Annandale Community Insider - March 20

Annandale Students, Parents and Community:

Believe it or not, planning and preparations are already underway for end-of-year events. IB Oral exams have started and teachers have been working hard to support students completing the IB Extended Essay. This project is an opportunity for students to independently investigate a topic of personal interest to them. The culmination of this research project is a 4,000 word research paper on a topic of students choosing. 

Students are supported throughout the process of researching and writing the extended essay, with advice and guidance from a supervisor. Participation in this process develops the capacity to analyze, synthesize and evaluate knowledge and prepares students to complete undergraduate studies. This past week, more than 60 students successfully completed this final project! Thank you to the many staff members who gave their time to serve as supervisors, and support students through this experience. Special thanks to Catie Bishop, our Extended Essay Coordinator, and Linda Bradshaw, IB Coordinator for supporting our students every step of the way throughout the process. 

In addition, our intervention programs, PRIDE Time and ASAP are underway. These two systems will help ensure our students are prepared for end of year testing. Leaders throughout the building will be coming together on Tuesday at a joint meeting of Instructional Council and Curriculum Team Leads to discuss our approach to final exams. And, for seniors, we are working to compile information about graduation, which will be on June 1 at 9am in Annandale’s stadium. Communication about end of year events and tasks will be communicated to seniors and their families before we leave for Spring break.

As always, please reach out with any other questions.

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

March 22 - Tornado Drill

March 31 - 2 Hour Early Release; End of 3rd Quarter

April 1 - Teacher Workday (No School for Students)

April 4-8 - Spring Break 

March 22 - Tornado Drill: Annandale HS will be conducting our required tornado drill on Wednesday, March 22 at 8:30am. For more information regarding weather safety reports, please click here.

Important Information

Late Buses Now Available on Thursdays! We have expanded the number of days late buses are available for Annandale students staying after school. Late bus days are now Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Buses will pick up students in the back of the building with a departure time of approximately 4:45pm. Please check  StudentVue and ParentVue for your student's late bus number and stop.

IB Middle Years Program Certificate: As an IB school, Annandale students in Grade 10 have the opportunity to pursue the FCPS IB Middle Years Program (IBMYP) certificate. IBMYP Certificates will be awarded in the fall of 2022. Students interested in pursuing the FCPS MYP Certificate must:

• Earn a qualifying score (8 or above) on their Personal Project 
• Have completed two or more years of language acquisition by the end of 10th grade
• Submit six reflections on volunteer service hours they have completed no later than September 30, 2022 (extended date allows students to complete service hours throughout the summer after 10th grade). Students should submit their reflections here.

Currently, all students in Grade 10 are currently developing their Personal Project through their English 10 classes. For their Personal Project, students select a topic they are interested in learning how to do, make, create, develop, or otherwise pursue, journal about this experience, and write a report. They will present their personal projects in their English classes as well as do peer evaluation, where they will select the best personal projects to be showcased for our 9th graders. Personal Projects are due to their English teachers on March 30 or 31, and our showcase will be held virtually during the school day in mid-April. If you have any questions about the IBMYP Programme at Annandale High School, please contact Jeniva Miller at jmiller@fcps.edu.

Academic Support

Advanced Analysis Workshop for Honors and IB Students - March 24:Did you miss the Atoms Writing Center’s Advanced Analysis Workshop during PRIDE Time this week? You have one more opportunity to attend! After the workshop’s success, the AWC will be holding this workshop again after school on Thursday, March 24 in Room 274 for anyone who was unable to attend during PRIDE Time. As a reminder, this workshop will provide higher level writing tips to students in honors and IB classes to help them improve their grades on future essays. There is no need to sign up in advance. We hope to see you there!

Every Thursday - College Help Workshops: These workshops are open to Juniors and Seniors, who would like information on applying to college. Students who need individual assistance with college applications can ask questions about the Common Application, Transcript Request Forms, Scholarships, SAT/ACT exam registration, or anything else related to college.

Every Monday and Wednesday - Math Honor Society Tutoring: Students who need support in their math class are encouraged to attend after school tutoring sessions hosted by the Math Honor Society. Students should fill out this form with their name, course, email, and date requested to meet. A MHS tutor will fill out the form and contact the tutee.

In addition, Math Honor Society is also running tutoring sessions for Standardized Testing (SAT and ACT) every Monday and Wednesday from 3:00-4:30pm in Room 231. Students should fill out this form to receive extra support. Students in need of transportation can take the late bus on these days at 4:45pm. 

Bring End of Quarter Writing Assignments to AWC: Do you have any end of the quarter writing assignments for your classes? Atoms Writing Center Tutors can help you with writing in any class! Complete this google form to sign up for a writing center conference.

Free Live Tutoring For All Students: All FCPS students will have unlimited access to online tutoring support services through Tutor.com at no cost. Students can connect online any time, and in most subjects for as long as they need. Tutoring is focused instruction provided to students in a one-on-one format through voice or text chat. All tutors must pass a rigorous application process including an extensive background check and all sessions are recorded with transcripts which are available for review by teachers and parents/guardians. 

