Annandale Community Insider - January 1

Annandale Students, Families, and Community:

Happy New Year! I hope you are enjoying a restful and relaxing winter break with friends and family. 

The last two weeks provided me the opportunity to reflect on the many ways I am proud of students’ experiences at Annandale High School.  

Diversity - Researchers have documented that students’ exposure to those who are different from themselves, and the novel ideas and challenges that such exposure brings leads to improved cognitive skills, including critical thinking and problem solving. It is exciting to know that students at Annandale get to benefit from the diversity of our student body.  

Knowing Each Student By Name and By Need - Although Annandale serves over 2,100 students, teachers collaborate in teams using data to allow them to meet the needs of each and every student. When students are ready for new challenges, we know it and are ready to provide increasingly rigorous learning opportunities. Similarly, when students need extra support, teachers are able to provide scaffolds, allowing students to practice and relearn as soon as possible, so they can continue to be successful with grade-level standards. 

Teacher Collaboration - In many schools, the quality of instruction - and sometimes even what is taught - may vary depending on the individual teacher. At Annandale, our teachers collaborate at the highest level. They meet throughout the week to develop quality lesson plans together. This ensures high quality instruction in every classroom throughout the building.

Instructional Excellence - As a school, we know that nothing matters more for students’ learning than the rigor of the tasks they encounter. As a staff, we talk about the importance of ensuring students are reading, writing, thinking and discussing at a high level in every class, every day. In their classes, students are analyzing, evaluating, comparing, and predicting. By applying these high-level thinking skills on a daily basis, Annandale students are prepared for the complex world that they will encounter in the years after high school. 

Relationships and Support - Finally, but perhaps most importantly, Annanadle is a school that invests explicitly in communicating care and belonging to each and every one of our students and their families. Our staff provide a connected community when students step off the bus, walk through the doors, walk down the hall, and as they exit the building to head home. We take time to celebrate students’ accomplishments, both academically and with our Atoms Agreements of Empathy, Determination, and Safety. We know how important it is that students understand that we care about them and that they belong before they will learn. W4 SEL lessons, W4 Check-in and W4 Activities Day are just some of the many ways we show students that we care about the whole student, not just their academics

These are the many ways that we live our vision that Annandale High School is a community that finds strength in diversity, fosters belonging, and inspires lifelong learning. For all these reasons and more, we are incredibly proud of the experiences our students have at Annandale each and every day. Our staff is outstanding in their commitment to supporting our values and vision, and it is an honor to spend these four special years with our students.

Happy New Year and Go Atoms!

Sincerely, 

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

January 2 - New Year’s Day Observed (No School)

January 5 - IB Diploma Recognition Ceremony

January 9 - W4 Activities Day

January 11 - Electives Fair

January 11 - Rising 9th Grade Open House, 6-8pm

January 12 - Heritage Night Interest Meeting, 3:10pm

January 13 - W4 Check-ins Begin

January 16 - Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday (No School)

January 17 - PTSA Meeting

January 20-21 - Winter Musical, Firebringer 

January 25 - 2 Hour Early Release (End of the 2nd Quarter)

January 26-27 - Student Holiday

February 1 - FCPS Gap Year Fair

January 5 - IB Diploma Recognition Ceremony, W4/PRIDE Time: Our IB Graduates of 2022 will be returning on January 5 to share their post high school/college experiences as well as receive their IB certificates. During this event, we will be recognizing 63 IB Diploma students, which represents the highest participation rate in our diploma program history. We also invited our current IB diploma juniors and seniors (145 total) and all sophomores enrolled in advanced chemistry to attend. We will open with a panel led by our graduates about their IB experiences and then distribute certificates. Light refreshments will be served following the ceremony.

January 9 - W4 Activities Day, PRIDE Time: January 9 is our next W4 Activities Day, a time set aside for students to explore clubs and activities and connect with classmates and staff over shared interests. The schedule for the period will remain unchanged. It's time to start registering!  The preview slideshow and registration form are now available to access through Schoology and were emailed to each student’s fcps account earlier this week. Students should be in their W4 classroom by 9:50am and will be released to their activity session at 10:20am. Sessions will begin at 10:27am. If you have any questions, please contact Bryan Harris at bcharris@fcps.edu. 

