Annandale Community Insider - May 14

Annandale Students, Families, and Community:

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you in #AtomNation! This is a day to celebrate all of the mothers out there and recognize the impact they have on our lives. I hope that you are able to celebrate in some way with the special people in your life.

It is hard to believe that there are only 5 weeks left of the 2022-23 school year! As we approach the end of the year, let's work together to ensure our students don’t allow “Spring Fever” and “Senioritis” to prevent them from attending school every single day. I encourage you to emphasize to your student the importance of staying focused and remaining committed to finishing the year strong. 

In previous years, as the school year came to a close, grades were often firmly established by this time. Now, due to our rolling gradebook and retake policy, this is no longer the case. While SOL testing is coming to an end, there is still much going on in our classrooms. Teachers and teams are continuing to plan high quality instruction that will prepare students to be successful not only on final exams, but in the coming years. In some cases, students are working on certifications or other requirements for graduation. Every day counts, and students must continue to attend school and complete their assignments to keep or raise their current grades.

FInal exams for underclass students will be held June 12-16. As a reminder, it is FCPS policy that all students are expected to participate in a final exam for every course. A student whose absence from the final examination or activity is unexcused could receive an F for that examination. Please see below for more information about final exams. The last day of school for underclass students is Friday, June 16. Let’s work together to help them attend school every day, work hard, and finish the year strong.

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

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

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 29 - School Holiday (Memorial Day)

May 30 - Annandale Athletics Next Level Ceremony

May 30 - Annandale Athletics End of the Year Celebration

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

June 5 - Class of 2023 Graduation

June 16 - Last Day of School (Early Release)

May 15 - Activities Office Middle School Visit to Poe MS: Atoms Athletics will be visiting Poe Middle School during their advisory period on Monday, May 15 to share information to the rising 9th graders on how to get involved at Annandale High School, requirements for athletic tryouts, and hear from coaches and athletes of our fall sports teams. 

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 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.

Finish Strong!

End of Year Attendance Requirements: The last day of school for underclass students is Friday, June 16. While SOL testing is coming to an end, there is still much going on in our classrooms. Teachers and teams are continuing to plan high quality instruction that will prepare students to be successful not only on final exams, but in the coming years. In some cases, students are working on certifications or other requirements for graduation. All students are expected to attend school each day to complete these activities and finish the year strong. 

The week of June 12-16, school is held from 8:10am-11:25pm. During this time, students will complete their end of course exams. These culminating activities assess students’ mastery of the standards and skills they have been learning throughout the year. 

Purpose of Final Exams: According to FCPS policy, “a final examination or appropriate culminating activity, such as a presentation of learning (POL) will be given in all high school courses and must be based on the standards listed in the Program of Studies or other designated curriculum.” At Annandale, the purpose of final exams is to assess students’ mastery of the standards and skills they have been learning throughout the year. Some examples of final exams could be SOL-like progress monitoring assessments, culminating projects, reflective writing, or other demonstrations of learning. Our teachers work together in teams to develop a common final exam that students across the team will take.

Participation Expectations: According to FCPS policy, all students are expected to participate in a final exam for every course, regardless of SOL results. A student whose absence from the final examination or activity is unexcused could receive an F for that examination. While this is not the approach we are taking at Annandale.

Approach to Grading: At Annandale, final exams are worth 10% of a students’ final grade. According to FCPS policy. unlike other assessments, students will not have an opportunity to retake a final exam.

Community/Parent Assistance Needed. Get Involved Today!

As we approach the end of the year, we need your continued support. See below for detailed information. 

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!

Atoms Accepted Into Girls & Boys State: We are proud to announce two of our juniors will be representing Annandale 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!

AHS Band Hosts Final Concert of the Year! The Department of Bands hosted their Spring Concert entitled “Emotions” last week. The concert included the Symphony Winds (our combined Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble), Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble. Great job to all!

Annandale AVID Graduates 49 Seniors: On Thursday, the Annandale AVID program graduated 49 seniors! The program continues to grow and we are excited to offer more sections next year. Many thanks to the teachers and staff for supporting our students over the years!

