Annandale Community:
This past Monday, faculty and staff came to celebrate all that we have accomplished since the beginning of the year. Specifically, we have seen growth in the use and quality of learning targets to guide classroom instruction. Much of our success can be contributed to the level of collaboration in our teams and departments. Collaboration means the following: 1) Recognizing we can’t do it alone 2) Making our thinking visible to each other 3) Inviting different perspectives and 4) Changing our approach based on input.
Our focus moving forward is to continue to collaboratively plan lessons that include high quality academic tasks and provide students ample opportunity to practice during class. At Annandale, we believe that the classroom should be a space where the students, not the teacher, are at the center of learning.
If you have not done so already, please give parental consent for your student to use digital resources used to engage students in virtual learning by clicking on the following link. We will be following up with families over the next two weeks who have not yet completed the form.
This Tuesday at 7:00pm is our monthly PTSA Meeting. You can join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone here. If you are not already a member, I encourage you to join. Parent, guardian and community member membership is only $15!
Finally, with the the end of the 1st quarter less than two weeks away, if you know of a staff member who has done a terrific job support your student, please take a moment to recognize them in our #AtomicTeacher Nomination Form.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Shawn
Contact Information:
Twitter: @ShawnDeRose
Website: https://annandalehs.fcps.edu/
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Important Dates
October 20 - PTSA Meeting
October 23 - PTSA Food Pantry Distribution
October 29 - PSAT Day for Juniors
October 30 - End of the 1st Quarter
November 2 - School Planning Day (No School for Students)
November 3 - Teacher Workday (No School for Students)
November 11 - Early Release for Students
PTSA Meeting: October 20 - This Tuesday at 7:00pm is our monthly PTSA Meeting. You can join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone here. If you are not already a member, I encourage you to join. Parent, guardian and community member membership is only $15!
Food Pantry Distribution: October 23 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. The next one is this Friday, October 23 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.
PSAT: October 29 - Annandale High School will offer the PSAT to enrolled eleventh graders on Thursday, October 29. It will be an asynchronous day for students. Students are expected to complete the asynchronous work posted on Google Classroom. Attendance will be based on student engagement in their asynchronous work or participation in the PSAT exam. FCPS will cover the cost of the test for all enrolled eleventh grade students. Juniors interested in taking this test should complete this Intent Form using their @fcpsschools.net accounts.
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PTSA Spirit Wear Masks
Breathable Atoms Face Mask! The @AtomsPTSA and AHS Athletic Boosters have joined together to bring you this limited edition mask featuring the Atoms logo! Pay $12 online and pick up at AHS. Details here: bit.ly/AtomsMask
Important Information
Atoms Writing Center Now Open! - The Atoms Writing Center will have a “soft” virtual opening this month. AWC tutors will be available to help for synchronous (live) tutoring conferences on Mondays from 9:10am to 9:40am during the month of October. Tutors will also be able to provide asynchronous feedback to writing assignments on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Students should visit the AWC’s website for the link to synchronous tutoring sessions on Mondays and fill out the AWC Cover Sheet to be paired up with an AWC writing tutor. So, bring those college essays in (or any other writing assignments you have for school)!
The A-Blast is Now Available! The first issue of The A-Blast will be published on Wednesday, October 21. The virtual edition of the newspaper can be found on the website, https://www.thea-blast.org/. Additionally, you can support The A-Blast by subscribing for $10 for the whole year (8 issues) and have it delivered to your home. Subscribe at https://www.thea-blast.org/subscribe/.
Senior Picture Make-Ups - Senior picture make-ups are 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 October 26-28. 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.
Partners for Safe Teen Driving Presentation - Final Session November 20 - The PSTD presentation is a required component of the Drivers Education classroom curriculum. and will be hosted at Annandale High School. Any student enrolled in Drivers Education this year OR any student who has completed Drivers Education but was unable to attend the 90-minute PSTD presentation last year due to the school shut down can sign up here. Parents/guardians must attend the virtual presentation with their student. Presentations will start promptly at 6:30 PM and are available for AHS students only. The meeting link will be emailed to students who sign up on the day of the presentation. Reach out to Lindsey Ottavio at leottavio@fcps.edu with any questions.
Required Forms: We understand how the beginning of the year can be overwhelming with forms. Here are some you can access now.
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Emergency Care Form: Required for all returning FCPS students to review and update if needed.
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Emergency Care Card: Required for students NEW to FCPS.
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Parental consent for digital resources: These are the apps and programs that our teachers will use to engage our students in the virtual world. Please go here for more information and follow the link to give your consent.
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FCPSOn Computer Opt Out Form: Only for students who are not planning to use a school laptop. We highly recommend you use the FCPS laptop because all software and other applications will be loaded and accessible. Software used by FCPS and Annandale HS cannot be loaded on personal devices.
Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) - Parents and guardians, please review the Students Rights and Responsibilities and related resources at www.fcps.edu/srr. After reviewing the information, fill out the SR&R Parent Acknowledgement Form using this link https://forms.gle/Pbz5C42jJPADQLyu5. The form must be filled out one time per student.
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Recognize an Annandale Staff Member!
Has an Annandale Staff member helped to make virtual learning a success for you or your student? If so, recognize them in our #AtomicTeacher Nomination Form.
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Join Us for Off Season Practices
It is really important to be mindful of the fact that our students are sitting and staring at a computer for the majority of the day. At Annandale, we want to strongly encourage you and your students to take advantage of the activities that are going on in the afternoons and evenings throughout the week. You don’t have to have a background in the sport to participate. Social distancing and CDC guidelines are enforced.
The practice times fluctuate every week, so just check the athletic website for times. All you need is a completed Physical Exam and a Emergency Care Form. If you have any questions, please contact John Ellenberger at jellenberger@fcps.edu.
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News from the PTSA
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.
You are invited to attend our second virtual PTSA meeting of the 2020-21 school year on Tuesday, October 20 at 7:00pm. You can join our meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone here. You can also dial in using your phone.
- United States: +1 (312) 757-3121
- Access Code: 456-663-117
New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts.
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.
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