Annandale Community Insider - January 22

Annandale Students, Families, and Community:

Our priorities at Annandale - relationships and support, high quality instruction, and strong collaboration - mean that we do everything we can to support every student by name and by need. We do this by implementing dynamic systems that help us match the each student's individual needs with appropriate supports. Each quarter, our coaches and collaborative teams work together to identify students for PRIDE Time based on comprehensive data including grades, SOL and credit needs, and assessments, among other data points. And, because students’ needs evolve, identification is based on a variety of priorities that change as the year progresses. 

To this end, on January 30, we will begin our third iteration of PRIDE Time for this school year. For this round of PRIDE Time, students were identified to receive support for their social studies project-based assessments, struggling grades, and senior-specific needs to ensure they will meet all graduation requirements. Students’ schedules will be updated in SIS by Sunday, January 29.

We have also begun to provide teacher-supported academic coaching through some of our Study Hall PRIDE Times. In these Study Halls, students will get help accessing their grades, reflecting on and making decisions around their academic needs, and implementing next steps - including accessing tutor.com for additional help. As a reminder, live one-on-one tutoring is available to all students at no cost through our partnership with tutor.com.

Beyond the support we provide during the school day, teachers also stay after school to work with students who need additional help. Our after-school academic support program (ASAP) will begin Monday, January 30 and will run each week on our late-bus days: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Students assigned to ASAP will receive notification of their day, teacher, and location, next week. Parents will also be notified of these assignments and we ask for your support in ensuring students stay after school. 

As a reminder, Wednesday marks the end of the second quarter and will be a two-hour early release for students. There will be no school for students on Thursday and Friday so that teachers can attend professional development and finalize grades.

Finally, please join me on Thursday, January 26, from 6:30-7:30pm, for a virtual Principal Check-In (link to event will be sent on Monday). I will share updates on how we are supporting students at Annandale and answer questions you may have. 

Have a great week and Go Atoms!

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

January 25 - End of 2nd Quarter 

January 25 - 2 Hour Early Release

January 25 - Music Leadership Symposium

January 25 - February 6 - SIS ParentVue & StudentVue Unavailable

January 26 - Virginia Girls State 2023 Interest Form Due

January 26-27 - Student Holiday

February 1 - FCPS Gap Year Fair

February 20 - Presidents Day (No School)

March 2 - 2 Hour Early Release

March 3 - Student Holiday

April 3-7 - Spring Break

April 13 - End of 3rd Quarter

April 13 - 2 Hour Early Release

April 14 - Student Holiday

April 21 - Eid al Fitr (No School)

Now thru February 1 - W4 Check-ins: The social and emotional wellness of our students continues 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 now through February 1. 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 asked students to reflect in order to prepare them for their check-in.

January 25 - 2 Hour Early Release: Wednesday, January 25 is the last day of the quarter and a two-hour early release for students (Red Day).

Awesome Atoms!

Annandale Senior Graduates from Public Health Ambassador Program: A senior at Annandale HS, Mariamawit Ezechiel “Mary,” will graduate from the Public Health Ambassador Program in February. Mary is part of the 3rd cohort graduating from this innovative program where students receive training to become community health workers. The program, recently profiled on NPR, brings African, African American, and Hispanic high school students into the healthcare field through an extensive introductory program. They are not just blazing a pathway to a new career in a vital industry but are also learning how to bring these services and education back to their communities.

Annandale Boys Basketball Wins at the Buzzer on Senior Night: Congrats to the Varsity Boys Basketball team who came from behind to defeat Lewis on a buzzer beater by senior Sam Dailey! Huge shoutout to parents Annamarie Nields, Sue Dailey, and our managers for organizing an outstanding Senior Night.

Special Education Lead and Aspiring Administrator, Jae Lee Recognized in FCPS Cares Program: Here is what the nomination had to say: "Thank you for being an amazing MentorWorks Program Coordinator! In a time when everyone is stretched thin, you continue to go the extra mile. You ensure that newly-placed mentors feel welcome at Annandale HS, and after they are matched to a mentee, you provide them with guidance and support. You enrich your program with activities and events, and those events enrich the lives of your students. You maintain your program data, and every time I ask you to do “one more thing”, you are willing and able! You make my job easier every day, and I continue to be inspired by your grace, generosity, kindness, and enthusiasm."

Mentoring Program Celebration: Our Annandale Atoms mentors and mentees met this past week and bonded over pizza and drinks to celebrate the end of the 2nd quarter. Mentors support and provide check-ins to students and build positive relationships that extends beyond the classroom. This is just another example of how the Annandale staff goes above and beyond for our students.