Annandale Students Awarded Get2Green Grant: Students in Stefanie Kline's Biology class were awarded the Get2Green Grant for their project of making seed paper to enhance the carbon storages around their homes and help to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The grant was used to purchase outdoor learning supplies including wireless digital microscopes, soil samplers, macroinvertebrate identification cards, and a large folding work table!

Happy School Nurse Day! Katherine Estrada and Larry Cooper are the unsung heroes of AHS clinic. The work and dedication they put into making sure our students are healthy and cared goes above and beyond. Many thanks to them for all they do to support Atom Nation.

Journalist & Podcaster Al Hunt Visits Writing Students: On Thursday, students from the Atoms Writing Center and the A-Blast student newspaper met with political journalist, editor, and podcaster Al Hunt for a conversation about writing, journalism, and careers. Students shared their experiences and challenges with writing, and asked questions of Mr. Hunt. Al Hunt ran the Washington DC news bureaus at the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News. He hosts the Politics War Room podcast with James Carville, writes a column for the Hill Newspaper, and teaches a journalism class at the University of Pennsylvania. For students stuck trying to find a topic, to make their writing strong, he recommends, “What do you think about, what arouses your passions, what do you care about, what do you think is interesting, what makes you mad, what makes you happy? It's whatever really moves you.” Mr. Hunt encouraged students interested in writing “You can write for yourselves, and you can write until you’re satisfied with it…If you have something and you’ve written it and you look at it and say ‘you know it’s not quite right,’ write it again. There’s satisfaction in that.”

AHS Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week! This past week we also celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week, where we recognized our teachers for the impact they have on our students and our community. We are so thankful for all the hard work our teachers and staff do every day to make Annandale a great place to learn and work! A big shout out to our PTSA, and our incredible administrative team for planning events to show our teachers that we appreciate them.

Opportunities

May 16 - Special Olympics Chick Fil A Fundraiser: Run don’t walk to the Annandale Chick Fil A because this coming Tuesday, May 16 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm proceeds from your purchase go to help support your very own Annandale Atoms Special Olympics Team. Get Lunch! Get Dinner! Feed the Whole Family! Just make sure to mention you are with Annandale Special Olympics when you order.

May 24 - 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!

June 6 - Poe Middle School Mural Reveal: Poe Middle School Artists have been working hard to complete our annual mural project. Please join us for the Opening Ceremony where the mural will be "unveiled" and "revealed" for the Poe Community. Refreshments will be served and ALL are welcome. Please come alone or with family and friends. The event starts at 6pm on Tuesday, June 6th. Formal remarks will be shared at 6:30pm where you will hear directly from artists. Hope to see you there!

June 11 - Observance Design Challenge Deadline: FCPS is looking for middle and high school students to submit artwork to represent the observances on the FCPS school year calendar for 2023-24. The goal of the Observance Design Challenge is to encourage students to tap into their creativity to create visuals that accurately and positively represent the many religious observances celebrated in the FCPS community. Selected entries will be featured on FCPS social media and in newsletters in the next school year! See all the submission guidelines and instructions on the FCPS website. Entries will be accepted through June 11.

June 8 and 9 - 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/. 

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

Now through 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. If you have any questions regarding your students' attendance, please contact the AHS Attendance Office at 703-642-4151 or via email at AnnandaleHigh.Attendance@fcps.edu. 

Social Emotional Learning Screener Reports: Twice a year, students in grades 3-12 share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed through the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener. These skills include achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. These factors are critical to positive academic, social, and emotional success. 

Spring 2023 SEL Screener results will be mailed to families in mid-May. The Social Emotional Learning Screener Parent/Guardian Report and Guide has been updated to better reflect how SEL Screener results are used to support school and districtwide planning, in addition to supports for individual students. Visit the FCPS SEL Screener webpage for information in multiple languages, including tips for talking with your student about the report and strategies for strengthening SEL at home. 

