Annandale Community Insider - April 17

Annandale Students, Parents and Community:

Although it got chilly again, I hope you were able to enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend. I coached my daughter’s first softball game of the season on Saturday morning, followed by my weekly trip to Costco and then spent the remainder of the day cleaning out the garage and shed. I took a break from all that excitement to bid on a number of great items on the All Night Grad Party Online Auction, which is now accepting bids through April 29. 

This past week, I had a number of opportunities to watch students demonstrate their talents outside the classroom. On Tuesday, I stopped by Mt. Vernon High School to watch our undefeated girls tennis team in action. On Wednesday, I saw the boys lacrosse team in action at Hayfield. 

The highlight of the week was on Thursday evening, when Annandale hosted the Pyramid Art Show, The Art Show showcased student art work from our feeder elementary and middle schools. This is a unique opportunity not only for our high school students to reconnect with their elementary and middle school Art teachers, but also for future Annandale High School students to see the many opportunities to explore the arts that will be available to them. Prior to the show, teachers and administrators from our feeder schools enjoyed an art-themed meal prepared by our Culinary Arts students. Special thanks to Chefs Plum and Mathews for serving up a fantastic dinner, and to Carmen Lucas, Jackie Pappas, Elizabeth Brooks, and Megan Mooney for mounting this fabulous display of the talent in our community.

We will have more future Atoms visiting this week. Each year, 8th grade students from Holmes Middle School being supported through ESOL programming visit Annandale to help prepare for their transition to high school. On Wednesday, April 20, our rising ninth graders will tour the building and hear from a panel of current students and staff. Led by Sarah Eqab and Meredith Hedrick, this opportunity is one of many ways we help ensure our students get a strong start to their high school experience.

Finally, in just a little over one week, Spring SOL and IB Exam season begins. Next Saturday, English, Algebra 2, and Geometry teachers, as well as admin and coaches, will be welcoming students for this year’s first of three Super Saturdays. On top of the support students are getting during class, PRIDE Time, and ASAP, the goal of this day is to provide students one more boost before they take their SOLs. Thanks to the efforts of teachers, admin, coaches, and the coordination of Mike Ward, students have the opportunity to participate in this last push before their test. Transportation will be provided, and breakfast and lunch will be served.

Have a great week. As always, please reach out with any questions.

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

April 18 - Senior Breakfast

April 19 - PTSA Meeting, 7pm

April 21 - “Purple Up” for Military Families

April 23 - Super Saturday (Geometry, Algebra 2, English Reading) 

April 25 - SOL Testing Begins

April 27 - Junior Parent Night (Virtual), 6:30pm

April 28 - IB Testing Begins

April 28 - May 1 - Spring Musical

April 29 - Super Saturday (Algebra 1) 

May 2-3 - Senior Survey

May 6 - Super Saturday (Biology, Geosystems) 

April 18 - Senior Breakfast: We are excited to announce that we will be hosting a Senior Breakfast tomorrow, April 18 during W4/PRIDE Time. During the breakfast, students will receive important information about end-of-the-year events, including senior exams, senior activities, graduation, and All Night Grad Party.

Parents, we need your assistance making this year’s Senior Breakfast a success. Please click on the Sign-Up Genius for opportunities to donate food and/or money to purchase breakfast items, as well as volunteer!

Special thanks to the new Annandale Chick-fil-A for donating chicken breakfast biscuits for all of our students! The restaurant recently celebrated their grand opening and is located at 7130 Little River Turnpike. They have already hired 150 employees, including many Annandale High students! Please email senior parent Julie Strandlie (Lemens) at jstrandlie@gmail.com and Tammy Murphy at teapot292002@yahoo.com if you have questions.

April 19 - PTSA Meeting: The next PTSA Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 19 at 7:00pm in the Library. Participants can also join virtually using this link. Meetings are held in Spanish and English. Also, if you have not done so already, please consider joining the PTSA by filling out the online 2021–2022 Membership Form. For more information about membership, visit our Membership page.

