Annandale Community Insider - August 25

Annandale Students, Parents and Community:

We are thrilled to kick off the 2024-25 school year on such a positive note! It was wonderful to see our students back in the building, settling into their new schedules and routines with the guidance of our returning students and dedicated staff.

This week, during W4, students spent valuable time getting to know one another and connecting with their teachers. We also introduced our Atoms Community Agreements, focusing on the core values of Empathy, Determination, and Safety. As we emphasized during the lesson, “Being an Annandale Atom means that each of us plays a vital role in our school community.” The importance of our collective responsibility was clear in the engagement and enthusiasm I observed as I walked through the halls during W4.

Next week, we will continue to explore our Atoms Agreements in W4, delving deeper into these guiding principles. Here is a link to our Atoms Agreements matrix, which outlines all of our behavior expectations. We will keep reinforcing these values with our students to support their growth and success at Annandale and beyond.

As I visited classrooms throughout the week, I was struck by how our teachers consistently communicated that the students they teach are as important—if not more important—than the subjects they teach. I witnessed the excitement in students as they engaged with both the curriculum and the various community-building activities taking place in their classes. These relationships form the foundation of the learning journey our students will embark on this year and are essential to the strong, positive school culture we cherish at Annandale. We're off to a fantastic start!

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

August 30 and September 2 - Labor Day Holiday (No School)

September 3 - Activities Fair (During W4)

September 4 - SAT School Day Intent Form Due

September 9 - Lockdown Drill

September 9 - Atoms Booster Club Meeting

September 9 - Late Busses Begin

September 10 - PTSA Meeting

September 10 & 11 - Underclass Pictures

September 11 & 13 - SR&R Lessons in W4

September 14 - Annandale Performing Arts Tag Day

September 16-20 - Hispanic Spirit week

September 19 - Back to School Night 

September 23-27 - Homecoming Week

September 26 - Senior Student/Parent College Night 

September 28 - Homecoming Dance

August 30-September 2 - Labor Day Holiday: Virginia legislation requires that schools opening prior to Labor Day must be closed the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day. As a result, Friday, August 30, is a holiday for students and staff members in addition to the Labor Day holiday, Monday, September 2. See the complete 2024-25 school year calendar.

September 3 - Student Lockers Requests Available: 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.

September 3 - Club & Activities Fair: On Tuesday, September 3, we will be hosting our annual Clubs & Activities Fair during W4. Our goal as an Activities Department is increasing involvement and participation by our students in extracurricular offerings and the Activities Fair is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about everything that Annandale has to offer. For an up-to-date list of clubs currently offered at Annandale, visit this website. 

September 4 - SAT School Day Intent Form Due: On Wednesday, October 9, Annandale High School students in grade 12 will have the opportunity to take the SAT School Day. FCPS will cover the cost for any senior to take this test. The essay option and subject area tests are not available during SAT School Day. To reserve a seat for your senior to take this exam and ensure appropriate test materials are available for your student, families are asked to complete this form by Wednesday, September 4. Your student will need to use an @fcpsschools.net email account to access and complete this form. A translated version of the form may be found on the SAT School Day Intent Form webpage.

General information about the SAT School Day test format is available on the College Board webpage. We will share exam day schedules and additional details in the coming weeks. If you have questions about the SAT School Day administration at Annandale High School, please contact our College and Career Specialist/SAT School Day Coordinator, Viri Acosta.

September 9 - Late Buses Begin: Beginning on Monday, September 9, students who stay after school will have the opportunity to ride the late bus home. Late bus days are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Buses will pick students up in the back of the building with a departure time of approximately 4:45pm. Please check StudentVue and ParentVue for your student’s late bus number and stop. 

September 9 - Atoms Booster Club Meeting: Come learn more about how you can support our Atoms Athletics teams! This is a great opportunity to meet fellow supporters, hear about upcoming events, and find out how you can get involved. We look forward to seeing you there! We will meet at 6:30pm in the Driver’s Education room. Enter at Door 10.

September 10 - PTSA Meeting: The first PTSA of the 2024-25 school year will be on Tuesday, September 10 at 7:00pm. PTSA meetings are bilingual and Spanish translation is provided. Las reuniones de PTSA son bilingües y se proporciona traducción al español. Join us in Clausen Hall or virtually! Visit the Annandale PTSA website for more information.

