Annandale Community Insider - July 16

Annandale Students, Parents and Community:

Welcome to the official start of the 2023-24 school year! 

I just returned from vacation after spending time Ohio with my family on the shores of Lake Erie -- boating, tubing, skiing,  attending a Cleveland Guardians game, visiting Kelly's Island, and riding roller coasters at Cedar Point.

Each and every week, I will send out an " Annandale Community Insider" to students and parents that communicates the amazing things that are happening here at Annandale and outlines ways to get involved. In addition, I hope this newsletter will not only keep you up to date on all things Annandale, but will also serve as a conversation starter between students and parents about specific events here at Annandale.

The start of our fall sports season begins in two weeks, and I want to encourage students to participate in after school activities, especially sports, this upcoming school year. The benefits of participating in athletics, arts and other activities in high school is well documented. Students who participate in athletics in high school, for example, perform better academically than their peers. In fact, the National Association of State High School Associations recently stated that students who participate high school athletics 1) have a stronger sense of self-confidence in building relationships with others and having an expanded capacity for empathy; 2) develop a better understanding of self and how their actions affect others; and 3) build foundations for lifelong fitness habit. 

Fall sports, which include cheer, cross-country, football, golf, field hockey, and volleyball will begin on Monday, July 31. No experience is necessary. All are welcome! To participate, students need to complete a VHSL physical form and register online to play. Here is the link to the physical form that must be completed by a doctor. To register online, click here. Directions can be found here - English and Spanish. Once you have completed the physical form, turn in the form at the Activities Office. The office is open every day from 9:00am-2:00pm. See detailed tryout information below and if you have any questions, email Brandon Sutphin, Director of Student Activities, at basutphin@fcps.edu. 

Band Camp begins on August 1 at 8:00am. Students should enter through Door 2. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Chad Steffey as our new Band Director. With his remarkable ability to foster meaningful relationships, Dr. Steffey will undoubtedly have a positive impact on our students, staff, parents, and community. As a versatile musician with experience in band, chorus, and orchestra, he brings a wealth of knowledge to our music program. His dedication to creating a supportive learning environment and his passion for music will inspire our students to reach new heights of musical achievement. For more information, visit the Annandale Bands website or email Dr. Chad Steffey at casteffey@fcps.edu.

Finally, throughout the coming weeks and once school has started, I will continue to share the many opportunities we offer to students to help them deepen their connections with our Annandale High School community.

As always, please reach out with questions and Go Atoms!

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

July 19 - Fall Sports Preview Night (Virtual)

July 31 - Fall Sports Begin

August 1 - Band Camp Begins

August 11 - First Day Back for Teachers

August 17 - New Student Orientation/Open House

August 21 - First Day of School for Students

September 1 and 4 - No School (Labor Day Holiday)

September 21 - Back to School Night 2023

September 25 - No School (Yom Kippur)

September 26-29 - Homecoming Week

September 30 - Homecoming Dance

July 19 - Fall Sports Preview Night (Virtual), 6:30pm: On Wednesday, July 19, the Annandale Activities Office will host a virtual fall sports preview night at 6:30pm via Zoom. This will be an informal opportunity to ask questions about the try-out process and the upcoming season. If interested in attending, the link for the Zoom will be posted on the activities website (annandaleatoms.net) on Tuesday. If you have any questions, please email Brandon Sutphin, Director of Student Activities at basutphin@fcps.edu.

July 31 - Fall Sports Begin: Fall sports, which include Cheer, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Field Hockey, and Volleyball will begin, Monday, July 31. No experience is necessary. All are welcome! Students who wish to participate in fall sports need to complete a VHSL physical form and register online to play. Here is the link to the physical form that must be completed by a doctor. To register online, click here. Directions can be found here in English and in Spanish. Once you have completed the Physical Form, turn it in to the Activities Office inside Door 10. The office is open every day from 9:00am-2:00pm. Questions, email Brandon Sutphin at basutphin@fcps.edu. 

August 1 - Band Camp: The Marching Atoms band camp begins on August 1 from 8:00am to 4:00pm. We will be greeting all students at Door 2 on the first day of band camp. We have a full staff of professional instructors ready to work with our students, including alumni from Carolina Crown, Santa Clara Vanguard, the JMU Marching Dukes, the University of North Texas, and UVA. Please follow these two links to register: Marching Atoms roster and Pre-camp survey.

