Annandale Community Insider - May 7

Annandale Students, Families, and Community:

On Friday, I had the opportunity to see the Annandale Theater Company perform their spring musical, The Lightning Thief. In addition, we have hosted several of our athletic teams’ "Senior Nights." I had the opportunity to attend and congratulate our senior athletes. It was clear through my interactions with students, parents and coaches at all of these events how important the past several months of arts and athletics have been, especially for our seniors.

At each of these events, I continue to be impressed by the number of staff members who attend on evenings and weekends to support our students. We truly have a special staff that is deserving of the celebrations we will hold this week for Teacher Appreciation Week. We will be celebrating the hard work and dedication of our teacher throughout the week. Our PTSA, administrators and student leadership have many fun events planned to show our teachers how much we appreciate everything they do. It's not too late to help recognize our amazing staff. We are seeking $5-10 gift cards, to any establishment of your choice. If you are able to donate, please drop off gift cards to the Main Office or purchase gift cards via Amazon and have them shipped to Annandale High School. We also encourage you to reach out directly to your student’s teachers with a note of appreciation. Knowing they are making a difference is a priceless gift.

FCPS is also celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week on Social Media. They are asking students and families to submit a recorded message thanking and celebrating our school’s amazing teachers and staff. Your video message may be selected to share with our teachers and community on FCPS’ website and social media channels throughout Teacher Appreciation Week. Surprising our teachers and staff with these messages of gratitude and support is part of the fun, so keep your contribution under wraps until May. More information and a submission form are available online. Please be aware, the submission form requires a Google account. If you do not have a Google account and wish to be part of the celebration, share your messages on social media and tag FCPS on Facebook or Instagram.

Finally, as we approach the end of the school year, I encourage everyone to stay focused and continue to work hard. We have a few more weeks left, and there is still much to be accomplished. Attendance is of the utmost importance. Studies have repeatedly proven that students with better attendance records achieve higher academic performances and are more likely to graduate from high school on time. Let's work together to ensure our students don’t allow “Spring Fever” and “Senioritis” prevent them from attending school every single day. If they have an appointment, please ensure they come to school for the other portion of the day. You can visit the FCPS Attendance page for attendance resources.

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

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

May 9 - Activities Office Middle School Visit to Holmes MS

May 9 - Autism Acceptance Night, 6:30pm

May 11 - Band Concert, 7pm

May 15 - Activities Office Middle School Visit to Poe MS

May 18 - Orchestra Concert, 7pm

May 20 - Senior Prom

May 22 - Rising 9th Grade Activities/Athletics/Clubs Night 

May 23 - PTSA Meeting, 7pm

May 26-27 - Broadway Desserts 

May 31 - Sports and Band Physicals for the 2023-24 School Year

May 9 - Activities Office Visits Holmes Middle School: The Atoms Activities Office will be visiting feeder middle school Holmes during their advisory period on May 9. Rising 9th graders will learn how to get involved at Annandale High School, requirements for athletic tryouts, and hear from coaches and athletes of our fall sports teams. In addition, the Activities Office will visit Poe MS on Monday, May 15.

May 9 - Autism Acceptance Night: Please come join us this Friday at 6:30pm as we cheer on our Varsity Baseball and Softball Teams and celebrate Autism Acceptance. Our special guest stars Josselyn Cortez Cedillos and Brian Ruiz will be throwing out the first pitch for each game. Our classes have been working hard and we will be selling various items that they have created. We will also have baked goods and Inclusion Revolution Autism Acceptance t-shirts for sale. All proceeds will go to our Special Education Department. Get your Autism Acceptance gear here!

May 11 - Band Concert: The Department of Bands will host our Spring Concert entitled “Emotions” on May 11 at 7:00pm. The concert will include our Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble. This will be the final concert of the school year. We encourage all of you to bring family and friends and enjoy a night of incredible music.