Annandale Theatre Company Closes a Successful Production of Firebringer: This weekend, Alumna Amanda Weaver shined as a first time director, and over half the cast performed in their first ever musical! What they were able to pull it off in just 4 weeks is a testament to the dedication and skill of AHS theatre and chorus students and their teachers. Annandale Theatre Company will close out their season with the Spring musical, The Lightning Thief: the Percy Jackson Musical. Auditions will be held beginning February 6. Students can sign up to audition here. Students can also work behind the scenes by joining a crew here. All are welcome! Email Ms. Brunberg with questions.

Donate Gift Cards for AHS Staff

Thank You for the Gift Card Donations - Thank you to those of you who donated gift cards. We use the cards as prizes for our staff at faculty meetings and school-wide contests (Ugly Sweater and Door Decorating Contests). It is amazing how much a $5 gift card is appreciated. If you would still like to donate gift cards, please feel free to drop them off at the main office or place them in the mail. Attention: Jen Buchanan. I will share the love with staff throughout the school year. Thank you so much! (It can be for any business you want to support, in any amount. Nothing is too small!)

Important Information

January 25 - February 6 - SIS ParentVue & StudentVue Unavailable: FCPS Weekly Progress Reports will not be sent to parents Monday, January 23, through Monday, February 6, during second quarter grading and report card generation. Additionally, the GradeBook and Report Card modules in ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed Wednesday, January 25, at 4:00pm until Monday, February 6, at 6:00am.

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: 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

Chaperones for Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Dance needed! The class of 2023 needs your help! We are in search of volunteers to chaperone the Valentine’s Day Sweethearts Dance on Saturday, February 18 from 8:30pm-11:00pm at Annandale High School. This dance is a fundraiser event to raise money for the prom and our Senior class would greatly appreciate any support from teachers and parents to help out with the event. Even if you are only able to support us for part of the event, please consider helping out for an hour! Here is the link to a form to let us know you are coming!

SAT & ACT Test Prep Support: Did you know Tutor.com can help with more than just homework? This free, on-demand tutoring service also offers a comprehensive range of resources that include exam prep for AP, SAT, and ACT tests. Students can take practice quizzes at any time, and if they struggle in particular areas, they can immediately connect to a live tutor through voice or chat options for help. Learn more on the FCPS Tutor.com website. 

January 25 - Free Music Leadership Symposium: On Wednesday, January 25 at Lake Braddock Secondary School, Dr. Scott Lang will be hosting a student leadership symposium open to all FCPS high school music students from 2:30-5:00pm. This is the first time FCPS has hosted an event of this nature and it is FREE to students! Students should RSVP by filling out the Music Student Leadership Symposium form by January 20.

January 26 - Virginia Girls State 2023 Interest Form Due: Virginia Girls State is a week-long study of government and the operation, laws and procedures of the Commonwealth of Virginia. AHS Student Services is currently identifying Juniors, who are interested in submitting applications for this summer enrichment opportunity. Participants represent AHS at the 2023 Girls State convention. To participate students must be United States citizens or legal residents of the United States. Candidates are evaluated on their leadership abilities, interest in government, service to others, and academics. For more details, go to the Virginia Girls State website. Girls State will be held at Longwood University from Sunday June 18 to Saturday June 24, 2023. If you are a Junior and interested in applying, please complete the Girls State 2023 Interest Form. Contact Cheryl Kim with questions.

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.

February 3 - Virginia Boys State Interest Form Due: Virginia Boys State is a week-long study of government and the operation, laws and procedures of the Commonwealth of Virginia. AHS Student Services is currently identifying Juniors, who are interested in submitting applications for this summer enrichment opportunity. Participants represent AHS at the 2023 Boys State convention. To participate students must be United States citizens or legal residents of the United States. Candidates are evaluated on their leadership abilities, interest in government, service to others, and academics. For more details, go to the Virginia Boys State website. Boys State will be held at Radford University from Sunday June 18 to Saturday June 24, 2023. If you are a Junior and interested in applying, please complete the Boys State 2023 Interest Form. Contact Cheryl Kim with questions.

February 4 - Edison Academy Open House - Edison Academy invites you to attend our in-person Open House event on Saturday, February 4, 2023 from 10:00am-1:00pm (snow date is Saturday, February 11).  We are located at 5801 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA.  Our entrance is located at Door #13. You will have the opportunity to tour our state-of-the-art facilities, meet our instructors and current students, and learn more about our incredible courses!  Please feel free to contact Cassandra Deedy at (703) 924-8101 for additional information.

