Annandale Students, Families, and Community:
There is much to celebrate in Atom Nation! This past week, our Instructional Council, CT Leads, Administrators and Instructional Coaches came together for our biannual progress monitoring meeting, where we shared our School Improvement & Innovation Plan (SIIP), as well as evidence from across the school of our strategies in action. Overwhelmingly, this group noticed that teams from every department are clearly focused on evidence of student learning and are making big instructional shifts that allow teachers to better support students by name and need. Additionally, this group recommended that our next step be to consider more ways we can partner with families in order to continue supporting our students. As a first step, we will be sending progress reports home to families. These reports will include the student’s updated PRIDE Time assignment, as well as some helpful conversation started to support discussions at home.
This weekend, the Annandale Theater Company put on a spectacular performance of Radium Girls. More than 50 students worked hard over the past several months to prepare for the show, and their efforts and determination were evident in this weekend’s performance. There were even some guest appearances from Annandale staff members!
I am so proud of the amazing work our students and staff have been doing. As we approach Thanksgiving break, we will continue our tradition of allowing everyone to relax and refresh over holiday breaks. Teachers will not assign homework, projects, or papers over breaks, and refrain from assigning any major assessments or project due dates on the first two days back. We want our staff and students to enjoy a wellness break and have time to connect with family and friends this Thanksgiving holiday.
As always, please reach out with any questions, and Go Atoms!
Shawn DeRose, Principal
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Awesome Atoms
97% of English 11 Students Earn Verified Credit: This week 430 students enrolled in English 11, IB Lang & Lit, and IB Literature took the WorkKeys Business Writing test. This test is a substitute assessment for the Writing SOL. 97% of our Junior Class passed and are eligible for their Writing Verified Credit! This success is the result of our English 11 team working collaboratively to plan and prepare their students and our student’s hard work to practice for this assessment.
AWC Supports Students Preparing for WorkKeys Test: Atoms Writing Center tutors took over three classrooms to help students improve their writing on assignments and prepare their writing for the upcoming WorkKeys test. During Pride Time on Friday a few dozen students worked one-on-one with trained peer tutors to practice and improve their writing skills. The AWC is open during Pride Time and Wednesdays after school to support students with writing.
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Journalist Al Hunt Hosts Journalism PRIDE Time: has interviewed eight presidents and moderated presidential debates while at CNN, Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal. Now he's bringing a team of working journalists to Annandale to help students produce stories about student life. Students can impact their futures, add to their portfolios, and set themselves apart by joining us. Encourage your child to contact Ms. Crowley for Thursday's introductory session for the Journalism Pride Time Project with Al Hunt.
Choirs Hold Banner Day at District Chorus Auditions: Last Saturday, 54 students in the AHS Choral Department auditioned for District Chorus along with 300 students in District X. Of those that auditioned, I am pleased to announce that Annandale placed 35 students in mixed and treble choirs, respectfully.
Please congratulate the following students on this great achievement: Lina Abuelhawa, Julia Albertani, Sylvie Bankester, Alice Banks, Kaira Campos-Chanez, Kiara Campos-Chanez, TK Decareau, Sophia Demers, Nathaniel Dosen, Anna Fitzgerald, Louise Fitzgerald, Juliana Flores, Gabriel Fuentes Quinteros, Sarah Guy, Danielle Hoye, Colin Hoyt, Esther Koroma, Christine Mahoney, Josie McElveen, Drew McKenna, Tyler Miller, Amelia Mongold, Quinn Mongold, Terry Moreno-Valeriano, Megan Murray, Thien Phan, Noah Plank, Elizabeth Porter, Esteban Rambal, Yvi Reyes, Andrew Salazar, Finn Sample, Kaya Thomas, Kaylyn Truong and Sean Visperas.
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AVID Students Visit U of Richmond and VCU: Forty-eight (48) AVID students visited VCU and the University of Richmond last Friday. At VCU they met with a panel of AHS AVID alumni who are current students at VCU, took a tour of campus, and had lunch. At the University of Richmond students participated in an information session and a tour of campus. Our students were praised for their great questions and said their favorite part was learning about two very different colleges so they can think about what type of college is the best fit for them.
