Eagles' Landing

As we welcome the beauty and blessings of fall, we are reminded that God is faithful in every changing season and that everything unfolds in His perfect timing. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 A comforting reminder that God’s loving care guides us and our children through each season of life, according to His wise and perfect timing.

Just as the seasons change, our FMCS children are growing, learning, and maturing in godly wisdom, character, and faith. They are precious gifts to our school community, and we are deeply thankful for the opportunity to nurture their hearts with the love of Jesus so that they will become all that God desires for them. We are so grateful for the many opportunities God has given our school to walk along side our families as we grow together this year.

September

21-25 MS Spirit Week

24 Spirit Day All School & Fall Sports Pep Rally

30 Student of the Month Recognition during Elem Chapels, Fall Sports Add/Drop Deadline, 8th grade St. Croix Mission trip information meeting 3:15pm

October

3 AR Reading with Mrs. Haas 9am

9 No School -End of the 1st Quarter

21 AR Celebration, NEHS & NJHS meetings at 3:15

22 -23 1/2 Day - Required Parent Teacher Conferences

28 Student of the Month Recognition; Fall Festival with FAOG 6-9pm

November

2-4 Health Screenings

6 K4 Harvest Festival

12 Spirit Day

13 1st Grade Field Trip

14 FMCS Auction/Gala

18 Spring Musical Reveal, Operation Christmas Child Kick Off; NEHS, NJHS 3:15pm

20 Thanksgiving Feast 1/2 Day

23-27 Thanksgiving Break

*Every Wednesday is a late 9am start time

*Every Friday is Mom's in Prayer @ 8:30-9:00am in Colonial Chapel

At FMCS we desire our students to be: part of our school family that is highly disciplined, filled with integrity, passionate to learn and serve, and always striving to love like Jesus.

WatchD.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) Kicked off at our Dad's and Donuts event.

We have our first three 2026-27 WatchDOGS scheduled for this week! Individual daily schedules have been created for each class so that these DOGS can have scheduled time in their student’s classroom, have a peek into some of the classroom “specials” offered throughout the week, do a security walk, or two, on the campus, and have lunch with their studen

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44ACAA2AA2F5C70-65583856-watchdogs

Above is a link to the Sign-Up Genius where you can choose a day to be a WatchDOG if you didn’t get a chance to do this during the Donuts with Dad event. If you did sign up, you should see your name on the date(s) that you selected to serve. You can serve once, twice, weekly, monthly…. your choice. Dads, Grandpas, Uncles, Brothers, etc. of a FMCS student can be a WatchDOG. We love to see you in our hallways!

Thanks to all the Dad's and father figures that attended Donuts with Dad. The turnout was wonderful and the donuts were delicious. We were encouraged by former FMCS Bible teacher Chuck Whiteside who challenged us to continue to be present and active in our kids' lives. Parents and students were encouraged to come dressed as a Superhero and you did not disappoint! Great job Dads!

Thank you to the Moms who served behind the scenes, setting up and serving the donuts to our guests.

Located in Cape Coral near Publix at 106 Hancock Bridge Parkway West Suite C-11 is Yonutz Donuts and Ice Cream. They are famous for their "Smash Donuts" which combines donuts and ice cream!

Yonutz supplied the delicious donuts for our Dad's & Donuts event. Thank you to this business owned by a FMCS family. Stop in and tell them "Hello" and "Thank you for supporting FMCS!"

Cape Coral FL – Yonutz Donuts and Ice Cream

Thank you to Premier Fence of SWFL for once again taking care of our fencing needs at FMCS. The recent repair was not the first time that they have stepped up and stepped in for FMCS. We so appreciate the Shearn family and their continued support of FMCS. If you have fencing needs, please check them out and tell them "Thank You" from FMCS.

https://premierfenceofswfl.com/

The 2026-2027 School Calendar is attached below. On this calendar, you will see the first and last days of school and major events of the year.

For day-to-day events at FMCS, the Google calendar link is your best source of information. If events are changed, activities canceled, or moved to a different location, we will update this site first. You should be able to see dates and events scheduled through the remainder of the school year. Calendar Link : https://fortmyerschristianschool.com/calendar/

VPK Full Day & Elementary School (K-5)

• 8:15am-3:00pm Every Day but Wednesday
• 9:00am-3:00pm Wednesdays
• 8:15am-12:00pm Half Days

VPK 1/2 day

• 8:15am-11:45pm Every Day but Wednesday
• 9:00am-12:30pm Wednesdays
• 8:15am-12:00pm Half Days

Middle School

• 8:00am-3:00pm Every day but Wednesday
• 9:00am-3:00pm Wednesdays
• 8:00am-12:00pm Half Days

School Doors open 15 minutes before drop off daily. Pick up time ends 15 minutes after the end of the school day.

