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09/16 3-Hours Early Release -Dismissal time12:20pm
09/18 Fall Picture Day (8:45am, Gym)
Back to School Night (5:30-7:30pm)
BTSN session information will be sent later
09/20 First Family Luncheon (10:45am– 2:10pm, Cafeteria)
09/28 Baseball Game at (4:30pm, Nationals Park)
address: 1500 South Capitol ST SE. Washington, DC 20003
 Will return next week!
Dear Parent/Caregiver,
The Early Release Mondays planned throughout the school year for elementary schools are essential to allow educators time for planning and professional development. Students will be dismissed 3 hours early seven times throughout the school year and are encouraged to return home via their normal route. However, we understand there may be a childcare hardship because of the early release Mondays for many of our families. To resolve these concerns, student supervision will be available for families who need it.
The following dates are planned for Early Release Mondays throughout the school year:
- September 16
- October 21
- November 18
- February 10
- March 10
- April 21
- May 12
To help plan for our school’s childcare needs during the early release Mondays, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/ArQHc8DRZ31yq5NE6 as soon as possible for each of your children who are enrolled at Annandale Terrace Elementary if you haven't done so. The form covers the first two early release Mondays, scheduled for September 16, 2024, and October 21, 2024. If you have multiple children, you will need to submit multiple forms. Staff will confirm the after-school supervision plan for each student.
Thanks,
Principal Badia
 As you plan upcoming trips and other family events, please remember the importance of sending your child to school every day. Review the FCPS School Year Calendar and try to plan any time away during breaks from school.
Children who show up for school regularly develop fundamental reading and math skills while building a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers. Research shows that children who were chronically absent (missing 18 days or more) in kindergarten and first grade were far less likely to read proficiently at the end of third grade.
Learn how families can help form good attendance habits.
 We are planning a family field trip to Baseball Game at Nationals Park (address: 1500 South Capitol ST SE. Washington, DC 20003) on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 4:05pm. Please fill out this Google Form by September 9th, 2024 (this date is extended) if you are planning to attend as we need to get an attendance estimate in order to coordinate the transportation. Thank you!
 The Family Engagement Committee is sponsoring a Student-Parent Lunch day on Friday, September 20, 2024. Parents are invited to have lunch with their student during their lunch time. This event is part of increasing family engagement at ATES and providing parents an opportunity to come to the school. The price for lunch is $5.00 for all guests (Free of charge for all students in Annandale Terrace). Please complete this survey (https://forms.gle/GB66yFi46PJ4CCnr9) if you are planning to attend, so we can make sure we have extra meals prepared ahead of time.
Thank you for your patience as we all get used to new routines this school year. We appreciate our families following Kiss and Ride procedures and being patient while waiting for your children’s buses.
If a student’s bus is delayed, parents may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report. Email messages will be sent to announce significant bus delays. Contact the Transportation Office at 703-446-2050 with any additional questions. For any concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact Safety and Security at 571-423-2000.
To make sure you receive email messages about bus delays, update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE.
FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. Read Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid’s letter to families regarding the SR&R.
Parents/caregivers should talk to their child(ren) about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to your child’s school by Monday, September 30.
You can submit questions online regarding the SR&R.
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to share your questions or concerns regarding Fairfax County Public Schools. Your voice matters! Community Conversations will be held this Fall 6:30-7:30 p.m. on:
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Monday, September 9, at Holmes Middle School
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Monday, September 23, at Newington Forest Elementary
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Monday, September 30, at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary
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Monday, October 14, at Fairhill Elementary
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Monday, October 21, at Virginia Run Elementary
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Wednesday, October 30, at Herndon Middle
Click the date above to register. Registration is not required but helps with planning. Additional registration links will be shared in next week’s This Week at FCPS. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
24-25 Annandale High School Parent Orchestra season registration is kicking off today! This wave of registration is ONLY for the schools that Parent Orchestra Directors teach at.
