Annandale Community Insider - July 24

Annandale Students, Parents and Community:

Greetings from Bayport, New York, where I am with the families of my wife’s brother and sister. We are enjoying swimming, boating, tubing, and boogie-boarding. I am also pleased to report that we have avoided any shark encounters. 

At the end of June, I attended and presented at the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (VASSP) Annual Conference in Richmond. The theme of the conference was how schools are supporting students post pandemic. As part of the keynote address, Governor Youngkin and Virginia Secretary of Education, Aimee Guidera, shared their plans for supporting school divisions through the tremendous challenges of meeting students’ needs.

I was proud to share the ways Annandale successfully supported students this past school year through our unrelenting focus on our priorities: relationships & support, high quality instruction, and strong collaboration. In a series of school years like no other, it would have been easy for us to be distracted from these priorities. Instead, we worked together to ensure we were supporting both the social and emotional and academic needs of all students. We built systems and structures such as PRIDE Time and our After School Academic Program (ASAP), where we identified students who needed targeted academic intervention and provided them additional support. Our Advisory period, or W4, was a space where teachers and students could connect in small classes through social and emotional learning and check-in conversations. 

While the VDOE will release the school accountability data beginning in August, our preliminary results show that our students have made significant growth. In fact, we even exceeded SOL pre-pandemic pass rates in a number of areas and our level 1 and 2 ESOL students made more growth this year on WiDA than in any year previous. To say I am proud of our success is an understatement. Our staff, families and community working together to meet the needs of our students makes a big difference - thank you for all you do to support us in our efforts. 

In the coming weeks, I will share how we will continue to improve our approach as we look to the 2022-23 school year. Continue having a great summer.

As always, please reach out with questions and Go Atoms!

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

July 28 - Fall Sports Preview Night (Virtual)

August 1 - Fall Sports Begin

August 1 - Band Camp Begins

August 5-7 - Virginia’s Sales Tax Holiday

August 12 - First Day Back for Teachers

August 18 - Student Schedules Available in SIS StudentVue and ParentVue

August 18 - New Student Orientation/Open House

August 22 - First Day of School for Students

September 2 and 5 - No School (Labor Day Holiday)

September 26 - Teacher Workday

September 29 - Back to School Night 2022

October 5 - No School (Yom Kippur)

October 10 - Staff Development Day

October 17-21 - Homecoming Week

October 22 - Homecoming Dance

Fall Sports Preview Night (Virtual) - July 28: On Thursday, July 28, the Annandale Activities Office will host a virtual fall sports preview night from 6:30 - 7:30pm via Zoom. This will be an informal opportunity to ask questions about the try-out process and the upcoming season. If interested in attending, the link for the Zoom will be posted on the activities website (annandaleatoms.net) on Thursday. If you have any questions, please email Brandon Sutphin, our new DSA at basutphin@fcps.edu.

Fall Sports Begin - August 1: Fall sports, which include Cheer, Cross-country, Football, Golf, Field Hockey, Volleyball will begin on Monday, August 1. No experience is necessary. All are welcome! All students need to complete a VHSL physical form and register online to play. Here is the link to the physical form that must be completed by a doctor. To register online, click here. Directions can be found here - English and Spanish. Once you have completed the Physical Form, turn in the form at the Activities Office inside Door 10. The office is open every day from 9:00am-2:00pm. See more information in the Activities Office section of this newsletter. Questions, email Bryan Harris at bcharris@fcps.edu. 

Band Camp - August 1: The Marching Atoms band camp begins on August 1 from 9:00am to 6:00pm. Students should enter at Door 2 on the first day of band camp. All students participating in band camp must have a completed VHSL physical. For more information, visit the new Annandale Bands website or email our Director of Bands, Tyron Barnes, at tcbarnes@fcps.edu. 

Band Camp is vital to our students’ success this fall - they learn the music, how to march, and come together as a team. We are seeking your assistance to ensure a successful student experience. Check out this SignUpGenius link to learn more and sign up today!

Virginia’s Sales Tax Holiday - August 5-7: Virginia’s three-day sales tax holiday is Friday, August 5 - Sunday, August 7. During the sales tax holiday, you can buy qualifying school supplies, clothing, footwear, hurricane and emergency preparedness items, and Energy Star and WaterSense products without paying sales tax. For more information on eligible items, visit Virginia’s Sales Tax Holiday webpage. 

Student Schedules Available - August 18: Beginning Thursday, August 18 at 6:00am, all students and parents will have access to class schedules in SIS StudentVUE and ParentVUE. SIS (Student Information System) is the application to see attendance, class performance, and demographic data.

Freshmen (Grade 9) and New Student Orientation - August 18: Annandale High School is excited to welcome rising freshmen as well as new students to our school orientation on August 18 from 1:30-3:30pm. Students and parents will meet administrators, counselors, teachers, and other essential school personnel and have an opportunity to explore the school building and learn more about student life at Annandale. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Sarah Eqab at seqab@fcps.edu.

