Annandale Community Insider - July 23

Dear Annandale Students, Parents, and Community,

Each summer gives me the opportunity to reflect on the previous year. One of the ways I do this is by examining our student achievement data. While the VDOE will release the school accountability data beginning in August, our preliminary results show that our students continue to make significant growth.

I am proud to share that we are fully accredited in every subject area and every subgroup! A particular highlight is the incredible progress made by our Hispanic, ESOL and Special Education students in Math. It is clear that our unwavering commitment to our priorities of relationships & support, high-quality instruction, and strong collaboration continues to serve us well.

This past year, we also made strides in supporting our students’ social and emotional needs, especially around our approach to our advisory period. Based on feedback from teachers and students, we adapted our W4 lessons to ensure high quality social and emotional programming. We increased student involvement and connection to school by providing opportunities for students to participate in a club or activity each month during the school day through our W4 Activities Day. We were also purposeful around building relationships, holding one-on-one check-ins to build a caring and trusting environment for all students, cultivate positive relationships, and identify student needs. In addition, we began our Student of the Month recognition program.

We also refined our systems and structures around supporting students' academic needs. Once again, based on feedback, we became more responsive in the ways we identified students to receive additional support during PRIDE Time and our After School Academic Program (ASAP). We have even expanded that support to include a Summer SOL Bootcamp.

All of these highlight that our achievements are a direct result of the collaborative efforts of our staff, families, and the entire community. Our staff, families and community working together to meet the needs of our students makes a big difference. We know that our strong partnerships will continue to make a significant impact in the lives of our students. 

Please reach out if you have any questions and Go Atoms!

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

July 31 - Fall Sports Begin

August 1 - Band Camp Begins

August 3 - New Student/Parent Information Session(s)

August 11 - First Day Back for Teachers

August 17 - Student Schedules Available in SIS StudentVue and ParentVue

August 17 - Parent Information Session

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 31 - Fall Sports Begin: Fall sports, which include Cheer, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Field Hockey, and Volleyball will begin, Monday, July 31. Note: Golf will hold their first day of tryouts on Friday, July 28. 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!

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 student and 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!

IB Students Graduate from the Diploma Program with Honors: Congratulations to our IB Diploma Class of 2023 as 29 of our seniors earned the prestigious IB Diploma. The diploma candidates had a 100% pass rate on their Theory of Knowledge and Service requirements.  A’s and B’s were earned in our Extended essays (4,000 word research papers) in the following subjects: English, Global Politics, History, Anthropology, and Biology. 

Three subjects earned scores that beat the world average which include Spanish ab initio SL, Spanish HL, and History HL. IB scores range from 1 to 7 with 7 being the highest. This year we had scores of 6 and 7 in the following subjects: Literature, Arabic, Spanish, Business, Geography, History, World Religions, and Math Analysis. Kudos to the students for all their hard work and the dedication of our talented IB teachers!

At Annandale, 481 students took 1,111 exams and IB scores were released on July 6. Information on how to obtain IB scores was mailed or handed out to students in May. Results can be found at https://candidates.ibo.org. Graduates that filled out the Senior Survey will have an IB transcript sent to the college in August. Please reach out to Linda Bradshaw, IB Diploma coordinator, at Linda.Bradshaw@fcps.edu if you need login information or have questions.

Reading WorkKeys and Algebra 1 SOL Bootcamps a Success! This past week, we had over 35 students in the building working with teachers to prepare for standardized exams they need to earn verified credits.

Rising seniors who still needed a verified reading credit to graduate were invited to attend our Reading WorkKeys Bootcamp. During the week they worked in small groups targeting vocabulary, reading comprehension skills, and test taking strategies. On Friday, 16 students took the Reading WorkKeys and 5 passed! Thank you to our students and families for encouraging students to participate and to our wonderful teachers: Charles Clay, Emily Lockwood, Mary Johnson and Jasmine Welgoss for making this week such a success!

Students who failed the Algebra 1 SOL were invited to attend the remediation session. Of the 20 students who tested, 13 passed the exam and 6 scored high enough to qualify for an expedited retake July 25. Many thanks to Karen Olarinde, Glenn Loup, and Jen Kirk for taking time out of their summer vacation to come in and help our students towards graduation!

Nick Zubieta - Lead Counselor: Nick Zubieta is an experienced and dedicated professional school counselor with a passion for supporting students' academic and emotional development. He has made a significant impact on students' lives at various institutions, including Thomas A Edison High School, and served as a credit recovery school counselor for Fairfax County and as a professional school counselor at Holmes Middle School. He received a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from George Mason University and a Master of Education in Counselor Education from Virginia Commonwealth University, Nick is well-equipped to lead and make informed decisions. Fluent in Spanish and conversational in French, he effectively connects with diverse students and families. We are thrilled to welcome Nick to the Atom Nation, as his expertise and dedication will undoubtedly make a positive impact on our students' lives.

Ingrid Puna - School Counselor: Ingrid Puna is an accomplished College Readiness and Student Success Specialist at George Mason University. With a Masters of Education in Counseling and a Bachelors of Arts in Spanish, she is dedicated to empowering students and ensuring their academic achievements. Ingrid's fluency in both English and Spanish allows her to effectively connect with students from diverse backgrounds, providing them with the necessary resources and guidance to thrive academically. Her leadership and commitment have made her an invaluable asset to the university community, and she is admired for her compassionate approach and unwavering dedication to student success.  We are thrilled to have Ingrid Puna join the Atom Nation, where her expertise and passion for student success will undoubtedly make a significant impact on our community.

Important Information

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

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

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 24-28 from 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.

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. Note: Golf will hold their first day of tryouts on Friday, July 28. 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.