Since 2018, Parent Orchestra has grown from around 30 parents to serving over 200 caregivers in the county. We love being a part of so many musical journeys and are honored that you are choosing to spend your evenings with us. For every teacher involved, it is a fulfilling program that is a joy to participate in and we welcome the opportunity to connect with our communities.
With such substantial growth, an important change we need to add is a $41.00 tuition to support the logistics of running the program. This tuition goes directly to the teachers to make Parent Orchestra a sustainable model and encourage commitment to the year by registrants.
Parent Orchestra is also moving from being just “Parent Orchestra” to the Fairfax Arts Coalition for Education (FACE) Parent Orchestra. The goal of FACE is to promote high-quality music education for all students in Fairfax County Public Schools. FACE works with the FCPS School Board, performing arts teachers, and community members to promote the maintenance and growth of the performing arts in FCPS, including advocating for funds in the yearly budget, helping teachers gain access to high-quality training and support, and advocating for the importance of music education in the community. As you register for PO, please consider joining FACE as well!
Click here to register for FACE Parent Orchestra! Below is more information about the year:
Where - Annandale High School Performing Arts Department wing
When - 7:00 - 8:00 (+ set up/reset rooms) twice a month - usually on THURSDAY nights
Cost - $41 for the entire year. If this presents a financial challenge for your family, please let us know your needs.
Dates are subject to change if needed - all dates are Thursday unless otherwise noted
- October 9th - Wednesday
- October 24th
- November 7th
- November 13th - Wednesday
- December 5th
- December 13th - Friday - Extra Rehearsal for those attending the Midwest Conference
- January 9th
- January 14th - Tuesday
- February 6th
- February 20th
- March 13th
- March 27th
- April 10th
- April 24th
Dress Rehearsal - May 6th - Tuesday
Concert - May 7th - Wednesday
We look forward to a great year with you all and please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions!
Annie Ray
Orchestra Director and Performing Arts Department Chair
Annandale High School
FACE Parent Orchestra Founder and Director
Students in grade 4 may register for Strings and students in grades 4 & 5 may register for Band or Strings. Registration forms are coming home with students this week. All students have been introduced to their instrument choices during specials this week. Registration forms need to be turned in to the Band & Strings teacher as soon as possible so instruments may be ordered. For questions please contact Ms. Riddle (Band) at jariddle@fcps.edu or Ms. Emery (Strings) at aremery@fcps.edu.
The Parents/Guardians of Students in Grades 4-5 may pay Instrument Rental Fees using My School Bucks beginning August 26th.
My School Bucks (MSB) is a FCPS system for payments of student fees and activities. It is easy, secure, and there are no fees for parents.
Follow these simple steps:
- Go to www.MySchoolBucks.com, or the My School Bucks link on the Annandale Terrace webpage.
- Add a child by school & student ID or birthdate. You will receive a confirmation email.
- You may now pay the Instrumental Rental fee using a credit or debit card, or e-check.
- A confirmation email will be sent to your child’s teacher to let them know you’ve paid.
*Note: Families are also able to submit $20 and the contract to the Strings/Band teachers. Payment can be made by cash or check (payable to “Annandale Terrace Elementary School”. Please note that students will not be able to take the instrument home until the instrument rental fee has been paid. If there is a financial concern, please contact Ms. Riddle (Band) at jariddle@fcps.edu or Ms. Emery (Strings) at aremery@fcps.edu.
Want to easily access back-to-school forms and checklists? Log in to your SIS ParentVUE account to find forms and make updates.
Update Contact Information
Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from your school and FCPS by providing your cell phone number and email in SIS ParentVUE. To update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then click the “Online Verification/Update” icon.
Parents/caregivers who do not have a SIS ParentVUE account should print and complete the Emergency Care Information Form (PDF) and submit it to their child’s school.
Complete Permission Forms
Families can now easily give permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account. Parents can easily opt their child in or out of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, and tutoring services. They can also change how student information is managed.
Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
Submit Absences
Parents can submit daylong absences through SIS ParentVUE. Log in and click “Report Absence.” Note: Partial day absences and changes of transportation should still be reported directly to the school front office.
