Annandale Community Insider - October 1

Annandale Students, Parents and Community:

Homecoming Week was a huge success! It was so fun to see our staff and students show their school spirit as they dressed for Spirit Week. Our admin team twinned on Tuesday with Annandale gear, we saw lots of great jerseys on Wednesday, staff and students alike leaned way into wearing comfy pajamas on Thursday, and then lots of all black for Friday. Friday’s pep rally was held in our stadium where students came together to cheer on our Fall athletes, homecoming court, and their class. The final event was our annual flag football match in which the class of 2024 pulled a surprise victory ;)

The fun continued into the weekend. Many community members came out for the homecoming tailgate hosted by our student clubs. The festivities were followed by an exciting game against Bishop Ireton. The stands were packed with fans decked out in all black showing their Atom Nation spirit with a “black out.” And finally, on Saturday, almost 700 students attended the Homecoming dance, where they enjoyed food trucks, dancing, and a photo booth. I love to see our students participate in these opportunities to deepen their connection to Atom Nation. For many students, these are the most memorable moments from high school. A big thank you to our Leadership class and the Activities Office for planning these events and to all our staff and students for participating with such spirit!

Another way we provide opportunities for students to make connections outside of the classroom is through W4 Activities days. On Monday, we will hold our first W4 Activities Day of the year. This is a monthly event during which students have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of self-selected options, such as clubs and honor society meetings, sports and games, arts and crafts, and much, much more! Last week, students selected their preferred activity. Assignments were made based on space and interest, and priority was given to students who do not have any tardies. Students received an email on Friday with their assignment for tomorrow.

Finally, on Wednesday, October 4, we will begin PRIDE Time. To support our students’ diverse academic needs, our instructional coaches and teachers work together to identify students for specific subject-area interventions based on student data 5-6 times each year. Students who have been identified will receive targeted support to help ensure they can pass SOLs and courses. Students not identified for intervention will be placed in a Study Hall, where they will be encouraged to access their grades, complete assignments, and work with teachers who may request them. Students will be able to view their PRIDE Time assignment in StudentVue as their period 11 class on Tuesday. Please ask your student about their PRIDE Time assignment and how they are using this time to their advantage. Reach out to your student’s teachers with any questions you may have.

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

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Awesome Atoms

School Resource Officer Adam Curcio Promoted to Sergeant: Congrats to SRO Adam Curcio who was recently promoted to Sergeant, a supervisory rank with the Fairfax County Police Department. Officer Curcio, a 14 year veteran, has been the School Resource Officer (SRO) at Annandale High School for the past 7 years. 

Sergeant Curcio has been a leader in the Public Safety Cadet Program, spending countless hours on nights and weekends mentoring, coaching, and recruiting our future leaders in law enforcement. In addition, he was recently selected as the SRO training coordinator due to his continued commitment to maintaining a high level of knowledge and skills, benefiting the department and school community.

Marching Atoms Visit Annandale Terrace Elementary School: On Friday, September 22, the Marching Atoms walked to ATES to join the Cougars for their beginning of the year pep rally. Students at ATES dressed in their “house” colors and cheered, sang, and danced as the Marching Atoms played. Several Annandale HS alumni who teach at ATES joined in the fight song. Band members who attended ATES took photos with their favorite teachers and encouraged the elementary students to join band. ATES principal, Ms. Ingrid Badia, had each “house” compete for the Spirit Stick award by chanting the school’s song. While band members joined in the chant, they were no match for the Yellow house Grade 4 who won with a deafening Cougar roar!

Annandale SEALs Attend FCPS Kickoff Celebration: Congratulations to Sage Nagle, Christina Abouzeki, Sosan Barakzai, and Husna Basiri, Annandale’s Student Equity Ambassador Leaders (SEALs). SEALs amplify student voices and provide an increased understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion through leadership development, projects, and relevant experiences of high school students. This week our SEALs attended the FCPS Kickoff Celebration at Lewis High School.

Congratulations to Sage Nagle, Special Olympics Youth Leader: Congratulations to Annandale Junior Sage Nagle who has been named to the Special Olympics of Virginia Youth Leadership Council. As a member of the council, Sage will advocate for her peers at the state level, through social media platforms and by helping with Special Olympics Virginia resources and initiatives. Sage will also have the opportunity to participate in training to extend her leadership skills and public speaking while promoting equality and respect for those with intellectual disabilities across Virginia. Way to represent Atom Nation, Sage!

