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Our annual Candlelight School Coin Drive has become such an important part of our school culture. I am so happy to announce that in five days last week the Alpine Elementary Community joined together and raised $13,500 to feed the street orphans at the Candlelight School in Nairobi, Kenya! That is the most money we have ever raised for our Sister School in Africa. And the good news is that we have not yet received the money from Yummy Ice Cream Emporium from our November 16 Spirit Night, but we are told that night was their busiest since opening their ice cream store. I will let parents know the additional money that will be added to the $13,500 once that information is shared with me. Thank you to everyone in the Alpine Elementary Community for your generous contributions! And a special thank you to Cherie’ Kelly and all of the other parent volunteers who organize the Coin Drive and help count money!

Every year, our Nutrition Services workers, just Whitney Wilson and Shirleen Jenks this year, contribute very generously to the Coin Drive. I won’t embarrass those ladies by telling you how much money they gave, but just know it was a significant amount.

Cherie’ Kelly will send the money that was raised directly to the Candlelight School this week. No administrative overhead. Every penny goes to feed hungry children in Africa!

I heard multiple Coin Drive stories that warm my heart and make me grateful for the students that attend our school:

A kindergarten teacher shares:

From a second grade teacher:

And on a post-it note in one of the coin cans, a little girl wrote:

I saw a lot of students and parents at the 6A state championship football game between Lone Peak and Corner Canyon at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Friday afternoon. What a fun game to watch! 35-35 at halftime, with LP eventually prevailing in a thrilling 49 – 42 victory. Many of the key players for Lone Peak are former Alpine Elementary students. It was so fun to see those players and all the fans celebrate a season never to be forgotten.

We are having problems with students riding scooters and skateboards in our hallways before and after school, often times running into or narrowly missing other students or staff. Consequently, we are going to start using the following process as we try to keep students and staff safe:

The following students were recognized as Students of the Week on Friday, November 19. Teachers nominate students who are consistently demonstrating the character traits of the Alpine Big 3: Being Respectful, Responsible and Ready to learn. Congratulations, Students of the Week!

Briggs Ballif-6th grade, Mrs. Monson

Hank Challis-4th grade, Ms. Moore

Lily Dehlin-Kindergarten, Mrs. Malone

Mona Enkhbayar-5th grade, Mrs. Menssen

James Gheciu-1st grade, Mrs. Bailey

Joe Hansen-3rd grade, Mrs. Kaczmarek

Asher Kusch-Kindergarten, Mrs. Malone

Colin Larkin-4th grade, Mrs. Vipperman

Alex Orgill-6th grade, Ms. Kuo

Grady Parker-1st grade, Ms. Johnson

Summer Schlosser-5th grade, Mrs. Menssen

Cate Shin-1st grade, Mrs. Bailey

Milo Thompson-3rd grade, Ms. Elder

Kyrie Van Vactor-6th grade, Mrs. Monson

Kinley Wing-1st grade, Ms. Johnson

Later this week most of us will gather with family and friends to eat a delicious meal and reflect on all that we are thankful for. And though I daily give thanks for all that I have been blessed with, this holiday season helps me to reflect on all that brings joy and meaning into my life: a faith that serves as my anchor and lodestar, a beautiful wife who is my best friend, five adult children and their spouses who are happy and healthy, 14 grandchildren and another one in May, good health, and the opportunity to work at Alpine Elementary with a dedicated staff, kind and motivated students and supportive parents.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday, and as always, remember that it is a great day to be an Eagle!

Can you believe we have turned the calendar to November? We enjoyed bringing back our long-standing tradition of a Halloween Parade on Friday, October 29. It was fun to see the students in their different costumes. I learned that a lot of our students don’t know who Colonel Sanders is, but I appreciate Martha Hadlock and Sheri Davis, our office secretaries, being good sports and joining the Colonel in some very hot chicken costumes.

We have received some complaints about how parents are parking around the school during drop-off and pick-up times. Please do not get out of your vehicle unless you are parked in a designated parking area. Safety of students during these drop off and pick up times is our number one priority. We occasionally have a Lone Peak police officer at the school when students arrive or are dismissed, but on most days we rely on the common courtesy that adults need to display when dropping off or picking up their students. Please be considerate of others during these transition times!

