Annandale Community Insider - April 7

Annandale Students, Families, and Community:

Each week, I use this newsletter to share our story as a school. From the incredible successes of our students to the committed work of our staff, the story of Atom Nation highlights what we achieve when we work together as a community to support our students, our families, and each other. 

As a school, we are committed to the three priorities that anchor the work we do each and every day: relationships and support, high quality instruction, and strong collaboration. We have built systems to support students’ academic intervention, wellness, and connections to school. And knowing that none of us can do this work alone, we have strengthened our collaboration with each other as well as with our families and community. All of this work is what makes Annandale an amazing school.

While many know and understand our story, at times, we encounter comments online or in passing that are not accurate. For that reason, it is important that we share a true picture of what it means to be a part of Atom Nation. On Tuesday, we will be hosting our first ever Realtor Open House, where we will share our story with local realtors, tour the school, and visit classrooms. In addition, we will provide them a “one pager” with specific examples of our success as a school and the ways it is misrepresented online. Check it out below for some eye-opening facts!

Have a great week, Atom Nation! As a reminder, schools are closed on Wednesday to celebrate the end of Ramadan. As always, please reach out with any questions.

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

April 8 - W4 Activities Day

April 8 - Solar Eclipse

April 8 - Atoms Booster Club Meeting

April 9 - Realtor Open House

April 9 - PTSA Meeting, 7pm

April 10 - Eid Al Fitr Holiday (No School)

April 10 - NOVA Regional College Fair

April 11 - Options After High School Presentation, 6pm

April 11 - FAFSA Completion Workshop, 6:30pm

April 15 - Senior Breakfast

April 13 - Special Olympics Inclusion Track Meet

April 16 - Junior Parent/Student College Night

April 17 - Purple Up for Military Families

April 17 - AHS Pantry Distribution

April 17 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving, 6:30pm

April 22 - SOL Testing Begins

April 25 - IB Testing Begins

April 25 - Autism Acceptance Night

April 8 - W4 Activities Day: Our final W4 Activities Day is next Monday. W4 Activities Day is a time set aside during the school day for students to explore clubs and activities and connect with classmates and staff over shared interests. If you have any questions, please contact Bryan Harris.

April 8 - Solar Eclipse: A solar eclipse is happening tomorrow, April 8. It's a rare and exciting astronomical phenomenon and one that requires important safety reminders. Looking directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, can permanently damage your eyes. For more details, visit the FCPS Solar Eclipse webpage. Here's what you need to know:

• Don't look at the sun without approved eyewear. This applies to students and staff, and we encourage you to reinforce this at home.
• Regular sunglasses are not good enough. The NASA website has more information about eye safety.  
• Eclipse timing: The eclipse starts around 2:04 pm, peaks at 3:20 pm, and ends around 4:32 p.m. Please remind your student to be especially vigilant about eye safety during this time. 

April 8 - Atoms Booster Club Meeting: Join us on Monday, April 8 in-person at Annandale High School in the Driver’s Education Room. The meeting will begin at 6pm. All members of the Atoms Booster Club are invited to attend to hear the latest updates on our spring sports and activities. If you have any questions, please contact Brandon Sutphin.

April 9 - Realtor Open House: Annandale High School is hosting an “Open House” for local Real Estate Agents on Tuesday, April 9 at 8:30am. We recognize that many potential homebuyers are greatly motivated by the educational opportunities afforded by local schools. The purpose of this event is to share information with realtors that will empower them to speak about the current strengths and future direction of Annandale High School. In addition, we will provide insight into our school and what it offers families who choose to move into our boundaries. If you know of any local realtor who would be interested in attending, they can RSVP here.

April 9 - PTSA Meeting, 7pm: Our next PTSA meeting will be on Tuesday, April 9 at 7:00pm in the library. Spanish translation will be available. If you can't attend in person, consider joining us virtually on Zoom. The link will be active 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Also, if you have not done so already, please consider joining the PTSA by filling out the online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.

April 10 - Eid al Fitr Holiday (No School): There is no school on Wednesday, April 10 to celebrate the end of Ramadan.