Annandale Culinary Students Visit Ovoka Farms: This past Tuesday, Chef Plum and the culinary arts classes went on a tour of Ovoka Farms located in Paris, VA. They learned about the crossbreeding of cattle and the different levels of Wagyu. They also got to pet some cattle as well as try F1 (50/50 Angus and Wagyu) hotdogs. The tour took them through the process of calving to the final pastures before they are sent off to be processed for meat. Ovoka Farms really cares about their three-year-long process of raising the cattle and how they are humanely slaughtered and treated. It was fun to see how the farm hand could call out to the cattle and they would all come running.  

AHS Celebrates International Day: On September 21, the Just World Club at Annandale celebrated the International Day of Peace with our annual Chalk4Peace event, in which students use chalk to write messages advocating for peace.

Important Dates

October 2 - W4 Activities Day

October 2 - Atoms Booster Club Meeting, 6pm

October 4 - PRIDE Time Begins

October 4 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving

October 5 - World Language Credit Exam Deadline

October 9 - Indigenous Peoples' Day (No School for Students)

October 10 - PTSA Meeting, 7pm

October 11 - PSAT/SAT Day

October 15 - FCPS College Fair

October 16 - Fall Band Concert

October 16 & 17 - Virtual Postsecondary Night

October 18, 19, 20 & November 3 - Senior Picture Retakes

October 19 - IB Senior Diploma Library Day

October 19 - Fall Orchestra Concert

October 31 - Underclass Picture Retakes

June 3 - AHS Graduation, 9:30am

Now Through October 15 - National Hispanic Heritage Month: From now until October 15, FCPS and Annandale High School recognizes and celebrates the histories and cultures of the members of our community who trace their heritage to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month.

October 2 - W4 Activities Day: One of our goals this year is to increase student involvement at Annandale outside of the classroom. One way we are doing this is by providing opportunities for clubs to meet during the school day. These opportunities will occur on the first White Monday of each month from October to April. Check out the following module for more information about W4 Activities Day.

October 2 - Atoms Booster Club Meeting: Join us at our next Atoms Booster Club meeting on Tuesday, October 2 at 6pm in Room 43. You can also check out the Atoms Booster Blast to learn more about how you can get involved and help support our student-athletes at Annandale!

October 4 - PRIDE Time Begins: At Annandale, we work together to support our students’ needs. One way we do this is through our approach to targeted intervention through PRIDE Time. This year, PRIDE Time 1.0 will begin on October 4. Coaches will be using a comprehensive data wall to identify students, and CTs will collaborate to determine their approach to PRIDE Time. Students not identified for PRIDE Time will be placed in a Study Hall and can be requested by other Study Hall teachers to receive support, as needed. Students’ schedules will be updated in SIS no later than October 3. Please reach out to Erik Healey with questions.

October 4 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving: Included in Grade 10 Health & PE is one quarter, or 30-36 hours, of in-classroom driver education. To get your driver’s license in Virginia, you must successfully pass, the classroom portion of driver education. You must also attend a 90-minute parent-teen traffic safety program, Partners for Safe Teen Driving, or PSTD, with a parent/guardian. Annandale High School is hosting five (5) PSTD presentations this school year, one each quarter and two during the fourth quarter. They are free to students enrolled in Health & PE 10 at Annandale HS and begin at 6:30pm in the auditorium. You must attend with a parent/guardian, arrive ON TIME, and remain the duration of the presentation for your attendance to be verified. Choose a date convenient for you and your parent/guardian. You may attend a session outside of your Driver Education quarter. Register here for a PSTD session that works for you! If you have any questions, please contact Lizzie McManus. Partners for Safe Teen Driving Dates at Annandale High School: October 4, January 10, March 13, April 17 and May 8.

October 5 - World Language Credit Exam Deadline: The 2023 World Languages Credit Exam will be administered on November 8, 9, and 13, 2023. Thirty (30) languages will be included: American Sign Language (ASL), Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Mandarin), Farsi, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Pashto, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Tigrinya, Turkish, Twi, Urdu, and Vietnamese. Registration opens on Tuesday, September 5 at 8:00am and closes on Thursday, October 5 at 4:00pm. Late registrations will not be accepted. School counselors at Annandale will register interested students. Credit exam information can be accessed at on the FCPS website.

October 19 - IB Senior Diploma Library Day: On Thursday, October 19, IB Seniors will be in the library all day working on their Extended Essays with support from librarians, coordinators, and extended essay supervisors.

