Annandale Community Insider - September 26

Annandale Students, Parents and Community:

I hope you enjoyed the first weekend of fall! The weather was beautiful. I especially love the cool nights. My weekend consisted of normal routines (not always in this order): workout, softball/baseball, Costco, mow the law and Ohio State football. 

We look forward to hosting Back to School Night this Thursday, September 30. Our event will include videos teachers have created to introduce themselves as well as provide information about their courses, which we will post on our website. 

In addition, we are hosting an outdoor, in-person event from 6:00-8:00pm. This event will be held in our stadium and will be an opportunity for families to have a brief, one-on-one, mini-conference with their students’ teachers. Parents will be invited to sit down with their student’s teachers for five-minute conversations about the student’s progress in the class. We know how important connections with our families are in any year, especially this year as we navigate out of the pandemic, and so we are looking forward to seeing everyone at this event. (In case of inclement weather, the outdoor portion will be canceled.)

As FCPS recently shared, if students are paused or quarantined due to COVID, they can and should continue to access instruction and learning opportunities. At Annandale, when teachers learn of a student’s absence, they will send an email to the student letting them know how they can access live instruction via Zoom or a recorded lesson in Schoology as well as the assignments students should complete while absent. Additionally, teachers will be available for office hours to answer questions or provide other support for students. As always, we encourage any student or family with questions to reach out to teachers for help. 

Looking ahead, the week of October 4-9 is Homecoming Week! We will have special spirit themed days throughout the week and host our homecoming football game vs. Mt. Vernon on Friday night at 7:00pm. The event will conclude with a Homecoming Dance in the back parking lot on Saturday, October 9 from 8:00-11:00pm. Because Homecoming is being hosted outside this year, we need more support than usual. We are currently seeking parents who would like to assist with this special event! Please complete this form to let Leadership know if you are able to help and email Annie Ray with questions at amray@fcps.edu. 

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

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

September 30 - Back to School Night 2021, 6:00-8:00pm

October 4-8 - Homecoming Week

October 9 - Homecoming Dance

October 11 - School Planning Day (No School for Students)

October 13 - PSAT/SAT Day (2Hr Early Release)

October 19, 20, 26, 27 - Vision and Hearing Screening

October 20 - SEL Screener

October 29 - End of 1st Quarter

November 1 & 2 - Teacher Workday 

June 1 - Graduation

Back to School Night - September 30, 6:00-8:00pm: On Thursday, we will be hosting Back to School Night (BTSN) with virtual and in-person opportunities for families to get to know their students’ teachers. Once again, families will be able to view pre recorded videos introducing families to our teachers and their classes, which we will post on our website. 

In addition, on Thursday, September 30, are hosting an outdoor, in-person event from 6:00 - 8:00pm. This event will be held in our stadium and will be an opportunity for families to have a brief, one-on-one, mini-conference with their students’ teachers. Parents will be invited to sit down with their student’s teachers for five-minute conversations about the student’s progress in the class. We know how important connections with our families are in any year, especially this year as we navigate out of the pandemic, and so we are looking forward to seeing everyone at this event. (In case of inclement weather, the outdoor portion will be canceled.)

School Planning Day - October 11: There is no school for students on Monday, October 11 as it is a School Planning Day for teachers and staff.

Vision and Hearing Screening - October 19, 20, 26, 27: Vision and hearing screening will be held on October 19, 20, 26, 27. Additional dates may be added to accommodate students who were virtual and could not be screened during the previous school year. If your child wears glasses, please be sure they have them at school on screening days. The purpose of screening is to identify students who need further evaluation because they have difficulty seeing the screening chart or hearing the screening tones.

Parents will be notified by letter if screening results indicate that further testing is needed. Vision and hearing difficulties can interfere with learning. Prompt follow-up is recommended if you receive a referral letter suggesting further testing. If you have any questions regarding hearing and vision screening, please contact the school health room at 703-642-4110.

Graduation  - June 1, 9:00am: Mark your calendars! Annandale High School’s Class of 2022 graduation ceremony will be held on our stadium field on June 1 at 9:00am. Seniors will receive more information about the graduation ceremony in the months to come.

Adjusted Schedules for Wednesday, October 13

Annandale High School is hosting a PSAT and SAT School Day on Wednesday, October 13. Students in grades 10-12 will be participating in these exams, and all students will see a change to their schedules on October 13, as follows:

• Annandale High School will have a 2-hour early release.
• Academy classes and shuttles are cancelled. 

Two Hour Early Release - CAT B Students: Students with disabilities taught on an adapted curriculum (Category B) who are not participating in PSAT or SAT exams receive normal in-person instruction for the shortened school day.

Asynchronous Day for 9th Grade Students: All Grade 9 students will have a virtual asynchronous learning day on October 13.

