Annandale Community Insider - February 26

Annandale Students, Families, and Community:

This week is another short one for students. Thursday is a two-hour early release, and Friday is a student holiday. While students are out, our staff will be hard at work to ensure we finish the end of the year strong.

On Friday, our staff will come together to continue our work around our priorities of high quality instruction, strong collaboration, and relationships and support. We often say that at Annandale, we are warm demanders. Warm demanders are teachers who expect a great deal from their students, convince them of their own brilliance, and help them to reach their potential in a disciplined and structured environment. When we gather on Friday, staff members will have an opportunity to learn with and from each other about ways we support our students. Many of our teachers will share how they have incorporated scaffolds to support all students in reaching those high expectations in a warm and caring environment.

Several staff members will also share their experiences with what we call “high leverage moves.” A high leverage move is one small adjustment a teacher can make that will have an impact on student learning. Over these last several weeks, teachers have been working with administrators and coaches to reflect on their instruction and set a high leverage move. After implementing this move, the teacher, coach, and administrator reflect on the impact and determine next steps. 

This cycle of professional learning has a big impact on our instruction and helps cultivate our culture that we are a school that learns. One teacher recently reflected: “I find having people observe my classes such a valuable practice. It’s sometimes scary to let someone observe, especially when you’re trying new things, but the feedback I get has always made me a better teacher. I think this process has been incredibly helpful for identifying one area for improvement rather than a scattershot of practices. It also prompted me to reflect deeply on my practice as a teacher to figure out why a certain activity or practice is working well or why it’s not.” I am excited to hear more teachers share about how we continue to get better every day.

Have a great week, Atom Nation. As always, reach out with questions.

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

Now - March 8 - Heritage Night Tickets On Sale

February 28 - Meet the Coaches Night, 6:30pm

March 2 - 2 Hour Early Release

March 3 - Student Holiday

March 6 - Atoms Athletics Booster Club Meeting, 6pm

March 9 - FanQuest Pep Rally

March 10 - Just World Festival and Heritage Night

April 3-7 - Spring Break

Now through March 8 - Heritage Night Tickets on Sale: The Heritage Night performance will take place directly after the Just World Festival at 7pm. This event is an opportunity for Annandale students to showcase their culture through music, dance, fashion, and more. Tickets are only available for pre-purchase before the event for $5 using this link. Tickets are on sale now through March 8. This event has been incredibly popular in the past, so we highly recommend pre-purchasing a ticket to ensure a spot at this incredible performance! NO tickets will be available for purchase at the door! For any questions about Heritage Night please reach out to Willa Boothe.

February 28 - Meet the Coaches Night: As our coaches and teams complete week one of tryouts/practices, we want to invite all parents/guardians of our spring athletes to join us for Meet the Coaches Night this Tuesday, February 28, 6:30pm in the cafeteria. Parents will have the opportunity to hear from the athletic office staff, athletic trainers, athletic boosters and your student’s coach. 

March 9 - FanQuest and Pie and Admin: This is a pep rally that highlights our amazing Cat B students on our Unified Basketball Team. During the pep rally you will see your Annandale High School Special Olympics Team take on the Lewis Lancers in a riveting basketball match followed by the pieing of the admin of your choosing! Come down to all lunches leading to FanQuest to donate to Special Olympics and vote for your favorite admin. Please fill the stands, cheer loud, and purchase a T-shirt created by one of our very talented Cat B students to help show we are all Unified here at Annandale! 

March 10 - Atoms for Humanity Bake Sale: Atoms for Humanity is hosting a bake sale at Heritage Night on Friday, March 10. All proceeds will be donated to fund cataract surgeries and to build water wells in economically developing countries. Anyone interested in donating baked goods to the cause can contact AFH sponsor Bill Maglisceau. Anything helps!

March 10 - Just World Festival & Heritage Night: Annandale High School leadership students are excited to join the Just World Interact Club for the 17th Annual Just World Festival and Heritage Night on March 10. The Just World Festival will take place from 4:00-6:00pm at Annandale. The Heritage Night performance will begin shortly after, at 7:00pm in the auditorium. The theme for this year’s Just World festival is "Belonging." The festival aims to inspire youth that they are not only a part of their local community but a global one as well. We want to educate the community about global and environmental issues, fair trade, human rights, equality, and most importantly, social action.

May 20 - Senior Prom, 8-11pm: Prom will be held on May 20 from 8:00-11:00pm at the Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks. Seniors are able to purchase tickets beginning Monday, April 17 via MySchoolBucks.com. Tickets are $50. Each student may purchase up to 2 tickets. No tickets will be sold at the door. If students would like to bring a guest who doesn’t attend Annandale High School, they must pick up a guest form from the front office and return it to Jonathan Carbutt or Chrystal Wood for approval. Students should not purchase tickets until their form is approved. No middle school students or guests 21 or older will be permitted. IMPORTANT: Students must pay their senior obligations before purchasing a prom ticket. Students will not be allowed to enter prom if they have outstanding obligations.

