Annandale Community Insider - End of the Year!

Annandale Community:

When we came together as a staff at the beginning of this year, I said that “the uncertainty we feel, and that our students and families feel, has created anxiety, urgency, and stress beyond anything many of us have ever dealt with. Our world has become a pressure cooker. We are surrounded by noise that is so difficult to cut through and make decisions around. Here’s what we know about pressure. Pressure can burst pipes. It can create havoc. But pressure, intense, prolonged pressure also creates diamonds.”

Throughout the year, the Annandale staff did not break under pressure. Instead, we continued to get stronger as the year progressed. There was not a challenge we couldn't overcome on behalf of our students. 

We recently came together as a staff to celebrate our success and each other at our End of the Year Faculty Meeting. We recognized FCPS years of service award winners, retirements and our school Fred Award winners. A Fred Award is based on the book The Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn and is given to staff members who have “turned the ordinary – into the extraordinary.” 

Congratulations to our winners:

• Fred Staff Member of the Year - Megan Sherrill and Kristin Lillis
• Fred Teacher of the Year - Jeff Smith
• Fred Support Employee of the Year - Robert Edmunds

In addition, this past Wednesday, our School Based Technology Specialist, Jen Cory, was recognized at the FCPS Honors as the Region 2 Outstanding Professional Employee. 

I am so proud of the work of both our staff and students. Over this past year, we have gone through different iterations of school. We began the year with virtual learning: synchronous, live, online learning. Then in March, we shifted to concurrent instruction, where teachers taught students who physically returned to the classroom while simultaneously meeting the needs of our virtual students. One of the reasons we were successful was because of our teachers’ ability to collaborate and create meaningful learning experiences for our students, regardless of the learning conditions. What's more, our students responded each and every step of the way throughout the year.

Simply said, "We were diamonds!"

I hope you have the opportunity to relax and rejuvenate with loved ones over the next few months. Periodically throughout the summer, I will be sending Community Insiders to share important information and dates regarding the upcoming school year.  

Again, thank you for your continued support.

Shawn DeRose, Principal

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

Important Dates

June 14 - Laptop Collection, 9am-12pm

June 14 - Summer School Registration Support, 9am-2pm

August 23 - First Day of School (2021-22 school year)

Laptop Collection - June 14: Reminder that all laptops must be returned at the end of the year to be reimaged, cleaned, and reset for 2021-22 school year. If these items are not returned by the end of the year, students will be charged with the costs. Also, laptops will not be functional next year if they are not reimaged/reset over the summer. 

Any student who has not already returned their FCPS issued laptop must drop off their computer at the main entrance (Door #1) on Monday, June 14 from 9:00am-12:00pm.

Summer School Registration Support - June 14: Annandale High School will be supporting families with in-person summer school registration on Monday, June 14 from 9:00am-2:00pm. We will have laptops set up in the Parent Resource Center for families to use as well as school staff on hand to assist and answer any questions. 

Important Information

Meningococcal Vaccine Requirement for Rising Seniors: Effective July 1, 2021, rising seniors are required to have one dose of Meningococcal Vaccine (MenACWY, Menactra, or Menveo). This requirement is for all current 11th graders/rising seniors. Parents or guardians should ask their private healthcare provider, or the health department, to review their student's immunization record to ensure that their student has received these required immunizations. More information on new immunization requirements is available here. 

Rising seniors cannot begin school in August without documentation of the Meningococcal vaccine with one dose given at age 16 or older. 

COVID Vaccine Available for All Ages 12 & Up - All individuals in Fairfax County who are 12 or older are eligible to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule an appointment at a Fairfax County Health Department clinic, the Tysons Community Vaccination Center, or the George Mason University clinic, use the scheduling system: Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS). If you need assistance in another language or have difficulty scheduling your appointment, please call 703-324-7404.

Summer Assignments: All FCPS middle school and high schools will not give summer assignments. Instead, schools have the option to recommend optional enrichment activities that are not for a grade. At Annandale, we highly encourage student selected texts/books to read over the summer.

Awesome Atoms!

Congratulations to our 45 IB Middle Years Program Certificate Recipients: Forty-five students earned the MYP Certificate. Certificates were awarded for successful completion of the MYP Personal Project, completing two consecutive years of a Language Acquisition course at Annandale High School, and completing and reflecting on Service Learning activities over the course of their 9th and 10th grade years. 