Band Camp will run from August 1-18, culminating in our annual Family Night and Showcase. A full schedule will be sent next week. All marching band participants will need a VHSJ Physical. You may download the form here: VHSL Physical Exam form. In the meantime, please see important information about parent volunteers and required forms at the Annandale Bands website or email our Director of Bands, Chad Steffey, at casteffey@fcps.edu.

The Marching Atoms are eager to welcome members from other fine arts departments to join the color guard, tech crew, and front ensemble. Color guard involves choreographed dance, flags, sabers, and rifles. The tech crew involves audio equipment, props, and support equipment. The front ensemble includes mallet keyboards, percussion, and other electronic instruments. Violin, piano, and bass players are also welcome!

New Student Parent Information Session(s) - August 3: Join Principal Shawn DeRose and members of the Annandale Administrative Team in Clausen Hall on August 3 to answer questions you have about the upcoming school year. To accommodate parent schedules, we will be offering a morning and evening session: 8:30-9:30am or 6:30-7:30pm. 

This event is designed to help alleviate anxiety and concerns families may have about attending a new school and generate excitement about the opportunities that await students in Atom Nation. In addition, we will share information about our approach at Annandale and ways we work together to support your student(s). Email Jen Buchanan at jkbuchanan@fcps.edu if you have any questions.

August 17 - Student Schedules Available: Beginning Thursday, August 17 at 6:00am, all students and parents will have access to class schedules in SIS StudentVUE and ParentVUE. SIS (Student Information System) is the application to see attendance, class performance, and demographic data.

August 17 - Freshmen (Grade 9) and New Student Orientation: Annandale High School is excited to welcome rising freshmen as well as new students to our school orientation on August 17 from 1:30-3:30pm. Students and parents will meet administrators, counselors, teachers, and other essential school personnel and have an opportunity to explore the school building and learn more about student life at Annandale. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Kara Franklin Taylor at kafranklinta@fcps.edu.

August 17 - Parent Information Session: We would like to also invite parents to a Family Coffee session that will be held during New Student Orientation from 1:30-3:30pm. During this information session, you will learn more about Annandale HS, our values, and what to expect as your student(s) matriculates through high school from course selections to extra-curricular activities. At the end of session, you will have an opportunity to visit various stations to acquire additional information from counselors, sports activities, and clubs.

August 17 - Open House: We would like to invite all Annandale students and their families to our Open House on August 17 from 3:30-4:30pm. The Open House provides students an opportunity to walk through our halls and find their classes for next year. There is no formal program during this time, but rather an informal chance to get reacquainted with AHS. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Kara Franklin Taylor at kafranklinta@fcps.edu.

Awesome Atoms!

English Language Learners’ Growth! English Learners at Annandale once again made substantial growth this school year, as measured on the WIDA Assessment, the state-mandated test for English Language Learners. Over 69% of our ELs made some language growth this past school year. In terms of  the percentage of English Learners who reached the state benchmark for required growth, 50% of our students met this benchmark. Most noteworthy are the gains our ELP 3 and ELP 4 students made in surpassing their WIDA growth from last year significantly. As a school, we continue to do a lot of great work collectively supporting our students. Huge shout out to our ESOL department for all their advocacy and continued support of our ELs and their language development needs, and to Sarah Eqab for leading the department in this work.

Miles Lanham - All-State Honorable Mention in the Track & Field Triple Jump! Miles leaves a lasting legacy at Annandale as one of the most accomplished individuals in recent memory. His remarkable achievements include winning the 2023 Indoor Track District Championship in the 300M event, dominating the Outdoor Track District Championship in the Triple Jump from 2021 to 2023, and securing the title of Outdoor Track Region Champion in both Long Jump and Triple Jump. Moreover, he claimed the Indoor Track State Championship in the Triple Jump in 2022 and received recognition as an All-Met Honorable Mention in Indoor Track for two consecutive years. Miles also holds the current Annandale High School record in the Triple Jump. His track and field career continues next year at the University of Virginia. Beyond athletics, Miles' achievements include being a member of the  Math Honor Society, an IB Diploma Candidate and recipient of an Advanced Studies Diploma, graduating with a cumulative GPA of 4.42.

