagle

October 9, 2026

Kindergarten at Schlagel Farms

Kindergarten students enjoyed their trip to Schlagel Farms!


A Message from Ms. Kirkland

Dear Families,

Fall is in full swing at Mount Eagle! This week, our kindergarten students enjoyed their annual field trip to Schlagel Farms, where they explored all things fall! From learning about the farm to picking out their very own pumpkins, students had a wonderful day of hands-on learning and discovery. Each student returned to school with a pumpkin and plenty of stories to share! Over the next few days, students will use this experience as inspiration for their writing and drawing.

A huge thank you to our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), whose generous funding covered both admission and transportation for this trip. Field trips provide meaningful opportunities for students to connect classroom learning to the world around them, and we are grateful that our PTO helps make these experiences possible. We are looking forward to more grade levels heading out on field trips in the coming weeks, thanks to this continued support!

We are also seeking family input on our family engagement initiatives. At Mount Eagle, we believe that strong partnerships between home and school are essential to student success. We want to hear from you about how we can continue to strengthen these connections and create meaningful opportunities for families to engage with our school community. Please see the article below for information about how you can share your feedback. Your voice matters, and we appreciate your ideas and perspectives!

Thank you for your continued partnership in making Mount Eagle such a wonderful place to learn and grow!

Warmly,
Kate Kirkland, Principal


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October 12 School Planning Day

Monday, October 12 is a School Planning Day. There will be no school for students as teachers engage in professional learning.


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Family Engagement Input Needed

Maintaining strong partnerships between home and school is critical to our children's success.  We are seeking parent and guardian input about upcoming math and literacy events. Our goal is to provide meaningful opportunities for you to see what your children are learning in school and walk away with tools and resources that support you as your child's first and most important teacher. 

Please take a moment to respond to this short survey by October 23.  This information will be reviewed by our team to help plan for upcoming events. 


Mount Eagle Families: Explore SafeWalkr!

FCPS Safe Routes to School is excited to invite Mount Eagle families to try SafeWalkr, a new interactive walking map tool developed by Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology students in collaboration with our team!

If you live within Mount Eagle's designated walking boundary, explore information about sidewalks, road crossings, and crossing guard locations to help plan your walk to school.

Go to the SafeWalkr tool, select [school name], and explore a route with your child. Review current conditions and consider your child’s abilities and supervision needs before walking. The tool does not change walking boundaries or transportation eligibility. Help us improve SafeWalkr by sharing your feedback during the pilot. Thank you for supporting safe, active trips to school!


Share Your Feedback on Traveling to and From School

The FCPS Office of Safety and Security and Safe Routes to School program are asking families to share their experiences traveling to and from their child’s school. The feedback will help inform the Fairfax County School Board’s annual assessment of traffic and pedestrian safety near schools. 

The Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Survey asks about walking and biking routes, traffic near schools, kiss-and-ride experiences, accessibility, and other safety concerns. 

Your feedback will help FCPS identify common issues. Your responses will be kept confidential and shared with school administrators and the Office of Safety and Security. The five-minute survey is open through Thursday, October 15. 

Be sure to identify the school related to your feedback and include specific locations where you have observed a safety issue. If you have students at different schools in FCPS, please complete a different survey for each school. 

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact SafeRoutestoSchool@fcps.edu.  


Superintendent Community Conversations

Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for a Community Conversation. Students, families, staff, and community members are invited to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss what matters most to them. Everyone is welcome! Click on the date to register for any of the following events:


Calendar Change: Eid al-Fitr

FCPS will mark the beginning of Eid al-Fitr with an evening-only observance day on Monday, March 8. There will be school on this day, but major school-sponsored events and activities (such as auditions or tryouts) will not take place. 

Tuesday, March 9, will be a holiday for students and staff. 

Wednesday, March 10, will be an observance day. There will be school on this day, but certain activities that cannot be made up (major tests, field trips, or mandatory events) will not take place on this day. 

A new school year calendar has been published, which includes this change. Please note that holidays and observances on the calendar may shift due to anticipated lunar sightings. 


🤒 Not Feeling Well? When Your Child Can Come to School

School is better when your child is here! But we do understand that some days, they may feel unwell. Learn more about which symptoms are ok at school (like sneezing or sniffles), and when your child should stay home (if they have a fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, for example). 

If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify our school so that assistance can be provided if needed. Keep an open line of communication with our public health nurse. Call us as soon as you know your child will be absent and, if possible, let us know how long you think they will be out.

If you or your family need any kind of support, please reach out to our front office. We are here for you! Visit FCPS’ Attendance webpage for tips and strategies.


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Updates to Technology in School

The Virginia legislature has passed a law updating what personal electronics are permitted in school.  Starting this year, students must turn off and place in backpacks all personal electronics, including cell phones, smart watches, laptops, and wireless headphones.  Students may not wear these items during the school day in the building. 


Explore School Meals in the New Menu Platform

Experience an easier way to view your child’s school menus using MealViewer:

  • View what is being served each day.
  • View the nutritional information for each meal.
  • See if any specific allergens are being served.
  • Get notified when your student’s favorite meal is being served.

Printable menus are always available on the Food and Nutrition Services webpa


PTO Events & News

Puzzles
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Thank you to everyone who came out for Pizza and Puzzles! It was a fun night, and the event helped us raise money to fund after-school clubs and field trips for students. 

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.

PTO Meeting

The next general PTO meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 27 on Zoom. Details to follow.


Important Times

Kiss & Ride: 8:20-8:40am

Doors Open: 8:25am Tardy Bell: 8:45am

Dismissal Bell: 3:30pm

Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm


Important Dates

Monday, October 12 | Student Holiday (School Planning Day for Staff) Indigenous Peoples’ Day 

Tuesday, October 27 | PTO Meeting on Zoom

Thursday, October 29 | Fall Picture Day Make-ups

Friday, October 30 | End of First Quarter--2-hour Early Release 

Monday & Tuesday, November 2-3 | School Planning and Teacher Workdays. No school for students. 

Wednesday, November 23-Friday, November 25 | Thanksgiving Break. Schools and offices are closed. 

December 21 - January 1 | Winter Break. No school for students.

You can access the full 2026-27 calendar here. Days that are shaded pink or blue are holidays for students. Orange days are NOT school holidays.


Attendance Matters

Daily, on-time attendance is critical to your child's success in school.  Now is the time to begin planning for family events, making sure to plan trips during school breaks and holidays. Please be sure to review the 2026 2027 calendar to begin planning. 

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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

Frances Torres, Assistant Principal

fetorres@fcps.edu