Dear Atom Nation,

I hope you’ve enjoyed your long weekend!

Last week our counselors visited their 9th grade advisory periods to support students as they transition to high school. They talked to students about graduation requirements, the importance of grades and attendance, and how they can get engaged in the Annandale community. 

Beginning September 7, we open the opportunity for students to begin requesting schedule changes. Our students will be asked to complete a Google form to make the request. Schedule changes may not be accommodated because of scheduling constraints and full courses, so it is important for students to continue working and participating in their classes. Please see all the details of the schedule change process below in the Important Information section. 

Erik Healey

Director of Student Services

Important Dates

September 7 - Deadline for SAT School Day Intent Form (Seniors)

September 8 - College Application Workshop: Common App

September 14, 16 & 20 - Senior Orientation 

October 12 - SAT School Day Exam

October 12 - PSAT/NMSQT Exam

October 16 - FCPS College Fair

October 17 - 20 - FCPS Virtual Post-Secondary Week

October 19 - Alcanza! College Fair

September 7 - SAT School Day Intent Form: On Wednesday, October 12, Annandale High School twelfth 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. The essay option and subject area tests are not available during SAT School Day. 

To reserve a seat for your twelfth grader to take this exam and ensure appropriate test materials are available for your student, families are asked to complete the form below by Wednesday, September 7. Your student will need to use an @fcpsschools.net email account to access and complete this form.  A translated version of the form content may be found on the SAT School Day Intent Form webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/43896).

Click this link: Annandale High School: 2022 SAT School Day Intent to Participate Form

September 8 - College Application Workshop: Thursday’s after school throughout the year our Student Services team, in partnership with our AVID program, will review a critical topic related to preparing for college. This week’s topic will be about navigating the Common App portal; completing your portion of the application; and inviting your Counselor and Teachers.

September 14, 16 & 20 - Senior Orientation: Over these three days, counselors will visit senior W4 classes to discuss post-secondary plans and the college application process. Counselors will provide strategies and resources for students to use as they plan for their lives after Annandale. 

October 12 - PSAT/NMSQT (Grades 10 and 11): On Wednesday, October 12, Annandale High School will host 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. 

October 16 - 2022 FCPS College Fair: FCPS along with the Office of Admissions at George Mason University presents the 47th Annual College Fair at Eagle Bank Arena. For more details and registration information, visit https://www.fcps.edu/resources/college-and-career-planning/college-fair-and-college-night

October 17 to 20 - FCPS Virtual Postsecondary Week: Join synchronous sessions from 5:00-8:00pm. Learn how to better be prepared for the next chapter of your educational journey. Registration will soon be available at: https://bit.ly/fcpspostsecondary

October 19 - ¡ALCANZA! College Fair - George Mason University: George Mason University will be hosting the Annual ALCANZA College Fair! Over 150 colleges from all over the nation attend ALCANZA as part of an effort to inform the Latinx high school population in the Washington, DC metropolitan area about their higher educational opportunities, and to encourage and motivate them to pursue their education beyond high school. The students in attendance hear from a keynote speaker and college student panel, before having the opportunity to participate in the college fair. If you have additional questions about signing up for ALCANZA please contact Jessica Benitez. More information to come.

Important Information

Academy Students: When returning from their Travel Period, students taking Academy courses should report to the Auditorium during the lunch block (R5/W6). During all other periods, Academy Students returning to school should report to T-11. Students should be in their designated location during their Travel Periods. If students have a class after returning from the Academy, they should report to the Attendance Office for a pass to class. 

Course Change Process: Our counselors have been working on schedule changes involving course errors and requests to take more challenging courses. This week, we will open the opportunity for students to request additional course changes. The AHS Course Change Request Form is used to process requests in a consistent and equitable manner while ensuring we are organized in our responses. The form will be available to students from September 7-14. 

Given the complexity of scheduling, schedule changes may not be accommodated if the requested course is full. Our counselors will consider course changes based on the following priority:

1. Course Errors
2. Academic Course Changes
3. Elective Course Changes 

If the requested course change involves changing a student’s diploma type or dropping an Honors/IB course, parent/guardian permission is required. Counselors will begin communicating with students about schedule changes on Monday, September 12th. If you have any questions about the course change process, please contact your counselor.

Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications Now Available: Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications are now available.  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. Visit the FCPS Free and Reduced-Price Meals website for more information.

ParentVue Accounts: ParentVue is how parents/guardians can access information about your student’s attendance, class performance, and more. We encourage all parents/guardians to have a ParentVue account to stay connected with your student’s courses. If you need to activate your ParentVue account please visit the Parent Account Registration page.

Senior Highlights

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.

College & Career Corner

College & Career Planning Google Site: We are pleased to announce the new and improved AHS College & Career Planning Google site! The website provides up-to-date information on the college application process; college representative visits; financial aid and FAFSA/VASA workshops; military options; information on apprenticeships; as well as resources for finding a job. The website also provides contact information for our School Counselors, as well as our College and Career Specialist. https://tinyurl.com/AHS-CollegeCareer

College Rep Visits: Admission representatives will be visiting AHS from September to November. To view the full list of scheduled visits and to reserve your spot (required), go to https://tinyurl.com/AHS-CollegeVisits. This list will be updated periodically, so be sure to check back for added visits. Prior to a visit, please ask your teacher for permission to leave class. Upcoming College Rep Visits for the first two weeks in September are listed below. Space is limited so register for a visit at least 24 hours in advance.

Thursday College Application Workshops: Every Thursday from 3:00 - 4:00pm in Room 90 (near the Cafeteria), Counselors and AVID students will be assisting students with various topics: Making a College List; Transcript Request Form; Common App; Recommendation Requests. These topics will be repeated, starting September 23. Students are welcome to drop in with questions about any aspect of the process.