Annandale Students, Parents and Community:
Happy Labor Day! I hope you are enjoying this beautiful holiday weekend. I spent most of the weekend relaxing and hanging out with my mom and dad who were in town.
Since mid-August, we have shared with teachers and staff data highlighting the academic success of our students. We have also heard personal stories from our students and families about the positive impact of our work. Much of this success can be attributed to our focus on relationships and support.
At Annandale, we take advantage of the small moments throughout the school day to connect with students both inside and outside of the classroom. There is no doubt that our smooth opening these first two weeks of school is a result of our staff’s dedication to building relationships and clarifying expectations in every class and hallway transition throughout the school day.
Academically, teachers have been collaborating in their teams to design baseline assessments that will give them a better understanding of what students know. These assessments, which will be administered over the next several weeks, will inform instructional planning and allow both teachers and students to measure progress throughout the year.
To ensure all students are able to take full advantage of the learning opportunities in our classrooms, we are putting greater emphasis on the importance of student attendance. We have shared with students that our Atoms Agreement of “Determination” means that we show up on time and, last week, we began our Start on Time program. This building-wide initiative will support students with arriving to class in a timely manner. Teachers, counselors, administrators, coaches and other staff members will all be working together to escort students to class who remain in the halls past the late bell.
As always, reach out if you have any questions.
Shawn DeRose, Principal
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Awesome Atoms
Super Bowl Winner, Malcolm Mitchell, Visits Annandale High School: This past week, freshman Health & PE classes were treated to a conversation with Super Bowl Winner, Malcolm Mitchell on the importance of reading and how success is about how hard you work and what you know.
Building Improvements in the Main Office and Student Services: Over the past several years, Annandale has been committed to improving every area of the campus. Recently, new tile floors were installed in the main office and student services areas. In addition, new carpet was installed in the administrative offices and the principal's conference room.
Seven Students Recognized by College Board: Congrats to Alison Coria Tarazona, Anthony Rodriguez, Maaz Fidail, Ronald Parada, Semir Ali, Tsion Teklebirhan for being recognized nationally by College Board. Your hard work and dedication are truly inspiring!
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Important Dates
September 5 - Activities Fair (During W4)
September 5 - Senior Student/Parent College Night
September 5 - Athletic Booster Club Meeting, 6pm
September 6 - SAT School Day Intent Form Due
September 11 - Late Busses Begin
September 11 - Public Safety Cadets Open House
September 12 - PTSA Meeting
September 16 - Annandale Performing Arts Tag Day
September 18-22 - Senior Pictures
September 21 - Back to School Night
September 25 - Yom Kippur (No School)
September 26-29 - Homecoming Week
September 30 - Homecoming Dance
October 5 - World Language Credit Exam
October 9 - Indigenous Peoples' Day (No School for Students)
October 11 - PSAT/SAT Day
October 19 - IB Senior Diploma Library Day
September 5 - Club & Activities Fair: On Tuesday, September 5, we will be hosting our annual Clubs & Activities Fair during W4. Our goal as an Activities Department is increasing involvement and participation by our students in extracurricular offerings and the Activities Fair is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about everything that Annandale has to offer. For an up-to-date list of clubs currently offered at Annandale, visit our website.
September 5 - Senior Student/Parent College Night, 6-8pm: Are you planning to apply to college this year or helping your child apply? Please join us on Tuesday, September 5 to hear Lead AVID teacher, Ms. Wells and College & Career Specialist Brian Yeagley give a talk about what Seniors should be doing now to prepare for applying to college this year. After the presentation we will have a panel of admissions representatives from George Mason, James Madison University, and Virginia Tech speak about what they are looking for when reviewing college applications. Students and parents will also be given the opportunity to ask the panel questions. The event will take place in Clausen Hall. Questions? Email Mr. Yeagley.
September 5 - Athletic Booster Club Meeting, 6pm: Join us for our next Atoms Booster Club meeting on Tuesday, September 5 at 6:00pm in the driver's education room. Interested in knowing more about our Atoms Booster Club?! Then check out the Atoms Booster Blast to learn more about how you can get involved and help support our student-athletes at Annandale!
September 6 - SAT School Day Intent Form Due: On Wednesday, October 11, Annandale High School students in grade 12 will have the opportunity to take the SAT School Day. FCPS will cover the cost for any senior to take this test. The essay option and subject area tests are not available during SAT School Day.
