Annandale Community Insider - April 28

Annandale Students, Families, and Community:

This weekend I had an opportunity to see the Annandale Theater Company’s production of Mean Girls The Musical, which opened this weekend and will continue on May 3 & 4. If you haven’t yet had an opportunity to see the drama that goes down at North Shore High, I encourage you to check it out. Tickets are on sale now!

This past week, we kicked off testing season with a successful start to SOL and IB testing. At Annandale, we are proud that we have many systems in place to support our students. Our approach to high-quality instruction, along with providing targeted intervention through PRIDE Time, our After School Academic Program (ASAP), and Super Saturdays, goes a long way to meeting students’ needs. Speaking of Super Saturdays, over 290 students have attended Super Saturdays over the past two weekends. We are so proud of our students who show their determination by attending these opportunities. A huge thanks to our teachers, administrators, and instructional coaches for supporting our students beyond the regular school day.

We also know that sometimes students might need additional attempts to be successful. At Annandale, we continue to provide targeted intervention to students who qualify for a retake during the school day and after school. Please see below for more information about how we support students’ SOL retakes, and as always, reach out to your student’s teachers with any questions you may have. 

Finally, May 6-10 is Teacher Appreciation Week! With your support, we will be celebrating the hard work and dedication of our teachers throughout the week. One way you can help is by donating $5-$10 gift cards. 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 also encourage you or your student to reach out directly to your student’s teachers with a note of appreciation. Knowing they are making a difference is a priceless gift.

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

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

May 2 - Senior Prom

May 3 - Teacher Work Day (No School)

May 3, 4 - Spring Musical

May 4 - Super Saturday: Algebra 2 & Geometry

May 6 - Atoms Booster Club Meeting

May 6 - 10 - Staff Appreciation Week

May 8 - PTSA Pantry Distribution

May 8 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving 

May 9 - Parent Orchestra Concert

May 10 - Senior Art Show

May 11 - Super Saturday: Reading

May 11 - Class of 2025 Fundraiser

May 14 - PTSA Meeting

May 14 - Band Concert

May 16 - Orchestra Concert

May 21 - Sports and Band Physicals Night

May 21 - Rising 9th Grade Activities/Athletics/Clubs Night

May 23, 24 - Broadway Desserts

May 27 - Memorial Day (No School)

May 2 - Senior Prom, 8-11pm: Prom will be held this Thursday, May 2 from 8:00-11:00pm at The River View at Occoquan. Each senior may purchase up to two (2) tickets. No tickets will be sold at the door. If students would like to bring a guest who does not attend Annandale High School, they must pick up a guest form from the front office and return it to Aaron Schneider, Class of 2024 Administrator, for approval. Students should not purchase tickets until the form is approved.

May 3, 4 - Mean Girls, The Musical: High School Version brings the beloved teen comedy to life on stage. Follow Cady Heron as she navigates the treacherous world of high school cliques, led by the infamous Plastics: Regina George, Gretchen Wieners, and Karen Smith. With catchy tunes, sharp humor, and a timely message about the perils of gossip and social hierarchy, this musical adaptation captures the essence of adolescent drama and the quest for acceptance. Join Cady and her classmates as they learn valuable lessons about friendship, betrayal, and the true meaning of being "fetch." Tickets on sale now!

May 4 - Super Saturday SOL Prep: Annandale will continue the tradition of success that was established prior to, and even during COVID, by supporting students with Super Saturday SOL prep. This week we will host students preparing for the Algebra 2 & Geometry SOLs. Students will receive breakfast and lunch. Invitations were sent to students and families. If you have any questions, please reach out to your student’s teacher(s).

Awesome Atoms

Autism Acceptance Night: Thursday evening we celebrated Autism Acceptance Night at the varsity baseball game! The night was a huge success for our special education department as many community members and students came out to show their support! Thank you to our special guest stars Kevin Maldonado-Lopez and Andy Ocloo threw out the first pitch for the game.

Sage Nagle Winns Runner Up in STEM for Her Earth Day Innovation Contest: Annandale Junior, Sage Nagle, was featured on WUSA9 for being named runner up in the STEM for Her Earth Day Innovation Contest. Her entry started as her Science Fair project, when she explored ways to tackle oil spills. Congratulations to Sage on this incredible accomplishment! 

Lauren Paz Soldan, Spanish Teacher, Recognized for NBCT: Spanish Teacher, Lauren Paz Soldan was recognized at last week’s School Board Meeting for earning her National Board Certification. National Board Certification is the most respected professional certification available in education and was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. Congratulations to Ms. Paz Soldan for earning this incredible recognition.

