Annandale Students, Families, and Community:
Last June, in our end-of-year survey, staff shared a need to find ways to celebrate our students and provide more opportunities for them to build connection and belonging. I am so proud of the many programs and initiatives we have developed and implemented to address this need. Last week we celebrated our students of the month with a special VIP breakfast for them and two guests. In addition, we hold monthly W4 Activities Days. These days set aside time for students to explore clubs and activities and connect with classmates and staff over shared interests. A huge thank you to Megan Ferris and Bryan Harris for planning carrying out these events each month, and to our staff members who lead a variety of fun sessions on W4 Activities Days.
Tomorrow will be our final W4 Activities Day for this school year and we have some special events planned for the Class of 2023. We are proud to share that we will be the first FCPS school to host the Love Like Adam program. Love Like Adam is a non-profit foundation established with the goal to “support, educate, and equip graduating seniors and their families for the transition from high school to higher education,” particularly around the dangers of hazing and alcohol intoxication. It was established in honor of Adam Oakes, a recent hazing victim, who died in a hazing incident while attending VCU during his freshman year of college.
The program will consist of a presentation on hazing prevention, a video about Adam Oakes’ story and a panel question and answer session with Adam’s family and two of the boys involved in the hazing. You can read more about Adam’s story in an article on the LoudounNow and the VCU website. If you have any questions about this special event, please contact Bryan Harris.
Finally, I hope our students have a wonderful, restful spring break. We will continue our tradition of allowing everyone to relax and refresh over the break. Teachers will not assign homework, projects, or papers over breaks, and no major assessments or projects will be due on the first two days back.
Our next Community Insider will be sent on Sunday, April 9. Have a great week, Atom Nation. As always, reach out with questions.
Shawn DeRose, Principal
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FanQuest Featured on FCPS YouTube Channel!
On Thursday, March 9, the Annandale Special Olympics Basketball team hosted the Lewis Lancers for our annual FanQuest. FanQuest is an event that promotes inclusion and respect for students with disabilities through sports.
The event was an incredible experience as our students were able to watch our Special Olympics athletes showcase their basketball skills. The crowd went wild when the first basket was made, and the cheering didn’t stop. The support and appreciation our students had for both the Lancers and their fellow Atoms was overwhelming. Special thanks to Jae Lee and Janan Gokturk for coordinating this incredible event and to the Lewis Lancers for an amazing game. Any student that would like to get involved with Special Olympics or Best buddies can reach out to Mr. Lee or stop by room 22! Also our Inclusion Revolution shirts designed by one of our Cat-B students are still on sale and they can be purchased here or in room 22, all proceeds go to our Special Olympics program!
Important Dates
Now-April 21 - Ramadan
March 27 - W4 Activities Day
March 27 - Love Like Adam Assembly
March 28 - Fire Drill
March 28 - Annandale Pyramid Art Show
March 29-April 2 - Performing Arts Field Trip
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)
May 31 - Sports and Band Physicals Night
Now - April 21 - Ramadan: Ramadan is underway and will end at sunset the evening of April 21. During this time, many of our Muslim students may be fasting and it is important for those students to have a quiet, alternative location to go to during lunchtime. Therefore, the library will be open to students who would prefer to go there during lunch rather than the cafeteria. If you have questions, please contact Sarah Eqab at seqab@fcps.edu.
March 27 - W4 Activities Day: Our next W4 Activities Day is on Monday, February 13. W4 Activities Day is a time set aside for students to explore clubs and activities and connect with classmates and staff over shared interests. If you have any questions, please contact Bryan Harris.
March 27 - Love Like Adam Assembly during W4 Activities Day: We are excited to announce that on Monday, March 27 during W4 Activities Day, Annandale High School will be hosting the Love Like Adam program for the Class of 2023. Love Like Adam is a non-profit foundation established with the goal to “support, educate, and equip graduating seniors and their families with the transition from high school to higher education,” particularly around the dangers of hazing and alcohol intoxication. It was established in honor of Adam Oakes, a recent hazing victim, who died in a hazing incident while attending VCU during his freshman year of college.
The program will consist of a presentation on hazing prevention, a video about Adam Oakes’ story and a panel question and answer session with Adam’s family and two of the boys involved in the hazing. You can read more about Adam’s story in an article on the LoudounNow and the VCU website. If you have any questions about this special event, please contact Bryan Harris.
March 28 - Fire Drill: We will be conducting our required monthly fire drill on March 28.
