Annandale Students, Families, and Community:
During our Staff Return Week, we celebrated the tremendous successes we have achieved through our collaboration and a focus on our priorities. I also said that there is another level to our work. If we are going to become a good school for all students, we will need to continue to work to get better. As we enter week 5 of the 2022-23 school year, I can’t tell you how proud I am of that work and the ways we are getting better.
Football coach Nick Saban famously said, “It is not what you want, but what you are willing to do to get it.” At Annandale, our staff is willing to do what it takes to continue to get better for our students. Let me share a few examples with you. To start, many of our collaborative teams are looking at the instructional planning they did last year and finding ways to improve their lessons. Our World Languages teachers have created classroom libraries and are providing students the opportunity to read in the languages they are learning while also providing choice in their reading. And our English 9 team has collaboratively articulated their vision for instruction and are developing lessons that reflect what is foundational across all of their classes. These are just a few of the examples of the strong collaboration that allows our teams to ensure that all students have access to high quality instruction.
We are also getting better at the ways we support our students' social-emotional needs. I recently shared our updated vision: “Annandale High School is a community that finds strength in diversity, fosters belonging, and inspires lifelong learning.” One way we foster belonging at Annandale is by providing opportunities for students to connect with school beyond academics. Last week, during our W4 advisory period, our students attended the annual Clubs & Activities Fair on the stadium field. During this time, students got to learn about the many extracurricular activities, clubs, and sports we offer here at Annandale. I encourage you to talk with your student about what they may be interested in trying!
Finally, please save the date for our Back to School Night, on Thursday, September 29, from 6:00-8:00pm. Once again this year, the event will be held on our Stadium Field. More information will be shared in next week’s Insider.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions and Go Atoms!
Sincerely,
Shawn DeRose, Principal
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Important Dates
September 20 - PTSA Meeting
September 26 - Teacher Workday (No school for students)
September 29 - Back to School Night
October 5 - No School (Yom Kippur)
October 10 - Staff Development Day (Indigenous Peoples' Day)
October 11-14 - Homecoming Week
October 12 - PSAT/SAT Day
October 15 - Homecoming Dance
October 24 - No School (Diwali)
September 20, 7pm - PTSA Meeting: The first PTSA of the 2022-23 school year will be on Tuesday, September 20 at 7:00pm. Join us in the AHS Library or virtually! PTSA meetings are bilingual and Spanish translation is provided. Las reuniones de PTSA son bilingües y se proporciona traducción al español. Visit the Annandale PTSA website for more information.
September 26 - Rosh Hashanah (No School for Students): Monday, September 26, is a student holiday/professional work day for teachers. It is also Rosh Hashanah, the second day of the two-day celebration of the Jewish New Year. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
September 29 - Save The Date! Back to School Night: Join us for Back to School Night on Thursday, September 29, from 6:00-8:00pm! Similar to last year, this event will be held outdoors on our stadium field. This is an opportunity for families to interact with their student’s teachers in a meaningful way, and briefly discuss their student’s progress. Students are encouraged to attend with their families, and some translation services will be available. Be on the lookout for more information soon.
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FCPS Superintendent Attends AHS Field Hockey Game!
On Friday, FCPS Superintendent, Dr. Michelle Reid, attended our home field hockey game to watch the Atoms defeat Hayfield 2-0. Dr. Reid opened the game with the coin toss, and had an opportunity to address both teams. During the game, Dr. Reid visited with parents from both Annandale and Hayfield in the stands. She will return to Annandale on November 29 for her a Community Conversation with the Annandale Pyramid. These events offer a unique opportunity to help Dr. Reid get to know the FCPS community. Please view the schedule and register to attend.
Important Information
FCPS Parent Orchestra: The FCPS Parent Orchestra is beginning its fifth year and is open to all FCPS staff and parents who have a child enrolled in Orchestra or Strings! Classes meet twice a month on Thursdays at Annandale High School from 7:00-8:00pm. We have four levels of Orchestras for all ability levels - from those with no musical experience to those who played through high school! Simply show up with either your personal or your child’s instrument and be ready to learn and play! If you are an FCPS employee, we can provide you with an instrument to use. You can see our tentative class schedule and register here, and learn more about our program here.
World Languages Credit Exam: The 2022 World Languages Credit Exam will be administered on November 3, 9, and 10, 2022. Thirty (30) languages will be included: American Sign Language (ASL), Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Mandarin), Farsi, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Pashto, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Tigrinya, Turkish, Twi, Urdu, and Vietnamese. Registration opens on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. and closes on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted. School counselors will register students at their individual schools. Credit exam information can be accessed at on the FCPS website.
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Student Parking Passes Now Available: Parking applications may be picked up in the main office or room 114. Both the “Parking Agreement” and “Parking Application” forms must be completed. The parking fee is $200.00. Students must have a parking pass to park in AHS student parking spaces. If you have any questions, please email Phillip Taylor. Note: All financial obligations need to be cleared before you receive a parking permit.
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. To take advantage of those benefits, complete this form. 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.
Awesome Atoms!
Annie Ray, Orchestra Director, Publishes TEDx Talk: Last year, Orchestra Director Annie Ray delivered a TED Talk, “The Sound of Success,” at the TEDx event, Reverb, in Washington D.C. Annie’s talk has been published on the TED website. Check it out to see the incredible work she has done to make music accessible to all of our students!