May 18 - Orchestra Concert: Orchestra is excited to welcome Grammy nominated artist, Christylez Bacon, to our classes next week to kick off his residency with us! We are lucky enough to be one of the seven schools in Virginia to be awarded the 2023 Wolf Trap Educator Grant, and are using these funds to explore improvisation, blending styles and cultures of music, and creating beats with Christylez. This residency ends with a day of performing our original work and exploring arts careers at Wolf Trap. Catch our performance with Christylez at Annandale High School on May 18 at 7:00pm in the auditorium!

May 20 - Senior Prom, 8-11pm: Prom will be on May 20 from 8:00-11:00pm at the Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks. Students are able to purchase tickets beginning Monday, April 11 via MySchoolBucks.com for $50 per ticket. Each student may buy 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 (Room 244) for approval. Students should not purchase tickets until your 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.

May 22 - Rising 9th Grade Activities/Athletics/Clubs Night: The Activities Office will be hosting an information night for rising 9th grade Activities/Athletics/Clubs Night on May 22 at 6:30pm. During this session, we will share information about the sports/seasons that we offer, how to sign up for a sport, and when try-outs for each sport begin. A coach, director, or student representative for each program will be available to answer any questions.

May 26 and May 27 - Broadway Desserts, 7pm: Broadway Desserts will feature all five of the AHS Choirs performing songs from the stage and is a Broadway Review of sorts. Both group and individual acts will be featured from auditions held earlier in the semester. The students prepare the music, pick their costumes and coordinate their choreography for a fantastic evening of entertainment. Please join us on either Friday, May 26 or Saturday, May 27 at 7:00pm in Watson Auditorium! Purchase your tickets here!

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.

Teacher Appreciation Week: May 8-12

This week marks Teacher Appreciation Week. With the support of the Annandale PTSA and our Leadership Class, we have organized daily events to show our appreciation for teachers and staff members. See below for opportunities to help show our appreciation to our incredible teachers!

Monday, May 8 – Donuts and Coffee

Tuesday, May 9 – Gift Card Raffle

Wednesday, May 10 – PTSA Sponsored Breakfast

Thursday, May 11 – Snack Bar

Friday, May 12 – Ice Cream & Cake

Help Recognize our Amazing Teachers! Seeking $5-$10 Gift Card Donations: This year, Teacher Appreciation Week is from May 8-12. As a gesture of our appreciation of all the hard work and flexibility our teachers have demonstrated this year, we would like to offer a small gift to teachers. We are asking that you please donate $5-$10 gift cards, to any establishment of your choice, from now until May 5. If you are able to donate, please drop off gift cards to the Main Office or purchase gift cards via Amazon and have them shipped to Annandale High School. We appreciate your support in celebrating the amazing work our teachers are doing this year.

Donate or Volunteer for Teacher Appreciation Breakfast: There are not enough words to express our appreciation for the (endless) hours that Annandale teachers spend with our kids, so we attempt to express it with FOOD! The PTSA and the Culinary Arts Department will provide teachers a hot breakfast on Wednesday, May 10, but we need help with other items to round out the menu and make the event a success. Please sign up to help here! Contact Annamaria Nields with questions.

Say “Thank You!” to Your Favorite Teacher: FCPS is celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week on Social Media. They are asking students and families to submit a recorded message thanking and celebrating our school’s amazing teachers and staff. Your video message may be selected to share with our teachers and community on FCPS’ website and social media channels throughout Teacher Appreciation Week. Surprising our teachers and staff with these messages of gratitude and support is part of the fun, so keep your contribution under wraps until May. More information and a submission form are available online. Please be aware, the submission form requires a Google account. If you do not have a Google account and wish to be part of the celebration, share your messages on social media and tag FCPS on Facebook or Instagram.

Community/Parent Assistance Needed. Get Involved Today!

As we approach the end of the year, we need your continued support. Specifically, we are still seeking volunteers to assist with proctoring IB exams and chaperones for prom. See below for detailed information. 