Elementary School

Elementary School will celebrate Spirit Week (Day) at the All-School Pep Rally on Thursday, September 24th. Students may dress up in Spirit Wear. Red, White and Blue – Everything FMCS EAGLES, Face Paint: - not entire face, (ONLY 2-3 lines/designs of color). Headbands and tutu are allowed.

Thursday Contest Day and Pep Rally:

· All School Spirit Day: Red, White and Blue – Everything FMCS EAGLES, (Face Paint: - not entire face,(ONLY 2-3 lines/designs of color). Headbands and tutu are allowed.

· PRIZES for the 1st period class with the highest percent of participation wins a pizza party and door decorating contest will be announced.

Friday: Pick your Sports Team

· Wear your favorite sports jersey/sports t-shirt with uniform bottoms, school store joggers or pajama pants

· no jeans

Additional information from Family Handbook:

● No sleeveless shirts or tank tops may be worn

● Shirts may not have any messages or images that are contrary to our Christian beliefs

Throughout the course of the year, the administration approves certain days that students will be able to deviate from the normal dress code routine. On those designated dress-down days, the administration reserves the right to decide what clothing is inappropriate and can request that improper clothing be changed immediately. Repeated violations of the dress code will be treated as acts of disobedience.

We all want to have fun, but follow the handbook guidelines along with the above information

🦅 🦅 🦅 🦅 Go Eagles! 🦅 🦅 🦅 🦅

Just in time for Spirit Week, we received a supply of Eagle Earrings - post earrings for our elementary school students, wire earrings for our middle school students and parents. These are available to purchase in the school reception areas. Drink Coasters and Key tags or Bag tags are also available to purchase. Thank you, Dr. Applegate, for sharing your gifts with us.

8th grade students will travel to St. Croix for the annual mission trip in March. There will be a parent and student meeting to discuss the trip September 30 @ 3:15 in Mrs. Ward's Classroom. All 8th graders and families are encouraged to attend.

Normal Weekly Wednesday Chapel times -

• K4 & K5 - Elementary Chapel 9:15am
• Elementary 1-5 - Colonial Chapel 10:00am
• Middle School 6-8 - Colonial Chapel 9:05am

Each month a Fruit of the Spirit is emphasized. For the month of August, the fruit of Faithfulness is being highlighted. The last Wednesday of the Month we recognize a Student of the Month in our Elementary chapel for the Monthly Fruit of the Spirit.

As always, parents are invited and encouraged to attend our chapel services. Please check in at the front desk to get your visitor pass first and then join us.

Hello Parent Partners,

In just under 2 months, FMCS will host our annual fall auction event on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Burroughs Home and Gardens in downtown Fort Myers. This event is one of two major fundraisers that help the school fund special projects that fall outside of our annual budget, and this event helps us expand our reach beyond our staff and families into the broader community of Fort Myers.

A Million Dreams | FORT MYERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INC

Our theme is A Million Dreams, which is taken from the title of a song in The Greatest Showman. When you think about the dreams our students have for their future, all the dreams that God has given FMCS students over the past 47 years and all the dreams that will be given to students here for generations to come, Fort Myers Christian School really does represent a million dreams.

Every family can help

Whether you attend the event on November 14th or not, there are several ways you can help:

1. You can donate towards your student’s classroom silent auction basket. These baskets alone raise about $5,000 at each year’s event.

2. You can help by spreading the word about the auction. Follow the school on Facebook and share our posts. Help connect us with more potential sponsors. Help us secure additional silent auction items or raffle prizes. Please email me if you have any ideas or connections.

Our Auction Wishlist:

• tickets to concerts or sporting events
• musical instruments
• artwork or collectibles
• jewelry
• gift baskets
  

3. Lastly, you will be able to bid on silent auction items on our site the week leading up to the auction and on the night of the event. Watch for emails about the silent auction as we get closer to the event.

Blessings,

Wendy Sulzer | Director of Development

🏴‍☠️ ARRR You Ready to Read? 📚

Ahoy, mateys! Students and their parents are invited to join us for a swashbuckling Saturday Morning Reading on Saturday, October 3, from 9:00–11:30 a.m.