Reserve a seat for your senior to take this exam and ensure appropriate test materials are available for your student, families are asked to complete this form by Wednesday, September 6. Your student will need to use an @fcpsschools.net email account to access and complete this form. General information about the SAT School Day test format is available on the College Board webpage. We will share exam day schedules and additional details in the coming weeks. If you have questions about the SAT School Day administration at Annandale High School, please contact our College and Career Specialist/SAT School Day Coordinator, Brian Yeagley.
September 11 - Annual Open House "First Nighter" for the Public Safety Cadets, 7pm: The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) is hosting their annual Open House for the Public Safety Cadets Unit 505 on Monday, September 11, 2023 beginning at 7:00pm. The event will be held in the AHS rear parking lot with various FCPD assets on display including the mobile crime scene unit, mobile bomb squad unit and robot, mobile command bus, and our helicopter which will land in the parking lot. Displays will conclude around 7:30pm, at which point we will move into the cafeteria for an informational meeting about the Public Safety Cadets program and how young people can join. Find more information on our website.
September 12 - PTSA Meeting, 7pm: The first PTSA of the 2023-24 school year will be on Tuesday, September 12 at 7:00pm. PTSA meetings are bilingual and Spanish translation is provided. Las reuniones de PTSA son bilingües y se proporciona traducción al español. Join us in Clausen Hall or virtually! Visit the Annandale PTSA website for more information.
September 16 - Annandale Performing Arts Tag Day: Tag day is a major performing arts fundraiser where members of the Annandale Bands, Theater Chorus and Orchestra go door to door within the community to ask for donations. The donations assist in funding uniforms, costumes, instruments, scholarships, clinicians, music, supplies, and registration for competitions. Your continued support enables us to proudly represent our school and community throughout the year.
Sptember 18-22 - Senior Pictures: It’s almost time for senior pictures for the Class of 2024! Students should have received an email from our photography company, Legacy Studios, with instructions to schedule their appointment September 18-22. Pictures will be during school hours in Clausen Hall. If you have any questions, please contact the Legacy Studios Senior Portraits Assistance for Parents/Students line at 716-512-6336.
If you haven’t received an email, don’t worry! You can still register for your senior pictures by going to Legacy's Scheduling Website. Scroll down the page to view and select your sitting level - details of each sitting level are there for you to review. Once selected, scroll down the page a little further and click on your sitting level. Choose "set time zone" and a calendar will pop up. Select the date and times you prefer, then click "continue." Enter your name and payment information (if applicable - note, there is no fee for a yearbook picture). Once your appointment is scheduled, you will receive a confirmation email.
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Important Information
Student Attendance: In order for our students to get the most out of their education, students must be in school and on time to class every day. Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school. If your student must be absent from school, you should always inform the school. The attendance line is 703-642-4151.
Update Your Students’ Health Information and Emergency Care Forms: The Health Information Form (HIF) (SS/SE-71) and the Emergency Care Information form (SS/SE-3) provide valuable information regarding student health conditions. These forms are required for all students. Enrolling parents/guardians who have a SIS ParentVUE account may submit them electronically by using the Online Verification/Update packet.
For families without SIS ParentVue accounts, forms can be located in the Back to School packets and on the General Registration Forms page.
Lightspeed Parent Report on Student’s Device Activity: FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service. Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your student visited. The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their student’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours. Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.
Chromebook Tips: Students at Annandale High School recently received a new Chromebook. These devices feature larger screens than previously issued devices and battery life that easily lasts the school day. Encourage your student to visit the following helpful links to:
If your student prefers to use their personal laptop, make sure it meets our minimum requirements. Students may access our student Chromebook FAQs (FCPS Google login required) for more information.
Parental Permission to Use Digital Resources: Some FCPS-approved digital resources require parent consent before they can be used by students. Find the list of resources which require consent on the Parent Consent webpage. This page also includes directions for providing permission. Parents can find more information about FCPS-approved digital resources on the Digital Resources in FCPS webpage.
Course Change Process: Our counselors will continue to make modifications to student schedules that have errors. Students seeking a schedule change need to complete the Schedule Change Request Form located in Student Services. This form will only be available until September 8. Counselors will prioritize these requests based on student need and will contact students as necessary. Please reach out to Erik Healey, Nick Zubieta, or your student’s counselor, if you have any questions.