Proctors Needed for IB Exams: Calling all Volunteers! The IB exams are starting soon and we are in need of proctors. Volunteers are needed to walk around the testing room occasionally and sit/monitor students. No special training is needed ahead of time. Each testing room will have at least one experienced proctor that will be in charge of administering the test. We just need additional adult supervision. Volunteers must be 21 or older. Bring your driver’s license to check-in at the main office. Dress casually with comfortable shoes! Check out this Sign Up Genius. Questions? Please email Linda Bradshaw, IB DP Coordinator. Any help you can provide would be much appreciated! Thanks for supporting our IB students!

Prom Chaperones Needed: The Class of 2023 is seeking parent volunteers to chaperone Prom. Annandale’s Prom is on Saturday, May 20 from 8pm - 11pm at Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks 11787 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy, Fairfax, VA 22033. This is a great time to celebrate the Class of 2023 in a fun location! Please use this link to sign up to be a chaperone at the best event of the year! Email Jonathan Carbutt with questions.

All Night Grad Party - Volunteers Needed! The success of the All Night Grad Party on June 2 depends on parents of all grades helping out! It is truly a memorable night that you won’t want to miss. There are time slots available to accommodate any schedule, but the true magic does happen overnight. Don’t miss out on supporting our Grads! Sign-up to volunteer today.  If you have questions please contact our ANGC Chair, Rheanna Bernard - annandale.angc@gmail.com. Don’t miss out on supporting our Grads!

Awesome Atoms!

Over 100 Students Attend Super Saturday (Biology, Chemistry, Geosystems): On Saturday, we hosted our third and final Super Saturday. Over 100 students scheduled to take the Biology and Geosystems SOL this week received additional support. Thank you to students who were able to attend on a Saturday, to our science teachers for supporting our students, and to our admin, coaches, and other staff for coordinating breakfast, lunch, transportation, and other logistics.

Congratulations All Virginia Choir Participants! Last weekend two students from the Annandale Choral Department earned a place in the prestigious 2023 All Virginia Choir. The Mixed Choir consisted of over 130 students chosen from across our state. Senior Ramzy Tabbah and Freshman Tyler Miller both placed in the Bass 2 section from District X and represented our school and district with the utmost professionalism. Ramzy placed first chair and Tyler placed second chair. In addition, Tyler is the first freshman to ever make All Virginia from Annandale High School.

Virginia Girls State and Boys State 2023: We are proud to announce the two Juniors who will be representing AHS at these long-standing summer enrichment programs. Christina Abouzeki was selected to attend Virginia Girls State at Longwood University. Semir Ali was selected to attend Virginia Boys State at Radford University. These students were selected based on their character, achievements and interest in government, laws and procedures of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Congratulations Semir and Christina!

Special Olympics Inclusion Track Meet: On Saturday, our Annandale Atoms unified Special Olympics team hosted its first ever inclusion track meet. They placed 2nd overall out of 9 total teams! It was a fun filled day with clubs, vendors and community showing their support for Atom Nation!

Robotics Students Qualify in Regional Semi-Final Botball Competition:On Saturday, April 29, Annandale students Alex Ing, Crystina Ing, Esperanza Christian, and Sara Nagle attended the Greater DC Regional Botball Competition. Annandale competed in seeding and double elimination rounds where they made it to semi-finals. This was a great learning experience for these students, and allowed them to expand their knowledge on robotics and connect to schools over the region. Great job Atoms! to schools over the region. Great job Atoms!

Annandale Students Awarded Study Abroad Scholarship! The Center for International Education and Exchange has partnered with Annandale High School to provide more than $80,000 in Scholarship Funds for students to study abroad. Programs are 3-4 week-long experiential learning opportunities that run in over 30 study centers around the world during the Summer of 2023! Seventy (70) students from AHS were accepted and awarded scholarship money ($80,850) to study overseas this summer for 3-4 weeks all over the world!