The following students were recognized as Students of the Week on Friday, October 29. Teachers nominate students who are consistently demonstrating the character traits of the Alpine Big 3: Being Respectful, Responsible and Ready to learn. Congratulations, Students of the Week!

Kaci Beagley-3rd grade, Mrs. Duke

Claire DeVilliers-1st grade, Mrs. Faux

Andrew Hafen-1st grade, Mrs. Faux

Kate Hafen-5th grade, Mrs. Chang

London Johnson-5th grade, Mrs. Menssen

Ruby Jones-6th grade, Mrs. Monson

Mark Kelley-3rd grade, Mrs. Kaczmarek

Quinn Kelly-6th grade, Ms. Kuo

Shannen Kitchell-4th grade, Mrs. Keller

Dylan Kusch-3rd grade, Ms. Elder

Glen Perez-2nd grade, Ms. Andersen

Boston Smith-4th grade, Mrs. Keller

Abbie Smith-2nd grade, Mrs. Orgill

Lucas Tanner-1st grade, Ms. Johnson

Millie Willis-6th grade, Mrs. Kaczmarek

What a beautiful fall weekend we had! Saturday was the best! I enjoyed a morning bike ride up Suncrest where the view of the valley and Utah Lake are breathtaking. We had a late afternoon family gathering at our daughter’s house in Saratoga Springs followed by an army of grandchildren going trick-or-treating in a neighborhood that has so many young children it looked like Disneyland. And then to culminate the day, a trip to LaVell Edwards Stadium to watch an exciting high scoring football game, with the Cougs prevailing 66 – 49 over their former coach Bronco Mendenhall and his University of Virginia team. The game reminded me of the type of high scoring shootouts I observed when I was a student at BYU 1979 – 1982. I didn’t get home from the game until 1:00 am, but there was nothing but memories of a day well-lived as I drifted off to sleep.

Have a wonderful week, and as always, remember that it is a great day to be an Eagle!

I hope the entire Alpine Elementary Community had an enjoyable Fall Break. It is snowing as I write this, so fall weather in the Utah Valley can be very unpredictable. My wife and I went to Texas to watch a football game in 80-degree weather, and judging from the number of people wearing blue in McLane Stadium, home of the Baylor Bears, there had to be someone besides me at the game with ties to Alpine Elementary.

Our students and staff will be participating in our annual Red Ribbon Week, October 19 – 22. We are grateful to one of our parents, Andrew Young, and the fantastic videos he produces that our students will watch each day this week. The focus of the week is for students to learn how to say no to drugs and alcohol. Ask your students what they learned at school each day this week. The most powerful conversations about making safe and correct choices about drugs and alcohol happen at home.

Junior Achievement Helpers – The PTA is looking for volunteers to help organize the Junior Achievement program at Alpine. Junior Achievement is a global nonprofit with a mission to help develop business, financial, and entrepreneurial skills to elementary-age children. The opportunity to interact in your child’s class is fun and educational while allowing for flexibility for volunteers in scheduling and presentation. Lessons are 30-60 minutes with clear instructions that can be tailored to each volunteer’s education, work and life experience. Contact Dana Fong 385-770-0897 with any questions. If you would be interested in helping with this amazing program, please sign up here.

We are so excited to be having a Fall Festival this year!!  Our Fall Festival is taking place Monday, October 25th from 4:00-7:00.  There will be food, games, a cake walk and much more!!  It is going to be a great event for students and their families.  The flyer for the event is attached below.  We are still looking for volunteers (responsible teens or adults) to help on the day of the event.  If you are able to volunteer, please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/ go/60B0A4AADAD2AA02-fall    Thank you so much for all that you do!

We will once again be having a Halloween Parade this year! We anticipate the parade with start in the gym at approximately 1:30 pm on Friday, October 29. And for parents who cannot attend the parade, as we did last year, we will have students parade through the library for an online parade.

Just a reminder that we have a box in our Staff Room where you can deposit your used computer ink cartridges. Place the cartridges in a plastic bag before bringing them to the school, and our school receives money through this recycle program.

We have several bags of Lost and Found items that were not claimed during the 2020 – 2021 school year. If you want to come and look through these assorted items, contact our Head Custodian, Mike Carter, 801-785-5040. Any Lost and Found items from last year not reclaimed by November 1 will be donated to a charitable organization.