March 6 - Preparing for Difficult Conversations about Drugs Presentation, 6-8pm: FCPS is dedicated to providing parents and community members with the most accurate and up-to-date information on youth substance use, prevention, addiction, interventions and available supports. Please join us and our partners from the Fairfax County Police Department and Community Services Board on Monday, March 6 from 6-8pm in the Annandale High School Library as we share knowledge and information that will help parents and caregivers engage in meaningful conversations with their students about drugs.

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.

Highlights from the Activities Office: Boys basketball lost to a tough Edison team Wednesday but bounced back on senior night to beat Lewis on a buzzer beating shot by Sam Dailey. Girls basketball came out hot vs Edison but fizzled in the second half. They came back strong defeating Lewis convincingly last night. Wrestling fell to Justice and Lewis Wednesday and finish the week with their Annandale wrestling tournament. Gymnastics continues their growth as they celebrated senior night Wednesday with a couple gymnast coming away with their best performance of the year. Indoor Track had a successful meet at the Montgomery Invitational with many individual athletes qualifying for the regional tournament. Swim/Dive won big over Mount Vernon with a couple swimmers qualifying for the regional tournament. They head into the National District Swim/Dive Championships next week.

This Week:

Monday, January 23

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

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

*Special Event - Unified Basketball Game vs Faculty during Halftime 

Wednesday, January 25

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

Varsity Wrestling vs Mount Vernon (Senior Night) - 6:00pm

Thursday, January 26

National District Dive Competition @ Audrey Moore - Boys @ 10:30am, Girls @ 1:00pm

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

Gymnastics @ Lake Braddock - 6:00pm

Friday, January 27

National District Swim Prelims @ Audrey Moore - 5:30pm

Saturday, January 28

National District Swim Finals @ Audrey Moore - 5:30pm

JV Wrestling @ Westfield

Indoor Track @ TJ Middle School, Arlington - 7:30am

Special Olympics Tournament @ Freedom South Riding HS - Game 1 vs Lewis - 11:00am, Game 2 vs Freedom - 1:00pm

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.

Now thru February 24 - Academic Advising: Our counselors began meeting one-on-one with students through their English classes. We began with our rising seniors and then will work through the other grade levels over the next several weeks. Students will be sent an email with their appointment time the weekend before they are scheduled to meet with their counselor. As always, students and families can get more information about course selection on our Academic Advising website. Below is the academic advising timeline:

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

Last Minute College Help Sessions: Students, are you still working on completing college applications before the final deadline to apply and need help? Complete this Google form to be requested during Pride Time on January 24 or 30 for extra help with your college application(s).

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.

Early Online College at NOVA - Spring Session: Early Online College (EOC) allows current high school juniors or seniors the opportunity to take up to two tuition free college courses. EOC courses for the spring semester begin on January 31 and end on April 24. Courses are for college credit only and designed to jumpstart students' college experience. These courses were selected because they meet the requirements for most of NOVA’s associate degrees as well as being highly transferable as general education requirements for most colleges and universities. For more information, contact NOVA’s Office of Dual Enrollment at dualenrollment@nvcc.edu.

Thursday NOVA Help Sessions: If you are planning to attend NOVA and need assistance, come to Room 90, from 3:00-4:00pm on Thursdays. Below is the topics for each session: 

• Choosing a program - February 2, March 9
• Application and account set up - February 9, March 16
• FAFSA - February 16, March 23
• Course Planning - February 23, March 30

News from the PTSA

PTSA Committee Members Needed! The PTSA is seeking members for two important committees: 1) a nominating committee to identify, vet, and nominate a slate of candidates for next year’s PTSA Board; and 2) a scholarship committee to select the 2023 PTSA scholarship recipients. Please contact Annamaria Nields (president@annandalehsptsa.org) if you are interested in serving on either committee.  

• Nominating Committee: Each year the PTSA forms a committee to identify people interested in serving as PTSA officers. The Nominating Committee advertises the opportunities available and explains how to apply, receives nominations and identifies potential candidates, and presents a slate of nominees at the April PTSA general membership meeting.   
• Scholarship Committee: The PTSA needs two additional people to join this year’s Scholarship Committee. The Committee works with Annandale’s College and Career Specialist to advertise the scholarship opportunities, collect applications, and determine the 2023 scholarship recipient(s). Additional information about PTSA scholarships is available here: https://annandalehsptsa.membershiptoolkit.com/home.

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.