March 28 - Annandale Pyramid Art Show, 6-8pm: The Pyramid Art Show will be on Thursday, April 14 from 6:00-8:00pm at Annandale High School. The show features art from students at Annandale High School and our feeder middle and elementary schools.
March 29 - April 2 - Performing Arts Spring Trip: Annandale’s Performing Arts students will be taking a trip to Florida! During the trip, students will stop at East Carolina University to visit the performing arts department. After leaving ECU, students will travel to Florida to visit the Kennedy Space Center, a second college visit at University of Central Florida, and Universal Studios! Students will return to Annandale on Sunday, April 2.
March 31 - High School Assessment and Grading Survey Closes: FCPS has sent a survey to high school students, their families, and staff members to gather perceptions and preferences around assessments and grading. The survey results will be used along with information from student focus groups, research, best practices, and benchmarking to propose recommendations to the School Board later this spring. Surveys were sent Monday, March 20, and individuals have until Friday, March 31, to respond. For more information, contact Michael Gillespie in Instructional Services.
April 3-7 - Spring Break: Schools and school offices will be closed. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
April 13 - Two Hour Early Dismissal: Students will be dismissed two hours early on Thursday, April 13. Grab-n-Go Lunch will be available for pick up during dismissal.
April 14 - Teacher Workday: Friday, April 14 is a teacher workday and a holiday for students.
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Gear up with Official Atoms Spirit Wear!
Annandale Atoms Apparel: 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. Visit spiritwear.atomsboosters.org to see the latest Atoms gear.
Annandale Orchestra Merchandise: Our long-anticipated Orchestra Merchandise store is LIVE and can be found at tinyurl.com/AHSOrchMerch. We have a ton of items ready to go with several items able to be personalized.
Annandale Special Olympics Gear: Help support Special Olympics through purchasing some gear! Partial proceeds go to our team so be sure to purchase before the store closes end of March. Share the link with friends near and far because it ships directly to you. Link: https://annandaleatoms.itemorder.com/shop/home/
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Music In Our Schools Month
Since 1985, MIOSM has been observed as an annual month-long celebration when schools and communities celebrate music in their local schools and the educators who dedicate themselves to bring music into the lives of students every day. Below are some highlights of the incredible things that are happening in our Music Classes.
Annandale Choirs Earn Superior Ratings at State Assessment: Four for Four! The Annandale Choir Department participated in our State Assessment on Friday, March 17. Congratulations to all four choirs who received Superior ratings on both concert and sight reading. The choirs that participated in our State Assessment are Atom Chorale, Men’s Chorale, Combined Women’s Ensemble (Chamber and Annandale Singers) and Annandale Singers. Our collaborative pianist is Carol Workman and our choirs are directed by Pat Vaughn.
Band Assessment Results: Congratulations to our Wind Ensemble for receiving a rating of Excellent at our District X Concert Assessment Friday night. We are very proud of them for their hard work and incredible performance.
Orchestra Assessment Success! Congratulations to Sinfonia, Symphony, and Philharmonic Orchestras on their outstanding professionalism and performances at Assessment! Philharmonic and Symphony walked away with Superior ratings from all judges, and Sinfonia received both Excellent and Superior ratings. We are so proud of their hard work and the growth all of the groups have shown over this concert cycle!
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Annandale Teacher Publishes Original Composition: Guitar teacher, Joseph Ikner, had his composition for guitar ensemble, Sakura, Theme and Variations on a Japanese Folksong, published by Class Clef Publications. Congratulations to Mr. Ikner for this impressive accomplishment!
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GRAMMY Nominated Artist Visits Annandale Orchestra Classes: This week, Orchestra was joined by GRAMMY nominated artist Christylez Bacon for our Artist-in-Residence program. You can check out photos here - thank you to Joyce Boghosian for donating her time and talents to document this week! This is the second part of our Wolf Trap Educator Grant we were awarded back in the Fall, which will culminate with a performance with Christylez at our Spring Concert on May 18.
Awesome Atoms!
English 10 Students Celebrate Nigerian Culture: English 10 Honors students had an opportunity to learn more about Nigerian culture after reading Purple Hibiscus by Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. They enjoyed fufu and egusi soup made by Culinary Arts students, courtesy of the Annandale PTSA at the 5th annual Taste of Nigeria. Students heard from Annandale alum, Dr. Ali Karim, who spoke about his global travels, including Nigeria, his philanthropy work, and his time at Annandale. He encouraged them to learn from each other as global citizens, and to celebrate Annandale’s diversity. The event concluded with a special performance by AHS’ West African dance group.