April 25 - May 17 - IB Testing: IB Testing will be held in various locations in the building. Here is the link to the detailed IB Testing calendar with arrival time and test duration. Locations will be added two weeks prior to testing which will mostly consist of the main gym and the library. Students testing in the afternoon should eat A lunch. Students are required to remain in the testing room for the full duration of each exam. Students should bring pens and pencils as well as a calculator. Backpacks and cell phones will be stored in the back of the room and can not be accessed during testing. If the exam is scheduled to continue after the final school bell, students need to arrange for alternative transportation home.

Students with IB approved testing accommodations will be notified prior to testing. Late arrival/early dismissal forms for IB testing dates can be found in the Attendance Office. Contact Linda Bradshaw with any questions.

Important Information

Personalized Student Progress Reports: Last week, parents should have received a personalized student progress report email which includes students’ grades as well as any academic interventions or supports the student is receiving. In that email, we also provide ways families can support their student, including sitting with them to check and discuss their progress, as well as some guiding questions to talk about school. 

You can also view your student's grades by logging into SIS ParentVUE. If you have questions about a particular class, please reach out to the teacher. Their email address can be found on our staff directory or in ParentVue.

April 15 - 26 - FCHD School Health Services Survey: The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) employs school health aides and public health nurses who provide school health services to the students in FCPS. A survey has been developed by the FCHD to provide feedback on the level of satisfaction with School Health Services provided to the school community. The survey will be distributed electronically via FCPS This Week, and can be found here. The survey window is April 15 - April 26.

April 20 - Super Saturdays Begin: Annandale will continue the tradition of success that was established prior to, and even during COVID, by supporting students with Super Saturday SOL prep prior to testing. Students will receive breakfast and lunch. Invitations to students and families will be sent out beginning this week. Below is the Saturday School schedule: April 20 - Biology and Earth Science; April 27 - Algebra 1 and Chemistry; May 4 - Algebra 2 and Geometry; May 11 - Reading. If you have any questions, please reach out to your student’s teacher(s).

Awesome Atoms

Celebrating Annandale HS Assistant Principals: This past week marked National Assistant Principal’s week. Our team of Assistant Principals do an incredible job every day supporting our students, families, and staff. They serve as instructional leaders, collaborate with teacher teams to ensure every student is receiving the support they need, and work to create a safe and welcoming environment here at Annandale. A huge thank you to our Assistant Principals Sarah Eqab, Donna Higgins, Hanna Langstein, Aaron Schneider, and Kara Franklin Taylor!

Student Equity Club Promotes Mental Health Awareness: The Student Equity Club’s new Mental Health Committee compiled contact and room information, along with friendly photos for each mental health worker at AHS into a flyer. They distributed the flyers to classrooms so teachers can display them for students who might be seeking someone to listen.

Pyramid Art Show Success! Last week, Annandale hosted the Pyramid Art Show. This show is an opportunity to showcase student art work from our feeder elementary and middle schools alongside the work of Annandale students. This is a unique event in which our high school students have the opportunity to reconnect with their elementary and middle school Art teachers, and our future Atoms can see the many paths they can take to explore the Arts when they come to Annandale. Special thanks to Carmen Lucas, Erin Mahoney, Luis Navas Reyes and Megan Mooney for mounting this fabulous display of the talent in our community.

Opportunities

Free Prom Dresses and Suits at Promise: Do you need a dress or suit for Prom? Do you know someone that might need one? We got you! Prom is coming up on May 2 at the River View in Occoquan, and Annandale’s premiere prom fashion shop has you covered. Promise offers gently used, yet stylish dresses, suits, shoes, clutches and accessories for you to wear to prom – and to keep! Check out our updated inventory that offers a style for everyone’s taste. Stay tuned for the announcement for our grand opening and we look forward to helping you find a perfect look for Prom 2024. For further information reach out to Mr. Henceroth or visit him in room 210. We "Promise" Annandale Prom 2024 will be a night to remember!

April 13 - Special Olympics Inclusion Track Meet: Annandale’s 2nd Annual Inclusion Track Meet will be held on April 13 from 9am to 2pm on the track field. Come out to support your Annandale Special Olympics team and enjoy a fun filled day of Inclusion. Clubs, sports teams, and vendors will be on sight with music, face painting, yard games, and food. Fun for the whole family!

April 17 - Purple Up for Military Families: April is the Month of the Military Child! FCPS is proud to have over 14,000 military-connected youth as a part of our student body. On Wednesday, April 17, all FCPS employees, students, families, and community members are encouraged to “Purple Up” to show our support for all military-connected families. Learn more about Month of the Military Child and FCPS’ resources for military families.