Medication Pickup: The school health room is reminding parents and guardians that all medication stored in the health room must be picked up no later than 12:00pm on Friday, June 16th. Medication left in the health room after that time will be discarded. It is school policy that medications must be picked up by the parent or guardian, however, with parent or guardian written permission, a high school student may transport over-the-counter medications to and from the health room. If you have any questions, please contact the School Health Aide Larry Cooper at 703-642-4110 or the Public Health Nurse Katherine Estrada.

Yearbooks Have Arrived! On Monday, May 22, yearbooks can be picked up or purchased by seniors in the front lobby. Underclassmen can pick their books up in room 262 during W4, Pride Time, and W6 on May 23. If you pre-ordered your yearbook, make sure to bring an ID with you when picking up. If you need to pick up or purchase a book after that date, please contact Ms. Hanneman, the yearbook adviser. Yearbooks are $85 and can be purchased online at  www.yearbookforever.com or in cash at distribution. (Please note yearbooks will not be delivered.)

IB Exam Early Release/Late Arrival Study Forms: IB Exams run now through 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.

Activities Office Update: Our boys and girls soccer teams play in the first round of the district championship on Monday. In addition, our Baseball and Softball teams won on Thursday night and will now advance to the district semifinals on Monday. See detailed athletic schedule below. Participation in extracurricular activities has always played an important role in the development of our students. This summer, Annandale High School will host a series of Summer Sports Camps for students in grades 2-9. Please help us spread the word to friends, family and neighbors!

May 30 - Annandale Athletics End of the Celebration: We are cordially inviting all of our student-athletes and families to the first annual Annandale All Athletes End of Year Celebration on May 30 at 6:30pm. The event is set up to reflect, recognize, and celebrate all programs and student-athletes accomplishments from this year. If you played on an athletic team this year, you are invited to this event and we are encouraging business casual attire for this evening. At the conclusion of the event, we will serve cake and drinks in the auditorium lobby for some socializing and mingling, so mark your calendar

Prior to the celebration at 6:00pm, we are inviting all student-athletes who have committed to play athletics in college for a special Next Level Ceremony. We will recognize each student-athlete before having a final picture with everyone.

This Week: 

Monday, May 15

National District Girls Soccer Quarterfinals vs Mount Vernon - 6:00pm

National District Boys Soccer Quarterfinals @ Falls Church - 6:00pm

National District Baseball Semifinals @ Edison - 6:00pm

National District Softball Semifinals @ Hayfield - 6:00pm

Wednesday, May 17 

National District Girls Soccer Semifinals vs TBD (If they win Monday)

National District Boys Soccer Semifinals @ TBD (If they win Monday)

Occoquan Region Girls Soccer Play In vs TBD (If they lose Monday)

Occoquan Region Boys Soccer Play In vs TBD (If they lose Monday)

Thursday, May 18

National District Baseball Finals @ TBD - 6:00pm

National District Softball Finals @ TBD - 6:00pm

Friday, May 19

National District Girls Soccer Finals @ TBD - 6:00pm

National District Boys Soccer Finals @ TBD - 6:00pm

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.

May 18 - NOVA Help Session: Are you planning to attend Northern Virginia Community College next year or take classes this summer through the Jump Start program? Ms. Acosta, Admissions Counselor from NOVA will be here during lunch on May 18 to help students apply to NOVA, register for classes and help get academic holds removed. If you would like to attend please reach out to your counselor or Mr. Yeagley and they can register you for the date and time you would like. All sessions will be held in the College and Career Center (room 103). 

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

2023-2024 PTSA Officers: Membership vote will occur at the May meeting (Tuesday, May 23, 7:00 pm, AHS Library or virtual) and floor nominations for any position will be accepted at the meeting prior to the vote. Any questions, please contact Annamaria Nields at amnields@yahoo.com.

President - Angela Torres

Vice President Programs - Thurraya Kent

Vice President Membership - Tammy Murphy

Treasurer - Jose Mercado

Secretary - Andre McGinity

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.