April 21 - Purple Up for Military Families: April is the Month of the Military Child, a time to recognize and thank children from military families for their contributions and sacrifices. FCPS is proud to have over 14,000 military-connected youth as part of our student body. We appreciate the varied life experiences they bring to our school community, and recognize their strength and resilience. Learn more about Month of the Military Child and FCPS’ resources for military families. To show our support, FCPS is inviting all Fairfax County students, families, school employees, and community members to "Purple Up!" on April 21 for military children.

April 27 - Virtual Junior Parent Night, 6:30pm: Please join Annandale Student Services and guest speakers to find out what your Junior needs to know as they consider their post-secondary options. Breakout sessions will be offered on the following topics: Two-Year College (NOVA); Four-Year College, Military (Air Force, Navy & Army) and Financial Aid. The four-year college session will include college admissions representatives from the following universities: James Madison, George Mason and American. The Google Meet link will be emailed to Juniors and their parents at a later date.

April 28-May 1 - Spring Musical: Annandale Theatre Company is proud to present our first musical in two years, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, on April 28-May 1. The show will be approximately 90 minutes with a 15 minute intermission. Rated PG-13 for some mature humor. Tickets are on sale now. Click here to purchase. 

Overview: An eclectic group of six middle schoolers vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming "ding" of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box. A riotous ride, complete with audience participation, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a delightful den of comedic genius.

Community/Parent Assistance Needed. Get Involved Today!

Calling all parents and community members! We have a number of exciting staff and senior events coming soon and we need your help to ensure these events are a huge success. See below on how to volunteer or donate.  

Senior Breakfast - Volunteers/Donations Needed! Parents, we need your assistance making this year’s Senior Breakfast on April 18 a success. Please click on the Sign-Up Genius for opportunities to donate food and/or money to purchase breakfast items, as well as volunteer on event day!

All Night Grad Party Online Auction Is Now Open! The All Night Grad Party Online Auction is back and is now accepting bids through April 29. All proceeds will benefit the Annandale PTSA. Pickup will be at Annandale High School on Saturday, April 30, from 4:00-6:00pm. Check out the amazing items up for auction! Highlights include:

• Principal's VIP Parking Spot for 2022-23 School Year
• Graduation VIP Reserved Seating and VIP Parking
• Glory Days Gift Card
• North Springfield Swim Club Membership
• Lincolnia Park Recreational Club Membership
• Kilroy's Gift Card
• AHS Spirit Pack
• Silverado Gift Card
• AHS Sports Camp Pass
• Perfect Pita Gift Card
• Szechuan Star Restaurant Gift Card
• Tan Cha Gift Card
• Envy Nails Gift Card
• Erin Nicole Brown Photography 30 Minute Session

Help Recognize our Amazing Teachers! Seeking $5 Gift Card Donations: Teacher Appreciation Week is from May 2-May 6. As a gesture of our appreciation of all the hard work and flexibility our teachers have demonstrated this year, we would like to offer a small gift to teachers. We are asking that you please donate $5 gift cards, to any establishment of your choice, from now until April 29. If you are able to donate, please drop off gift cards to our Main Office. We appreciate your support in celebrating the amazing work our teachers are doing this year.

Proctors for IB Exams Needed! Calling all volunteers! The IB exams will be held April 28 - May20 and we are in need of assistance to proctor the exams. Volunteers are needed to walk around the testing room and monitor students. No special training is needed. Each testing room will have at least one experienced proctor that will be in charge of administering the test. We just need additional adult supervision. Dress casually with comfortable shoes! Check out this Sign Up Genius to volunteer. Questions? Please email Linda Bradshaw, IB DP Coordinator at lmbradshaw@fcps.edu.

All Night Grad Party - Volunteers Needed! The success of the All Night Grad Party on June 2 depends on parents of all grades helping out! It is truly a memorable night that you won’t want to miss. There are time slots available to accommodate any schedule, but the true magic does happen overnight. Don’t miss out on supporting our Grads! Sign-up to volunteer today. Don’t miss out on supporting our Grads!

Important Information

IB Exam Early Release/Late Arrival Study Forms: IB Exams run from April 28-May 20. Students that are testing can request early release or late arrival on the days they take IB exams.  The early release/late arrival form can be picked up outside the IB office or at the attendance office. The testing schedule with room locations and start times can be found on the AHS website, student portal, posted in the library and outside student services. If you have any questions, please email Linda Bradshaw, IB DP Coordinator at lmbradshaw@fcps.edu.