Students will automatically have access to the Tutor.com tutoring service unless a parent/guardian submits an opt-out request. Watch for an email soon that will include the online tutoring services notice and opt-out information. Additionally, a hard copy form will be sent home with every student. For additional information, visit our online tutoring services website. As always, please contact us if you have any questions.

Mid-April - Super Saturdays Begin: Annandale will continue the tradition of success that was established prior to, and even during COVID, by supporting students with Super Saturday SOL prep prior to testing. Invitations will be going out to students to attend these events beginning in late March/early April. Stay tuned for more information.

Awesome Atoms!

Congratulations Senior IB Diploma Candidates: Congratulations to our 65 Senior IB diploma candidates on completing their Extended Essays! Diploma candidates have spent the past year writing a 4,000 word research paper on a topic of their choosing. Students wrote essays in Language & Literature, Spanish, Global Politics, History, Business Management, Biology, Chemistry, and Visual Arts. Papers were submitted to IB this past week!

Tyron Barnes Accepted to George Mason University's Doctor of Musical Arts: Tyron Barnes, director of bands, has recently been accepted to George Mason University's Doctor of Musical Arts program out of a small number of applicants. Mr. Barnes will be working closely with the George Mason University Wind Symphony and performing a research study for his dissertation. Positive and meaningful contributions to music education have always been Mr. Barnes's life's work. As a doctoral student, Mr. Barnes plans to continue his work by writing a dissertation that focuses on improving the quality of music performance and enhancing the process of teaching musical literature during rehearsals. Mr. Barnes hopes that his research and literary work will become published as a method book that can be used by all public-school instrumental music educators.

PTSA Mulch Sale a Huge Success! Annandale High School PTSA's biggest and most critical fundraiser this year was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who ordered mulch. Proceeds from the sale support the PTSA Senior Scholarships and All Night Graduation Celebration, which provides a fun, safe, alcohol and drug-free parent-chaperoned celebration for our AHS seniors the night of graduation. 

Opportunities

Now through March 23 - Become a Member of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SAC): Each year, FCPS students have the opportunity to apply for the position of the student representative to the School Board. The student representative is not a member of the School Board but serves in a nonvoting, advisory capacity, representing the interests of the students of Fairfax County Public Schools. Students who are currently in grades 9, 10, and 11 are eligible to apply. Applications are due March 23, 2022. The application and related details can be found on the FCPS Website. 

Class of 2024 Jersey Mike’s Fundraiser – Thursday, March 24 from 2-8pm: Good goes beyond the sub! The Class of 2024 will be hosting a fundraiser on select Thursdays throughout the school year. Join us at the Jersey Mike’s location on Port Royal Road in Springfield VA, Thursday, March 24 from 2:00-8:00pm to support the class of 2024. The process is simple: Place an order online or in person, say that you are supporting the Class of 2024 at Annandale High School at checkout or in the notes section if you are ordering online, and Jersey Mike’s will donate 15% of sales for the evening to the Class of 2024. Eat a sub, and make a difference!”

Now Open - Summer Institute for the Arts Program Registration: Does your student have plans for this summer? If they love the arts, then the Institute for the Arts is for them! Check out this video for more information. More information can be found on their website. 

Schoology Design Challenge: FCPS is looking for student artwork to fill the big blue field on the Schoology login page. All FCPS students in grades PreK-12 are eligible to submit. Students may submit more than one design. Artists may work collaboratively and submit their collective work as a group, or they may choose to work and submit individually. Any medium is acceptable for the original artwork. See contest information on the FCPS webpage. Submissions are due May 20, 2022.

Save the Date! June 6 - Sports and Band Physicals for the 2022-23 School Year: Students who would like to participate in sports or band next year will need a valid VHSL physical dated after May 1 2022. On June 6 at 6pm we will be hosting Sport and Activity Health Screenings. This physical will be good for all of next school year. There will be a sign-up genius available soon. The cost is $30 pre-registration and $40 dollars walk-in. This is a donation to the Athletic Training Program so that we can continue to provide state of the art care for our athletes and band members. For information about financial assistance for this event, please contact Kathy Ayers.

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.

Watch Annandale Sports Online! Annandale sports fans can watch FCPS high school sporting events online. This service is free for the rest of this school year. You do not need to purchase anything if you are watching FCPS hosted events. Here’s how:

1. Go to www.NFHSnetwork.com.
2. Search for (school name) and go to its page.
3. Subscribe and follow.

News from the PTSA

PTSA Membership - Join Today! On behalf of the Annandale High School Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA), we hope that the 2021–2022 school year is going well. The key ingredient to our success as a school is YOU. Please dare to make a difference, be better informed and join the PTSA today by filling out the online 2021–2022 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 3:00-4:00pm in Trailer 8 at the rear of the school. The pantry distribution schedule for the school year can be found here. 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 make a donation to the Pantry here. To ease the distribution process, we always need donations of both paper grocery bags (preferably with handles) and reusable grocery bags (for families and students who walk home).  Grocery 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 Is Always Restocking and Needs Your Help! The following items are always needed to restock. Items can be dropped off in the main office. All donations to the AHS PTSA Pantry are tax deductible.