January 11 - Electives Fair: This year we will be bringing back an in-person Electives Fair during PRIDE Time on January 11. On Tuesday, January 3 during W4, students will learn about elective offerings and select three electives of interest to visit on the day of the fair. In the meantime, students and parents can check out videos from last year to learn more about elective course offerings at Annandale High School.  

January 11 - Rising 9th Grade Open House, 6pm: On January 11 from 6-8pm Annandale HS will host an Open House for our rising 9th grade students and families to learn more about what high school at Annandale is all about! We will offer short optional sessions on our various Annandale programs, and teachers will be in their classrooms throughout the evening to share all about our core and elective courses for 9th graders. The goal is for students and parents to leave this event excited about all the opportunities our students will have as an Annandale Atom! Breakout Sessions on the following topics will be offered throughout the evening: Welcome to Annandale, Course Request 101; IB/MYP Program; Activities and Athletics; English for Speakers of Other Languages Program; Special Education Office and Math Course Placement. If you have any questions, please contact Erik Healey.

January 13 - Check-ins in W4 Begin: The social and emotional wellness of our students continue to be a priority at Annandale. Similar to last year, teachers will be conducting one-on-one check-ins with students in their advisory (W4) class beginning later this week. These conversations are another opportunity to build a caring and trusting environment for all students, cultivate positive relationships, and identify student needs. The W4 lesson on January 5 will ask students to reflect in order to prepare them for their check-in.

Awesome Atoms!

Year in Review 2022: With 2022 coming to an end, check out the highlights from the “Awesome Atoms” section from our weekly newsletter, Annandale Insider, over the past year, Awesome Atoms - Year in Review 2022.

Annandale Teacher, Shannon Gray Nominated for PAEMST Award: Congratulations to Shannon Gray, math teacher, who has been nominated for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). This award is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 mathematics teaching. Additional information can be found on the PAEMST website. 

AHS Celebrates Students of the Month: Congratulations to Anthony McCants, Hosana Ghirmay, Thanh Nguyen, Rahaf Bahr, Gia Bao Nguyen, Lebith Ruiz, Abu Bangura, Williams Boateng, Anthony Campos, Nooria Luddin, Hector Alvarez for being selected as our November Students of the Month. Each month, Annandale teachers nominate one student who exemplifies one of our Atoms Agreements of Empathy, Determination, and Safety. This month, our focus was on Safety. Congratulations to all for being selected as our Student of the Month winners!

Annandale Students Win 'STEM for Her Day' Competition at GMU: Congratulations to Annandale students Esperanza Christian, Sage Nagle, Crystina Ing, and Sadiksha Gurung, who placed 1st at the first ever 'STEM For Her Day' at George Mason. Their Audi Drive: Like a Girl presentation gave them the opportunity to work alongside Audi mentors to create a presentation in response to the prompt, “What are the barriers potential Electric Vehicle customers face and how can they be solved?” Great job ladies!

Annandale Hosts Winter Olympics Camp for Elementary and Middle School Students: Annandale High School hosted a 3-day Winter Olympics Camp at Poe Middle School at the beginning of Winter Break. Special thanks to Chris Bagot and Robert Stevens for leading this fun camp. Check out the fun photos below.

Donate Gift Cards for AHS Staff

At events throughout the year, we recognize staff who go above and beyond with gift cards donated by community members at the beginning of the year. It has been a huge hit and I am requesting your help again since we are not permitted to use any kind of FCPS funds, local or otherwise, for this purpose. It is amazing how much a $5 or $10 gift card is appreciated. If you are so inclined, please feel free to drop them off at the main office or place them in the mail. Attention: Jen Buchanan. It can be for any business you want to support, in any amount. Nothing is too small.

Important Information

SEL Screener Reports Mailed Home in January: FCPS will be mailing the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener reports to families this week. As you receive these reports, consider using the Family Guide to talk with your student about their results. There will be another SEL Screener window in March, tentatively scheduled for March 9. 

