Annandale Community Insider - May 12

Annandale Students, Families, and Community:

Happy Mother’s Day! Today, we celebrate all the mothers and mother figures who have impacted our lives. I hope you are able to celebrate in some way with the special people in your life.

This past week we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week. Thank you to all for the generous donations of gift cards, breakfast items, and volunteer time. Your contributions truly made the week special. I could not think of a staff that is more dedicated or more deserving of the celebration than the one we have here at Annandale.

As I think about all of the ways our staff goes the extra mile, I am incredibly grateful for their relentless commitment to the success of our students. Let me share just some of the ways our staff goes above and beyond in order to support our students’ needs.

• PRIDE Time: Our embedded intervention period, held on White days, uses data to identify students in need of academic support and provides them additional time to practice the skills needed to gain mastery.
• After School Academic Program (ASAP): This after school program supports a students’ academic success and prepares them for upcoming end of course assessment and/or state required SOL test. 
• Super Saturdays: Super Saturdays are an additional SOL support our teachers provide students in preparation for an upcoming SOL test the Saturday prior to testing.
• Responsive SOL Retake Remediation: PRIDE Time 4.5 is our most responsive PRIDE Time, during which students receive targeted instruction to support them in preparing to retake an SOL.
• W4 Academic Check Ins: Multiple times throughout the year, advisory teachers have one-on-one conversations with each student. These W4 check ins are an opportunity to build a caring and trusting environment for all students. 

Finally, final exams for underclassmen are just over three weeks away. In preparation, students and families received an email with information about finals, a personalized progress update, and questions to guide their planning. Beginning this week, we will be holding one-on-one check-ins with each student, reviewing their current grades, and helping them create a plan to end the year strong.

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

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

May 13 - PTSA Annual Online Auction Opens

May 14 - PTSA Meeting, 6pm

May 14 - Band Concert, 7pm

May 16 - Orchestra Concert and End of Year Banquet

May 15 & 16 - Senior Survey

May 17 - Senior Decision Day

May 21-24 - Senior Exams

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 28 - Year End Athlete Ceremony

May 28 - Senior Sunset

May 29 - Senior Awards Ceremony

May 30 - Senior Obligations & Cap and Gown Distribution

May 30 - Annandale Dance Clinics

May 31 - Graduation Rehearsal

June 3 - Graduation, 9:30am

June 4 - All Night Grad Celebration

May 13 - PTSA Annual Online Auction Opens! The annual PTSA Silent Auction will open Monday. Bidding will begin on May 13 and end at midnight on May 20. Items will continue to be added, so keep checking and keep bidding! You can browse and bid at https://new.biddingowl.com/AHSPTSA. Profits from the auction directly fund our All Night Grad Celebration and our Senior Scholarships.

New Time! May 14 - PTSA Meeting, 6pm: Our next PTSA meeting will be on Tuesday, May 14 at 6:00pm 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.

May 14 - Band Concert, 7pm: The Annandale High School Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble will present their final concert of the year, combining forces in a musical celebration of “Marches, Movies, and Memories.” The concert is free, and we welcome all our Annandale friends and families to come support our talented band students, most especially our graduating seniors.

May 15 & 16 - Senior Survey: Each year, every senior is required to complete the Senior Survey. This is how Student Services celebrates the decisions of our graduates and ensures we have information on where to send final transcripts. Counselors will be coming to every senior English class on May 15 & 16 to help students complete the Senior Survey. Please do not complete the Senior Survey before these dates. If you are absent on the day of your English class, you will receive an email notification about make-up days and times for filling out the survey. Note: It is required that all seniors complete the survey by May 30. Seniors who have not completed the survey will be unable to pick up their cap and gown for graduation. If you have questions or concerns, please email Nick Zubieta.

May 16 - Orchestra Concert and End of Year Banquet: Orchestra is excited to welcome The United States Air Force Strolling Strings and Katie O’Hara LaBrie to premiere her piece “ATOMS!” written for our school! Featured guests of the performance include members of the Washington D.C. Chapter of The Grammy Recording Academy and Virginia House Delegate Watts. We are proud to showcase our 45 graduating Seniors and perform a diverse repertoire of heritage pieces. Come learn about our different cultures of music and celebrate the end of an incredible year of music making!

May 17 - Senior Decision Day: Annandale will celebrate National Decision Day on Friday, May 17. At this event, we will celebrate our seniors and the different paths they will take after graduation, whether they have decided to attend a 4-year college, community college, join the military, workforce, or take a gap year. The celebration will be held during all lunch periods in the senior courtyard, where students can enjoy snacks and music, and take pictures with their peers.

