Annandale Students, Parents and Community:
I hope you were able to take advantage of the beautiful weather this weekend. Mine consisted of much of the same as previous weekends: yardwork, softball, baseball and Costco. I also watched two good movies starring Zoe Kravitz, The Batman and Kimi.
Over the past several years, we have been responding to challenges, all the while learning and growing as a school community. During this time we have articulated our common mindset commitments, and identified our priorities of relationships and support, high quality instruction, and strong collaboration. Along the way, we have been monitoring our growth with opportunities for our staff such as Instructional Rounds, and Shadow a Student. When our leadership groups processed the results from these opportunities, our priorities were clearly evident throughout our building. At the same time, we learned that we must continue to support our students’ access to high level thinking and collaboration, and this informed our instructional focus for next year.
To reflect on this journey with an eye towards our continued growth, Annandale faculty will be coming together on Tuesday to begin work on updating our school vision. As Timothy Kanold writes in his book The Five Disciplines of PLC Leaders, “Vision describes how good we can become, and paints a picture of what it will look like when we get there.” I often share with our staff that it’s okay to be where we are but it’s not okay to stay there. We are doing incredible work, and now we are ready to envision where we are headed.
We also believe that our vision must reflect the ideas of our students, families and community. In Friday’s W4 lesson, students had an opportunity to share their thoughts about what makes an ideal school. We would like to invite you to be a part of this work by sharing your idea of an ideal school in this form. Thank you for your input!
Have a great week. As always, please reach out with any questions.
Shawn DeRose, Principal
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Important Dates
April 25 - SOL Testing Begins
April 25 - 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 7 - Super Saturday (Biology, Geosystems)
May 16 - Band Concert
May 17 - PTSA Meeting
April 27 - Junior Parent Night, 6:30pm: Please join Annandale Student Services and guest speakers, for this virtual event. Find out what your 11 grader 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 on Monday, April 25.
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.
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Community/Parent Assistance Needed. Get Involved Today!
As we approach the end of the year, we need your continued support. Specifically, we need volunteers to assist with proctoring IB exams, gift card donations for Teacher Appreciation Week and chaperones at Prom and our All Night Grad Party. See below for detailed information.
Proctors for IB Exams Needed! The IB exams will be held April 28-May 20 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.
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 for 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.
Chaperone Prom: The Class of 2022 is seeking parent volunteers to chaperone Prom. Annandale’s Prom is on Friday, May 20 from 8pm - 11pm at the Torpedo Factory, 105 N Union St, Alexandria, VA. This is a great time to celebrate the Class of 2022 in a fun location! Please use this link to sign up to be a chaperone at the funnest event of the year! Email Nicole Ferree at tnferree1@fcps.edu with questions.
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!
All Night Grad Party Online Auction Is Live! 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
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SOL/IB Testing Calendar 2022
Important Information
Say Thank You! to Your Favorite Teacher: The first week of May is Teacher Appreciation Week. This year, you can submit a recorded message thanking and celebrating Annandale’s amazing teachers and staff. Please submit your recording (up to 60 seconds) by noon on Wednesday, April 27.
Your video message may be selected to share with our teachers and community on the FCPS website and social media channels throughout Teacher Appreciation Week. Surprising our teachers and staff with these messages of gratitude and support is part of the fun so keep your contribution under wraps until May. More information and a submission form are available online. Please be aware, the submission form requires a Google account. If you do not have a Google account and wish to be part of the celebration, share your messages on social media and tag us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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 a month and a half 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 your FCPS Google account) or on the Annandale Website's Class of 2022 Page.
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.
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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.
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. If you have any questions, please contact Brian Yeagley, College and Career Center Specialist at byeagley@fcps.edu.
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.
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 on Saturday April 30 (Math) and May 7 (Science). 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).
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Awesome Atoms!
National Business Honor Society Inducts New Members: New members of the National Business Honor Society were inducted earlier this month. Business teacher Dayton Henceroth spoke at the ceremony, sharing his extensive knowledge of building relationships in the business world in connection to the relationships and skills the students have grown here at Annandale. Thank you to our Business teachers Mrs. Howard and Jerry Dwyer, Ms. Needham, Ms. Consumano for supporting these students, and congratulations to the new members of NBHS who maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher in 3 or more business classes!
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AHS Hosts Fifth Annual ESOL Transition Program for Rising 8th Grade: Students: ESOL students form Holmes participated in a panel discussion, toured the school, sat in on classes, met teachers, and overall had a great day. The experience ended with students enjoying handmade cookies from our AHS culinary program. Thanks to everyone who supported our program.
AHS Students Recognized at Edison Academy: Annandale students were recently recognized at Edison Academy for their scholarship and achievement. Dilan Honor Perez earned Student of the Quarter in Cyber Network Administration, and Osmin Leon Patzan received the Achievement Award for HVACR-1. Please congratulate them on their accomplishment when you see them. A photo album of all Third Quarter Award Winners can be found on Edison Academy’s Facebook page.
Senior Breakfast A Huge Success: Special thanks to the new Annandale Chick-fil-A for donating chicken breakfast biscuits and our senior parents for volunteering or donating. Shout out to senior parents Julie Strandlie and Tammy Murphy for leading the event.