Administrative Professional Appreciation Day: We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all who contribute to the success of our school. This week we celebrated our administrative staff on Administrative Professionals Day. They deserve a special mention for their unwavering support of our school community. They set the welcoming tone at our school and are always ready to assist anyone, anytime.

Important Information

SOL Retake Support: At Annandale, we are proud that we have many systems in place to support our students. To that end, when students do not pass their first-attempt SOLs, we double down on our academic support during class time and through PRIDE Time and ASAP to ensure students are successful with additional testing opportunities. Students who qualify for a retake (and their families) will receive an email with information about the retake date as well as the additional support we will provide. Please reach out to your student’s teachers with any questions you may have.

Class of 2024 News: Graduation is quickly approaching and we wanted to share important information and dates that will assist seniors, parents and community members in preparing and planning for the end of the school year. Last week we sent out important information in our latest Class of 2024 Newsletter. For more details on any of these events or to stay up-to-date, check the information shared in our Schoology group. Use the join code K8K2-FV6B-PBZCJ. If you have any questions about upcoming senior events, Jeff Smith, Pat Brown, and Jane Scharankov, or our senior administrator, Aaron Schneider.

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. 

Prom Chaperones Needed! Prom is on Thursday, May 2 and we are looking for chaperones! This is a great way to connect with students and ensure a safe and enjoyable evening for everyone. If you would like to chaperone, please use this link to sign up for a shift or the entire night. Thank you for considering being a part of this special event!

Now through 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.

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

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 annandale.angc@gmail.com. 

All Night Grad Celebration Volunteers Needed: Annandale High School’s All Night Grad Celebration is June 4 from 11:00pm-5:00am at Audrey Moore Rec Center! Parents can join the fun by volunteering to help! It takes a lot of volunteers to make this a successful night for our seniors. Please look at the sign-up and find a shift that works for you.

PTSA Nominations for the 2024-25 School Year Are Now Open! If you are interested in serving as an officer or would like to volunteer on a PTSA committee please complete the engagement form. Officer training is provided and committees will be supported by an experienced Board. There are roles for all talents and experience levels. Committee roles range from communication, social media, fundraising, scholarships and awards, All Night Grad, running an online auction and so much more. We need you to make the PTSA successful. The officer application deadline is May 1. Committee interest is ongoing.  

Opportunities

Now through May 19 - Yearbooks for Sale: Commemorate the 2023-2024 school year by pre-ordering a yearbook! AHS Yearbooks are now for sale at www.yearbookforever.com. Yearbook distribution begins Monday, May 20.

Institute for the Arts Summer Camp: Don’t miss out on this summer’s most exciting arts enrichment program! The Institute for the Arts camp is for students currently in grade 6-11. Students design their own schedules and select from art, music, theater, and dance classes. Learn more on the IFTA webpage. Email IFTA@fcps.edu with any questions. 

Students Can Register to Vote at AHS: To support students as citizens, Virginia code now requires schools to hold voter registration opportunities during school: “Each student who is eligible to register to vote shall be provided the opportunity to complete an application form during the normal course of the school day.” Located around the school and near each Social Studies classroom is a flyer to encourage our students to register to vote. There will also be an announcement in the W4 lesson to remind students of this opportunity. Flyers include a QR Code to the Virginia Department of Elections citizen portal to register to vote.

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!

College Admission & Financial Aid

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.

May 21 - Sports and Band Physicals for the 2023-24 School Year: Students who would like to participate in sports or band next year will need a valid VHSL physical dated after May 1 2023. On May 21 at 5:30pm we will be hosting Sport and Activity Health Screenings. This physical will be good for all of next school year. The cost at Annandale is $50 pre-registration and $60 dollars walk-in. This is a donation to the Athletic Training Program so that we can continue to provide state of the art care for our athletes and band members. Click HERE to sign up. You may pay by credit card on myschoolbucks or cash/check at the door. For information about financial assistance for this event, please contact Ryan Hughes.

News from the PTSA

PTSA Nominations for the 2024-25 School Year Are Now Open! If you are interested in serving as an officer or would like to volunteer on a PTSA committee please complete the engagement form. Officer training is provided and committees will be supported by an experienced Board. There are roles for all talents and experience levels. Committee roles range from communication, social media, fundraising, scholarships and awards, All Night Grad, running an online auction and so much more. We need you to make the PTSA successful. The officer application deadline is May 1st. Committee interest is ongoing.  

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.