Awesome Atoms!

AHS Celebrates Students of the Month: Congratulations to Henri Carlos-DeLeon, Valeria Castellanos Reyes, Irma Ceta Velasco, Bryan Chavarria Portillo, Jhunior Claure-Cabrera, Saara Farahmand, Katherine Miranda Orellana, Stephanie Perez Claure, and Mikyas Telahun for being selected as our January Students of the Month. Each month, Annandale teachers nominate one student who exemplifies one of our Atoms Agreements of Empathy, Determination, and Safety. In January, our focus was on Determination. Congratulations to all for being selected as our Student of the Month winners! Our next round of Students of the Month for February will focus on students that exemplify the Atom Agreement of Safety.

Annandale Students Recognized at Edison Academy: Four Annandale students were recently recognized for their work at Edison Academy. MD Tasin was named Student of the Quarter in Cyber: Network Administration 2, Ryan Menjivar-Guevara, Riley Billak, and Katie Molina Saravia received the Achievement Award for their work in HVAC 1 & 2, and Veterinary Science 1, respectively. Congratulations to each of them for their accomplishments both inside and outside Annandale High School!

Culinary Arts Students Tour Senate: Last week our culinary arts students received a tour of the Senate side of the dining facilities at the Nation’s Capital Building. Students had the opportunity to experience the inner workings of the Capitol's facility, as well as speak to the Head Chef and two Executive Chefs. The group was escorted through special passageways, and then rode the underground train between the Capital and the two Senate buildings. Students were impressed by the VERY large kitchen in the Dirksen Senate Building and learned that they order over 300 pounds of coffee each week!

Annandale Students Place in All-Virginia Choir: By securing a chair in District Chorus, students had the opportunity to audition for the prestigious All-Virginia Chorus composed of students from all over the Commonwealth of Virginia. Two Annandale students have been selected and will perform with the Mixed Ensemble of the All Virginia Choir Weekend at the end of April in Richmond, VA. Ramzy Tabbah placed first chair in the Bass 2 section and Tyler Miller placed second chair. In addition, Jessup Gravitt placed as first alternate in the Tenor 2 section, Nick Ong as the first alternate in the Bass 1 section, and Sean Visperas as second alternate in the Tenor 1 section. Please join us in congratulating these students on this incredible achievement!

Important Information

School Board Approves 2023-24 School Year Calendar: The Fairfax County School Board approved a calendar for the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 school years at their February 9 meeting. Learn more about the approved calendar. The first day of the 2023-24 school year will be Monday, August 21, and the last day will be Wednesday, June 12. Developing a school year calendar is a balancing act, involving multiple factors that must be considered. Community input is one of those factors, and we appreciate our community for being involved in the calendar development process.

FCPS Is Hiring Tutors: Looking for a Flexible Position? FCPS is now actively recruiting qualified tutors to provide in-person academic support to small groups of students. These new FCPS tutors will be paid an hourly rate of $47.17. The position is flexible, and the number of hours worked and location will be based on the tutor’s availability and qualifications, as well as the needs presented throughout FCPS. Apply now! Contact tutor@fcps.edu for more information. Tutors hired through this program will be strategically placed across the region where there is the most need for in-person tutoring.

New Course Offering - Teachers for Tomorrow: During the 2023-24 school year, Annandale will be offering Teachers for Tomorrow. This course introduces juniors and seniors to a career in teaching and education. Students will learn the fundamentals of teaching practice, how to engage with learners, and the organizational context of schools. In addition to the fundamental curriculum components, all students are required to observe and participate in an internship outside the Teachers for Tomorrow classroom, which may involve the preschool level through grade 12. Any student interested in taking this course should complete this Annandale Teachers for Tomorrow Interest Form. Students who complete the form will be contacted by their counselor to discuss enrollment for the fall.

Opportunities

March 1 - Global Navigator Scholarship - Deadline Extended! The Global Navigator Scholarship High School Summer Abroad with the Council on International Education and Exchange (CIEE) offer programs and scholarships intended to open the world to students, helping them navigate across languages, connect with other cultures, and impact global/local issues in today’s interconnected world. Students still have time to apply, the deadline was extended to March 1! You can view the Summer 2023 Flyer to see what opportunities are available. Reach out with any questions to Meredith Hedrick or Laura Wells.

March 3 - AWC New Tutor Applications Due: We are now taking student tutor applications for the 2023-24 school year! Applications are due by midnight on March 3, 2023 and are accepted through this form. Applications are not accepted in the fall, so if you miss this round you will have to wait for the spring of 2024 to apply.

March 3 - 2023 VDOE Granville P. Meade Scholarship Application Due: The Virginia Department of Education’s 2023 Granville P. Meade Scholarship fund provides scholarships to students who have achieved academically, but who are financially unable to attend one of Virginia’s public or private colleges, universities, or community colleges. Each scholarship is in the amount of $2,000 per year for four years, provided the student continues to meet the scholarship requirements. Students may apply through the online application portal which opens on January 30, 2023. All students interested in applying must create an account to access the application, request letters of recommendation, and upload academic records. 