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AHS Celebrates Students of the Month: Congratulations to Jairo Castillo Cardona, Gabriel Cervoni, Nosheen Manzoor, Jocelyn Martinez Caceres, Ammar Mushtaq, Hillary Rhodam Nortei, Rosa Ramos-Sanchez, Yeluma Tatinyuy, Kathleen Tran, Abel Yeneneh, Ibrahim Zamir, and Josselyn Zelaya Valle for being selected as our February Students of the Month. Each month, Annandale teachers nominate one student who exemplifies one of our Atoms Agreements of Empathy, Determination, and Safety. In February, our focus was on Safety. Congratulations to all for being selected as our Student of the Month winners!
Annandale Students Honored at FCPS Science Fair! Congratulations to our regional science fair award winners from Annandale High School! These students worked hard over the course of a few months to design, implement, and present their experiments at both the school and regional levels.
Third Place: Jalon McInnis, Krish Seth, and Abel Webshet - “The Effect of the Material of Protection on the Surface Area of Damage on a Tomato”. In Biomedical and Health Sciences and Engineering.
Sage Nagle - “The Effect of Aquatic Pond Plant Type on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Absorption”. In Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Honorable Mention: Cooper Holtz - “The Effect of Substances and Preservation Methods on the Enzymatic Browning of Avocados” in Chemistry.
Zoe Ligairi - “The Effect of Textile Dye Waste on the Growth of an Elodea Plant”, in Environmental Engineering.
Andrew McGee - “The Effect of Fertilizers with Different Amount of Nitrogen and Phosphorus on a Radish’s Height '', in Plant Sciences.
Organizational Awards: Sage Nagle - “The Effect of Aquatic Pond Plant Type on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Absorption”. - Society of Women Engineers, Baltimore Washington Section (SWE-BWS). Promising Engineer; ($20 Amazon Gift Card) in Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Sara Nagle - “How the Distance from DC Affects the Measure of Microplastics in Local Water Sources”.Society of Women Engineers, Baltimore Washington Section (SWE-BWS). Outstanding Engineer; ($30 Amazon Gift Card) In Earth and Environmental Sciences
Sara Nagle - “How the Distance from DC Affects the Measure of Microplastics in Local Water Sources”. Northern Virginia Soil Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) - 2nd place; $75 gift card in Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Important Information
Assignments Over Spring Break: We will continue our tradition of allowing everyone to relax and refresh over spring break. Teachers should not be assigning work over spring break with the exception of long term assignments that happen to span over the break. In addition, there will be no assessments the first two days back after break.
“Super Saturday” SOL Support: To help prepare students for SOLs, Annandale has a long history of hosting “Super Saturdays.” This year, in addition to supporting students through PRIDE Time and ASAP, teachers, admin and coaches from Math, English and Science will work with students the Saturday prior to each of these SOLs - April 22, April 29, and May 6, from 8:00-11:00am. Teachers are currently identifying students to invite for these sessions. We will share more information soon. Be on the lookout for an invitation for your student in the next few weeks, and please reach out to your student’s teachers for any questions you may have.
Curriculum for Core Content Added to Public FCPS Website: Curriculum overviews and unit standards from the planning and pacing guides have been posted on the FCPS public web and shared with the School Board. Over 86 web pages have been developed to reflect the scope and sequence of core content areas across K-12. The goal is to provide families a comprehensive overview of what students are learning and when they are learning it. Information will be updated at the start of each school year to reflect curriculum updates. To access the grade level and/or course web pages directly, first search for the level within the Academics page, select grade level or content, and click on Year at a Glance.
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.
Free Live Tutoring Service Available to 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.
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Opportunities
Free Prom Dresses and Suits at Promise: Do you need a dress or suit for Prom? Do you know someone that might need one? We got you! Prom is coming up on May 20, at the Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks, and Annandale’s premiere prom fashion shop has you covered. Promise offers gently used, yet stylish dresses, suits, shoes, clutches and accessories for you to wear to prom – and to keep! Check out our updated inventory that offers a style for everyone’s taste. Please request a pass to visit Mr. Henceroth’s marketing classroom (210) during Pride Time. For further information reach out to Mr. Henceroth. We "Promise" Annandale Prom 2023 will be a night to remember!
March 21 - Springfield and Braddock District Town Hall: Join Springfield District Representative Laura Jane Cohen, Braddock District Representative Megan McLaughlin, FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid, and Student Representative to the School Board Michele Togbe for a town hall on Tuesday, March 21 from 7:00-8:30pm at Lake Braddock Secondary School. All Braddock and Springfield District parents/guardians, staff, students, and community members are welcome. We hope to see you there!