Don’t Have a SIS ParentVUE Account Yet? Contact your school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage. .
The 2023-30 strategic plan sets five main goals to create positive change in FCPS. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts.
Each goal has an equity commitment — the promise we make to every student to support them in attaining these goals. Each goal also has several measures that allow us to track our progress.
The first goal in the strategic plan focuses on each and every student having a strong start in FCPS. Whether they're joining us in preschool or in high school, we want our students to be set up for success.See how Goal 1 is being put into practice.
We have received questions about student photo/video opt-out choices and guidance. Here are clarifications and reminders:
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The ‘Comprehensive’ and ‘Limited C’ opt out selections are the ones that mean that a student is opted out from photos, video, and audio being published by FCPS.
- The ‘Commercial Use’ field in SIS refers to release of information to outside businesses and organizations. It does NOT refer to publishing photos/video/audio of a student.
- For special education and students with disabilities: Get parent/caregiver permission before publishing photo/video/audio of students receiving these services.
For full descriptions of each opt-out choice, see the Opt Out booklet forms page 13.
Please make sure your child has all of their necessary immunizations. Remember, all students are required to be immunized against certain diseases to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of keeping children healthy!
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 immunization information by accessing SIS ParentVUE.
Please check with your family's health care provider to make sure your child is up to date on required immunizations for the 2024-25 school year. If your child needs a vaccine to complete their records, make an appointment with your health care provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or access other local services. Be wise and immunize!
The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) will provide immunizations for FCPS elementary students on limited early release Mondays at their district offices beginning in October. All school required immunizations will be offered free of charge.
To find the early release Mondays for your child’s school, please locate their school pyramid, then view the dates toward the bottom of the limited early release Mondays webpage.
Please schedule your child’s immunization appointment by calling 703-246-7100.
Thank you for helping to support the FCPS cell phone policy by waiting to call or text your child about non-urgent matters until the school day is over. In case of an emergency, it is always best to contact the school’s front office to reach your child during class time.
Visit the FCPS Cell Phone Policy webpage to read more about usage policies by grade level and to share your feedback on the current cell phone policy.
Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for FCPS. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Schools are also required to notify parents and guardians at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools are not required to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance.
The first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Preschool and kindergarten students are exempt from practicing the first lockdown drill.
Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your students before and after school lockdown drills.
⚠️ Know Our Security Terms
FCPS uses specific terminology to describe the actions school staff and students should take to ensure safety in a variety of situations. It is important for staff, families, and students to understand what the different terms mean and how they impact school operations.
Watch this video to learn about safety terms including lockdown; secure the building; and stay put, stay tuned.
If students, staff, or community members have a safety concern at school (that is not an immediate emergency), they should submit a tip to the FCPS Safety Tipline. In an emergency, please call 9-1-1.
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.
Parents and caregivers can access free webinars, confidential consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. Learn more about the Family Resource Center (FRC).
In September, the FRC will host webinars for families on supporting siblings of children with disabilities, helping students organize their school work, working with children who like to push boundaries, and teen development and well-being. Sign up for the FRC newsletter for their latest offerings or visit their webinar website.
Being connected to your school community helps you stay informed and support your child’s success. Take some time to get familiar with the many resources and tools available to FCPS families, including:
Do You Know About Family Liaisons? – Family liaisons serve as a link between families and schools. You may contact Sherry Hamzehloo, our family liaison, at shamzehloo@fcps.edu
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.
Fairfax County's Puzzle Hunt will end on Sunday, September 15. Families have been solving puzzles and finding clues all summer in this unique community event that takes solvers on a journey to the wonderful parks in Fairfax County. There is still time to join before it ends!
Puzzles are filled with creative thinking, logic, and wordplay. They are designed to be completed with friends and family and are challenging and accessible for all skill levels. Solve the puzzles, then find clues at the parks for a final meta-puzzle. Visit our wonderful local parks with friends and family.
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