April 17 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving (PTSD), 6:30pm: Annandale High School will be hosting Partners for Safe Teen Driving on April 17 at 6:30pm. The state of Virginia requires students and their parents to attend one session of Partners for Safe Teen Driving in order to receive their Pink Card (DEC-8). If the parent and student are not in the auditorium at 6:30pm then they will be asked to attend another session. If you have any questions, please email Lizzie McManus.

April 25 - Autism Acceptance Night: Please come join us this Thursday at 6:30pm as we cheer on our Varsity Baseball Team and celebrate Autism Acceptance. Our special guest stars Kevin Maldonado-Lopez and Andy Ocloo will be throwing out the first pitch for the game. Our classes have been working hard and we will be selling various items that they have created. We will also have baked goods and Inclusion Revolution Autism Acceptance t-shirts for sale. All proceeds will go to our Special Education Department. We will be selling Autism Acceptance gear at the game!

May 1 - Nominations for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award Due: The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families. This award recognizes staff or community members who have demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved. Any FCPS employee, student, or community member can nominate an individual or group for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Wednesday, May 1.  The winner will be recognized at the FCPS Equity Symposium on Tuesday, June 18. Full details and the nomination information form are available on the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage.

Parent Volunteers and Donations Needed! 

The final two months of school include a number of exciting events and many opportunities to donate or volunteer at Annandale High School. Your support is not just appreciated; it's essential. 

Volunteering or donating is a testament to the strength and unity of our school community. Your willingness to contribute not only enriches our school culture and supports our students’ success, but also serves as a powerful model of community engagement for our students. See detailed opportunities below. 

April 15 - Donations and Volunteers Needed for Senior Breakfast: We will be hosting a Senior Breakfast on April 15 and need your assistance making this event a success. Register here to volunteer and/or donate! 

The event will begin in the auditorium, where students will receive important information about end-of-year events, including senior exams, senior activities, graduation, and All Night Grad Celebration. After the presentation, students will report to the cafeteria for a breakfast and celebration with their classmates.

April 25 - May 17 - Proctors Needed for IB Exams: IB exams are starting soon and we are in need of help to proctor the exams. Volunteers are needed to walk around the testing room occasionally and sit/monitor students. No special training is needed. Each testing room will have at least one experienced proctor that will be in charge of administering the test. We just need additional adult supervision. Volunteers must be 21 or older. Bring your driver’s license to check-in at the main office. Dress casually with comfortable shoes!

Check out this Sign Up Genius. Questions? Please email Linda Bradshaw, IB DP Coordinator. 

Help Recognize our Amazing Teachers! Seeking $5-$10 Gift Card Donations: This year, Teacher Appreciation Week is from May 6-10. As a gesture of our appreciation of all the hard work and flexibility our teachers have demonstrated this year, we would like to offer a small gift to teachers. We are asking that you please donate $5-$10 gift cards, to any establishment of your choice, from now until May 3. If you are able to donate, please drop off gift cards to the Main Office or purchase gift cards via Amazon and have them shipped to Annandale High School. We appreciate your support in celebrating the amazing work our teachers are doing this year.

Donate to the All Night Grad Party Online Auction! Do you own a business or love a local business? We’re gathering donations for our Annual Silent Auction, which benefits our All Night Grad Celebration. All donations are tax deductible and the business that donated will be advertised in our auction. If you would like to donate, please contact ANGC Chair Rheanna Bernard at annandaleangc@gmail.com.

College Admission & Financial Aid

April 10 - NOVA Regional College Fair: The Office of Admissions at George Mason University is holding its annual Northern Virginia Regional College Fair (NVRCF) on Wednesday, April 10 from 6:30-8:30pm at EagleBank Arena. Students will have the opportunity to meet with admissions representatives from more than 200 colleges and universities. This will be a great opportunity to get students motivated and excited about their post-secondary plans while equipping them with the tools and information necessary to successfully navigate the college search and application process.

April 11 - Options After High School (Postsecondary Planning): On Thursday, April 11 from 6pm - 8pm, Annandale High School Student services will be presenting on various options for students after high school. Topics to be covered are four year universities (Bachelor’s Degree), Northern Virginia Community College “NOVA” (Associate’s Degree with option to transfer to a four year university), apprenticeships (Electricians, Carpenters, Plumbers, HVAC), military (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force), and Edu-Futuro (To empower immigrant and underserved youth and families through mentorship, education, leadership development, parent engagement, and workforce development.)

