Annandale Community Insider - September 20

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Annandale Community:

I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather this weekend. It was great to see many of you at our first PTSA meeting last Tuesday. I hope you consider joining as it is a great way to become actively involved in your student's education and the AHS community. Click here to join today!

On Wednesday, September 23, seniors will be taking the SAT at Annandale High School. The day will be asynchronous for all students and staff. Students should check their teacher’s Google Classroom to access the lesson. 

Later that evening, we will be hosting our annual Back to School Night (BTSN). Back to School Night will look a little different this year, but the goal remains the same: an opportunity for you to meet your student’s teachers, gain a better understanding of what learning looks like - especially in a virtual environment, and guidance on how you can support your student. 

The event will begin with a live Town Hall meeting at 6:00pm in English followed by a Town Hall in Spanish at 7:00pm. The rest of the event will be entirely asynchronous. Here is a link to the Town Hall events.

After the Town Hall, parents will have the opportunity to meet their student’s teachers in the form of Flipgrid videos, which will be posted on the school’s website. We invite you to email teachers directly with any specific questions or information you would like them to know about your student. Our teachers love to hear from you, and are always available for scheduled conferences throughout the school year. Check out the video the Annandale Admin Team has created to welcome parents and students to the event: BTSN Admin video.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

Shawn DeRose, Principal

 

Contact Information:
Twitter: @ShawnDeRose
Website: https://annandalehs.fcps.edu/


Mondays - Expectations of Students

On Mondays from 9:45-10:15am is “W4 Care and Connect.” Students should login to their W4 class at this time. The purpose of this time is to take attendance, community building, check-in with students and support their transition to virtual learning. 

In addition, Mondays provide students the opportunity to meet with their teachers during Office Hours from 8:10-8:55am or 10:30-11:15am. This time is dedicated for students to discuss the material being presented in class or other related interests you may have. Course-related discussions include asking for extra help, seeking clarification of material presented in class and following up on aspects of the class you find compelling. In addition, teachers are available at least one day a week after school if you are unable to connect during Office Hours. 

The remainder of the day, students should complete any assignments that were assigned the previous week. These assignments are posted on the “Virtual Learning Hub” for students to easily access. In addition, the site also includes a lesson grid with the daily learning target and evidence of learning for each class, which allows you to have an understanding of what they are learning and what they will need to turn in. We have created this video that includes step by step directions on how to access the “Virtual Learning Hub.”

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Important Dates

September 21 - W4 Care and Connect (9:10-9:40am

September 23 - SAT Day (Asynchronous Day for all students)

September 23 - Back to School Night

October 6 - College Boot Camp

 

SAT Day: September 23 - All FCPS students in grade 12 have the opportunity to participate in the SAT School Day exam on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 at no cost at their school. This day will run asynchronously for all staff and students in high school. Students should check their teacher’s Google Classroom to access the lesson.

 

Back to School Night: September 23 - Annandale High School will be hosting our annual Back to School Night (BTSN). Back to School Night will look a little different this year, but the goal remains the same: an opportunity for you to meet your student’s teachers, gain a better understanding of what learning looks like - especially in a virtual environment, and guidance on how you can support your student. The event will begin with a live Town Hall meeting at 6:00pm in English followed by a Town Hall in Spanish at 7:00pm. The rest of the event will be entirely asynchronous. Here is a link to the Town Hall events.

 

College Boot Camp: October 6 - The PTSA is sponsoring “College Boot Camp” for seniors and their families on October 6 from 6:00-8:00.  Please virtually join Princess Brown, the AHS College & Career Specialist, as she talks about the nitty-gritty of applying to college. She will cover issues that are unique to this unprecedented year and there will be time for questions and answers. Great for seniors and any interested family members. The PTSA will send out information on how to access this webinar, so stay tuned!  


Important Information

We Need Your Consent for Select Digital Resources: At Annandale High School, our teachers will use a variety of powerful digital resources to support student learning and promote communication and collaboration with students and families. Some of the digital resources your child may use this year will require your consent before they can be used. Without consent, teachers will need to plan additional lessons or deviate from a useful application altogether. You can find our school’s list of the resources here: https://annandalehs.fcps.edu/adopteddigitalresources

Please follow this link to indicate whether or not your student is allowed to use the list of digital resources this year. This page also provides more information about how FCPS carefully reviews digital resources for approval.

 

Schedule Change Requests: Beginning this week, counselors will collect information from students seeking a schedule change using this Schedule Change Request Form. This information will be compiled and then counselors will begin to work through these requests in priority order starting on Monday, September 28. Please keep in mind that completing the form does not constitute approval for the schedule change. Due to the complexity of the schedule, approved changes will be limited. If a schedule change is approved, the counselor will communicate with the student and provide a new schedule.

 

Technology Support for Parents and Students: The FCPS Parent Technology Resource page provides tip sheets and support in multiple languages. These tip sheets provide answers to basic questions about FCPS technologies. Often you can find the answer to your question in these resources. For technical support questions about your online parent accounts, your student’s FCPS laptop, or technology your student uses for online learning, contact the Parent Technology Help Desk (toll free) at 833-921-3277 or enter a support request ticket via the Parent and Student IT Portal.