Super Saturday (Geometry, Alg 2, English): On Saturday, we hosted our first of three Super Saturdays, when students scheduled to take the Geometry, Algebra 2, or Reading SOLs this week received additional support. Thank you to students who were able to attend on a Saturday, to our Math and English teachers for supporting students, and to our admin, coaches, and other staff for coordinating breakfast, lunch, transportation, and other logistics.
Autism Awareness Night Bring AHS Community Together: One of the highlight from this past week was Autism Awareness Night at our varsity baseball and softball games. Robert Williams and Kevin Jaramillo threw out the first pitch before the games started. It was a wonderful night as the community came together to celebrate Robert, Kevin and the rest of our students.
Future Business Leaders of America Place in Regional Competition: Several Annandale Students earned gold, silver, and bronze medals at the regional FBLA competition. Five students went on to compete in the State Championship. Adnan Masri earned first place in the state for Data Analysis, 4 of the 5 students who competed in FBLA States qualified for nationals, placing 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place in their categories. Thank you to Stephanie Holt, for her support of all of FCPS Business students!
Opportunities
Applications open for Student Equity Ambassador Leader: Annandale High School is excited to select three students (one Senior, one Junior, and one Sophomore) to participate in the Student Equity Ambassador Leader (SEALS) Program for the 2022-2023 School Year. The Student Equity Ambassador Leaders (SEAL) is a leadership program that amplifies student voice and provides an increased understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion through leadership development, projects and relevant experiences.
Ideal candidates for this role possess passion for the work, strong leadership qualities, and the ability to think outside the box. SEALS will work with staff and students to inform the vision of our equity work going forward as we strive to foster a school culture of inclusiveness and a welcoming and culturally responsive environment for students, families, and staff. If you are interested in becoming a part of the AHS Student Equity Ambassador Leadership (SEAL) Program please submit your AHS SEAL Interest Form by Friday, May 6. Reach out to our Equity Leads, Brent Roberson or L@uren Husman with questions.
Annandale Step Team Tryouts - May 16-26: Do you love to dance? Want to represent Annandale High School through the arts while making lifetime bonds with other team members? Try out for the 2022-23 AHS Step Team! No experience necessary! Come out to our Pre-Tryout Interest Meetings for more information on Wednesday, May 4, or Wednesday, May 11 at 3:15 pm, in Room 326. Contact Mr. Roberson with questions.
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! Tickets are on sale now through May 30. You can order tickets here, or pick up the ticket form in the main office. Questions? Contact Alyssa Getsey at 703.256.8069 or via email at getsey@verizon.net.
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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:
- Go to www.NFHSnetwork.com.
- Search for (school name) and go to its page.
- 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 25
Girls' Who Code - 3:00-4:00pm - Room 223
Boys' Tennis at Jefferson - 4:00pm
Girls' Tennis vs. Jefferson - 4:00pm
Softball vs. Meridian - 6:30pm
Girls' Lacrosse vs. Jefferson - 6:00/7:30pm
Boys' Lacrosse at Jefferson - 5:45/7:15pm
Tuesday, April 26
Girls' Tennis vs. Falls Church at Jefferson District Park - 4:00pm
Boys' Tennis vs. Falls Church - 4:00pm
Girls' Soccer vs. Falls Church - 5:45/7:15pm
Boys' Soccer at Falls Church - 5:45/7:15pm
JV Baseball vs. Falls Church - 6:30pm
Varsity Baseball at Falls Church - 6:30pm
Varsity Softball at Falls Church - 6:30pm
Wednesday, April 27
AA LEAD - 3:00 - 4:00pm - Bistro
Atoms Scholar Program - 3:00-4:00pm - Library
Atoms Writing Center - 3:00-4:00pm - Room 274
National Art Honor Society - 3:00-4:30pm - Room 148
Boys' Tennis vs. Edison - 4:00pm
Outdoor Track and Field at Jefferson - 5:15pm
Thursday, April 28
AVID - College Application Workshop - 3:00-4:00pm - Room 90
Varsity Girls' Lacrosse at Mt. Vernon - 6:30pm
Boys' Lacrosse vs. Mt. Vernon - 5:45/7:15pm
Varsity Softball vs. Lewis - 6:30pm
Spring Musical - The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee - 7:00pm
Friday, April 29
Girls' Tennis vs. Justice - 4:00pm
Boys' Tennis vs. Justice at Mason District Park - 4:00pm
Girls' Soccer at Justice - 5:45/7:15pm
Boys' Soccer vs. Justice - 5:45/7:15pm
JV Baseball vs. Justice - 6:30pm
Varsity Baseball at Justice - 6:00pm
Varsity Softball at Justice - 6:00pm
Spring Musical - The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee - 7:00pm
Saturday, April 30
Outdoor Track Invitational at Chantilly - 8:30am
Spring Musical - The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee - 7:00pm
Sunday, May 1
Spring Musical - The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee - 3:00pm
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News from the PTSA
All Night Grad Party Online Auction Is Live! 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
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.
Purchase a ‘Congratulations! Graduate’ Yard Sign: The Annandale PTSA is selling ‘Congratulations! Graduate yard signs once again this year! Yard signs are $15 for pickup or $20 delivered to your yard. All proceeds help to fund the four (4) Annandale High School PTSA Scholarships. Stay tuned for more information on how to order online! Click here to order!
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