Open House - August 18: We would like to invite all Annandale students and their families to our Open House on August 18 from 3:30-4:30. The Open House provides students an opportunity to walk through our halls and find their classes for next year. There is no formal program during this time, but rather an informal chance to get reacquainted with AHS. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Sarah Eqab at seqab@fcps.edu.

Awesome Atoms!

IB Students Graduate from the Diploma Program with Honors: Congratulations to our IB Diploma Class of 2022 as 40 of our seniors earned the prestigious IB Diploma. The diploma candidates had a 100% pass rate on their Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and Service requirements. We earned our highest ever number of A’s and B’s in our Extended essays (4,000 word research papers) in the following subjects: English, Business, Global Politics, History, Anthropology, and Visual Arts. 

Four subjects earned scores that beat the world average which include Spanish, French, Arabic and Film. IB scores range from 1 to 7 with 7 being the highest. This year we had scores of 7 in the following subjects: Literature, Arabic, Spanish, French, Geography, Math Applications and Math Analysis. Kudos to the students for all their hard work and the dedication of our talented IB teachers!

At Annandale, 485 students took 1,443 exams and IB scores were released on July 6. Information on how to obtain IB scores was mailed to students in May. Results can be found at https://candidates.ibo.org. Graduates that filled out the Senior Survey will have an IB transcript sent to the college that was listed in the survey.  Please reach out to Linda Bradshaw, IB Diploma coordinator, at Linda.Bradshaw@fcps.edu if you need login information or have questions.

English Language Learners’ Growth Surpassed Pre-Pandemic Rates! English Learners at Annandale made tremendous growth this school year, as measured on the WIDA Assessment, the state-mandated test for English Language Learners. Over 71% of our ELs made some language growth which is an increase prior to COVID of 68%. In addition, the percentage of English Learners who reached the state benchmark for required growth nearly doubled from pre-pandemic rates, to reach 60%. As a school, we have done a lot of great work collectively supporting our students. Huge shout out to our ESOL department for all their advocacy and continued support of our ELs and their language development needs, and to Sarah Eqab for leading the department in this work.

Class of 2012 Celebrates 10 Year Reunion: The Annandale Class of 2012 recently celebrated their 10 year high school reunion. Many of those who gathered have known each other since middle school. Classmates reported that they got back together “without skipping a beat.” Plans are already underway for the 20 year reunion.

Welcome Vinicio Perla, New School Counselor! Vinicio is joining us from Harpers Ferry Middle School, where he spent the past two years as a school counselor. He led the Hispanic Student Association and the Student Assistance Team. In addition, he also organized and led Career Week and conducted Life Skills observations. Vinicio received his Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Master’s degree in School Counseling from George Mason University. While attending GMU, he worked in the Winslab, supporting several projects that focused on child and adolescent development in relation to academic success. He is excited to now be a part of Atom Nation looking forward to fostering a safe and welcoming environment to all staff and students.

Welcome Tonya Lathom, New School Counselor! Tonya is joining us from Fairfax County Adult High School where she worked as an Assessment Coach last year. However, she began her career in education as a social studies teacher in Arlington. Her students convinced her to become a school counselor and after completing that degree, she began working for Fairfax County Public Schools. Although she has worked at several different high schools, she is passionate about working with ELs and even added an ESOL endorsement to her teaching license. Tonya is very excited about joining the MTSS team at Annandale as a school counselor and is looking forward to building strong, positive relationships with both students and staff.

News from the Activities Office

Check out important information from the Activities Office in their latest newsletter. In addition, you can visit the Annandale High School Athletics and Activities website and the AHS Athletics Twitter page. Please email Brandon Sutphin, our new DSA at basutphin@fcps.edu if you have any questions.

Fall Sports Physicals and Registration: To participate in a fall sport, students need to complete a VHSL physical form and register online. Here is the link to the physical form that must be completed by a doctor. To register online, click here. Directions can be found here - English and Spanish. Once you have completed the Physical Form, turn in the form at the Activities Office. The office is open every day from 9:00am-2:00pm. See more information in the Activities Office section of this newsletter. Questions, email Bryan Harris at bcharris@fcps.edu.

For last minute physicals, visit local CVS minute clinics and urgent care facilities below.

CVS Minute Clinic Locations 

• 3921 Prosperity Ave, Fairfax, VA 
• 7205 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA

Progressive Urgent and Primary Care

• 7306 Maple Pl, Annandale, VA

Fall Sports Preview Night - July 28: On Thursday, July 28, the Annandale Activities Office will host a virtual fall sports preview night from 6:30 - 7:30pm via Zoom. This will be an informal opportunity to ask questions about the try-out process and the upcoming season. If interested in attending, the link for the Zoom will be posted on the activities website (annandaleatoms.net) on Thursday. If you have any questions, please email Brandon Sutphin, our new DSA at basutphin@fcps.edu.

Annandale's Fall Sports Programs Begin on August 1: Below is contact information and the first week of fall sports schedule. If you have any questions, please reach out directly to the coach of that sport.