May 21 - Sports and Band Physicals for the 2024-25 School Year: Students who would like to participate in sports or band next year will need a valid VHSL physical dated after May 1, 2024. 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.

May 21 - Rising 9th Grade Activities/Athletics/Clubs Night: The Activities Office will be hosting an information night for rising 9th grade Activities/Athletics/Clubs Night on May 21 at 6:30pm in the main gym. During this session, we will share information about the sports/seasons that we offer, how to sign up for a sport, and when try-outs for each sport begin. A coach, director, or student representative for each program will be available to answer any questions. Email Brandon Sutphin if you have any questions.

May 23 & 24 - Broadway Desserts, 7pm: Broadway Desserts will feature all five of the AHS Choirs performing songs from the stage and is a Broadway Review of sorts. Both group and individual acts will be featured from auditions held earlier in the semester. The students prepare the music, pick their costumes and coordinate their choreography for a fantastic evening of entertainment. Please join us on either Thursday, May 23 or Friday, May 24 at 7:00pm in Watson Auditorium! Get your tickets here!

Awesome Atoms

Studio Art Students Visit National Gallery: Students in our 2D and 3D Studio Art classes attended a field trip to the National Gallery of Art this past week. They had an incredible day starting with a private guided tour of Modern and Post-Modernism Abstract Art. Students were encouraged to look carefully, discuss works of Art, and draw compositions of their own that echoed many of our country’s greatest artists. Special shoutout to Ms. Mooney and Ms. Lockett for chaperoning this trip!

Super Saturday - Math & Reading: Last weekend, over 70 Geometry and Algebra 2 students attended Super Saturday in preparation for their SOL. Students attended sessions with math teachers to focus on skills and strategies and build confidence for their test this past week. Yesterday, over 50 students attended Super Saturday to get additional practice, support, and strategies for the Reading SOL, which they will take this week. This marks the end of our series of four Super Saturday SOL preps for the school year. A big thank you to our teachers for providing support and to our students and families for prioritizing coming to school on these days!

Annandale Teachers Perform with FCPS Parent Orchestra: ESOL Teachers Karen Daniels and Tricia Kapuscinski participated in last week’s Parent Orchestra performance held at Annandale High School. They are grateful to Founder and Co-Director, Annie Ray, for creating this program and opportunity for lifelong learning. Their first piece was titled “Exhilaration,” which also describes their Parent Orchestra experience as beginner violinists: challenging, fun, and exhilarating! The Parent Orchestra meets twice a month and welcomes musicians of all experience levels, including those completely new to strings. Registration for next year’s orchestra will be in the fall - don’t miss out!

Annabelle Lee Awarded Asian Leadership Alliance Scholarship: Congratulations to Annandale senior Annabelle Lee, who was selected as the winner of the Asian Leadership Alliance (ALA) Community Action & Service Scholarship. Annabelle was awarded $1,000 to support her college education. The ALA is an organization that focuses on providing resources and support for professional career development for our students of Asian and Pacific islander descent. Annabelle was recently accepted into New York University (NYU)! Awesome job Annabelle!

Intro to Culinary Market Basket Presentations: This past week, our Annandale Intro to Culinary students participated in their market basket project which gave the students the opportunity to showcase their kitchen skills while managing time, budget, and the different strengths of team members. Teams were tasked with creating a six-item menu featuring a short list of provided ingredients and a small budget for additional items. Staff members who served as judges were presented with three course menus that included dishes such as Mozzarella sticks, Chicken & Shrimp Alfredo, Chicken Fajitas and more! Great job Atoms!

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.

Opportunities

All Night Grad Celebration - Tickets on Sale Now! As we close this school year out we are so excited for our graduating Seniors. We are once again holding our All Night Grad Celebration, on June 4, 2024. All Night Graduation Celebration (ANGC) provides a safe, fun, chaperoned, alcohol-free, and drug-free event for the Class of 2024 to celebrate together one last time. It will be held at the Audrey Moore Rec-center. ANGC goes from 11pm until 5am the following morning. There will be swimming, dancing, a photo booth, prizes, loads of food and more! Tickets are on sale for only $45 now through May 31. After May 31 tickets are available at the door for $60.