September 10 & 11 - Underclassmen Pictures: Underclassmen pictures will be taken through English classes on September 10 and 11 in the auditorium. Parents should receive an email from Legacy Studios with online ordering instructions and mailing options. Parents can order leading up to, on, and after picture days. For assistance, please contact Legacy Studios Customer Care team directly at customercare@legacystudios.com or 716-512-6336.

September 11 & 13 - SR&R Lessons in W4: On Wednesday, September 11, we will start our Student Rights and Responsibilities lessons in W4. The lessons are divided into two different parts to help facilitate student conversations and build community in our classes. Part 1 will be an interactive lesson the W4 class will participate in to build community and understanding around our school norms. Students will also receive a hard copy of the SR&R Signature Sheet for parents/guardians to sign and to be turned into their W4 teacher on Friday. Part 2 will include the SR&R test.

September 14 - Annandale Performing Arts Tag Day: Tag day is a major performing arts fundraiser where members of the Annandale Bands, Theater Chorus and Orchestra go door to door within the community to ask for donations. The donations assist in funding uniforms, costumes, instruments, scholarships, clinicians, music, supplies, and registration for competitions. Your continued support enables us to proudly represent our school and community throughout the year.

Important Information

Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE: Want to get ahead of the back-to-school forms and checklists? Make sure you have a SIS ParentVUE account for your family and log in to find forms and updates. 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 Student’s Immunizations and Records: Please check with your healthcare provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up-to-date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school. You can check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to your school’s front office. Find more information on immunizations on the FCPS website. 

Course Change Process: Our counselors will continue to make modifications to student schedules that have errors. Students seeking a schedule change need to complete the Schedule Change Request Form located in Student Services. This form will only be available from August 25-September 6. Counselors will prioritize these requests based on student need and will contact students as necessary.  Written parent permission will be required for changes resulting in a different diploma type or moving down a level of rigor.  Please reach out to your student’s counselor or Erin Crowley if you have any questions.

Supporting Students Getting to Class On-Time: As part of our commitment to ensure our students are accessing high quality instruction and arriving to all their classes on time, every day, AHS will be implementing our Start on Time tardy sweep stations between every class transition starting Monday, August 26. Students who are still in the hallways after the late bell will be escorted to their classes, where teachers will update the attendance accordingly. If students are arriving late to school with a note from a parent/guardian to explain their tardiness, they should report to the Attendance Office.

Monitor Your Student’s Online Activity: FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service. Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours. Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.

Reporting Student Attendance: In order for our students to get the most out of their education, they must be in school and on time to class every day. Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half of the students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school. If your student must be absent from school, please inform the school. The attendance phone number is 703-642-4151.

In addition, parents now have the option to submit full-day absences through ParentVUE. Parent instructions are available on the Attendance page.

Safety Drills During the School Year: Keeping students and staff safe is a priority at Annandale High School. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including fire and lockdown drills, each year. 

In the coming weeks we will conduct our first lockdown drill of the school year. Your student may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your student about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Here are some helpful tips for families to use to support their students before and after school lockdown drills. Working together, we create a safe, secure environment for students to learn and grow in our schools.

Free Breakfast and Lunch for Every Student! We're excited to announce that all Annandale students will receive free breakfast and lunch every day of the school year, thanks to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program. This USDA program ensures that every student, regardless of their family's income level, can enjoy nutritious meals at no cost. The meal service will remain the same as other schools, with a la carte items available for purchase.

Note: Even though all students receive free meals, families who may qualify for additional benefits, such as fee waivers for lab fees, summer school tuition, and more, should still complete the Consent to Share form. Visit FCPS Free and Reduced Priced Meals website for more information.

Academy Students: Academy students will receive a badge this week to be attached to their backpack. It will specify their specific departure and return times as well as which lunch they should eat (when applicable). Academy students waiting to take the bus and returning prior to their next class should report to the auditorium until further notice. 

Cell Phone Policy: Phones and accessories must be silenced and put away during all instructional periods. Watches that serve a dual purpose (e.g., smart watch) may be worn; however, phone features (e.g., texting, Internet, calls, etc.) are to be off when phone use is prohibited. Students are prohibited from using phones, tablets, and other mobile devices in restrooms and locker rooms, unless there is a medical necessity or emergency. Teachers may allow usage of cell phone for instructional activities where they are the most appropriate tool, however one-to-one FCPS devices should meet most needs.