June 3 - Class of 2024 Graduation: Mark your calendars! The Annandale Class of 2024 will graduate on Monday, June 3, at 9:30am, at EagleBank Arena on the campus of George Mason University.

Important Information

2023-24 AP/IB Test Opt-Out Timeline and Fees: As part of the FCPS budget, FCPS is continuing to pay for the first six IB/AP tests a student wishes to take. Students will be assessed Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) test fees for any tests beyond the first six funded by FCPS. Students that have free/reduced lunch status and have completed the consent to share form, will not be charged these fees. 

FCPS and Annandale High School encourage all students to take IB tests for courses in which they are enrolled. This is an excellent opportunity to practice taking a college level exam.  The IB exam calendar can be found here.  When IB scores are released in July 2024, students have the ability to share their scores with their colleges. However, if students wish to not test they will have the opportunity to opt-out.

To obtain the opt-out form, students must see Mrs. Bradshaw, IB Diploma Coordinator, in the library. Opt-Out forms are due by October 20. Parents will be billed in December through MySchoolBucks for any test fees beyond the six FCPS funded tests. These fees are non-refundable and there is no spring cancellation option.

Social and Emotional Learning Screener Offered in October: One of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is the SEL Screener. The screener is offered to all students in grades 3-12 in October and again in February or March. It addresses skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. The SEL Screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create the learning, experiences, and environments students need to be successful. SEL Screener results are sent to families via postal mail. Families who wish to opt their child out should complete the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or in SIS ParentVUE. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. Please note that the SEL Screener differs from the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey.

Adjusted Schedules for Wednesday, October 11

Annandale High School is hosting a PSAT and SAT School Day on Wednesday, October 11. Students in grades 10-12 will be participating in these exams, and all students will see a change to their schedules on October 11, as follows:

• No School for students in grade 9 and Seniors who did not register for the SAT
• Students in grades 10 & 11, CAT B students, and Seniors who registered for the SAT will have a 2-hour early release.
• Academy classes and shuttles are canceled. 

Grade 9 - Catch Up Day: Students in Grade 9 and seniors who are not taking the SAT Test will not be in school on October 11. Instead, students should use this time to work on any outstanding assignments.

Grades 10 and 11 - PSAT School Day: All students in Grades 10 and 11 will participate in the PSAT. No registration is required. The test is offered at no cost to families. All FCPS students have access to Khan Academy’s free online test preparation, whether they are taking the PSAT for the first time or preparing for eleventh grade National Merit Scholarship Qualification. The Khan Academy online curriculum is customized for students based on any previous PSAT or SAT scores. In addition, the website offers general test preparation tips for students. 

For PSAT day, all students MUST bring their school assigned school laptops and chargers as tests are virtual this year. Students will be using the BlueBook App for all PSAT testing. Students are allowed to bring a calculator for testing. Acceptable calculator policy is linked here for your review.

Grade 12 - SAT School Day: Grade 12 students who registered will have the opportunity to take the SAT. FCPS will cover the cost for any twelfth-grade student to take this test. General information about the SAT School Day test format is available on the College Board webpage. Students are responsible for bringing their own calculators and pencils for testing. Acceptable calculator policy is linked here for your review. If you have questions about the SAT School Day administration at Annandale High School, please contact Brian Yeagley. 

Seniors who did not register for the SAT School Day will use this as a catch-up day and are not expected to be present on testing day.

CAT B Students - Two Hour Early Release: Students with disabilities taught on an adapted curriculum (Category B) who are not participating in PSAT or SAT exams receive normal in-person instruction for the shortened school day.

Opportunities

Annandale Tutoring Center Open Mondays: Students can now get tutoring from AVID and honor society members, every Monday in Room 287 from 3:00-400pm. Tutors will be available to help in math, science and social studies. Contact Ms. Lukacs with questions.

Thursday College Application Workshops: Every Thursday from 3:00-4:00pm in Room 90 (near the Cafeteria), Counselors and AVID students will be assisting students with various topics: Making a College List; Transcript Request Form; Common App; Recommendation Requests. These topics will be repeated, starting September 21. Students are welcome to drop in with questions about any aspect of the process. 

No Cost Therapy for High Schoolers: High school students can access virtual mental health services at no cost through an FCPS program with Hazel Health. Hazel Health therapists are licensed and also trained in teen-specific challenges. Students can be referred by a guardian or designated staff member and participate in weekly video therapy sessions. The therapists will work with students until they achieve their therapy goals, or they can help connect the family with long-term mental health services in the community if needed. Learn how to opt your students into this service.