PSAT School Day (Grade 10 and 11): On Wednesday, October 13, Annandale High School will host both the PSAT/NMSQT for all students in grades 10 & 11. Students are automatically registered and no further action by families is needed. The test is offered at no cost to families. All FCPS students have access to Khan Academy’s free online test preparation, whether they are taking the PSAT for the first time or preparing for eleventh grade National Merit Scholarship Qualification. The Khan Academy online curriculum is customized for students based on any previous PSAT or SAT scores. In addition, the website offers general test preparation tips for students. Students will receive their testing locations in early October.

SAT School Day (Grade 12): On Wednesday, October 13, Annandale High School 12th graders will have the opportunity to take the SAT School Day. FCPS will cover the cost for any twelfth grade student to take this test. General information about the SAT School Day test format is available on the College Board webpage. We will share exam day schedules and additional details in the coming weeks. If you have questions about the SAT School Day administration at Annandale High School, please contact Mike Ward smward@fcps.edu. 

Any Grade 12 students who have chosen not to take the SAT exam have options for prearranged college visits or civic engagement, independent college and career preparation, or other activities, as directed by school staff. 

Opportunities

Homecoming Chaperones Needed! This year’s Homecoming will be held on Saturday, October 9 from 8:00-11:00pm. Because Homecoming is being hosted outside this year, we need more support than usual. We are currently seeking parents who would like to assist with this special event! Please complete this form to let Leadership know if you are able to help and email Annie Ray at amray@fcps.edu with any questions.

Social Studies Honor Society:  Juniors and Seniors may join the Social Studies Honor Society Google Classroom with code sjdi7fj.  Applications for membership to the Social Studies Honor Society will be available Monday, September 27.  The application deadline is October 15. If you have any questions, please see Mr. Zaret at sjzaret@fcps.edu.   

Math Honor Society: Students interested in joining the Math Honor Society can join the Math Honor Society Google Classroom with the code: 6qnchr5. There you will find a Google Form where they can submit their application. The deadline for the application is Wednesday, October 6. If you have any further questions, please contact Mr. Obando or Mr. Martins.

Student Voter Registration: Any student who is 18 years old or will be 18 by November 2 can register to vote online or by mail. The deadline to register to vote is October 12. Students with a Driver’s License or Virginia ID Card & Social Security number can register online here. Paper registration forms can be downloaded here. Voter registration information has also been posted in student’s social studies course Schoology. 

Public Safety Cadets Program: Last week, Annandale High School hosted “First Nighter” or an open house for our Public Safety Cadets. The Fairfax County Police Public Safety Cadets Program is for teens 14-21 who are interested in a career in law enforcement or related criminal justice fields. Cadets gain awareness of the Criminal Justice system through training, practical experiences, competition, and community outreach activities. 

As part of the open house, we had several FCPD assets on scene including our bomb squad, mobile crime lab, neighborhood bike unit, motors, as well as our helicopter. Interested candidates and community members were able to check out the displays and helicopter while meeting with our police officers. If you are interested in applying for the program or want to learn more, please email School Resource Officer Adam Curcio at dcurcio@fcps.edu. Applications will be accepted until Monday, October 18. 

Awesome Atoms!

Atoms in the News! Annandale Students Ahsanullah Luddin Sisters Ahsanullah, Sosan, and Khujasta and Husna Basiri and were featured in several news stories this week where they shared their experience of transitioning to school here in Fairfax after moving from Afghanistan. The story was featured in the FCPS News. You can also check out the story on Inside NoVa and The Patch.

Atoms Recognized by National Merit Scholarship Program - Congratulations to Danielle Dean, Eleanor Lauderdale, Andrew Nguyen, Nathan Ong, Adwoa Owusu and Jacob Perloff. These students are being commended for the exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their outstanding performance on the 2020 PSAT/NMSQT test used for entry into the National Merit Scholarship program. We hope such recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success and excellence.

Congrats Nicole Ferree! New Math Department Chair - Congratulations to Nicole Ferree who has been selected as our next math department chair. Nicole is entering her fourth year as a full-time teacher with us at Annandale. Prior to that, she was a student teacher here at AHS. Nicole has been an active contributor to both Algebra 1 and Geometry teams during her tenure, and has had a particular passion and strength with supporting our ESOL students in math. 

Congrats Catie Bishop! New IB Extended Essay Coordinator - Congratulations to Catherine Bishop for being selected as the IB Extended Essay Coordinator. Students pursuing the IB diploma are required to write a 4,000 word essay based on an IB subject they are studying. Ms. Bishop will help support both the students and their teacher mentors throughout the year-long process.

