Annandale Community Insider - October 3

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Annandale Students, Parents and Community:

Our Back to School Night (BTSN) event, held in our stadium this past Thursday evening, was a huge success. Knowing that so many of our students have felt disconnected the past year and a half, our staff understands and prioritizes the importance of connecting with our students, families and community. Our BTSN event was an incredible opportunity for us to continue building relationships, and the weather was beautiful! Many staff shared how rejuvenating it felt to come together that evening and have that time to check in with families. We heard lots of positive feedback from many of our community members, as well. Thanks to all of you who were able to join us. 

If you were not able to attend, you can watch the BTSN videos that teachers created explaining what your student is learning in their class and how you as a family can best support them. As always, please reach out to your student’s teachers with any specific questions or concerns. 

On Friday night, I attended the “Annandale HS Flag Football Tournament”. It was so much fun watching our students support their classmates. In the final moments of their first game, the Juniors came from behind to win the chance to move on to the next round. The energy of the crowd was amazing. Finally, at the end of the Championship game, when the Seniors defeated the Juniors, the fans rushed the field, everyone smiling and laughing. And, in true Atom Nation spirit, the Senior team congratulated the Junior team on a well played game. The entire stadium celebrated together in the joy of the event. Congrats to all players, coaches and staff members who made the event a success.

This week is Homecoming Week! We encourage students to show Atom Nation pride and connect with our school community by participating in Spirit Days. We will have a Pep Rally on Thursday, Friday night is our Homecoming tailgate and football game against Mt. Vernon, and finally, Saturday evening will be our Masquerade Homecoming Dance. Please see below for additional details about this fun week.

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

Shawn DeRose, Principal


BTSN

Important Dates

October 4-9 - Homecoming Week

October 7 - Homecoming Pep Rally

October 8 - Homecoming Tailgate and Football Game

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 

 

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.

 

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener - October 20: 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. 


Spirit Week

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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: During the first several weeks of school, we have been working to provide information and instruction to our freshmen students around the skills they will need to be successful in their transition to high school, as well as the supports that are available to assist them in their transition. One of these supports is a “catch-up” day on October 13. Students in Grade 9 should use this time to work on any outstanding assignments.

 

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. 


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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.

 

The A-Blast Subscriptions Available: The A-Blast published its first edition on September 29, and you can pick up a copy in the newsstand in the main lobby or subscribe for home delivery. It’s a great way to keep up with the news of AHS through the perspective of student journalists. The newspaper is published monthly and it is consistently ranked in the Top 10 of all high school newspapers nationwide. AHS is the only school to have a printing partnership with The Washington Post, which prints the newspaper for free. Donate at least $10 and email your home mailing address to ajweintraut@fcps.edu

 

Atoms Writing Center Blog: The Atoms Writing Center has an up to date blog where tutors give timely advice on writing assignments taking place across the school. This month we published blogs on the following topics:

  • College Essays
  • HOA Thesis Statements
  • IB Business IAs
  • OEA Structure
  • Science Fair
  • Persuasive Essays
  • Email Etiquette
  • How to Summarize an Article

Check it out! Note that you must be logged in to a personal gmail account to view our google site. If you have a writing assignment that wasn’t covered on our blog this month, but would like help from AWC tutors fill out this cover sheet google form to sign up for an online or in-person tutoring conference. You can also always stop by Room 274 from 3-4pm on Wednesdays or follow us on Twitter or Instagram @AtomsWC for more information.

 

Art Honor Society:  Calling all artists! Interested in joining the National Art Honors Society? Join our google classroom with code m6boa3g and click on the interest form to let us know a little bit about you. Applications will be available in November after first quarter grades have been reported. NAHS will do events like sell cards for holidays, host art shows, and offer art tutoring. Join if you like art and would like to give back to the Annandale community! Contact Ms. Lucas for more information.

 

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. 


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Awesome Atoms!

Welcome Brian Yeagley! New College and Career Specialist - We welcome Brian Yeagley to Atom Nation as our new College and Career Specialist. Before attending Marymount and Virginia Tech to study clinical mental health counseling, Brian was an FCPS alumni. Brian has supported young people with academic and career advising at Montgomery College, NOVA, and George Washington University. Most recently, Brian served as the lead counselor at the Barden Education Center in Fort Belvoir to counsel military personnel and their families. We are excited to have Brian as part of our Student Services team!

 

Congrats Catie Bishop! New Social Studies Department Chair - Congratulations to Catie Bishop who has been selected as our next social studies department chair. This is Catie’s eleventh year of teaching. She began her tenure at Annandale as a Special Education teacher before joining the Social Studies department three years ago. Catie currently teaches Psychology, leads the US/Va History Curriculum Team, and serves as the school’s Instructional Technology Lead. Her knowledge and support has been instrumental through the pandemic.