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.

Now through June 12 - College Board Recognition Programs Applications Open: The College Board’s National Recognition Programs’ applications for students opened on Wednesday, February 15. You can find information about these opportunities in the student flier. College Board has identified students who are eligible to apply, and students identified by College Board will receive an email invitation from the College Board. Students are also able to nominate themselves by visiting bigfuture.org/NRP.

Now through March 10 - Senior Tribute Ads for Sale: Want to Celebrate Your Class of 2023 Senior?: Senior Tribute Ads for the 2023 Yearbook can be purchased now through March 10 at www.yearbookforever.com.

News from the Student Activities Office

At Annandale we foster belonging both inside and outside the classroom. Sports and activities are another way for students to deepen a sense of belonging at school. To learn more about Annandale's Spring sports programs, check out this week’s “Atoms Athletics and Activities 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.

National District Champions - Individual Awards: Congratulations to our individual National District Champions from the winter season! 

Wrestling- Marcelo Pozo - 120lb weight class

Swim - Colin McGee - 200m Breaststroke

Indoor Track - Miles Lanham - 300m & Triple Jump; Noah Williams - Shot Put

All Sports Booster Pass - Price Reduced! Atoms Booster Pass price have been reduced to $30 for adults and $15 for students for the spring season! Gain access to all home events for the spring season without having to bring cash every time. Atoms Booster Passes are good for home regular season events only. Visit membership.atomsboosters.org for more information or to purchase your all-season pass online.

This Week: 

Sunday, February 26 

Annandale Unified Basketball Tournament at Annandale

Annandale vs Justice - 10:00am

Annandale vs Yorktown - 12:00pm

Wednesday, March 1

JV/V Boys Soccer @ Wakefield - 5:45/7:15pm

JV/V Girls Soccer vs Wakefield - 5:45/7:15pm

Thursday, March 2

JV/V Girls Lacrosse vs Osbourn - 6:00/7:30pm

Friday, March 3

JV/V Boys Soccer @ Unity Reed - 5:45/7:15pm

JV/V Girls Soccer @ West Springfield - 5:45/7:15pm

Varsity Softball @ Gar-Field - 6:00pm

Saturday, March 4

JV/V Boys Lacrosse @  Hylton - 8:00/9:30am

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.

2023 Fairfax County Teen Job Fairs: The 2023 Fairfax County Teen Job Fairs, hosted by Pat Herrity, Springfield District Supervisor, Connection Newspapers, Fairfax County Public Schools, as well as local chambers and organizations, have been announced. There will be three Fairfax County Teen Job Fairs and Career-Building Workshops. The fairs will run on three Saturdays in March. Please see the event webpage for dates, times, locations, and all event related details!

• March 11 - West Springfield HS; 11:00 AM -1:00 PM
• March 18 - South County HS; 1:00 - 3:00 PM
• March 25 - Chantilly HS; 1:00 - 3:00 PM

The fairs are open to all teens in Fairfax County looking for employment, volunteer opportunities, or tips on building their resume. Registration is open. Link: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/springfield/teenjobfairs

Mid-Year Grade Reports for College Applications: Seniors, if you have submitted Transcript Requests for your college applications, your mid-year grades will be sent automatically in the coming weeks. You do not need to do anything. For step-by-step instructions and forms for submitting Transcript Requests, go to the AHS College & Career Google site.

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 are the topics for each session:

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

News from the PTSA

Mulch Madness PTSA Fundraiser: Spring is here (we think)… so order your mulch now! Mulch Madness is the PTSA's biggest and most critical fundraiser of the year. Proceeds from the mulch sale go directly to support the PTSA's All Night Graduation Celebration and Senior Scholarships. All Night Graduation Celebration provides a fun, safe, alcohol and drug-free parent-chaperoned celebration for our seniors. Order now through February 28! Mulch will be available for pick-up at AHS on Saturday, March 11, from 8am-12pm or delivered to your location. Each mulch bag covers 3 cubic feet and weighs about 50 lbs. $6.50 per bag delivered (10 bag minimum and within five mile radius of AHS). $5.50 per bag self pick-up. For more information, email angcmulch@annandalehsptsa.org.

In addition, there are big and small volunteer opportunities but they all make a difference with our biggest and most critical fundraiser of the year. Proceeds from the mulch sale go directly to support the PTSA’s ANGC and Senior Scholarships. All Night Graduation Celebration provides a fun, safe, alcohol and drug-free parent-chaperoned celebration for our seniors the night of graduation. Sign up here to volunteer and help make this event a success!

Volunteers Wanted - AHS Pantry: The AHS Pantry needs your help! Each month, the Annandale Pantry distributes bags of food to Annandale families in need. Distribution dates are primarily on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 3:30-5:00pm. Please consider volunteering to assist in a distribution. Volunteers can sign up here.