IB Parent Meeting Presentations: Linda Bradshaw, IB Coordinator, held presentations at Back to School Night on September 21st. Families of IB students learned the core requirements of the IB diploma and how to support their students through their IB journey. For those that were unable to attend, please check out the presentations here: IB Junior Parent Meeting Slides (Class of 2025), IB Senior Parent Meeting Slides (Class of 2024). Email Linda Bradshaw with any questions.

Honor Societies

Students at Annandale High School have the opportunity to join many different honor societies. Below you will find the eligibility criteria and application information, including deadlines.

Due October 6 - Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica: The Spanish Honor Society is an honor society for high school students enrolled in Spanish and/or Portuguese. Eligible students maintain a 3.5 GPA in the study of Spanish for a minimum of three semesters at the High School Level. Freshmen cannot be inducted without special permission from the SHH Director. Current members don’t need to reapply. Meetings are held during W4 Clubs & Activities Days. Applications for membership are available in room M23 during the month of September. The application deadline for the current year is October 6. Acceptance decisions will be shared with students via emails by October 16.

Due October 13 - Science National Honor Society: Juniors or Seniors enrolled in an IB Science course with a GPA of 3.5 are eligible to apply to be a member of the Science Honor Society. Members of SNHS are recognized for excellence in encouraging and recognizing scientific and intellectual thought. Application link is available here.

Due October 16 - Computer Science Honor Society: All students who are interested in learning and sharing information related to computer science topics and who will participate in community service to teach others in the community about CS. Meetings will be held one or two times per month where students can learn about Computer Science topics and also receive support if they are currently enrolled in a Computer Science course. Apply here!

Due October 31 - National Honor Society: Applications for Annandale National Honor Society will begin in October. In order to make ensure every student who us interested in applying recieves application information, students can sign up early using this Google Form that will put them on an email list used to share the application when it is available. Eligible students who wish to apply will receive an acceptance invitation in November via their school emails with further information.

Students in grades 10-12 who currently have an overall unweighted GPA of 3.5 are eligible to apply. The application will also consider students’ previous service, leadership and character examples/experiences. Current members do not need to reapply this year and will receive information about our first members meeting for this school year by the end of September. If students have any questions, they can email Michelle Luka.

Due November 10 - National Art Honor Society: Students in grades 10-12 who maintain a B or better in an upper level art course are taking an art class are eligible to join this society of artists who hold each other accountable, lift up our members, give back to our community, and stand out as artistic leaders. We take on cool service projects and collaborate across different mediums of art to make Annandale a better place. Applications open up toward the end of the first quarter and are due by November 10. Questions? See Ms. Lucas in Rm 148 or Ms. Mahoney in Rm 146.

Coming in March - Société Honoraire de Français: Members of the National French Honor Society excel in the areas of scholarship, character, and leadership. The goals of the organization are to promote and reward high standards of scholarship, stimulate interest in the study of French, and create enthusiasm for and an understanding of francophone culture and civilization.

FHS is invitation only. Personal letters of invitation sent in March to students in grades 10, 11, or 12 who are enrolled in or have completed French III or higher, maintain an “A” in French coursework, maintain an exemplary discipline record. Upon acceptance, new members will participate in the induction ceremony in the Spring and attend FHS meetings through the end of the year. Current members will receive updated information in September via email and Schoology regarding future meetings, activities and opportunities.

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!

October 15 - FCPS College Fair: High school students and their families are invited to attend the FCPS College Fair at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena on Sunday, October 15, 4-7pm. The fair will feature admissions representatives from more than 250 colleges and universities from across the United States and abroad. Register here!

October 16 & 17 - Virtual Postsecondary Night: FCPS will offer two virtual events on Monday & Tuesday, October 16 & 17 from 5-8pm. The events will feature workshops related to the college admissions process, financial aid, and other postsecondary educational opportunities. 

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.

This Week’s Schedule: 

Monday, October 2

Occoquan Region Golf Tournament @ Twin Lakes

Tuesday, October 3

F/JV/V Volleyball @ Justice - 5:00/6:00/7:15pm

Wednesday, October 4

JV/V Field Hockey @ Justice - 6:15/7:30pm

Cross Country vs Justice @ Mason District - 5:00pm (SENIOR NIGHT)

Thursday, October 5

F/JV Football @ Justice - 5:30/7:30

F/JV/V Volleyball @ Lewis - 5:00/6:00/7:15pm

Friday, October 6

V Football @ Justice - 7:00pm 

Saturday, October 7

Marching Atoms @ JMU