Come enjoy time reading together, take AR tests, and earn points toward your reading goal! Young readers are welcome to wear their favorite pirate costume—just leave the swords and hooks aboard the ship!

Grab your favorite books and prepare for a morning filled with reading treasures. ARRR you ready to read? 🦜📖🏴‍☠️

Miles of smiles,

Trish Haas

Moms in Prayer meets weekly on Friday mornings at 8:30am in Colonial Chapel. This group has been meeting for a few years and is steadily growing in numbers. I encourage you to check out this group if you are available on Friday mornings. You can pray silently or corporately, no pressure. You will leave encouraged and refreshed.

FMCS offers childcare before and after school beginning at 7:00am and ending at 6:00pm. The cost is $3.00 per child, per hour. After 6:00pm, the cost increases to $1 per minute, per child. The cost is charged directly to your FMCS pre-pay account.

All Before Care drop off is at the back of the elementary school near the cafeteria, where your kids will remain until 8:00am and then escorted to class. Middle School drop off is the same location where the MS students will remain until 7:30am and then be escorted to the MS cafeteria.

After Care begins at 3:15pm and goes until 6:00pm. Students not picked up by 3:15pm will be walked to the cafeteria where they will be checked in and given a snack and water. There is a structured schedule of activities in the afternoon, which includes outdoor play time (weather dependent), homework time, and inside free play.

MS After Care begins at 3:15pm and goes until 6:00pm. Students not picked up by 3:15pm will be walked to the MS cafeteria where they will stay and have STUDY HALL until 4:30pm. Any students left after 4:30pm will be walked to the elementary cafeteria where they will stay until 6:00pm.

We are happy to introduce Amber Angel as our new Director of Aftercare. She comes to FMCS with tons of experience working with students and parents! Give her a warm FMCS welcome.

If you want to get ahold of her you can email her at aangel@fmcs-fl.com or call the extension 321.

FMCS is pleased to offer an English as a Second Language class on Monday's, from 2:00pm-3:00pm in the Middle School conference room (across from the kitchen) behind the MS eating area in the cafeteria building. This is open to FMCS families as well as others in the community that would benefit from this class. For more information in Portuguese contact Ana at (305) 905-8349, or Spanish contact Sandra at (973) 930-9728.

FMCS is teaming with the First Assembly Staff hosting a Fall Festival at the church on Wednesday evening, October 28th, from 6pm-9pm.

“Get ready for Fall Fest! Bring your friends and family for an unforgettable evening packed with fall fun for everyone. Enjoy hayrides, bounce houses, free candy, cotton candy and popcorn, delicious food available to purchase from local food trucks and so much more.”

FMCS is hosting the Cake Walk, and we will be selling pumpkins as well.

Come join us for a safe fun night as we celebrate the beginning of fall.

The first face you'll see upon entering our buildings, is Iluminada Miller at the Elementary School and Jessica Seoane in the Middle School. They will be your contact people for correspondence regarding your student - whether absences, late arrivals, early dismissals, or ...

Their e-mail addresses will be important for you to make note of

Lumi Miller imiller@fmcs-fl.com

Jessica Seoane JSeoane@fmcs-fl.com

If you will be attending events at the school, e-mail the receptionist for the student at your school, in advance, and they will pre-print your badges and have them waiting for you when you arrive, cutting down on your wait time.

As we move further into the school year, busy schedules, activities, homework, and early mornings can start to catch up with our students. One of the best ways to support both physical health and school success is making sure children are getting enough sleep each night. Good quality sleep does more than help kids feel rested. It also supports the immune system, helping the body respond to and fight off germs. A consistent bedtime routine can help kids wind down, sleep more soundly, and come to school feeling ready to learn. So, families can try dimming lights, limiting screens before bed, and keeping bedtime/wake-up times as consistent as possible, even during the busy weeks.

🌟 Nurse Mac’s Tip of the Week: Create a simple “wind-down routine” your child can follow each night. It doesn’t have to be complicated! A shower or bath, pajamas, brushing teeth, a few minutes of reading, and lights out around the same time each night can help signal to the body that it’s time to rest. You could even make a simple bedtime checklist that your child can check off as they complete each step. Letting kids take part in the routine can make bedtime feel more fun, give them a little independence, and help build healthy habits they can stick with.