Opportunities

Student Equity Team Members Needed! The Student Equity Team is recruiting new members and is looking for students who are interested in serving in a leadership capacity as Student Equity Ambassador Leaders (SEALs) during the 2023-2024 school year. The team is looking for students who represent the diverse community of Annandale High School and who have a passion for amplifying student voices around equity, inclusion and culturally responsive practices within our school system. For more information students can hear from current SEALs about the focus of their work in this video. Students who are interested in joining the Student Equity Team can reach out to Mrs. Kline. To apply for a SEAL position for next year, students should complete this form by Friday, May 12.

Class of 2024, Senior Portraits! Want to get a head start on senior year by taking your senior portraits? Rising seniors can sign-up for a time after school on June 8 or 9 to take their senior portraits in the Bistro using this link: https://seniors.legacystudios.com/annandale-hs-va/. 

English 10 OEA Essay Workshop: Attention English 10 students: If you need help with your Essay, schedule a writing conference at the Atoms Writing Center during PRIDE Time or Wednesdays after school. You can also sign up for the AWC's English 10 OEA Essay Workshop during PRIDE Time on May 15 or 17 or after school on May 17 in Room 274. You must fill out this google form by midnight on Thursday, May 11 to receive a pass to come to Room 274 during PRIDE Time. 

Intro to the College Essay Workshop: Attention juniors: If you're ready to begin thinking about the college application process, come to the Atoms Writing Center's College Essay Workshop after school on May 24 in Room 274. Learn about the college essay including tips and tricks and begin brainstorming for your own college essay with support from AWC tutors. There’s no need to sign up in advance, just come on by. We hope to see you there!

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!

Institute for the Arts - Enrollment Now Open: Students in all FCPS secondary schools can enroll in the Institute for the Arts (IFTA). IFTA is a two- or four-week summer arts enrichment program for students in rising 7th through 12th grades. Students create their own schedules in art, music, theatre, and dance from nearly 80 courses offered. Transportation is provided from around the county. Tuition is free for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Check out the website and register online here. For more information email ifta@fcps.edu.

Important Information

May 1-June 2 - Suspension of Attendance Notifications: Morning attendance calls, texts, and e-mails will be suspended during the AP and SOL testing windows. Evening attendance notification will continue as normally scheduled. Additionally, all attendance notifications will be suspended for elementary, middle, and high schools on the last day of school.

IB Exam Early Release/Late Arrival Study Forms: IB Exams run from April 28-May 20. Students that are testing can request early release or late arrival on the days they take IB exams. The early release/late arrival form can be picked up outside the IB office or at the attendance office. The testing schedule with room locations and start times can be found on the AHS website, student portal, posted in the library and outside student services. If you have any questions, please email Linda Bradshaw, IB DP Coordinator. 

SOL Retake Support: At Annandale, we are proud that we have many systems in place to support our students. To that end, when students do not pass their first-attempt SOLs, we double down on our academic support during class time and through PRIDE Time and ASAP to ensure students are successful with additional testing opportunities. Students who qualify for a retake (and their families) will receive an email with information about the retake date as well as the additional support we will provide. Please reach out to your student’s teachers with any questions you may have. 

Class of 2023 News: Graduation is quickly approaching and we wanted to share important information and dates that will assist seniors, parents and community members in preparing and planning for the end of the school year. Last week we sent out important information in our latest Class of 2023 Newsletter. In addition, information is also posted on the Senior Page of the Student Portal (must be logged in to your FCPS Google account).

Free Student Bus Pass Program: Did you know that middle school students and high school students attending FCPS are eligible to participate in our Free Student Bus Pass Program. This allows students to ride the Connector, Metro (Falls Church HS, Justice HS, Annandale HS, Davis Ctr and Marshall HS), and Cue buses for free, seven days a week between the hours of 7:00am and 10:00pm. Click here for more information on the program. 

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.

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.