The primary purpose of our Fall Break trip to Texas, to watch a football game between BYU and Baylor, was less than satisfying, as the Cougars lost for the second consecutive week. Unlike the Boise State game, where turnovers could be used as the reason for the loss, Baylor was simply the better team, dominating both lines of scrimmage. The Baylor fans were very kind and gracious, welcoming BYU fans to the Big XII in two years. Aside from the football game dominance, other parts of our trip were more enjoyable.

Having never traveled to Dallas and Waco, Laura and I learned more about one of the darkest days in our country’s history. We visited the John F. Kennedy Museum in the Book Depository Building, the location from where the 35^th President of the United States was assassinated on November 22, 1963. As a kindergartner in Pendleton, Oregon, I remember being sent home early from school on that fateful day.

And of course, while in Waco, we had to eat at Magnolia Table and visit The Silos of Chip and Joanna Gaines fame. The breakfast at Magnolia Table was delicious, as were the cupcakes and cookies Laura purchased at the Magnolia Bakery after standing in line for 20 minutes. My sweet wife knows me well enough to not ask me to shop with her, so while she checked out the different stores at The Silos, I spent time with a friend, my iPhone. We also visited the Branch Davidian Memorial Site outside of Waco and toured the Dr. Pepper Museum, the birthplace of that particular soft drink. Waco is not what I would call a beautiful city. I told my wife that the residents in the city and surrounding areas should be happy that Chip and Joanna have made efforts to beautify the city.

Have a wonderful week, and as always, remember that it is a great day to be an Eagle!

Thank you to all of the parents who came to Parent/Teacher Conferences! It was nice to see parents back in the school conversing with teachers after the unusual year we had last year. And we are grateful to all of the parents who purchased books at our Book Fair and to the local heroes who came to participate in the Hero Read with our students!

Fall Break will be October 14 – 18. October 13 will be a Minimal Day with students being dismissed at 12:45 pm. We hope all families in the Alpine Elementary Community have an enjoyable Fall Break!

Reflections – Reflection entries are due this week on October 13! Have your students finish up those last submissions and enter them at: https://www.utahpta.org/ref

Junior Achievement Helpers – The PTA is looking for volunteers to help organize the Junior Achievement program at Alpine. Junior Achievement is a global nonprofit with a mission to help develop business, financial, and entrepreneurial skills to elementary-age children. The opportunity to interact in your child’s class is fun and educational while allowing for flexibility for volunteers in scheduling and presentation. Lessons are 30-60 minutes with clear instructions that can be tailored to each volunteer’s education, work and life experience. Contact Dana Fong 385-770-0897 with any questions. If you would be interested in helping with this amazing program, please sign up here.

We are so excited to be having a Fall Festival this year!!  Our Fall Festival is taking place Monday, October 25th from 4:00-7:00.  There will be food, games, a cake walk and much more!!  It is going to be a great event for students and their families.  The flyer for the event is attached below.  We are still looking for volunteers (responsible teens or adults) to help on the day of the event.  If you are able to volunteer, please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/ go/60B0A4AADAD2AA02-fall    Thank you so much for all that you do!

We will once again be having a Halloween Parade this year! We anticipate the parade with start in the gym at approximately 1:30 pm on Friday, October 29. And for parents who cannot attend the parade, as we did last year, we will have students parade through the library for an online parade.

Because of labor shortages in Nutrition Services Departments across the Alpine School District, breakfast and lunch menus will be reduced to just one entrée, starting on Monday, September 27! School menus are posted on the Alpine School District website.

Just a reminder that we have a box in our Staff Room where you can deposit your used computer ink cartridges. Place the cartridges in a plastic bag before bringing them to the school, and our school receives money through this recycle program.

I was once again in LaVell Edwards Stadium and watched BYU lose their first football game of the season on Saturday afternoon against Boise State in a mistake-filled game. The sour taste of the football game was washed away on Sunday as we were able to have a family gathering with four of our five children and their families. Our son and his wife from South Dakota were visiting Utah, so we were only missing our daughter and her family in Oregon, though they did join our family get together via FaceTime. The ongoing happiness and progress of family is certainly of much more meaning and long-lasting significance than a football game. Having said that, I will continue to root for my alma mater! Laura and I will be in attendance next week in Waco, Texas at the BYU/Baylor football game. Go Cougs!