Oliva Cruz - All-State First Team Girls Soccer! Congrats to Olivia Cruz, who has excelled in soccer and swimming throughout her four years at Annandale. During her time she has earned numerous accolades, including three consecutive 1st team all-district selections, the title of 2023 National District player of the year, and 1st team all-region honors in 2023 along with being named the Occoquan Region Player of the Year. Additionally, she was recognized as an All-Met Honorable Mention in 2023. Olivia's dedication extends beyond sports, as she actively participates in clubs such as Atoms For Humanity and is a member of the National English Honor Society and National Honor Society. With an Advanced Studies diploma and a remarkable cumulative GPA of 4.35, Olivia has consistently earned a place on the honor roll. Her journey continues as she commits to playing soccer for Cleveland State in the fall.

Important Information

Summer Office Hours: The Annandale Main Office will be open on weekdays from 9:00am-2:00pm this summer. Registrations are by appointment only. Please contact Annandale registrar, Esther Amenyah at emamenyah@fcps.edu to schedule an appointment.

IB Transcript Requests - Graduates who filled out the Senior Survey in May will have an IB transcript sent to the college that was listed in the survey. IB will send out transcripts in August. If you have questions, please contact Linda Bradshaw at Linda.Bradshaw@fcps.edu.

IB Scores Released - Information on how to obtain IB scores was either mailed to students or handed out in class. Results were recently posted and can be found at https://candidates.ibo.org. Please reach out to Linda Bradshaw, IB Diploma coordinator, at Linda.Bradshaw@fcps.edu if you need login information or have questions.

Class of 2024 Meningococcal Vaccine Reminder: The Code of Virginia requires all students to be immunized against certain communicable diseases prior to entrance into one of its schools. All students in grade 12 are required to have been immunized with one dose of the Meningococcal Vaccine given at the age of 16 or older. Please review the immunization requirements here. Proof of immunization must be submitted to the school. These documents need to be returned prior to the start of the 2023-24 school year. For more information on this requirement, visit this FCPS website.

New Epinephrine Authorization Form - FCPS has updated its Epinephrine Authorization form and will be requiring the new form for 2023-24 school year. This form aligns with updated guidance from the Virginia Department of Health. If you have any questions about this new form, please contact the school public health nurse, Katherine Estrada, at kestrada@fcps.edu.

Summer Meal Program - Free Breakfast and Lunch for Students! The Office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) is offering no-cost breakfast and lunch to all children 18 years of age and younger. There is no registration involved and everyone is welcome! Click here for more information. The nearest locations are the following: 

• Annandale Terrace ES
• Braddock ES
• Glasgow MS
• Mason Crest ES
• Poe MS
• Thomas Jefferson HS
• Weyanoke ES

News from Student Services

Virtual Therapy Services for High School Students: Teletherapy services will continue to be available this summer for all FCPS high school students at no cost. Sessions can be scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:00am - 7:00pm. Hazel Health’s highly-qualified therapists specialize in speaking “teen.” Learn more on FCPS’ teletherapy webpage. 

Mental Wellness Summer Supports: The FCPS Office of Intervention and Prevention Services will offer free virtual mental wellness consultations now through Friday, August 4. Caregivers and secondary students can schedule a 45-minute consultation with a school psychologist or school social worker by phone or online: 

• Parents/caregivers of students in any grade level can receive information on community resources and/or guidance on how to support their child’s social, emotional, and academic success.
• Students in middle or high school can receive guidance and support for concerns related to anxiety, mood, behavior, peer or family interactions, or school transitions and changes. Strategies and tools can also be provided to address academic challenges such as organization and time management.

 All parents/caregivers and secondary students are encouraged to take advantage of this service. Request consultations online or call 703-503-2520 and leave a message.

Opportunities

Coursera Career Academy Pilot Program: An FCPS job certification student pilot program by the Department of Information Technology (DIT) and leading industry coursework provider Coursera will allow up to 1,000 high school students to access the full contents of the Coursera Career Academy. 

The academy program will allow students to:

• Explore popular digital jobs and career paths, from marketing to data science.
• Learn from experts at leading companies, including Google, Microsoft, and IBM.
• Earn a valuable career micro-credential.
• Access more than 27 professional certificates.