This Week: 

Monday, May 8

Girls Soccer vs Mt. Vernon (Senior Night) - 5:45/7:15pm

Boys Soccer @ Mt. Vernon - 5:45/7:15pm

Tuesday, May 9

Varsity Baseball vs Edison (Senior Night) - 6:30pm

Varsity Softball vs Edison - 6:30pm

Occoquan Region Girls Lacrosse First Round vs TBD - 6:00pm

Wednesday, May 10

Girls Soccer vs Edison - 5:45/7:15pm

Boys Soccer @ Edison - 5:45/7:15pm

National District Outdoor Track @ Falls Church - 6:00pm

Occoquan Region Boys Lacrosse First Round @ TBD - 6:00pm

Occoquan Region Girls Tennis First Round vs TBD - 6:00pm

Occoquan Region Boys Lacrosse First Round @ TBD - 6:00pm

Thursday, May 11

National District Outdoor Track @ Falls Church - 6:00pm

National District Softball Quarterfinals vs TBD

National District Baseball Quarterfinals @ TBD

May 22 - Rising 9th Grade Activities, Athletics and Clubs Night: The Activities Office will be hosting an information night for rising 9th grade Activities/Athletics/Clubs Night on May 22 at 6:30pm. During this session, we will share information about the sports/seasons that we offer, how to sign up for a sport, and when try-outs for each sport begin. A coach, director, or student representative for each program will be available to answer any questions. Email Brandon Sutphin if you have any questions.

Fall 2023 Sports Tryout Dates: Mark your calendars for Fall 2023 sports tryout dates. Golf tryouts begin on Thursday, July 27 and all other fall sports (football, cheer, field hockey, cross-country, volleyball) will begin on Monday, July 31.

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.

No-Cost Mental Health Teletherapy for Students: FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to offer virtual mental health services to high school students via live video sessions. Parents/caregivers can connect students virtually with a licensed therapist. Teletherapy services for students are short-term, evidence-based, and culturally-responsive. Teletherapy is available Monday through Friday from 7am-7pm. Hazel Health’s licensed therapists can help students who are experiencing: Mood/behavior changes, lack of motivation, academic stress, grief/loss, anxiety, worry, fears, bullying, sexual identity challenges, challenging peer and family relationships. Visit FCPS’ Teletherapy webpage for details.

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! Please contact the ANGC Chair Rheanna Bernard if you have questions or concerns about the All Night Graduation Celebration.

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.

Camp Information

Looking for fun activities for your child this summer? Annandale High School is offering a variety of summer camps this year for current elementary and middle school students led by our own Annandale coaches. Help spread the word to friends, family and neighbors!

Registration for all camps can be found HERE. See descriptions of the various camps below. More information can be found at AnnandaleAtoms.net. 

Multi-Sport Camp - Rising 2nd-9th Graders - June 20-23 8:30am-3pm ($120): Campers will have fun playing a variety of sports including basketball, kickball, volleyball, soccer, and touch football. They will participate in fun contests and win prizes! Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp. Hours are 8:30am-3:00pm. For questions about Multi-Sport or Olympics Camps, please reach out to Christopher Bagot.

Olympics Camp - Rising 2nd-9th Graders - June 26-29 8:30am-3pm ($120): This exciting camp features team activities including soccer, volleyball, basketball, touch football, and relay races. Campers will also get a chance to compete and earn medals! Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp. Hours are 8:30am-3:00pm. For questions about Multi-Sport or Olympics Camps, please reach out to Christopher Bagot.

Basketball - Rising 4th-9th Graders - July 10-14 9am-3pm ($250): Campers will spend each day focused on developing their basketball skills. They will also receive a report card on their basketball abilities, a t-shirt, and a chance to win trophies. Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp. Hours are 9:00am to 3:00pm. For questions about Basketball Camp please reach out to Jerome McAvoy.

Girls Field Hockey/Lacrosse - Rising K-9th Grade - July 10-14, July 17-21, & July 24-28 8am-3pm ($120): For new athletes and those who have been playing for years, camp will be a fun-filled day of training, group competition, and surprise activities. Campers should bring their lunch each day except Friday when lunch will be provided. Hours are 8:00am-3:00pm. For questions about Girls Field Hockey/Lacrosse Camp please reach out to Janan Gokturk.