Class of 2022 News: We are less than two months away from graduation and we wanted to share important information and dates that will assist seniors, parents and community members in preparing and planning for the end of the school year. Check out the latest information on the Senior Page of the Student Portal (must be logged in to student's FCPS Google account).

Report Cards Distributed Last Week: Report cards were distributed to students on Thursday last week. All parents/guardians of students who have registered for a SIS ParentVUE Account and have a primary email address recorded in SIS ParentVUE can receive Weekly Progress Reports via email. This report provides a summary of your student(s) grades for the current quarter. Follow the steps outlined here to activate the Weekly Progress Report. 

For questions about a specific progress report or grade you can login into your SIS ParentVUE Account to find detailed grade book information. Additionally, your student’s teacher is always the best resource to answer any grade book questions that you may have. Weekly Progress Report Parent Quick Reference Guide.

Northern Virginia Community College Offering Free Classes for Graduating Seniors: Qualified seniors graduating this spring who are considering coming to Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) after high school may take one 3-credit course and NOVA’s 1-credit College Success Skills course, SDV 100, at no tuition, as part of the JumpStart2NOVA program. Since these classes are all online, students will need access to a computer and the Internet.

The application is now open and will close at 5:00pm on April 29. All students will be required to upload a high school transcript and any qualifying test scores if they do not have a 3.0 grade point average. Courses begin May 31 and end August 8. More information about JumpStart2NOVA, including course offerings, materials, and details on how to apply, is available online.

Academic Support

Tutor.com Now Available For All Students:We are pleased to announce that students now have unlimited access to online tutoring support services through Tutor.com at no cost to families. Tutor.com is available 24/7, through online voice or text chat, and in your student’s preferred language. Student participation is optional and parents/guardians can opt their students out of accessing the service. You can learn more about Tutor.com on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services website.

Students will be able to access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology and will help many FCPS students complete assignments, better understand classroom lessons, and be successful. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following  secondary instructional video. Questions not answered in the posted resources may be sent to onlinetutoring@fcps.edu. 

Super Saturday SOL Preparation: 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. Math, English and Science teachers will work with students from 8:00-11:00am. Students will receive breakfast and lunch, and transportation will be provided. Teachers have begun sending invitations to students and families to participate in Super Saturday. If you have any questions, please reach out to your student’s teacher(s).

AWC’s History Workshop This Week: The Atoms Writing Center is holding a History/DBQ Workshop to help students with OCPVL analysis skills and to help students earn their verified credit for history. The workshop will be offered during PRIDE Time on April 18 and 20 in Clausen Hall and after school on April 24 in Room 274. If you'd like to attend, talk to your history teacher about PRIDE Time or plan to come to the after school session.

Awesome Atoms!

Amir Abu-El-Hawa, Staff Aide to Fairfax County Chairman Jeff McKay, Visits AHS: On Friday, Amir Abu-El-Hawa, Staff Aide to Fairfax County Chairman Jeff McKay and AHS Class of 2005, visited Annandale High School. During his visit, Mr. Abu-El-Hawa toured the building, visited with one of his former teachers. After the visit, Mr. Abu-El-Hawa expressed his gratitude and shared how wonderful it was to visit his alma mater and hear and see all the things we have been doing to serve our students.

Congratulations, Jae Lee, Special Education Teacher! Congratulations to Jae Lee for his acceptance into the Accelerated Certification Cohort (ACC). The AAC enrolls motivated and experienced FCPS educators to work toward a Virginia endorsement in Educational Administration and Supervision. This highly competitive program is managed in collaboration with the University of Virginia, and licensure is granted by the Virginia Department of Education based on successful completion of this one year, non-credit university experience. 

Annie Ray Featured in “FCPS This Week e-Newsletter”: Check out Annie Ray, who was featured in this week’s FCPS Newsletter. Here is the overview: It's Never Too Late: Parent Orchestra Teaches New Skills and Brings Families Closer. The Parent Orchestra is the brainchild of Annandale High School orchestra teacher Annie Ray, who started the group four years ago. It’s grown every year, and it’s now so popular there’s a waitlist to join. The idea is to give parents an experience that will help them relate to their children's musical schoolwork and experience. Watch the video.