Interested students should complete the Coursera Student Interest Form. The pilot program has a limited number of licenses available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once a student completes the interest form, DIT will contact a parent/caregiver for consent and enable access to the online coursework. Coursera courses are not Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)-recognized industry credentials and do not count toward high school graduation requirements. 

Tutoring Grants Available for Families: The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is now accepting applications from parents for tutoring microgrants for their children through the K-12 Learning Acceleration Grants program. The program was created to help Virginia families address the impact of the pandemic on student learning. It provides $1,500 grants to parents of school-age children for tutoring in specific subjects. Children from homes with family incomes at 300% or less of the federal poverty level may qualify for $3,000 grants. Available services include in-person, online, and hybrid tutoring provided one-on-one or in small group or large group settings. The first step in the process is to visit VDOE’s K-12 Learning Acceleration Grants page and create an application account.

Summer Access to Tutor.com: Annandale students will continue to have unlimited access to 24/7, on-demand, online tutoring support services through Tutor.com during summer 2023. Students are able to use Tutor.com during the summer to review and/or practice in subject areas of interest or need. Students may also choose to access other tools and services such as practice quizzes in a variety of subject areas as well as self-paced study courses for SAT/ACT preparation. 

Details about how students can access Tutor.com via archived courses in Schoology are provided in Summer Access at Tutor.com - Online Tutoring Services, including a Summer Access Flyer. Students enrolled in summer programs such as SOAR, Young Scholars, IMAGINE, Credit Recovery Academy, Online Campus, Online Economics & Personal Finance, and TJHSST summer courses will be able to access Tutor.com via their active summer course in Schoology.

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. 

Girls Field Hockey/Lacrosse Camp 

Girls Field Hockey/Lacrosse - Rising K-9th Grade - 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.

News from the Activities Office

Check out important information from the Activities Office ion the Annandale High School Athletics and Activities website and the AHS Athletics Twitter page. Please email Brandon Sutphin, our new DSA at basutphin@fcps.edu if you have any questions.

Interested in playing a fall sport? Complete the AHS Fall Interest Form to receive information about green days, program expectations, tryouts, etc. from one of our fall head coaches.

July 19 - Fall Sports Preview Night (Virtual), 6:30pm: On Wednesday, July 19, the Annandale Activities Office will host a virtual fall sports preview night at 6:30pm via Zoom. This will be an informal opportunity to ask questions about the try-out process and the upcoming season. If interested in attending, the link for the Zoom will be posted on the activities website (annandaleatoms.net) on Tuesday. If you have any questions, please email Brandon Sutphin, Director of Student Activities at basutphin@fcps.edu.

Fall Sports Physicals and Registration: To participate in marching band or a fall sport, students need to complete a VHSL physical form and register online. Here is the link to the physical form that must be completed by a doctor. To register online, click here. Directions can be found here - English and Spanish. Once you have completed the Physical Form, turn in the form at the Activities Office. The office is open every day from 9:00am-2:00pm. Questions, email Bryan Harris at bcharris@fcps.edu.

For last minute physicals, visit local CVS minute clinics and urgent care facilities below.

CVS Minute Clinic Locations 

• 3921 Prosperity Ave, Fairfax, VA 
• 7205 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA

Progressive Urgent and Primary Care

• 7306 Maple Pl, Annandale, VA

Annandale's Fall Sports Programs Begin on July 31: Here is a link to the Fall Sports Tryout Schedule and below is the fall coaches contact information. If you have any questions, please reach out directly to the coach of that sport.

News from the PTSA

Congrats Newly Elected 2023-2024 PTSA Officers! The PTSA is pleased to announce its officers for the 2023-2024 school year, elected at the May 2023 general membership meeting: President - Angela Torres, Vice President Programs - Thurraya Kent, Vice President, Membership - Tammy Murphy, Treasurer - Jose Mercado, Secretary - Andre McGinity.

Annandale PTSA Pantry: Our summer produce pop up is offered on Sunday's throughout the summer from 3:00-4:00pm. The schedule can be found below or by clicking on this link. 

Looking ahead to next year, we will be partnering with Food for Neighbors to help stock our shelves. Please sign up to be a red bag donor. It is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Just sign up to be a red bag donor. Fill the red bag with the list provided by email of full-sized items needed. Then, put the red bag outside your door by 8:30am on the donation days.