Have a wonderful week and an enjoyable Fall Break, and as always, remember that it is a great day to be an Eagle!

This week, we are excited to host this year’s Fun Run PTA Fundraiser! Last week, your student should have come home with a flyer with information surrounding this week’s Fun Run PTA Fundraiser, including details around the Fun Run itself happening THIS THURSDAY, September 23, from 9:30 am – noon at Creekside Park. I have attached the full flyer with all the details, but just a few things to keep in mind:

Goal: Our fundraiser goal is $13,000. Your generous contributions this week directly enable several programs that would not be possible otherwise, which in turn support 4 fundamental goals for Alpine Elementary, including:

Lunch from Chick-fil-A & Extra Recesses: One class from EACH GRADE with the most donations (averaged per student) will win lunch from Chick-fil-A! The top class each day will also be awarded with an extra recess.

How to Donate: There are multiple ways to donate this week, and you may donate anytime Monday through Friday! You may either send cash or check (payable to: Alpine Elementary PTA) in the envelope attached to last week’s flyer, or pay online by visiting https://alpineelementary.memberhub.com/store# or by scanning the QR code in the attached flyer to go directly to the site. Just PLEASE select YOUR CHILD’S HOMEROOM TEACHER when paying online so his or her class gets credit for your donation!

Fun Run Schedule at Creekside Park on Thursday, Sept. 23rd: Come support your students as they participate in the Fun Run! Thanks to the generous contributions of Max Connect, all Alpine Elementary students will be getting an Alpine Elementary t-shirt for the run! Below is when each class will be running at the park:

Most importantly, we are grateful for our amazing Alpine Elementary community and for your support!

Please also follow Alpine Elementary PTA on Instagram @alpineelementarypta to keep up to date on everything going on!

Join us for another great year of reading and competing in America’s Battle of the Books. This is a voluntary reading program for students in grades 3-6 and is so much fun. All students need to do is register and then start reading the books on their book list. Students who have read three books by December are invited to join a team and attend a pizza party in the library. Students then work with their team and continue reading titles on their book list to prepare for the battles in February and March. Click Here to Register. Please direct any questions to our Media Specialist/Librarian, Paula Ruesch [email protected].

I have seen many parents using their phones to access the QR codes we have posted on our office windows to check students in and out of school. Technology continues to be such an important part of our lives!

We had our first School Community Council (SCC) meeting last week. The parent representatives on the SCC are:

JoLynn Green—Chair, [email protected]

Sarah Johnson—Vice-Chair, [email protected]

Ying Garrison, [email protected]

Jaron Mathis, [email protected]

Melissa McCoy, [email protected]

The SCC establishes a School Improvement Plan to determine how to best spend the state Trustlands monies Alpine Elementary is allocated each year. Academic achievement goals drive the Improvement Plan. If you have any academic areas of focus you would like the SCC to consider for the School Improvement Plan in 2022 – 23, please feel free to contact any of the parents on the SCC.

The following students were recognized as Students of the Week on Friday, September 10. Teachers nominate students who are consistently demonstrating the character traits of the Alpine Big 3: Being Respectful, Responsible and Ready to learn. Congratulations, Students of the Week!

Brent Anderson-Kindergarten, Mrs. Malone

Sam Ard-Kindergarten, Mrs. Malone

Sloane Childs-1st grade, Ms. Johnson

Bridger Cook-2nd grade, Ms. Andersen

Kai Franklin-1st grade, Mrs. Jin

Eli Hansen-1st grade, Mrs. Faux

Kayla Hilton-6th grade, Mrs. Hill

Lexie Orgill-6th grade, Mrs. Monson

Emberley Smith-2nd grade, Mrs. Blodgett

Lindsey Tompkinson-3rd grade, Mrs. Kaczmarek

Benji Tonga-4th grade, Mrs. Keller

Aria VanVactor-6th grade, Ms. Kuo

Alexis Williams-1st grade, Mrs. Bailey

Golden Wood-2nd grade, Mrs. Orgill

Grady Zito-6th grade, Mrs. Monson

I have been spending my Saturday nights with family members in LaVell Edwards Stadium for the past two weeks watching football games. My alma mater is currently 3 – 0, a better record than most experts predicted. In the victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils Saturday night the home crowd was louder than I can ever remember in the many games I have attended in that stadium. The University of Central Florida comes to Provo next week!