Important Information

2021-22 AP/IB Test Opt-Out Timeline and Fees: As part of the FCPS budget, FCPS is continuing to pay for the first six IB/AP tests a student wishes to take. Students will be assessed Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) test fees for any tests beyond the first six funded by FCPS. Students that have free/reduced lunch status and have completed the consent to share form, will not be charged these fees. 

FCPS and Annandale High School encourage all students to take AP/IB tests for courses in which they are enrolled. This is an excellent opportunity to practice taking a college level exam. When IB scores are released in July 2022, students have the opportunity to share their score with their colleges. However, if students wish to not test they will have the opportunity to opt-out.

To obtain the opt-out form, students must see Mrs. Bradshaw (LMBradshaw@fcps.edu), IB Diploma Coordinator, in the library. Opt-Out forms are due by October 22. Parents will be billed in December for any test fees beyond the six FCPS funded tests. These fees are non-refundable and there is no spring cancellation option.

 

2022 IB Testing Dates: Please reference the IB exam dates site for dates of IB Exams. All IB exams will be taken in school in a paper/pencil format. IB students who wish forego the exam and do not complete and submit the Opt-Out form by October 22 will be assessed a $119 cancellation fee. Students that choose to opt-out of an IB exam are still required to complete the IB internal assessment (IA) and any other IB external assessments. The IA counts as a major assessment grade in each IB class.

 

Senior Pictures: Seniors who have not taken their senior pictures yet can sign up to do so on October 11-12 and December 7-10. Pictures will be taken in the dance room (back of upstairs gym) and are after school (3:00-9:00pm). Seniors can begin book appointments NOW on https://prestigeportraits.com. They can find their name by utilizing the “Search by City & State” feature or using the appointment code they were sent in the mail. If they have any questions, they should contact Lifetouch Prestige at 855-918-2930.

 

Underclassmen Pictures: Make-up pictures for underclassmen who have not taken their picture yet will be held on Monday, October 18 in the library. This is a white day. Students are encouraged to let their W4 teacher know they need to take their picture and go down then.

 

Yearbook and Senior Tribute Ads: The 2022 Antenna Yearbook and Senior Tribute Ads can be purchased now www.yearbookforever.com. Buy your yearbook now! Prices are currently $75 and will rise to $85 on November 1.

 

Scheduled Student Check-out: When checking your student out, the fastest and easiest way to ensure your student is released in a timely manner is to send a note to the Attendance Office with your student. Your student will be issued a check-out pass for the scheduled time. For your convenience, you may also call and leave a message with the Attendance Office at 703-642-4151. Please provide your student's name and the time you want your student dismissed. It is preferable for this to be completed in the morning in order to create the checkout information and pass for the student.

 

Unscheduled Student Check-out: The deadline for picking up a student for unscheduled checkout is 2:30pm. Parents and/or emergency contact(s) should report to the Attendance Office. Please allow at least 15 minutes and bring a photo ID to complete the checkout process.


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.

 

This week's events:

Monday, October 4

Field Hockey vs. Justice - 6:15/7:30pm

Tuesday, October 5

Region Golf Championship at Laurel Hill Golf Course

National District Cross Country at Burke Lake - Boys - 5:00pm, Girls - 5:30pm

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

Wednesday, October 6

Field Hockey vs. TJHSST - 6:15/7:30pm

Thursday, October 7

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

JV Field Hockey vs. St. John Paul - 7:00pm

Freshmen/JV Football at Mt. Vernon, 5:30/7:15pm

Friday, October 8

Varsity Field Hockey at Trinity Christian - 4:45pm

Saturday, October 9

Homecoming Dance - 8:00-11:00pm


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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 Food Pantry Distribution: The PTSA sponsored AHS Pantry distributes food to AHS students and families in need. Distribution will take place on the second and fourth Fridays of each month from 3:15-4:15pm in trailer 8 at the rear of the school. The pantry distribution schedule for the school year can be found here. Bags will contain several meals and fresh produce is also available 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. A back to school wish list of needed items can be found here. Also, please consider donating paper grocery bags (preferably with handles) to ease the distribution process. Paper bags and food donations for the Pantry can be dropped off in the main office. Contact Norma Foti, Pantry Coordinator at pantry@annandalehsptsa.org with questions . 

 

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.

Personal Hygiene

Items

Shampoo

Conditioner

Toothbrushes

Toothpaste

Razors

Deodorant

Body Wash

Hand Soap

Dental Floss

Chapstick

Food

White rice

Breakfast cereal

Tomato sauce

Cooking oil

Corn Flour

Sugar

Peanut Butter

Jelly

Crackers

Boxes of Granola Bars

Diced Tomatoes

Household Items

Tissues

Toilet Paper

Paper Towels

Dish Detergent

Dishwasher Detergent

Laundry Detergent

Cleaning Supplies

Sponges