What's Happening Mount Eagle | October 16, 2026

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What's Happening Mount Eagle

October 16, 2026

Mural

Our 2026-27 collective art piece, displayed in our main hallway. 


A Message from Ms. Kirkland

Dear Families,

We are getting excited for one of our favorite Mount Eagle traditions—Bingo Night on November 4! This is always such a fun evening for our students and families, bringing our community together while raising important funds to support field trips and after-school clubs for our students.

To make this event a success, we need your help! We rely on generous donations from our families and community members to fill the prize baskets that make Bingo Night so exciting. We are collecting new, unopened, and unused items, including toys, coloring books, craft activities, and games. Our wonderful volunteers will organize these donations into themed prize baskets for Bingo Night winners to choose from. Every contribution, big or small, helps make the evening special!

And, as is tradition, our staff members will be raffling off special teacher experiences! These are always a highlight of the evening, giving students opportunities to enjoy fun and memorable experiences with their favorite Mount Eagle staff members.

A huge thank you to our PTO for the time, creativity, and energy they are putting into planning this event. We are so grateful for their commitment to creating opportunities that bring our school community together while supporting enriching experiences for our students.

Thank you for your generosity and continued partnership. We can't wait to see everyone at Bingo Night!

Warmly,
Kate Kirkland, Principal


Fall Pictures Make-ups & Retakes

Our make-ups and retakes for fall pictures is on Thursday, October 29. Parents interested in ordering a photo package should go to www.barksdalephoto.com and enter code 0037889AR.  The code expires on October 30!

make-up day info

Calendar reminder graphic

Upcoming Student Holidays

Monday, November 2 and Tuesday, November 3 are professional workdays for teachers. There is no school for students on these days.


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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. 


PTO Events & News

calendar

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.

Bingo Night!

Bingo Night will be held on Friday, November 6:00 - 8:00 pm. PTO is calling for donations by October 30.  Donations should be in new condition and be in their packaging. Reach out to mteaglepto@gmail.com with questions!

 

Bingo Flyer

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!


FCPS Is Participating in Virginia Quality Birth to Five (VQB5) 

Virginia Quality Birth to Five is Virginia’s system for measuring and supporting quality in early childhood programs so children enter kindergarten ready to learn. VQB5 builds on health and safety standards by measuring the quality of teacher-child interactions and the use of the curriculum. Visit the Virginia Quality Birth to Five website for more information.


Help Your Child Become a Stronger Reader: Upcoming Family Learning Opportunities

Want to better understand how your child learns to read and how you can support them at home? FCPS is offering several free virtual sessions to help families learn about reading instruction, literacy resources, and strategies to build strong reading skills. Explore the opportunities below and register for the sessions that interest you.Lexia Family Information Sessions

Want to learn more about Lexia® Core5 and Lexia® PowerUp? These virtual sessions share how FCPS is using both programs in classrooms across the division this school year to support students’ literacy growth and give families a chance to ask questions.

 

Every one-hour session covers the same content. Choose the option that works best for your family:

  • Wednesday, October 21, at 5 and 6 p.m.
  • Wednesday, November 4, at 6:30 p.m.

 


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


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

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. 

Calendar Student Services

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