Have a wonderful week, and as always, remember that it is a great day to be an Eagle!

Battle of the Books Registration Ends September 24. Join us for another great year of reading and competing in America’s Battle of the Books. This is a voluntary reading program for students in grades 3-6 and is so much fun. All students need to do is register and then start reading the books on their book list. Students who have read three books by December are invited to join a team and attend a pizza party in the library. Students then work with their team and continue reading titles on their book list to prepare for the battles in February and March. Click Here to Register. Please direct any questions to our Media Specialist/Librarian, Paula Ruesch [email protected].

 PTA News

This Thursday, your child will be bringing home a flyer with details around our annual Alpine Elementary PTA Fundraiser & Fun Run, taking place next week (Sept. 20 – 24). This fundraiser is crucial to supporting the many Alpine Elementary programs and activities that strive to strengthen school unity, promote health & wellness, encourage kindness & respect, and create a school-wide culture that learning is fun. Look for the flyer in your child’s backpack, which will include more details. Note that the Fun Run itself will be on Sept. 23rd at Creekside Park from 9:30 am to noon.

Walk-to-School Wednesday will take place this coming Wednesday! We’d love any parent who wants to help to come to the school around 8:50 that morning and look for any 1 of 4 tables outside to help!

We had an extremely successful Running Club last Friday, with around 200 students participating! They were great sports to run in the hot weather! Running Club will continue Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays during morning recess, and kids will earn prizes as they log those miles!

We are still looking for a few volunteers to assist with School Picture Day taking place on Sept. 28th. If any parents could come between 9:15 – 11:30 am, please sign up here.

Last week, an email went out about the Reflections Art Program. Reflections is an incredible nation-wide program put on by the PTA that encourages children to be creative and involved in the arts. There is no fee to participate and there are several art categories. See last week’s email for more details, but this year’s theme is “I Will Change the World by…” and the submission deadline is October 13th.

For the second consecutive year we will have an ink cartridge and toner recycling program. Bring your computer ink and toner cartridges to the box in our Staff Room and our school receives money in this recycling program.

Our first School Community Council meeting will be 9:30 – 10:30 am on Thursday, September 16 in our Conference Room. Any parent is welcome to attend.

The following students were recognized as Students of the Week on Friday, September 10. Teachers nominate students who are consistently demonstrating the character traits of the Alpine Big 3: Being Respectful, Responsible and Ready to learn. Congratulations, Students of the Week!

Paige Ainsworth-Kindergarten, Mrs. Malone

Mason Andersen-5th grade, Mrs. Chang

Riggins Andersen-Kindergarten, Mrs. Malone

Miley Benson-3rd grade, Mrs. Chen

Lennox Deaton-1st grade, Ms. Johnson

Ronan Harward-1st grade, Mrs. Bailey

Brooklyn Hebbert-4th grade, Mrs. Vipperman

Porter Hertig-3rd grade, Mrs. Kaczmarek

Grant Howard-4th grade, Ms. Moore

Gideon Myers-5th grade, Mr. Horan

Julia Sampson-4th grade, Mrs. Keller

Johanna Stewart-5th grade, Ms. Dale

Sydney Turner-6th grade, Mrs. Hill

Ruth Willis-1st grade, Mrs. Faux

Elliott Wood- 3rd grade, Ms. Elder

We will never forget! I saw those words repeatedly this past weekend as our country reflected on what happened 20 years ago on 9/11/2001. While we should all certainly remember the tragic loss of life, I think we should also remember how one of the darkest days in our nation’s history unified us. We were all Americans grieving and resolved to defend our country at all costs. There was no focus on red or blue states or political bickering. Fast forward 20 years and we have lost much of that unity and are in many ways a very divided country. I yearn for the sense of unity, not for catastrophic national events, that we experienced two decades ago.