March 29 - Mason District Roundtable - Join Dr. Ricardy Anderson on Wednesday, March 29 from 6:30-8:00pm for a virtual Mason District Roundtable. Spanish interpretation will be available. Click here to register to attend. Guest presenters, Joash Chung, Manager of Tutoring Services, will provide an introduction to Tutor.com, highlighting the many online tutoring services available to students. In addition, Leigh Burden, Assistant Superintendent of Financial Services, will provide an overview of the FY 2024 Advertised Budget.
May 31 - Sports and Band Physicals for the 2023-24 School Year: Save the Date! Students who would like to participate in sports or band next year will need a valid VHSL physical dated after May 1, 2023. On May 31 at 6pm we will be hosting Sport and Activity Health Screenings. This physical will be good for all of next school year. There will be a sign-up genius available soon. The cost is $40 pre-registration and $50 dollars walk-in. This is a donation to the Athletic Training Program so that we can continue to provide state of the art care for our athletes and band members. For information about financial assistance for this event, please contact Kathy Ayers.
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.
Mondays are for #AtomNation at Chick-fil-a Annandale: Every Monday in March, between 3pm and 10pm, students, faculty, and staff can show their StudentVue, or school ID and receive 50% off a meal at Chick-fil-a Annandale.
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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.
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:
Monday, March 27
Boys Tennis vs TJ - 4:30pm
JV Girls Lacrosse vs Robinson - 5:30pm
JV Boys Lacrosse vs Justice - 7:00pm
JV Baseball vs Justice - 6:30pm
Varsity Boys Lacrosse @ Wakefield Country Day - 4:00pm
Varsity Baseball @ Justice - 6:00pm
Varsity Softball @ Justice - 6:00pm
JV/V Girls Soccer @ Meridian - 5:30/7:00pm
Tuesday, March 28
Varsity Baseball/Softball vs TJ - 6:30pm
Varsity Girls Soccer vs Rock Ridge - 6:30pm
JV Baseball @ TJ - 6:30pm
Girls Tennis @ TJ - 4:30pm
JV Girls Lacrosse @ Marshall - 7:00pm
Wednesday, March 29
Track @ TJ - 5:00pm
Thursday, March 30
Girls Tennis vs Mt. Vernon - 4:00pm
JV Baseball vs Mt. Vernon - 6:30pm
Girls Soccer vs Lake Braddock - 5:45/7:15pm
Boys Soccer @ Lake Braddock - 5:45/7:15pm
Varsity Baseball@ Mt. Vernon - 6:30pm
Varsity Softball @ Mt. Vernon - 6:30pm
Friday, March 31
Varsity Softball @ Osbourn - 6:00pm
Saturday, April 1
Varsity Baseball vs TJ @ Meridian - 11:00am
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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.
March 30 - NOVA Course Planning Help Session: If you are planning to attend NOVA and need assistance, come to Room 90, on March 30 from 3:00-4:00pm for assistance in "Course Planning."
April 4 - NOVA Regional College Fair: The Office of Admissions at George Mason University is holding its 36th annual Northern Virginia Regional College Fair (NVRCF) on Tuesday, April 4 from 6:30-8:30pm at EagleBank Arena. Students will have the opportunity to meet with admissions representatives from more than 200 colleges and universities. This will be a great opportunity to get students motivated and excited about their post-secondary plans while equipping them with the tools and information necessary to successfully navigate the college search and application process.
April 13 - Junior Student/Parent Night: Please join us on Thursday, April 13 from 6:00-7:30pm. Our College & Career Specialist, Mr. Yeagley, will talk about how Juniors should prepare for the college application process. After the presentation we will have a panel of admissions representatives from George Mason, Marymount, and Virginia Tech speak about what they look for when reviewing college applications. Students and parents will also have the opportunity to ask the panel questions. The event will take place in Clausen Hall. We hope to see you there! Email Mr. Yeagley at Byeagley@fcps.edu, if you have questions.
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News from the PTSA
All Night Grad Celebration - Tickets Now on Sale: The All Night Graduation Celebration (ANGC) provides a safe, chaperoned, alcohol-free and drug-free event for the Class of 2023 to celebrate together one last time. Buy your tickets now for this fun and memorable event. Parents can join the fun by volunteering to help: Sign-Up is Coming Soon!
In addition, we want all graduating seniors to have the opportunity to attend the ANGC. Click here to sponsor a senior. All students attending ANGC in the Class of 2023 MUST submit a parental consent form that can be found here. If you purchase your ticket online you do not need to submit a paper copy of the consent form - it is part of the online checkout process.
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.
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