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Special Olympics Unified Soccer: This past Friday, our Atoms Special Olympics Unified soccer team held its first practice of the year. We had the biggest turnout in program history at over 50+ athletes. The Annandale Inclusion Revolution is starting strong! We have Unified soccer tournaments on October 15 at Marshall HS and for the first time, Annandale is hosting a tournament on October 29. Please come out and support and contact Jae Lee with any questions. Go Atoms!
Activities Fair a Hugh Success! This past Monday, the students had an opportunity to visit with members of 55 of Annandale's clubs, organizations and athletic teams at the annual Activities Fair. Students were able to learn more about each organization, when they meet and how to join. This event will be followed up with our first ever Activities Day during W4/Pride Time on Monday, October 3. Be on the lookout for more information during an upcoming W4 Lesson.
Support Annandale Booster Organizations!
Gear up with Official Atoms Spiritwear: Gear up for another action-packed season with official Atoms gear. You can dress in team-spirited garb on game day and every day with the largest selection of Annandale Atoms apparel at the official Atoms Store. Cheer on your Atoms with t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and more. Our online Shop has items for any occasion. Visit spiritwear.atomsboosters.org to see the latest Atoms gear.
Join the Annandale PTSA! On behalf of the Annandale High School Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA), we would like to welcome you to the 2022–2023 school year. The key ingredient to our success is YOU. Please dare to make a difference, be better informed and join the PTSA today by filling out the online 2022–2023 Membership Form. For more information about membership, visit our Membership page.
Join the Atoms Athletic Boosters! Purchase an Athletic Pass! We need you as an Atoms fan in the stands cheering on our athletes, as well as behind the scenes as an athletics supporter. 100% of your Booster contributions support the many athletic programs, facilities, and athletes at AHS.
Cost: Student Pass - $30; Adult Pass - $60; Parking Pass - $30; Fan Pass - $25. For more information, visit the Boosters sight at www.atomsboosters.org.
The BENEFITS of purchasing an AHS Athletic Booster Membership/athletic passes include:
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SAVE MONEY! — Admission for free admission for Freshmen, Junior Varsity, and Varsity regular-season home athletic events (not valid for away games or postseason play).
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Ease and Convenience — Avoid the ticket line, just show your pass at the admissions gate; no need to carry cash.
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Support the Atoms — 100% of the money goes to AHS athletics. Normal gate fees are split between AHS and the opponent.
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News from Student Services
Check out the latest information from the Student Services Department in their weekly newsletter. The newsletter provides important information, important dates, news from the college & career center and class news.
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.
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.
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Univ of Mary Washington
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Mon, 9/19
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9:00AM
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Clausen Hall
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Randolph College
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Mon, 9/19
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12:30PM
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College & Career Center
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Trinity Washington Univ
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Tues, 9/20
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10:30AM
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College & Career Center
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Northwestern University
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Tues, 9/20
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12:30PM
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College & Career Center
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Longwood University
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Wed, 9/21
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9:30AM
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College & Career Center
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Ithaca College
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Wed, 9/21
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12:00PM
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College & Career Center
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Drexel University
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Wed, 9/21
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1:00PM
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College & Career Center
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New York University
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Thurs, 9/22
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10:30AM
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Clausen Hall
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Univ of Southern California
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Fri, 9/23
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10:00AM
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College & Career Center
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Virginia Tech
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Fri, 9/23
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11:30AM
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Clausen Hall
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News from the Activities Office
Check out the latest information from the Activities Office in their weekly newsletter. In addition, learn more about Annandale High School Athletics and Activities by visiting their website or the AHS Athletics Twitter page. Please email Brandon Sutphin if you have any questions.
This Week’s Schedule:
Monday, September 19
No Events
Tuesday, September 20
5/6/7:30pm - Fr/JV/V Volleyball vs Thomas Jefferson
6:00pm - JV Field Hockey @ Woodbridge
Wednesday, September 21
5/5:30pm - B/G Cross Country vs Thomas Jefferson at Burke Lake
6:00pm - JV Field Hockey vs Lewis
Thursday, September 22
5/6/7:15pm - Fr/JV/V Volleyball at Mt. Vernon
5:30/7:15pm - Fr/JV Football vs Lake Braddock
Friday, September 23
7:00pm - V Football at Lake Braddock
Saturday, September 24
8:00am - Boys Cross Country at Oatlands Farm
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News from the PTSA
Join the PTSA! On behalf of the Annandale High School Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA), we would like to welcome you to the 2022–2023 school year. The key ingredient to our success is YOU. Please dare to make a positive difference, be better informed and join your PTSA today by filling out the online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.
PTSA Meeting - September 20, 7:00pm: The first PTSA of the 2022-23 school year will be on Tuesday, September 20 at 7:00pm. Join us in the AHS Library or virtually! PTSA meetings are bilingual and Spanish translation is provided. Las reuniones de PTSA son bilingües y se proporciona traducción al español. Visit the Annandale PTSA website for more information.
Annandale PTSA Pantry Distribution - Volunteers Needed! The PTSA sponsored AHS Pantry distributes food to AHS students and families in need. This year, we will be distributing on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. See the schedule below. But, we need your help! Please consider volunteering to help on the distribution dates. Sign up here.
Pantry Distributions are in Trailer 8 behind school – schedule changes are in bold. Email Norma Foti, AHS PTSA Pantry Coordinator, at pantry@annandalehsptsa.org with questions.
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Donate to the Annandale PTSA Pantry: Donations are always welcome and tax deductible. To make a monetary donation, please click 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. See below for our wishlist. Contact Norma Foti, Pantry Coordinator at pantry@annandalehsptsa.org with questions.
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