🤒 A quick Health Office reminder: If your child has a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, please keep them home until they have been symptom-free for at least 24 hours. Students with fever should also be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication before returning to school.

As always, please reach out to me if your child is feeling unwell or if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students healthy, happy, and ready to learn.

Let’s continue to ride The Wellness Wave together! 🏄

Blessings,

Nurse Mac

As we move through another busy month of school, I want to encourage families to remember that growth doesn’t always look perfect. Our children are learning academics, friendships, responsibility, emotional regulation, and how to make wise choices, all at the same time!

One of the most helpful things we can give our children is the opportunity to work through small struggles instead of immediately fixing them for them. When your child is frustrated, disappointed, or having a difficult day, try pausing before jumping in with a solution. A simple, “That sounds really hard. What do you think you could do?” can help children build confidence and problem-solving skills.

As a Christian school, we also have the beautiful opportunity to remind our children that they don't have to navigate difficult moments alone. God is with them, and we are here to help them learn and grow.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:18

This month, I encourage you to look for opportunities to listen more, fix a little less, and remind your child that hard moments can become opportunities to grow.

Counselor Challenge: The next time your child comes to you with a problem, try asking:
“Do you want me to listen, help you think of a solution, or just sit with you for a minute?”

Sometimes, knowing that someone is there is exactly what they need.

Cecilia Silva

School Counselor, MSW

csilva@fmcs-fl.com

Elementary Cross Country
Fort Myers Christian School | Grades 2-4

We are excited to announce that Eaglets Cross Country has a good group of elementary students that are running together in grades 2-4. Practices are held Friday mornings from 6:45-7:30 am, running alongside our Eagle Athletics Cross Country team. Coach Azza is leading our Eaglets runners this season, bringing the same energy and encouragement he offers our older athletes.

Beyond weekly practices, Eaglets XC have the opportunity to compete in a few races throughout the season, including our very own Eagles Invitational in October! Go Eagles!

We're launching a brand-new Cheer Club this year — a continuous, competitive program that will be foundational for our girls looking to grow in cheer and tumbling. Brand new uniforms are coming to the program as we prepare for the Southwest Florida Beach Battle Cheer Competition in January. Beyond competition, our Cheer Club girls will also cheer on our middle schoolers at Thursday home games and lead our pep rallies.

Soccer Shots begins next week. Reach out to Coach Gonzalez for more information and to get your student signed up.

We're grateful for the growth in this program and excited to see our Eaglets take these new opportunities and run with them. Click the link below to enroll.

Welcome to This Week in Athletics, our weekly update for FMCS families. Each week you'll find our game and practice schedule, a Word of the Week to encourage our athletes on and off the field, and any special updates from the department.

Last night was a great result for both our soccer and varsity volleyball teams with each squad bringing home their first win of the season against Capstone! The boys were up 5-0 at halftime before the game was called for weather. As we made it to half time, the game is considered "complete" and will count towards our conference record. The girls also won both sets of their volleyball game. Congratulations to everyone involved!

Schedule

Thursday: All teams play Saint Francis Xavier at FMCS. JV Volleyball and Soccer begin at 4:00 PM, with Varsity Volleyball following at 5:00 PM. We will also hold our Fall Sports Pep Rally in the gym around 2:00 PM. Athletes are welcome to wear their uniform tops to school that day as part of their spirit wear. Parents are invited to join us. Please check in at the front office.

Friday: No afternoon athletics. Cross Country will still hold its usual practice, but please note the church has an event on campus that evening.

Saturday: Cross Country travels to Donahue Academy for the Ave Invitational — our second year at this meet. Cross Country families will receive more detailed information directly.

Word of the Week: Excellence

Pursuing the highest standard in competition, academics, and character — not for personal recognition, but as an act of worship. Excellence is not about being the best on the scoreboard. It is about giving your full effort in every practice, every game, and every classroom, because anything less is less than what God deserves from us.

Think about a volleyball player chasing down a ball that looks unplayable, or a soccer player sprinting back sixty yards to make a defensive stop in a game that's already decided. No one would fault them for letting it go. But excellence shows up in exactly those moments. It's the extra rep in a serving drill, the full sprint back on defense, the encouragement given to a teammate after a mistake. Scoreboards measure wins. They don't measure whether an athlete gave everything they had. That's between them and the Lord, and it's the standard we want our Eagles chasing every day, win or lose. Playing with excellence is a core part of our SERVICE.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." — 1 Corinthians 9:24

Special Updates: Cross Country's Race Results!