Annandale Students Attend FCPS Student Food Show: Nine students representing Annandale’s Introduction to Culinary and Nutrition and Wellness classes joined their peers from 24 elementary, middle, and high schools at the inaugural “Future of FCPS Student Food Show” this past Monday. Students sampled and provided feedback on new, scratch-made breakfast and lunch recipes. Among the more than 30 options were vegetarian, vegan, Kosher, and Halal options and many recipes inspired by global cultures. Students and faculty gave their opinions on individual menu items in a survey. By the end of the show, Food and Nutrition Services received 2,500 responses, which will help staff decide which menu items to bring to schools across FCPS. Henry Pham, an 11th grade Annandale culinary student, appreciated that the food show showcased “different foods than students currently see in the cafeteria” and a “variety of foods from other cultures.” Henry hopes to see the Korean barbecue chicken legs and Thai chili chicken wings in the cafeteria soon!
Welcome, New Counselor, Xander Price! We are excited to welcome Xander Price as our new counselor for students with last names GEE-LEI. Mx. Price is currently in their last semester of the masters program in school counseling at George Mason University, where they also received their undergraduate degree in sociology. Mx. Price previously worked as a learning specialist for collegiate student athletes, ensuring they met all of their academic requirements to maintain eligibility to compete through individualized academic support. Outside of work and school, Mx. Price enjoys being active and spending time outside in nature through hiking, exploring, and rowing. They are looking forward to being part of Atom Nation!
AHS Culinary Visits Apple Farm: Last week, Annandale Culinary students went to Mackintosh Fruit Farm to an apple picking adventure. Students learned about the greenhouse and how hydroponics works to support farmers year round. At the end of the trip, there were fresh apples from the farm that the students have now turned into apple pies for Thanksgiving!
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Academic Support
Need Help in Your Class? Stay With Your Teacher After School! Annandale High School offers late bus transportation three (3) days per week: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. All teachers stay after school at least one day a week to provide academic support for students. Please refer to this list to see which day your student’s teacher is available after school.
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.
Sign Up for a Writing Conference with the Atoms Writing Center: The trained peer tutors of the Atoms Writing Center will continue to provide support for students with writing in any class during the 2nd quarter. Use this link to sign up for a writing conference during 3rd quarter. If you haven’t already, you should also join our Schoology group to get important updates and announcements from the AWC all year by going to “Groups” > ”My Groups” > ”Join Group” then putting in this code: 9MSF-KSDM-B7HCP. You can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram @AtomsWC. Contact Mrs. Hanson with any questions.
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Important Dates
November 20-21 - Winter Sports Pictures
November 22-24 - Thanksgiving Break
November 26 - Student & Community Check In Survey Due
November 27 - PRIDE Time 2.0 Begins
November 27 - After School Academic Program (ASAP) Begins
December 1, 5, 7 - Course Selection Presentations
December 4 - Winter Band Concert, 7pm
December 5-15 - Second Annual Deck the Doors W4 Contest
December 7 - Orchestra Winter Concert, 7pm
December 7, 12 and 13 - Annandale Choirs in Concert and Community Caroling
December 11 - W4 Activities Day
December 11- 15 - Holiday Spirit Week
December 15 - IB Business Internal Assessment (IA) Workshop
December 18 - 29 - Winter Break
January 1 - New Year’s Day (No School)
November 22-24 - Thanksgiving Break: At Annandale, we hope you are able to spend the holiday break resting and rejuvenating in your favorite ways. In support of this, teachers will not assign homework, projects, or papers over breaks, and refrain from assigning any major assessments or project due dates on the first two days back. If you have questions regarding specific assignments in a particular class, we always encourage students and families to reach out directly to their teachers for information and clarification.
November 26 - Student & Community Fall Check In Survey Due: With the school year well underway, we want to hear from our staff, students and families. Specifically, we would like to hear what is going well for you and your student, what is a challenge you would like to work together to problem-solve, who is someone who has helped you, and answer any questions. Check your email for a link to our Fall Check In Survey. We would appreciate your feedback by Sunday, November 26. In the coming weeks, we will share survey trends as well as how we are responding to your feedback. Thank you for providing an important perspective that will help us continue to get better!
November 27 - PRIDE Time 2.0: We are continuing to improve the way we identify students for targeted intervention through PRIDE Time. We will be making changes to students’ PRIDE Time assignments based upon the needs of individual students in preparation for PRIDE Time 2.0, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, November 27.