Opportunities

AWC’s 3rd Quarter Newsletter: The Atoms Writing Center’s 3rd quarter newsletter is now available to read! The AWC held over 120 writing tutoring conferences this quarter. Read the newsletter to learn about how the AWC served the AHS community this quarter and what opportunities are available for students to get help with their writing.

All Night Grad Celebration - Purchase Tickets Today!: Annandale High School’s All Night Grad Celebration is June 2 from 11:00pm-5:00am at Audrey Moore Rec Center! The hottest ticket in town is $10 OFF right now with the March Madness Sale. Order online, or pick up the ticket form in the office.  Order tickets here. Questions? Contact Alyssa Getsey at 703.256.8069 or via email at getsey@verizon.net.

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.

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 6:00pm 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.

Fall 2022 Sports Tryout Dates: Mark your calendars for Fall 2022 sports tryout dates. Golf tryouts begin on Thursday, July 28 and all other fall sports (football, cheer, field hockey, cross-country, volleyball) will begin on Monday, August 1.

This Week's Events:

Monday, April 18

AWC - History Workshop - 10:20 - 11:15am - Lecture Hall

Girls' Who Code - 3:00 - 4:00pm - Room 223

Boys' Tennis at Jefferson - 4:00pm

Girls' Tennis vs. Jefferson - 4:00pm

Girls' Soccer vs. Meridian - 5:45/7:15pm

Boys' Soccer at Meridian - 5:30/7:00pm

Tuesday, April 19

Girls' Tennis at Lewis - 4:00pm

Boys' Tennis vs. Lewis - 4:00pm

Girls' Lacrosse vs. Falls Church - 6:00/7:30pm

Boys' Lacrosse at Falls Church - 5:45/7:15pm

JV Baseball at Lewis - 6:30pm

Varsity Softball vs. Lewis - 6:30pm

Wednesday, April 20

AWC - History Workshop - 10:20 - 11:15am - Lecture Hall

AA LEAD - 3:00 - 4:00pm - Bistro

Atoms Scholar Program - 3:00 - 4:00pm - Library

Atoms Writing Center - 3:00 - 4:00pm - Room 274

FBLA - 3:00 - 4:00pm - Room 271

National Art Honor Society - 3:00 - 4:30pm - Room 148

National French Honor Society - 3:00 - 3:30pm - Room M-18

Outdoor Track and Field at Hayfield - 5:15pm

Thursday, April 21

AVID - College Application Workshop - 3:00 - 4:00pm - Room 90

AWC - History Workshop - 2:45 - 3:45pm - Room 274

Girls' Tennis at Hayfield - 4:00pm

Boys' Tennis vs. Hayfield - 4:00pm

Girls' Lacrosse at Justice - 6:00/7:30pm

Boys' Lacrosse vs. Justice - 5:45/7:15pm

JV Baseball at Hayfield - 6:00pm

Varsity Baseball vs. Hayfield - 6:30pm - Autism Awareness Night

Varsity Softball vs. Hayfield - 6:30pm - Autism Awareness Night

Friday, April 22

No Events

Saturday, April 23

No Events

News from the PTSA

2022-2023 PTSA Board Nominations Now Being Accepted: If you are interested in joining the PTSA Board or know someone you think might be interested, please contact any member of the nomination committee Tammy Murphy. Nominations are being accepted for all Board positions: President, Vice President - Membership Chair, Vice President - Programs Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary. Please respond before Tuesday, April 19. Plan to attend the April 19 (introductions) and May 17 (voting) meetings. For more information on the positions and responsibilities please see page nine (Duties of Officers) of our AHS PTSA Bylaws.

Next PTSA Meeting - April 19: The next PTSA Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 19 at 7:00pm in the Library. Participants can also join virtually using this link. Meetings are held in Spanish and English. Also, if you have not done so already, please consider joining the PTSA by filling out the online 2021–2022 Membership Form. For more information about membership, visit our Membership page.

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.