As we attended the BYU/Utah football game Saturday night, Laura and I were seated next to some Utah fans, and as we watched the pregame festivities (the two F-15’s flying low over the stadium was an unforgettable goosebump moment) commemorating 9/11, all 64,000 fans in attendance, whether wearing blue or red, were once again unified in somber remembrance of those who perished, with an in-state football game seeming rather insignificant to the events of that day 20 years ago.

Our sixth graders were not yet born or just infants the last time BYU beat the University of Utah in a football game, November 27, 2009. The Perdues bleed Cougar Blue, but none of our 14 grandchildren have any memories of a BYU victory in the rivalry game. The twelve-year, nine game losing streak ended on Saturday night, and even though the almost 64,000 fans in attendance got soaked in a brief torrential downpour, it was a wonderful night for the Cougar faithful. With the announcement on Friday that BYU will become a member of the Big XII Conference, it was a very good weekend to be a BYU fan. Having said that, I saw nothing but class and congratulatory words from the Utah fans I interacted with at the game.

Have a wonderful week, and as always, remember that it is a great day to be an Eagle!

We will have our Beginning of the Year Acadience test for K – 3 students on Thursday, September 9. Acadience is the foundational reading assessment given to our students three times during the school year. The assessment results inform the literacy instruction that teachers deliver in the classroom. Additionally, our first graders will also be administered a Math Acadience Assessment on Thursday.

Because of a scheduling conflict with Eastman Adams Photography, our Picture Day is now scheduled for September 28. Picture flyers explaining the different purchasing packages will be coming to parents before September 28.

The Lone Peak football players and cheerleaders who came to Alpine Elementary last week for P.L.A.Y. Day were treated like rock stars by our students. It was a fun day and we appreciate the LPHS students, many former Alpine Elementary students, who came to talk, play and interact with our students.

For the second consecutive year we will have an ink cartridge and toner recycling program. Bring your computer ink and toner cartridges to the box in our Staff Room and our school receives money in this recycling program.

We have four new parents who will be serving on our School Community Council for the 2021 – 2022 school year. Our one returning SCC parent will be JoLynn Greenwood. Here is our 2021 – 22 School Community Council:

Ying Garrison—Parent

JoLynn Greenwood–Parent

Sarah Johnson—Parent

Jaron Mathis—Parent

Melissa McCoy—Parent

Connie Faux—Teacher

McKayla Hill—Teacher

Dave Perdue—Principal

We continue to have Teacher Aide positions that need to be filled. The jobs range from three to five hours in length and pay $11.28 an hour. If you or someone you know is interested in working as an aide at Alpine Elementary, please contact our Instructional Coach, Jenna Berry, [email protected].

We had a successful Walk to School Wednesday last week and will continue the practice every other week, so our next Walk to School Wednesday will be September 15. We are grateful to all of the Room Parents who met with teachers last week. The PTA will have their first meeting of the school year, Thursday, September 9, 9:30 – 10:30 am in the Staff Room. All parents are welcome to attend.

Judging from the number of BYU fans in Las Vegas on Saturday, there had to be members of the Alpine Elementary Community in attendance at Saturday night’s football game between BYU and the University of Arizona. Las Vegas is not one of my favorite destinations to visit, but Laura and I headed south and enjoyed the BYU football victory on Saturday night.  Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, which was built for a mere $2 billion, was a very nice venue in which to watch an athletic contest. The AC in the enclosed stadium was a welcome relief when temperatures were hovering around 90 degrees outside in the Nevada desert.

I know of at least one Alpine Elementary parent in attendance at the game. Nick Greer who along with his wife Debra have had five of their seven children attend Alpine Elementary was definitely at the game as he had the honor of running the BYU flag onto the field before the game started. Mr. Greer is a humble man and will undoubtedly be embarrassed by this recognition in the Eagle News. Nick is the CEO of Built Bar and recently announced that all 36 walk-on players on the BYU football team would have their college tuition paid by Built Bar.

Because of Nick’s magnanimous donation to the University and being a loyal BYU supporter, the BYU football team gave Nick the honor of carrying the BYU flag out onto the field prior to the game Saturday night. Nick ran the flag out proudly with not one misstep as he had a highly energized team and the cumulative weight of many football players with sharp field cleats running behind him. A fall could have been disastrous. Way to represent the Alpine Elementary Community, Nick! See the attached video.

Have a wonderful week, and as always, remember that it is a great day to be an Eagle!