Band: Tyron Barnes - tcbarnes@fcps.edu

Cheer: Victoria Douglas - vcdouglas@fcps.edu

Cross Country (boys): Carl Klein - ctklein@fcps.edu

Cross Country (girls): Phil Harris - pcharris@fcps.edu

Golf: Keely Norris - kcnorris@fcps.edu

Field Hockey: Corin Inderbitzen Uviedo - cuviedo@fcps.edu

Varsity/JV Football: Mike Scott - msscott@fcps.edu

Freshmen Football: Bill Maglisceau - wrmaglisceau@fcps.edu

Varsity/JV/Freshmen Volleyball: AJ Witkofsky - ajwitkofsky@fcps.edu

Important Information

Summer Office Hours: Annandale High School will be open from 8:00am-2:00pm through July 29. Registrations are by appointment only. Please contact Nicole Salgado Lopez at nasalgadolop@fcps.edu to schedule an appointment.

Class of 2023 Meningococcal Vaccine Reminder: The Code of Virginia requires all students to be immunized against certain communicable diseases prior to entrance into one of its schools. All students in grade 12 are required to have been immunized with one dose of the Meningococcal Vaccine given at the age of 16 or older. Please review the immunization requirements here. Proof of immunization must be submitted to the school. These documents need to be returned prior to the start of the 2022-23 school year. For more information on this requirement, visit this FCPS website.

Free Vaccine Clinics: The Fairfax County Health Department will host on-site school vaccine clinics that offer three (3) required immunizations: Meningococcal (MenACWY), Tdap, and HPV. Note: The Meningococcal vaccine is required for grade 12 students. The clinics are walk-in, no appointment necessary. See below for more information:

Poe MS: Wednesday, August 3 - 2:00-7:00pm

Stone MS: Friday, August 5 - 2:00-7:00pm 

Jackson MS: Tuesday, August 9 - 2:00-7:00pm 

Whitman MS: Thursday, August 11 - 2:00-7:00pm 

South County MS: Wednesday, August 17 - 2:00-7:00pm

Herndon MS: Friday, August 19 - 2:00-7:00pm

Summer Resources: Looking for ways for students stay active and learning this summer, or for health and safety resources when school is closed? Visit FCPS' Summer Resources page, which will be updated throughout the summer months, including Summer Learning, Enrichment, and Camps, click here.

Summer Meal Service: Summer meal kits will be offered on Tuesdays at several sites through August 9. Meal kits contain seven days of breakfast and lunch items packed in bulk. All meals are available at no-cost to FCPS students and children, 18 years of age and under. Pick up locations and times have recently been updated. Visit our Meals for Students website for more details. 

Mental Wellness Consultations: This summer, the FCPS Office of Intervention and Prevention Services will offer virtual Mental Wellness Consultations now through August 5. Parents and students have an opportunity to schedule a 45-minute consultation with a school psychologist or school social worker by phone or videoconference. Consultations will be offered in two ways:

1. Directly to parents of students in any grade level. This consultation provides an opportunity for parents to receive guidance on how to support their child’s social, emotional, behavioral, and academic success.  Information about community resources will also be provided.
2. Directly to students in middle or high school. This consultation provides an opportunity for middle and high school students to receive guidance and support for concerns related to anxiety, mood, behavior, peer or family interactions, or school transitions and changes.  Strategies and tools can also be provided to address academic challenges such as organization and time-management.

All parents and secondary students are encouraged to take advantage of this service by clicking here to request a consultation. You may also leave us a message at 703-503-2520.

Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications: For the 2022-23 school year, families will need to submit an application and be approved to be eligible for Free and Reduced-Price Meals. Interested families are encouraged to submit the Free and Reduced-Price Meal application ten days prior to the first day of the 2022-23 school year. The online application will be available later this summer and accessible via the FCPS homepage. 

Students approved for Free and Reduced-Price Meals may qualify for additional benefits such as waived or reduced fees for instruments, uniforms, field trips, FCPS class fees, and Parktakes classes. Schools also benefit from funding opportunities based on Free and Reduced Price Meal application numbers. Watch your email and our website for more information. Learn more about the Free and Reduced-Price Meal program online.

Tutor.com Available All Summer: FCPS students will continue to have unlimited access to 24/7, on-demand, online tutoring support services through Tutor.com during the summer of 2022. Students are able to use Tutor.com during the summer to review and/or practice in subject areas of interest or need. Students may also choose to access other tools/services such as practice quizzes in a variety of subject areas, as well as self-paced study courses for SAT/ACT preparation. Check out the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services website for more information. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following secondary instructional video.

News from the PTSA

Pantry Summer Distribution Hours: The PTSA sponsored AHS Pantry distributes food to AHS students and families in need. In the past 6 months (December through May) we have served 516 families which equates to 2410 individuals. 

We are trying something new this summer. In addition to three standard distributions, we are holding pop up farmers markets on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer in the parking lot near the pantry. Fresh produce that is gleaned from the Mosaic Farmers Market in Partnership with Food Rescue. Email questions about the pantry to pantry@annandalehsptsa.org.