November 27 - After School Academic Program (ASAP) Begins: Beyond the support we provide during the school day, teachers also stay after school to work with students who need additional help. Our after-school academic support program (ASAP) will begin November 27 and will run three days per week on late-bus days: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Students assigned to ASAP will receive notification of their day, teacher, and location, this week. Parents will also be notified of these assignments. We ask for your support in ensuring students stay after school.
December 1, 5, & 7 - Course Selection Presentations: Counselors will be presenting the 2024-2025 course selection process to students in W4 Advisory on December 1, 5, & 7. The presentations will cover important information including course options for next school year and the process for how to select their courses. The presentation will be recorded and posted on the Student Services Webpage for students who do not have a W4 class. Students should reach out to their counselor if they have any questions.
December 4 - Winter Band Concert, 7pm: The Annandale High School Bands will present Winter Winds, their annual winter concert on Monday December 4 at 7:00pm in the AHS auditorium. The concert will feature all of the AHS band students in a collaborative presentation of Holiday favorites, including our traditional “Sleigh Ride.” Doors open at 6:45pm; admission is free.
December 5-15 - Annual Deck the Doors W4 Contest: Annandale’s Leadership Class is excited to lead our annual Deck the Doors holiday contest. Each W4 class will decorate their door in the theme of Winter/Holidays. Three classes will be chosen as winners in the categories of Best Overall, Runner-Up, and Most Creative. Prizes will be awarded to the winning W4 classrooms.
December 7 - Orchestra Winter Concert, 7pm: Orchestra will be having their Winter Concert on Thursday, December 7 at 7:00 pm with Crescendo (CAT B) Orchestra’s debut! The challenging program has pushed students to the next level and spotlights sections in several of the ensembles. Support the program by purchasing baked goods (including our famous giant chocolate chip cookies!) after school by the auditorium and by coming to hear the student’s hard work in the evening. We encourage you to come wearing an ugly holiday sweater or wearing a festive hat!
December 7, 12 and 13 - Annandale Choirs in Concert and Community Caroling: The choirs at Annandale have been busy preparing for a wonderful season of concerts during the month of December.
December 7, 12pm - Caroling for the Shepherds Center Luncheon: The Annandale Singers and Chamber Ensemble will be providing a program for the Shepherds Center Luncheon in Wright Hall of the Annandale United Methodist Church (6935 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA) at noon.
December 12, 7pm - Winter Concert: Glow: Our Winter Concert with the Annandale Singers, Atom Chorale, Men's Chorale, and the Chamber Ensemble at 7:00pm in the Auditorium.
December 13, 12pm: Noonday Noël: Annandale Singers and Chamber Ensemble sing for the Noonday Noël at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House at 12:05pm (323 South Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA)
December 11 - W4 Activities Day: On Monday, December 5, we will hold our monthly W4 Activities Day. There will be no PRIDE Time on this day. There will be a short W4 lesson for students. Following the lesson, students will be dismissed to their assigned activity. If you have questions, please reach out to Bryan Harris.
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Important Information
First Quarter Attendance Report Mailed Home: Annandale recently mailed a 1st Quarter Attendance report with specific attendance data to families for each student, including total number of days and classes they were reported late or having missed completely. In addition, the report provides statistics on the long-term negative impacts of poor attendance, and ways parents can encourage and support student attendance. If you have any questions about your student’s attendance, please call the Annandale Attendance Office at 703-642-4107.
PSAT Scores and National Merit Scholarship Information: Students who participated in the PSAT on Wednesday, October 11, are now able to access scores via the College Board BigFuture School App or their College Board accounts. A video tutorial for accessing and understanding Digital PSAT scores is available on the College Board website. Eleventh grade students who participate in the PSAT may qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program and can find additional information on the National Merit Scholarship Corporation website. Families may reach out to Nick Zubieta if they have questions regarding digital PSAT score reporting or the National Merit Scholarship Program.
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Opportunities
Now through December 7 - Orchestra Merchandise Available:The Orchestra Merchandise store is LIVE and can be found at tinyurl.com/AHSOrchMerch. The store is ongoing, but order by Thursday, December 7 to get items by the holidays!