There will be a brief presentation followed by breakout sessions to speak in further detail and answer your questions about the various options. The presentation will be held in Clausen Hall and will have Spanish, Vietnamese, Amharic, and Arabic translators. All Junior and Senior students and parents are invited to attend!

April 11 - FAFSA/VASA Completion Workshop: On Thursday, April 11 from 6:30pm - 8:30pm Annandale High School Student Services will be hosting a FAFSA/VASA completion workshop in the Parent Liaison Office. If you would like help completing these forms in order to be considered for financial aid please attend this event. Students and parents/guardians should both attend and please make sure to bring 2022 tax information.

April 16 - Junior Parent/Student College Night: Please join us on Tuesday, April 16 from 6:00-7:30pm. Our Lead AVID teacher Ms. Wells, and College & Career Specialist, Mr. Yeagley, will talk about how Juniors should prepare for the college application process. After the presentation we will have a panel of admissions representatives from George Mason, Marymount, and Virginia Tech speak about what they look for when reviewing college applications. Students and parents will also have the opportunity to ask the panel questions. The event will take place in Clausen Hall. We hope to see you there! Email Mr. Yeagley at Byeagley@fcps.edu, if you have questions.

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.

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. 

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, AHS Athletics Twitter or Instagram page. Please email Brandon Sutphin if you have any questions.

Booster Membership Fee Reduced! The cost of Booster Memberships is now 50% less! The new low price will be Adults $30 and Students $15 (including Elementary, Middle, and High School Students). The Booster pass allows Free Admission to all regular season Freshman, JV, and Varsity games. This price drop will include the last 3 games of the basketball season and include ALL Spring season sports: Baseball, Soccer, and Lacrosse. Check Atoms Athletics schedules and buy your Booster Pass here.

This Week: 

Monday, April 8

JV Baseball/Softball vs Edison - 6:30pm

JV Girls Lacrosse vs TJ - 6:00pm

Varsity Girls Lacrosse vs Hayfield - 7:30 (SENIOR NIGHT)

Varsity Baseball/Softball @ Edison - 6:00pm

Boys Lacrosse @ Hayfield - 5:45/7:15pm

Thursday, April 11

Boys Tennis vs Hayfield - 4:00pm

JV Baseball vs Mt. Vernon - 6:30pm

Boys Lacrosse vs Justice - 5:45/7:15pm

Girls Tennis @ Hayfield - 4:00pm

Varsity Baseball/Softball @ Mt. Vernon - 6:00pm

Girls Lacrosse @ Justice - 6:00/7:30pm

Track @ Hayfield - 5:00pm

Friday, April 12

Girls Tennis vs Falls Church - 4:00pm

Girls Soccer vs Hayfield - 5:45/7:15pm

Boys Soccer @ Hayfield - 5:45/7:15pm

Varsity Softball @ Marshall - 6:30pm

JV Softball @ Lewis - 6:00pm

Boys Tennis @ Falls Church @ Jefferson District Park - 4:00pm

Saturday, April 13

Special Olympics Track Meet - 9:00am

Concession Stand Coverage - Help Wanted! Click on a link below to sign up and support our Atoms Booster club! If anyone has trouble with the above links, please email odessapmurray@gmail.com. Thank you for your support!

Varsity Softball: Sign Up Here

JV Softball: Sign Up Here

Varsity Baseball: Sign Up Here 

JV Baseball: Sign Up Here

News from the PTSA

PTSA Nominating Committee: Each year the PTSA forms a committee to identify people interested in serving as PTSA officers. The Nominating Committee advertises the opportunities available and explains how to apply, receives nominations and identifies potential candidates, and presents a slate of nominees at the April PTSA general membership meeting. Contact Angela Torres at atoms.ahs.president@gmail.com for more information or to sign up.

AHS Pantry Distribution Every Second Wednesday: We offer bi-monthly family distributions as well as twice weekly student distributions and emergency needs and gift cards for emergency situations that are tracked and distributed with our AHS clinical staff. We have partnerships with Food for Others and Fairfax Diaper as well as other Community businesses, neighborhoods, girl scout troops and churches.