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Annandale Students, Parents and Community:
I am excited to welcome our teachers back tomorrow for the opening of the 2024-25 school year! We will come together for our opening General Session, titled “Who We Are.” We will ground in the people who make Annandale special - our students, community, and staff, and share the tremendous success we had this past year. Over the course of the week, we will reground in our priorities of relationships and support, high quality instruction, and strong collaboration and share how we will continue to get better in service of our students and community.
This Thursday, August 15, we are excited to welcome students and families into the building at our Freshmen & New Student Orientation and Open House. The Freshmen & New Student Orientation will begin at 1:30pm, and Open House, for all students and families, will begin at 3:30pm. Below are the highlights of the event. The event will include:
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Annandale Welcome & Pep Rally: Students and families will meet in the gym and be welcomed to Annandale HS with a performance by our band & cheerleaders. Students and families will meet the school principal, administration team, counselors, and student leaders, and students will also receive their schedules.
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Scavenger Hunt: After receiving their schedules, students will have the opportunity to explore Annandale and find important places throughout the building.
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Parent Information Session: While students explore the school, families can visit tables set up in the cafeteria as well as Clausen Hall to get important information about school.
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T-Shirt Distribution: At this time, students will return to the main gym and get their class t-shirts.
Open House will be held from 3:30-4:30pm and provide students an opportunity to walk through our halls and find their classes for next year. There is no formal program during this time, but rather an informal chance to get reacquainted with our school.
Student schedules will be available in SIS StudentVue and SIS ParentVue this Thursday, August 15 at 6:00am. For more information about obtaining a ParentVue account, please click here to access support on the FCPS website.
Finally, help us welcome the teachers back in style! The PTSA welcome back breakfast will also be on Thursday, August 15. This special event is our way of showing appreciation for their hard work and commitment to our students. Whether you can volunteer your time, donate breakfast items, or make a financial contribution, your support will make a huge difference. Together, we can create a warm and welcoming start to the new school year for our amazing educators. Sign-Up here!
As always, please reach out if you have any questions.
Shawn DeRose, Principal
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Important Dates
August 14 - Meet the Coaches Night
August 15 - Student Schedules Available
August 15 - Parent Information Session
August 15 - New Student Orientation/Open House
August 15 - Fall Sports Pictures
August 16 - Marching Band Showcase
August 17 - INOVA Back to School Pediatric Health Fair
August 19 - First Day of School for Students
August 30 and September 2 - Labor Day Holiday (No School)
September 19 - Back to School Night 2023
September 23-27 - Homecoming Week
September 28 - Homecoming Dance
August 14 - Meet the Coaches Night: The Activities Office will be hosting Meet the Coaches Night on Wednesday, August 14 at 6:30pm. The event will begin with a general session and be followed by individual team breakout sessions where you can meet your student's coaches and learn about their sports program and the upcoming season.
August 15 - Student Schedules Available: Beginning Thursday, August 15 at 6:00am, all students and parents will have access to class schedules in SIS StudentVUE and ParentVUE. SIS (Student Information System) is the application to see attendance, class performance, and demographic data.
August 15 - Freshmen (Grade 9) and New Student Orientation: Annandale High School is excited to welcome rising freshmen and new students to our school orientation on August 15 from 1:30-3:30pm. Students and families will meet administrators, counselors, teachers, and other essential school personnel. In addition, attendees will have an opportunity to explore the school building and learn more about student life at Annandale. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Kara Franklin-Taylor.
August 15 - Parent Information Session: We would like to also invite parents to a Family Coffee session that will be held during New Student Orientation from 1:30-3:30pm. During this information session, you will learn more about Annandale HS, our values, and what to expect as your student(s) matriculates through high school from course selections to extra-curricular activities. At the end of the session, you will have an opportunity to visit various stations to acquire additional information from counselors, sports activities, and clubs.
August 15 - Open House: All returning Annandale students and their families are invited to our Open House on August 15 from 3:30-4:30pm. Open House provides students an opportunity to walk through our halls and find their classes for next year. There is no formal program during this time. It is an informal opportunity to get reacquainted with AHS. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Kara Franklin-Taylor.