Our 5th-8th grade runners competed Saturday in the GCCAC Invite, hosted by Crestwell School. Our athletes represented FMCS well, and team results are still being tabulated. Many of our runners set personal bests over the 3K distance, with Santiago Magana (13:57) and Elizabeth Oliveira (15:53) leading the way for our boys and girls respectively. Way to go, Eagles!

Thank you for your continued support of our athletes and coaches this season.

Go Eagles!

We are always looking for licensed CDL drivers to drive for field trips. We have one driver who is usually available but because of our growing classes, we need two drivers for most events. If you are interested in becoming a FMCS bus driver, on call for special events, please email ghesselgesser@fmcs-fl.com. A background check will be required as well.

Dear School Eatery Families

We are delighted to welcome your family back to School Eatery’s Hot Lunch Program for the 2026-2027 school year! Everyone at School Eatery sincerely appreciates your continued trust and support. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve your family and look forward to another exciting school year of providing delicious, nutritious meals and an enjoyable lunchtime experience for your children. Thank you for choosing School Eatery; we’re excited to be part of your family’s school year once again!

Your convenience and satisfaction remain our highest priorities. We are committed to providing a hot lunch program that is convenient, reliable, and enjoyable, ensuring a seamless and rewarding experience for your family throughout the school year.

Loyalty Program & Annual Registration Fee

As part of another great year with School Eatery, please note that a one-time, annual registration fee of $15.00 per child applies. This fee enrolls your child in the School Eatery Loyalty Rewards Program, where you’ll earn reward points on qualifying purchases throughout the school year. These points can be redeemed for future rewards and exclusive offers, adding even more value to your family’s hot lunch experience.

Points can be redeemed for a variety of exciting rewards, including:

● Discounted meals

● Free meals

● Exclusive promotional offers

Accessing Menus and Managing Orders

As part of our continued commitment to providing the best possible experience, School Eatery is excited to introduce our new in-house Parent Portal. You can now conveniently view hot lunch menus, place meal orders, and manage your account all in one place by visiting

https://schooleatery.com.

To get started, click the "Click Here Order Now" button on the homepage.

To make your transition as easy as possible, we have already pre-registered your School

Eatery account on your behalf. Simply sign in using your email address and the temporary password:

Temporary Password: hotlunch@123 (Please note that passwords are case-sensitive.)

The School Eatery Hot Lunch Team

Dear FMCS parents,

Medication forms must be filled out each school year. Since many of the students see their doctors over the summer, please take the form with you so it will be ready for the next school year.

We wish each of you a safe and healthy summer! The form is attached below.

Blessings,

Mac Owens

School Nurse

You are required to have community service hours for both 1st & 2nd semester.

· The Middle School students are required to complete community service hours each school year.

· Five hours for 6th grade per semester, and ten hours for 7th per semester are required.

· The student is also required to turn in a 150-word summarized report of his/her duties and experiences during the Community Service Project.

· This essay is the mid-term/final for Bible class.

· Please refer to the Family Handbook for further details.

(Be sure to bring the service hours paper with you when you volunteer to have the supervisor sign off on it-- These are located in the MS front desk)

Our FMCS uniform company is Sallee Promotions. They just moved their offices to a new location on Metro Parkway (11000 Metro Pkwy #19, Fort Myers, FL 33966) ·

• They will have an on-demand inventory in stock for popular and required items for the back-to-school season.

• They have Saturday hours during the month of July for families to come in to shop and order.
• On site dressing rooms are available to ensure that you are ordering the correct sizes for your children.
• They will provide a Web Store portal for the convenience of shopping from home.

Sallee Promotions only carries uniform TOPS and upper apparel. This means that you may purchase uniform bottoms from local stores that carry a school uniform line of clothing. These may include, but are not limited to, Target, Children’s Place, Old Navy, or Walmart. It is crucial that your purchased items meet the school length (to the top of the knee) requirement for skirts, skorts, and shorts. Usually stores that carry a school uniform line have items of longer length to meet dress code requirements. If you have questions about the dress code, you can see it on our web site and in your family handbook

The ability to purchase bottoms from stores of your choice should making size selection easier for parents.

Email: dwinningham@fmcs-fl.com
Website: https://fortmyerschristianschool.com/

Location: 1550 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, FL, USA