High School Academy Open Houses: FCPS high school academies will hold open houses for interested students beginning in mid-January. A high school academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses that can prepare students for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Students enrolling in Academy elective courses will be provided with opportunities to participate in a variety of career experiences including shadowing, mentoring, and/or internships with local businesses. Click here to learn more and find the calendar of Academy Open Houses.

Free Live Tutoring Service Available to all Annandale Students: To support our students with a strong start to the second quarter, we are using W4 to equip them with strategies they can use for their continued learning. Our Atoms Agreement of Determination means that we try, even when it is difficult; do our best; are present and engaged; show up on time; and create goals and strive to achieve them. 

To support students in demonstrating Determination, a recent W4 lesson shared detailed information about ways students can take control of their own learning, including preparing for retakes and accessing supports such as Tutor.com. We will continue to use W4 lessons to build students skills around self-advocacy and determination. Click here to learn more.

Opportunities

Annandale Baseball Host Weekly Winter Clinics: The Annandale Baseball program will host their first of five (5) Sunday winter clinic sessions beginning January 15. Each week, the camp focuses on fundamentals and is instructed by the coaching staff and players. The first three camps focus on throwing/fielding. The next two will focus on hitting. The clinics cost $25 per session or all five for $120 and are open to K-8th grade students. For more information contact Coach Bagot at 703-901-4954 or cabagot@fcps.edu.  Register for Sunday Skills Camp here.

February 1 - 2023 Gap Year Fair for Students and Families: FCPS School Counseling Services and Go Overseas are co-hosting the annual FCPS Gap Year Fair on Wednesday, February 1, at West Springfield High School from 6:30 to 9:00pm. This event is for high school students and parents who are interested in learning more about the growing array of gap year opportunities. Students are encouraged to pre-register for this event. For more information, visit USA Gap Year Fairs or FCPS Gap Year Fair, or contact Pamela White, Special Projects Liaison, at pcwhite@fcps.edu or 571-423-4431.

News from the Student 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:

Tuesday, January 3

Freshman Girls/Varsity Girls/Varsity Boys Basketball vs Falls Church - 4:30/5:45/7:30pm

Wednesday, January 4

Freshman Boys/JV Girls/JV Boys @ Falls Church - 4:30/5:45/7:30pm

Varsity Wrestling @ Edison - 6:00pm

Thursday, January 5

F/JV/Varsity Girls vs Justice - 4:30/5:45/7:30pm

F/JV/Varsity Boys @ Justice - 4:30/5:45/7:30pm

Friday, January 6

No events scheduled

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.

Course Selection Dates for 2023-2024 School Year: When we return from Winter Break, we will begin the course selection process. Below is the timeline of course selection by grade level. This year we will be bringing back an in-person Electives Fair during PRIDE Time on January 11. On Tuesday, January 3 during W4, students will learn about elective offerings and select three electives of interest to visit on the day of the fair. In the meantime, students and parents can check out videos from last year to learn more about elective course offerings at Annandale High School.  

• January 9-19: Juniors meet with Counselors
• January 10-February 3: Sophomores meet with Counselors
• February 3-17: Freshmen meet with Counselors
• February 24: Final deadline to change course requests

Transcript Requests for College Applications & Scholarships: Seniors need to request official high school transcripts one month prior to application deadlines. We will be receiving a very high volume of requests in the coming months, and our Student Services staff needs adequate time to process them. Early Action and Early Decision application deadlines are quickly approaching. For step-by-step instructions and forms for submitting Transcript Requests, go to the AHS College & Career Google site.

News from the PTSA

January 17 - PTSA Meeting: Our next PTSA meeting will be on Tuesday, January 17 at 7:00pm in the library. Spanish translation will be available. We encourage everyone to attend in person. The meeting will also be available virtually through WebEx. The link will be active 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Also, if you have not done so already, please consider joining the PTSA by filling out the online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.

Annandale PTSA Pantry Needs Help Restocking! We need help restocking regularly. Please consider donating, every donation helps. Visit the pantry website here to learn more and about ways to donate.