December 4 - ASVAB Testing, 9am – 12pm: The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test measures a young adult’s strengths and weaknesses and provides feedback on potential for future career success. Students are encouraged to take the test because it is a valuable career assessment tool which can help identify which career is best for each student. Though the test is developed by the Department of Defense, it is not just for those going into the military. It’s a great start to finding the perfect career for students by highlighting those skills which students naturally have. To sign up for the ASVAB test you may email your school counselor or Mr. Yeagley to register.
Winter Olympics Camp for Students Grades 2-8 - December 18-20: Annandale High School will be sponsoring a 3-day Winter Olympics Camp at Poe Middle School for students in 2nd through 8th grade during Winter Break. Camp will be held Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 8:30am-3:00pm. Cost is $100. Payment will be accepted during drop off on the first day. Link: https://bit.ly/Olympics23Poe
NOVA Early Online College – Spring 2024 Semester: NOVA Early Online College (EOC) allows current high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take up to 2 tuition free college courses. EOC courses for the Spring semester begin on January 30, 2024, and end on April 22, 2024. The deadline to register is January 8, 2024 at 5pm. Courses are asynchronous, online, and for college credit only. 13 different courses are offered along with courses that fulfill the IT Technical Support Career Studies Certificate. EOC courses are selected because they meet the requirements for most of NOVA’s associate degrees as well as being highly transferable as general education requirements for most colleges and universities.
2023 Virginia Summer Residential Governor's School: The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) offers the opportunity for students in Grade 10 & 11 to apply to attend summer residential Governor’s schools in academics and Visual and Performing Arts. Students who are accepted into one of the programs will live in residence halls in one of the state colleges in Virginia for four weeks in the June - late July timeframe. To learn more about these opportunities, visit the Virginia Department of Education website and view the promotional video. All applications must be returned to Mr. Zubieta in Student Services. Late applications will not be accepted. Interested students should complete either the interest forms for the Academic Program or the Visual and Performing Arts Program. Questions? Please reach out to Mr. Zubieta.
The A-Blast Subscriptions Available: The A-Blast will publish usually the last week of each month, and you can always pick up a copy in the newsstand in the main lobby or subscribe for home delivery. It’s a great way to keep up with the news of AHS through the perspective of student journalists. The newspaper is published monthly and it is often ranked in the Top 10 of all high school newspapers nationwide. AHS is the only school to have a printing partnership with The Washington Post, which prints the newspaper for free. Donate any amount, and email your home mailing address to Alan Weintraut to subscribe.
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.
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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.
Transcript Requests for College Applications & Scholarships: Seniors need to request official high school transcripts one month prior to application deadlines. For example, if a college application is due on December 20, the Transcript Request Form is due on November 20. We will be receiving a very high volume of requests in the coming months, and our Student Services staff needs adequate time to process them. Early Action and Early Decision application deadlines are quickly approaching. For step-by-step instructions and forms for submitting Transcript Requests, go to the College & Career Planning Google site.
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. Students are welcome to drop in with questions about any aspect of the process.
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 to 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!
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Opening in December: The FAFSA is needed to determine a student's eligibility for financial aid. Families of current seniors should be thinking about completing financial aid applications in order for students to be eligible to receive financial help to cover the costs of post-secondary education. With the late opening of the FAFSA, there are some things families can do now (English only). A funding opportunity is available for students who are unable to complete the FAFSA — the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) program. Find out which aid option is right for your family on the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia website.
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News from the Activities Office
Week 2 of the winter season is complete! We wrap of the preseason next week and hold first contest when we return from Thanksgiving! Make sure to get your Atoms Booster Pass and come out and support the Atoms!
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.
Baseball Winter Skills Camp - Sundays in January & February: Annandale Baseball is hosting their Sunday Skills camps starting in January. Each camp will be held in the main and auxiliary gyms at Annandale High School. Information and sign up for the Sunday Baseball Camps here. Cost is $115 for all, or $25 each.
This week...
Monday, November 20
Winter Sports Pictures
Tuesday, November 21
Winter Sports Pictures
Wrestling Scrimmage - 6:00pm (Auxiliary Gym)
Girls Basketball vs Forest Park - 4:30/5:45/7:30pm (Scrimmage)
Boys Basketball @ McLean - 4:30/5:45/7:30pm (Scrimmage)
November 20 & 21 - Winter Sports Pictures: Team and individual pictures for winter sports will occur on Monday, November 20 and Tuesday, November 21 in Clausen Hall.
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