Yearbooks Are Here! Yearbooks are $85 and can be pre-ordered at www.yearbookforever.com. You can pick up or purchase your yearbook the week of May 20 before and after school everyday in room 262, during all lunches in the cafeteria, and all other times in room 241. If you pre-ordered your yearbook, make sure to bring an ID with you when picking it up. If you need to pick up or purchase a yearbook after Friday, May 24, please contact Ms. Lockwood, the yearbook adviser. By Monday May 20, yearbooks may only be purchased in person using cash. Please note: yearbooks will not be hand-delivered.

Graduation Flowers Available Now! Want to purchase flowers to give to your graduate on graduation day and support the Class of 2025 at the same time? Click here to pre-purchase a red and white carnation mini bouquet for just $5 to be picked up at Eagle Bank Arena the morning of graduation. Proceeds support the Class of 2025. All orders must be placed by May 29. 

No-Cost Virtual Therapy for High School Students: Virtual therapy sessions are available to FCPS high school students at no cost to provide a safe space to address concerns such as, mood/behavior changes, motivation, grief/loss, anxiety, worry, fears, social skills, bullying, peer and family relationships, and academic stress. In order for students to participate, caregivers must give permission for FCPS to share basic demographic information with Hazel Health in ParentVUE and provide consent. Students can then be referred to therapy by a guardian or school staff member. You may refer your child by calling 571-749-2940 or by contacting your student’s counselor. Visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information.

Finish Strong!

End of Year Attendance Requirements: The last day of school for underclass students is Friday, June 12. While SOL testing is coming to an end, there is still much going on in our classrooms. Teachers and teams are continuing to plan high quality instruction that will prepare students to be successful not only on final exams, but in the coming years. In some cases, students are working on certifications or other requirements for graduation. All students are expected to attend school each day to complete these activities and finish the year strong.

June 6-11, school will be held from 8:10-11:25am. During this time, students will complete their end of course exams. These culminating activities assess students’ mastery of the standards and skills they have been learning throughout the year. 

Final Exams: In each class, the final exam or culminating activity counts for 10% of a student’s grade, regardless of the impact on the final grade. Per FCPS policy, a student whose absence from the final examination or activity is unexcused will receive an F for that examination. Exceptions to this must be approved by the principal. Final exams are not eligible for retakes.

It is important for students to recognize the impact their final exams will have on their grades, and take steps to prepare so they can do their best. In W4 Advisory, we will be holding one-on-one check-ins with each student, reviewing their current grades, and helping them create a plan to prepare.

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

2024-2025 PTSA Board Slate: The Nominations Committee recommends the slate below for PTSA approval at its June meeting. Thank you to everyone who volunteered to serve on a committee. We will be circling back to get you engaged. We are always looking for more volunteers and there are roles that can fit every time commitment and interest. 

• President: Angela Torres
• Vice President Programs: Sarah Henken
• Vice President Membership: Hanh McPherson
• Treasurer: Renate Thompson
• Secretary: Jennifer Ellis

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.

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.

Annandale HS Summer Camps

Looking for fun activities for your child this summer? Annandale High School is offering a variety of summer camps this year for current elementary and middle school students led by our own Annandale coaches. Help spread the word to friends, family and neighbors! More information on signups upcoming!

Registration for all camps can be found HERE. See descriptions of the various camps below. More information can be found at AnnandaleAtoms.net. 

Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp, and they should bring a snack and a water bottle each day. Cash or checks are accepted. Checks should be made out to “Annandale Athletic Boosters”.

Payment is due on the first day of camp or can be made online by clicking on the camps link below (When paying online, there is an additional small fee for processing). Save the dates for our camps below!

Multi-Sport Camp - Rising 2nd-9th Graders - June 17-21 ($120): Campers will have fun playing a variety of sports including basketball, kickball, volleyball, soccer, and touch football. They will participate in fun contests and win prizes! Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp. Hours are 8:30am-3:00pm. To pay online for the Multi-Sport Camp: Click Here.

Olympics Camp - Rising 2nd-9th Graders - June 24-27 ($120): This exciting camp features team activities including soccer, volleyball, basketball, touch football, and relay races. Campers will also get a chance to compete and earn medals! Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp. Hours are 8:30am-3:00pm. For questions about Multi-Sport or Olympics Camps, please reach out to Christopher Bagot, Camp Director and Varsity Coach. To pay online for the Olympics Camp: Click Here.

Basketball - Rising 4th-9th Graders - July 8-12 ($200): Campers will spend each day focused on developing their basketball skills. They will also receive a report card on their basketball abilities, a t-shirt, and a chance to win trophies. Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp. Hours are 9:00am to 3:00pm. For questions about Basketball Camp please reach out to Jerome McAvoy, Camp Director and Varsity Coach. To pay online for the Basketball Camp: Click Here.