Congrats Mike Ward! New Performing Arts Department Chair - Congrats to Dr. Mike Ward (Stephen in Outlook)for being selected as our new Performing Arts Department Chair. Mike is in his year 16 working for FCPS, and second year at Annandale. From 2006-2018, he taught and served for seven years as Department Chair at South County HS. Congratulations to Dr. Ward on his new position. 

Staff Attend IB Professional Development - A special shout out to the teachers that have participated in required IB training. Some attended a three day intensive workshop, others a four-week long course, and others an all day Saturday Bootcamp. Brian Aldenderfer- IB Language and Literature, Ingrid St. Clair- IB Language and Literature, Teresa Torgoff- IB French, Kim Kolarik- IB Geography, Nadia Skolnitsky- IB History, Ducchi Quan- IB Computer Science, Shannon Gray- IB Math Applications, Victoria Douglas- IB Math Applications, James Crockett- IB Environmental Science, Jessica Beauregard- IB History. Thank you for your support of our IB Program!

Important Information

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener: On October 20, Annandale will administer our first Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener during our W4 lesson. Annandale’s Student Support Team will use the screener to identify strengths and needs for our students related to SEL skills. SEL skills include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The screener will review these skills, as well as students’ relationships, feelings of belonging, feelings about their school environment, and mood. 

Learn more about the screener and review the questions here. To opt your student out of participating in the screener, please complete the opt-out form found here and return to your student's W4 teacher by October 8. 

Digital Resources Consent Form: At Annandale High School, our teachers will use a variety of digital resources to support student learning and promote communication and collaboration with students and families. Some of the digital resources students may use this year will require parental consent before they can be used. You can find our school’s list of the resources that require parental consent here: https://annandalehs.fcps.edu/adopteddigitalresources. Included on this page is also a link to a form where the enrolling parent or guardian will need to indicate whether or not their student is allowed to use the resources listed. This page also provides more information about how FCPS carefully reviews digital resources for approval. Please reach out to your child’s teacher or Jennifer Cory at jmcory@fcps.edu if you have questions or concerns about the digital resources we’ve chosen to use this year.

Students who do not have a Digital Resource Consent Form on file will no longer have access to YouTube videos when logged in to their FCPS Google accounts. Many of our courses use YouTube videos for instructional purposes. To ensure uninterrupted access to classroom resources we ask that parents and guardians complete the Digital Resources Consent Form as soon as possible.

News from the Activities Office

Check out this week's Atoms Athletics and Activities newsletter. You can also 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.

Monday, September 27

District Golf Championship at Greendale Golf Course - 9:10am

Creative Writing Club Meeting - 3:15pm - Trailer 12

Softball Interest Meeting - 3:15pm - Driver's Ed Room

Freshmen Football vs. Justice - 5:30pm

Flag Football Practice - 7:30-9:00pm - Stadium Field

Tuesday, September 28

District Golf Championship at Greendale Golf Course - 9:00am

Atoms Minds Matter - 3:00-4:00pm - Cafeteria

Cross Country at Mason District Park - Boys - 5:00pm, Girls - 5:30pm

Volleyball vs. Edison - 5:00/6:00/7:15pm

Field Hockey at Hayfield - 6:15/7:30pm

Wednesday, September 29

Annandale Writing Center - College Applications - 3:00-4:00pm - Room 274

Just World and Art Club - Chalk for Peace - 3:00pm - Room 90

Volleyball vs. Lewis - 5:00/6:00/7:15pm - Dig Pink Night!

JV Football vs. Bishop O'Connell - 6:15pm

Thursday, September 30

Back to School Night - 6:00-8:00pm - Stadium Field

Friday, October 1

Flag Football Tournament - 7:00pm

Saturday, October 2

Cross Country - Octoberfest - Great Meadow - Girls - 9:00am, Boys - 9:30am

Varsity Football at Bishop O'Connell - 2:00pm

News from the PTSA

PTSA Membership: On behalf of the Annandale High School Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA), we would like to welcome you to the 2021–2022 school year. The key ingredient to our success is YOU. Please dare to make a difference, be better informed and join the PTSA today by filling out the online 2021–22 Membership Form. For more information about membership, visit our Membership page.

PTSA Pantry Distribution: The AHS PTSA pantry is available to students and families of Annandale High School. They can pick up a bag of food in the Annandale Neighborhood Center in trailer 10 in the back of the building. The next pantry pick-up is on Friday, September 24. To learn more about the AHS PTSA Pantry please visit the pantry webpage located at www.annandalehsptsa.org or email pantry@annandalehsptsa.org.

PTSA Pantry Needs Your Help! The AHS PTSA pantry is seeking the following items below to restock their shelves. Items can be dropped off in the main office. All donations to the AHS PTSA Pantry are tax deductible.