August 15 - PTA Staff Breakfast Event: Help us welcome the teachers back in style! The PTSA welcome back breakfast will be on Thursday, August 15. This special event is our way of showing appreciation for their hard work and commitment to our students. Whether you can volunteer your time, donate breakfast items, or make a financial contribution, your support will make a huge difference. Together, we can create a warm and welcoming start to the new school year for our amazing educators. Sign-Up here!
August 15 - Fall Sports Pictures: Team and individual pictures for all fall sports except Cheer (date TBD) will occur on Thursday, August 15. Images can be accessed via this link: Legacy Studios Events or by going to events.legacystudios.com and use the code 4542E25 to view your images on the website. Please note that if your images have not been uploaded to the site yet, when entering that code you'll receive a 'Gallery not found' notification. Please allow 7 days after picture day before trying to access your images to avoid any frustration.
August 16 - Marching Band Showcase: Come hear the Marching Atoms in their Family Night Showcase this Friday, August 16 at 6:30pm at the stadium!
August 17 - INOVA Back to School Pediatric Health Fair: Inova Cares Clinic (ICC) will provide children ages 5+ with free school entrance physicals and immunizations at their summer health fair on August 17 in Falls Church. This event is for children on Medicaid or who are uninsured. Appointments are required. No walk-ins will be allowed. Call 703-698-2550 for an appointment.
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Parent To-Do Checklist
Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE: Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Parents should receive an activation code when they register their student. Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same ParentVUE account. Access SIS ParentVUE by using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices. Need help creating a SIS ParentVUE account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
Update Your Students’ Information Online: FCPS is excited to announce that parents can now update student information online using the Online Verification Update Packet. Parents can conveniently update phone numbers, emergency contacts, health conditions, and immunization dates for students in grades K-12. Accessible through SIS ParentVUE, the online update feature streamlines registration for parents and staff.
Join the PTSA: The Annandale High School PTSA is committed to helping our students and community. Together, we sponsor many programs and activities for our students, parents, and staff, including teacher grants, community outreach events, AHS Food Pantry, All Night Grad Celebration, Senior Scholarships, and more! Please consider joining for the 2024-2025 school year by filling out the online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.
Have a Rising Senior? Meningococcal Vaccine Reminder: The Code of Virginia requires all students to be immunized against certain communicable diseases prior to entrance into one of its schools. All students in grade 12 are required to have been immunized with one dose of the Meningococcal Vaccine given at the age of 16 or older. Please review the immunization requirements here. Proof of immunization must be submitted to the school. These documents need to be returned prior to the start of the 2024-25 school year. For more information on this requirement, visit this FCPS website.
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Transportation Information
Student Bus Route Assignments: FCPS Office of Transportation Services emailed student bus route assignments last week. Parents should have receive an e-notify to check their ParentVue accounts for transportation information. Please note that the provided times are estimates and that buses may be delayed due to weather, traffic conditions, and a national and regional driver shortage. Please check the Here Comes the Bus app or FCPS School Bus Delays website for potential delays. Students are expected to be at their bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled pickup time. A double back route assignment may require your bus schedule to be adjusted earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon.
Kiss & Ride: Student drop off/pick up (aka Kiss & Ride) is conducted at the main entrance (door #1). Parents should drop off their student(s) beginning at 7:45am. Students are dismissed from school at 2:55pm. If you have any questions, please email Phillip Taylor, Safety and Security Specialist.
Student Parking: This year, students will have the opportunity to purchase parking permits to park on the Annandale campus. Information about how to purchase a parking permit for the 2024-25 school year will be shared soon after the school year begins. Stay tuned for more information! In the meantime, students can park in any designated student parking space until permits are issued. If you have any questions, please email Phillip Taylor, Safety and Security Specialist.
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Back to School Information
Bell Schedule: The bell schedule for the 2024-2025 school year is the same as last year. See below for the detailed schedule. Click here for the red/white day calendar and a complete list of alternative bell schedules at Annandale High School.
Student Schedules: Beginning Thursday, August 15 at 6:00am, all students and parents will have access to class schedules in SIS StudentVUE and ParentVUE. SIS (Student Information System) is the application to see attendance, class performance, and demographic data. If you have any questions, please email Esther Amenyah, Administrative Assistant.
Student Laptops: We are excited to share that all students who turned in their school-issued computers last year will be issued brand new Chromebooks in their W4 class on the first day of school, August 19. The first day of school will feature a special schedule with all students reporting to their W4 class at the beginning of the school day to receive their laptop.