The Parent Technology Help Desk will be answered 7:00am-11:00pm, seven days a week. Parents who need help in a language other than English should let help desk staff know, and an interpreter will join them on the line. (FCPS has Parent Information Phone Lines available in eight languages to assist with general questions about FCPS).

 

Attendance Matters: As a reminder if a student is not able to attend classes on a given day, parents should contact the attendance office. Parents may report absences by:

  • Calling the Attendance Line at 703-642-4151 or en Español 703-642-4153.
  • Parents have three days to excuse an absence.
  • If you receive a call-out message, and believe it is in error, please have your student check with the classroom teacher for that period.

 

Family Life Education - Opt Out Information: Parents/guardians wishing to opt their child out of Family Life Information instruction may complete and return the opt-out form or scan and email a copy of the completed form.  An opt-out request can also be made in an email which indicates the lesson(s) the child will be opted out of. The actual opt-out form is not required. All forms, information, and communications related to opt-out and translations are available on this site. Please email the form or request to your student’s teacher. Any questions, please email Cragin Eres at cweres@fcps.edu.  


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Bus Route Meal Service

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) buses are delivering free grab and go meals along some bus routes. School buses will stop at designated intersections to deliver these meals. All FCPS students (regardless of age) are eligible, as well as other county children, under the age of 18. Adults picking up meals for children should let staff know how many children meals they need. Adults may pay $2 for the meals as well. Check out the current bus schedule.


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ptsa

News from the PTSA

Food Pantry Distribution: September 25 from 3:30-4:30pm -The PTSA sponsored AHS Pantry is restocking the shelves and preparing to distribute food to students and families in need. Distribution will take place on the second and fourth Fridays of each month starting Friday, September 25 from 3:30-4:30pm behind the modular buildings at the rear of the school.

Bags will contain several meals and will be distributed first come, first served. There will also be a limited supply of household products (cleaning supplies, hygiene items, paper towels and toilet paper) available. Click here for additional food and community services.  Contact Alissa Green, School Social Worker at adgreen@fcps.edu with questions related to resources. 

You can donate to the Pantry to help Atom families in need here.  Also, please consider donating paper grocery bags (preferably with handles) to ease the distribution process. Paper bags for the Pantry can be dropped off in the main office. Contact Norma Foti, PTSA President at pantry@annandalehsptsa.org with questions related to donations.

 

AHS PTSA Pantry Needs Your Help! - You can donate to the Pantry to help Atom families in need here.  Also, please consider donating paper grocery bags (preferably with handles) to ease the distribution process. Paper bags for the Pantry can be dropped off in the main office. Contact Norma Foti, PTSA President at pantry@annandalehsptsa.org with questions related to donations

 

Top Reasons to Join the PTSA - Please consider joining the PTSA as it is a great way to become actively involved in your student's education and the AHS community.

In addition, the PTSA 1) provides resources and support to help ALL Annandale HS students, teachers and staff succeed. 2) PTSA educates members on issues and decisions impacting Annandale HS and FCPS. 3) Studies show active PTSAs improve overall student. Click here to join today!

 

PTSA Meeting - Dates and Times: Mark your calendar for monthly PTSA meetings which are held the 3rd Tuesday at 7:00pm. We will start the school year with virtual meetings and details will follow on how to join us. These dates include: October 20, November 17, December 15, January 19, February 16, March 16,  April 20, May 18, June 8.

 

Stay Connected - “Visit”, “Like” and “Follow” - Our e-newsletter, ATOMail, is sent the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month and highlights PTSA programs and opportunities to support our students, teachers, and staff. To receive ATOMail, please sign up and set your preferences on the FCPS "News You Choose" webpage. Select “Annandale High School” and check the box for “Annandale HS PTSA”. You can also stay up-to-date on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


News from the Yearbook Staff

Yearbook Photos Needed! - Have pictures of your student working on distance learning or taking some time to do something fun? Help the yearbook staff document this unique school year! Photos can be sent to jehanneman@fcps.edu or jehanneman@fcpsschools.net.

 

Senior Pictures - Senior pictures are still happening! Seniors should have received information in the mail from Lifetouch Prestige that tells them how to sign up for a date and time for their pictures. Pictures will be taken in the main gym, following social distancing guidelines, on September 14-18 and September 23-25. Seniors must have signed up for a time; walk-ins will not be welcomed.

If students did not receive information, they can still sign up by going to www.prestigeportraits.com. If you have any other questions or difficulty signing up, they can call Lifetouch Prestige at 410-644-7700. Because sharing clothing items is not permitted, seniors are asked to dress nicely and wear solid colors.

 

Buy a yearbook! - While it will certainly look different, the yearbook staff is working hard on planning and creating a yearbook for the 2020-2021 school year! Pre-order your copy now at www.yearbookforever.com before prices go up! 

 

Buy a senior ad! - With so many changes this year, buying a senior tribute ad is a great way to celebrate your senior year (or team or group of senior friends)! Prices have been reduced this year - for more information and pricing, go to www.yearbookforever.com