Student Lockers: Students lockers will be available by request only beginning on Tuesday, September 5. Students will receive information about how to request a locker during W4.
Safety Drills During the School Year: Keeping students and staff safe is a priority at Annandale High School. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including fire and lockdown drills, each year.
This week, we will conduct our first lockdown drill of the school year. Your student may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your student about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Here are some helpful tips for families to use to support their students before and after school lockdown drills. Working together, we create a safe, secure environment for students to learn and grow in our schools.
Academy Students Travel Period Locations: When returning from their Travel Period, students taking Academy courses should report to the Auditorium during the lunch block (R5/W6) where they will eat D Lunch. During all other periods, Academy Students returning to school should report to T-11. Students should be in their designated location during their Travel Periods. If students have a class after returning from the Academy, they should report to the Attendance Office for a pass to class.
Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications Now Available: Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications are now available. Students approved for Free and Reduced-Price Meals may qualify for additional benefits such as waived or reduced fees for instruments, uniforms, field trips, FCPS class fees, and Parktakes classes. To take advantage of those benefits, complete this form. Schools also benefit from funding opportunities based on Free and Reduced Price Meal application numbers. Visit the FCPS Free and Reduced-Price Meals website for more information.
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 Before and after photos of the Main Office and Student Services
News from Student Services
College & Career Planning Google Site: Check out the College & Career Planning Google site, which provides up-to-date information on the college application process; college representative visits; financial aid and FAFSA/VASA workshops; military options; information on apprenticeships; as well as resources for finding a job. The website also provides contact information for our School Counselors, as well as our College and Career Specialist.
Register For College Rep Visits: Are you interested in hearing from college admissions representatives from colleges you are interested in applying to? Please follow the directions below to register. (Juniors and Seniors ONLY). Log into Naviance and click "Student Naviance Login." Click on "Colleges" at the top of the page and then click on "college visits." You will then see a list of all the colleges that are visiting, along with the dates and times. Click "register now" for the visits you would like to attend. Students must show the email to their teacher and get permission at attend. Students who are not registered in Naviance for a college visit will be denied entry. Please note that students are limited to registering for up to six college visits!
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News from the Activities Office
Check out the latest information from the Activities Office in their weekly 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.
Atoms Spirit Gear: Interested in ordering some Atoms spirit wear? Check out our online store and get your Atoms merch! Atoms Online Store
Purchase an All-Season Athletic Pass! The Atoms Booster Club’s All-Season pass provides you general admission access to all regular season home football, baseball, basketball, soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, volleyball, and wrestling events. With more than nine sports showcased, you can save BIG with the all-season pass! To purchase your Atoms Pass, click here! 23-24 Atoms Booster Pass.
This Week’s Schedule:
Tuesday, September 5
Golf vs TJ @ Pinecrest - 3:30pm - SENIOR NIGHT
Wednesday, September 6
F/JV/V Volleyball vs Justice - 5:00/6:00/7:15pm
JV/V Field Hockey @ Langley - 6:15/7:30pm
Thursday, September 7
F/JV Football vs Hayfield - 5:45/7:30pm
Friday, September 8
Varsity Football @ Hayfield - 7:00pm
Varsity Field Hockey @ Chantilly Tournament
Saturday, September 9
Varsity Field Hockey @ Chantilly Tournament
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Purchase a Red Card! Each fall, our sports programs sell a discount “Red Card” to raise money for their teams. The red cards include various discounts at local businesses including: Community Car Care, Firehouse Subs, Jersey Mike’s, Sunoco, Kilroy’s, Subway, D1 Training, Barnside Diner, and AHS Sports Camps. Red Cards are only $20 and can be used at any of the businesses through August 2024. If you would like to purchase a Red Card, please reach out to a fall athlete or email Brandon Sutphin, Director of Student Activities
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News from the PTSA
PTSA Membership for the 2023-24 School Year: The Annandale High School PTSA is committed to helping our students and community. Together, we sponsor many programs and activities for our students, parents, and staff, including teacher grants, community outreach events, AHS Food Pantry, All Night Grad Celebration, Senior Scholarships, and more! Please consider joining for the 2023-2024 school year by filling out the online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.
Annandale PTSA Pantry - Food for Neighbors Partnership: This year, we are 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.
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