We are so proud of our students for the hard work and dedication that they have shown, and how much they have grown as IB Learners over the past three years. Earning the MYP Certificate builds the skills and attributes that set students up for even greater success in the future.

Jen Cory Recognized at FCPS Honors: Congratulations to our School Based Technology Specialist Jen Cory, who was recognized at the FCPS Honors program as the Region 2 Outstanding Professional Employee.

Jen is committed to supporting a diverse community of learners. While the pandemic had schools scrambling to create structures and supports for their staff and students, Jen had already been building these structures for years, providing multiple professional development opportunities anchored in collaboration in teams and across subject areas, and facilitating cooperative learning among staff. When schools across the nation shut down, Jen knew that organization would be a challenge for students during virtual learning so she created a Virtual Learning Hub which allowed students to easily access all of their classes. The Hub also allowed teachers to build open communication with students and their families and was replicated by elementary and secondary schools alike.

Thank you to Norma Foti and the PTSA Board: Huge shoutout to the Annandale PTSA for their support throughout the year. The 2020-21 PTSA Officers include Norma Foti (President), Rai Kent (VP, Membership), Rachel Gomez (VP, Programs) Kimberly Bellem (Treasurer) and Andrea McGinity (Secretary).

Because of the leadership of the PTSA, Annandale was able to host a Senior Celebration event for the Class of 2021, provide gift bags to the Class of 2024, sponsor Trivia Night for all students and host a variety of events and grants to support teachers and staff at Annandale High School. 

We are so grateful for the support of the PTSA! The first meeting of 2021-22 school year will be on Tuesday, September 21 at 7pm. PTSA meetings are bilingual and Spanish translation is provided.

Opportunities

Summer School Registration Now Open: Summer Credit Recovery is an opportunity for students to recover two high-school course credits. Students may take one course per session. Please contact your student's counselor for more information, or see the Summer School Registration Website.

Class of 2024 Read-A-Thon: Help the class of 2024 and participate in their “Read-A-Thon.” Choose some great books, get as many sponsors as you can, and help donate to the class. All students are welcome to participate, but money will go to the Class of 2024. More information can be found at https://sites.google.com/fcpsschools.net/read-a-thon

Yearbooks Available While Supplies Last: Buy your 2020-21 yearbook, Disruption! Yearbooks can be purchased at www.yearbookforever.com for $85 – get yours before we sell out! Yearbooks can be picked up on July 12 and 13 from 2-5pm in front of the school. Mark your calendars! If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Hanneman at jehanneman@fcps.edu.

News from the Activities Office

Check out important information from the Activities Office on the Annandale High School Athletics and Activities website or AHS Athletics Twitter page. Please email John Ellenberger at jellenberger@fcps.edu if you have any questions.

Varsity Baseball Wins First Round Regional Game! - Congrats to the Atoms Varsity Baseball team who defeated Fairfax 6-0 Saturday night. Shout out to Danny Salisbury for pitching six shutout innings and Spencer Robson for hitting a three-run home run. Next game is tomorrow night at 6:30pm vs. Robinson.

Regional Tournament Schedule - Monday, June 14:

Region Girls' Soccer Playoffs @ Woodson - 5:30pm Live Stream

Region Boys' Soccer Playoffs @ Robinson - 7:30pm Live Stream

Region Girls' Lacrosse Playoffs vs. Lake Braddock - 7:00pm Live Stream

Region Boys' Lacrosse Playoffs @ Woodson - 7:30pm Live Stream

Region Varsity Baseball Playoffs vs. Robinson - 6:30pm

Region Varsity Softball Playoffs @ Lake Braddock - 6:30pm

Annandale Sports Camp - June 21-25: Annandale will be hosting a summer multi-Sport camp on June 21-25 from 8:30-3:00pm. The camp will focus on football (touch), basketball, soccer, baseball, and volleyball. Lunch will again be available for purchase. Camp is open to rising Grades 3 thru 9. Cost is $125. Sign up here.

Pantry Summer Distribution Hours

The AHS PTSA food pantry is available to students of Annandale High School. Students or families can pick up a bag of food on the dates below. Email questions about the pantry to pantry@annandalehsptsa.org

Friday, June 25 - 10:00-11:00am

Friday, July 9 - 10:00-11:00am

Friday, July 23 - 10:00-11:00am

Friday, August 13 - 10:00-11:00am

Friday, August 27 - 3:00-4:00pm (School Back in Session)