If you have an emergency and need to be in touch with your student, please contact the front office. Complete information can be found in the Student Rights & Responsibilities document.

Student Parking: Parking applications may be picked up in the Security Office, Room 114. Both the “Parking Agreement” and “Parking Application” forms must be turned into the Main Office by Monday, August 26. Parking permits will be issued and money will be collected during all lunches in the cafeteria on Tuesday, August 27. The parking fee of $200.00 will be collected when the parking permits are distributed. Students must have a parking pass to park in AHS student parking spaces beginning Tuesday, September 3rd. If you have any questions, please email Phillip Taylor. Note: All financial obligations must be cleared before you may receive a parking permit.

Opportunities

VDOE Student Advisory Board Applications Are Open for Seniors! The Student Advisory Board is a highly competitive opportunity comprised of one high school senior from each of the eight Superintendent’s Regions in the Commonwealth. Appointed by the Governor, the Board works closely with the VDOE to provide student perspectives on important issues and play a vital role in the creation of policy by the Virginia Board of Education. Applications are open to any Virginia rising high school senior. The application window closes September 15. Find out more information today!

Thursday College Application Workshops: Every Thursday from 3:00-4:00pm in Trailer 14, 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.

Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost: FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes; on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring; essay editing; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

PRIDE Time 0.5 Begins Monday! At Annandale, we have robust systems to support our students’ academic needs during class as well as through PRIDE Time and our after school academic program (ASAP). Starting on Monday, August 26, students who need to earn verified credits in our September and October testing windows will be supported through PRIDE Time 0.5. Students who have been identified for this support have already been notified, and families of these students should also have received an email. Please reach out to your student’s teachers with any questions.

News from Student Services

College & Career Planning Google Site: Check out the Student Services: Annandale High School | Schoology (fcps.edu), 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. 

Register For College Rep Visits: Are you interested in hearing from college admissions representatives from colleges you are interested in applying to? Please follow these directions 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. Show the confirmation email to your teacher and get permission to attend. Finally, visit the College & Career Center (Room 103) to pick up your pass. 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!

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; Academic stress. You may refer your child by calling 571-749-2940. Visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information

News from the Activities Office

At Annandale, we foster belonging both inside and outside the classroom. Sports and activities are another way for students to deepen a sense of belonging at school. To learn more about Annandale's Spring sports programs, check out this week’s “Atoms Athletics and Activities Newsletter." In addition, learn more about Annandale High School Athletics and Activities by visiting their website, AHS Athletics Twitter or Instagram page.

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! 

Purchase a Red Card! Each fall, our sports programs sell a discount “Red Card” to raise money for their teams. The red cards include various discounts at local businesses including: Sweet Frog, Jersey Mike’s, Jet’s Pizza, Kilroy’s, Arby’s, Bowlero, Jiffy Lube, and AHS Sports Camps. Red Cards are only $20 and can be used at any of the businesses through September 1, 2025. If you would like to purchase a Red Card, please reach out to a fall athlete or email Brandon Sutphin, Director of Student Activities.

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.

This Week:

Monday, August 26

Varsity Girls Volleyball @ Unity Reed, 6pm

Tuesday, August 27

F/JV/V Girls Volleyball @ Falls Church, 4:30/5:30/7pm

Varsity Boys Volleyball vs Falls Church, 7:15pm

Cross Country @ Mason District Park, 5pm

Wednesday, August 28

Varsity Golf v. Justice @ Greendale, 4pm

F/JV Football Scrimmage vs Marshall, 5:15/7:30pm

JV/V Field Hockey @ McLean, 6:15/7:30pm

Thursday, August 29

Varsity Football @ Marshall, 7pm

Friday, August 30

No Events Scheduled

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 online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.

PTSA Pantry Is Always Restocking and Needs Your Help! The AHS PTSA Pantry supports current AHS students who experience food insecurity. We are gearing up for the new school year and need your help to restock our shelves! In addition, the pantry distribution schedule for the school year can be found here. All donations to the AHS PTSA Pantry are tax deductible. Contact the pantry with questions.