If your student wishes to use a family-owned device, please ensure the device meets the required specifications. Then, log into your ParentVUE account and select “Opt-out of FCPS device.” This will ensure that your student is not responsible for an FCPS device.
Student Lockers: Student lockers will be available by request only beginning on Tuesday, September 3. Students will receive information about how to request a locker during W4.
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Awesome Atoms!
Ten AHS Students Participate in Educational Travel Program: Ten students at Annandale High School had the opportunity to travel to six different countries with the Center for International Education and Exchange (CIEE) program.
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AHS Students & Teachers Travel for Exchange Program: This summer, ESOL Coach, Meredith Hedrick and Spanish Teacher, Miles Meijer traveled to Madrid, Spain, with the Center for International Education and Exchange language and culture program. Miles was a program leader who supported students and led groups on cultural activities and excursions. Meredith participated in a teacher site visit and joined the students in Spanish language classes and excursions. We can’t wait to hear about their experiences when they return to school.
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Annandale Senior Shares Exchange Experience with Superintendent: Annandale senior, Rawan Bin Humam, connected with Superintendent Michelle Reid at the Multilingual Learner Summit this past Thursday to share her experience studying with the Center for International Education and Exchange for their Entrepreneurship program in Berlin, Germany. Dr. Reid, a German speaker, shared her connection with Rawan.
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Annandale Hosts Multilingual Learner Summit: This past Thursday, Annandale High School proudly hosted the "Our Voices, Our Future: Multilingual Learners Summit," an evening dedicated to empowering our multilingual students and their families. The event provided attendees the opportunity to explore a table fair, showcasing an array of opportunities within FCPS and the broader community that support pathways to graduation and future careers.
A highlight of the evening was the inspiring keynote delivered by Dr. Jose Luis Zelaya, who shared a powerful message on the strength of community and resilience. Following the keynote, a dynamic student panel engaged in an insightful dialogue with Dr. Zelaya, fostering a space for meaningful connection and shared experiences. The summit successfully cultivated an environment of mutual support and deeper understanding, reinforcing Annandale's commitment to embracing the diverse voices that shape our community.
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Important Information
Emergency Care Form, Health Information Form and Medications: The goal of the health room is to ensure your student experiences a healthy and safe school year. To proactively plan, we ask that parents/guardians complete the Online/Verification Update packet in SIS ParentVUE to include emergency contact information, Health Information Forms, and Emergency Care Forms. The Online Verification Update (OVU) packet allows parents to review and update phone numbers, emergency contacts, and health information (such as health conditions and immunizations). Please note: only the enrolling parent will be able to access the OVU. More information can be found on the FCPS website.
Digital Consent Now Available Online: Parents can now log in to the Parental Digital Consent (PDC) system using your SIS ParentVUE credentials to complete consent forms assigned to your child. Digital Resources Consent will be available starting August 7. Forms available include School Counseling Opt-Out, SEL Screener Opt-Out, and more.
Online Attendance Submissions via ParentVUE: Starting on August 19, parents will have the option to submit full-day absences to their student’s base school through ParentVUE. Parent instructions will be available on the Attendance page by August 8. The Parent Support Request page now includes under Application “SIS Parent” | Inquiry “Report Absences” option. Schools should assist parents and escalate tickets to IT FASTeam when needed.
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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.
Baseball Skills Camp- Aug 12-16 5pm-7pm ($120, or $25 a session) This camp is designed for 3rd - 9th graders and will be held on the baseball field at Annandale High. Focus will be on preparation for fall season and overall skill development. Camp will be conducted by Annandale High School Coaches and current college baseball players. Camp will run from 5pm-7pm. Questions? Reach out to head baseball coach and camp director Kevin Rudd.
It's Not Too Late To Play a Fall Sport! Last week we welcomed back student athletes from Football, Field Hockey, Volleyball, Golf, Cross Country, Cheerleading, Dance, and Band. It was great to see so many familiar and new faces in the gym and on the fields. If you weren’t able to make it to our first week of Fall Sports tryouts and practices, there is still time to join! The following teams are still open to new athletes coming out and no experience is necessary:
Purchase Your 'Atoms Pass' for 2024-2025! The Atoms Booster Club’s All-Season passes are back! The "Atoms Pass" provides you general admission access to all regular season home football, baseball, basketball, soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, volleyball, and wrestling events. With more than nine sports showcased, you can save BIG with the all-season pass! To purchase your Click here to purchase your 2024-25 Atoms Booster Pass!
August 15 - Fall Sports Pictures: Fall sports pictures (with the exception of Cheer) will be taken throughout the day on Thursday, August 15. If you’re interested in ordering pictures, go online to Legacy Studios Events and enter the school code, 4542E25. Here you may view and order team and individual pictures of your athlete. Please allow 5 days after picture day before trying to access your images. If the images have not been uploaded to the site yet, when entering that code you'll receive a 'Gallery not found' notification. For more information, please reach out to your coach.
Add Your Name to the Atoms Legacy Wall: The Annandale High School history of success, community support, and strong alumni base stretches back to its creation in 1954. To help commemorate and preserve that legacy, students, alumni, and community members have the opportunity to purchase an acrylic block on the Legacy Wall as a graduation or birthday gift, or to simply share a legacy with the Annandale community. Each acrylic block can be purchased for $100 and will be displayed along the stadium field wall. To purchase a block, visit myschoolbucks.com. *Note orders will be made once the quantity reaches 50 purchased blocks* For more information, contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris.
Fall Sports Physicals and Registration: To participate in marching band or any fall sport, students need to complete a VHSL physical form and register online. Here is the link to the physical form that must be completed by a doctor. To register online, click here. Directions can be found here in English and in Spanish. Once you have completed the physical form, turn in the form at the Activities Office. The office is open every day from 8:00am-2:00pm. See detailed tryout information below and if you have any questions, email Brandon Sutphin, Director of Student Activities.
For last minute physicals, visit local CVS minute clinics and urgent care facilities below.
CVS Minute Clinic Locations
- 3921 Prosperity Ave, Fairfax, VA
- 7205 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA
Progressive Urgent and Primary Care
- 7306 Maple Pl, Annandale, VA
This Week:
Monday, August 12
Field Hockey vs West Potomac - 6:15/7:30pm (Scrimmage)
National District Golf Kickoff @ Greendale - 8:30am
Tuesday, August 13
Varsity Boys Volleyball vs Homeschool - 6:00pm (Scrimmage)
Golf @ Falls Church @ Jefferson District - 4:00pm
Wednesday, August 14
Meet the Coaches Night - 6:30pm - Cafeteria
Thursday, August 15
JV/Varsity Girls Volleyball vs Hylton - 5:30/7:00pm (Scrimmage)
Varsity Football vs Osbourn - 6:30pm (Scrimmage)
Friday, August 16
Marching Band Family Showcase on the Stadium Field - 6:30pm
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News from the PTSA
PTSA Membership for the 2024-25 School Year: The Annandale High School PTSA is committed to helping our students and community. Together, we sponsor many programs and activities for our students, parents, and staff, including teacher grants, community outreach events, AHS Food Pantry, All Night Grad Celebration, Senior Scholarships, and more! Please consider joining for the 2024-2025 school year by filling out the membership form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.
Support the PTSA Welcome Back Breakfast! As we gear up for another exciting school year, we invite you to contribute to the PTSA Welcome Back Breakfast for our dedicated teachers and staff on Thursday, August 15. This special event is our way of showing appreciation for their hard work and commitment to our students. Whether you can volunteer your time, donate breakfast items, or make a financial contribution, your support will make a huge difference. Together, we can create a warm and welcoming start to the new school year for our amazing educators. Sign Up here!
Annandale PTSA Pantry: Throughout the summer, Annandale High School pantry families are invited to attend a fresh produce pop up on Sunday afternoons at Luther Jackson Middle School from 3:00-3:45 (may close earlier if all the produce has been distributed).
Atomic Shout Out to the donors who contributed to our fundraising goal to plug in a new refrigerator. Thanks to your generosity we reached our goal and will be plugging in a new refrigerator to start the new year! THANK YOU!
Are you signed up to be a Red Bag donor? We are again partnering with Food for Neighbors and participating in their Red Bag drives. This is an invaluable resource for our pantry. We are a direct recipient from these collections which help stock our shelves and provide student centered snacks. Please sign up to be a red bag donor. It is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
- Just sign up to be a red bag donor.
- Fill the red bag with the list provided
- Put the red bag outside your door by 8:30am on the donation days.
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4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter
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