Annandale Community Insider - September 15

Annandale Students, Parents, and Community:

Quality classroom instruction is the cornerstone of student success. When teachers provide engaging, well-structured lessons, they create an environment where students are motivated to learn and can grasp complex concepts. Research consistently shows that effective teaching practices have the greatest impact on student achievement, more than any other school-related factor. 

At Annandale, we utilize our Environmental Scans process to create a structured opportunity for administrators and coaches to visit classrooms and support instruction. This process allows our staff to collaboratively reflect on teaching and learning, identify the instructional practices that have the most significant impact, and develop targeted strategies to enhance that impact even further. This in-depth reflection is a powerful example of how we bring to life our vision of being a community that "finds strength in diversity, fosters belonging, and inspires lifelong learning."

To that end, we are excited for the opportunity to share with you the work happening in your student’s classrooms at Back to School Night (BTSN). BTSN will be held this Thursday, September 19, from 6:00-8:00pm on our stadium field. This event is an opportunity for families to learn more about their student’s school experience and how to best support them. Families will be able to have conversations with their student’s teachers and briefly discuss their student’s progress. Here are some reminders for this event:

• Bring a copy of your student’s schedule with you so that you can identify their teachers.
• Remember that these are brief conversations of no more than five minutes each. You may always arrange for a longer parent-teacher conference at a later time to discuss your student in more detail.
• Translation services will be limited. Students are welcome to attend, as needed. 
• Be mindful of time and prioritize which teachers you want to meet with.
• For questions about this event, please contact Dr. Sarah Eqab.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday evening! As always, reach out if you have any questions.

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

IMPORTANT DATES

September 15 through October 15 - National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 16-20 - Hispanic Spirit week

September 18 - Public Safety Cadets Open House

September 19 - Back to School Night 

September 19 - IB Diploma Parent Meeting

September 26 - Senior Student/Parent College Night, 6-8pm

September 23-27 - Homecoming Week

September 26 - Senior Student/Parent College Night 

September 28 - Homecoming Dance

October 3 - Rosh Hashanah (No School)

October 4 - Teacher Work Day (No School)

October 9 - PSAT/SAT Day

October 14 - Staff Development Day (No School)

September 16-20 - Hispanic Heritage Spirit Week: The Hispanic Student Union is hosting its Spirit Week to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from September 16-20. Dress for each day’s theme to show your support! Monday: Jersey Day (Wear a Latin country jersey or colors); Tuesday: Dress like your favorite Latino role model, celebrity, or athlete; Wednesday: Latin Heritage Day (Wear a traditional dress or shirt representing a Hispanic country; Thursday: Dress as your future self (Doctor, teacher, firefighter, police, etc); Friday: “Sí se puede” Day (Wear your favorite college colors or Annandale’s colors to show your commitment to graduating from high school.)

September 15 through October 15 - National Hispanic Heritage Month: National Hispanic Heritage Month is from September 15 through October 15. FCPS and Annandale High School recognize and celebrate the histories and cultures of the members of our community who trace their heritage to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month on the FCPS webpage.

September 18 - Annual Open House for the Public Safety Cadets: The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) is hosting their annual Open House for the Public Safety Cadets Unit 505 on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 beginning at 7:00pm in the AHS Auditorium. We'll discuss the program and explain how young people can join. Find more information on our website.

September 19 - Back to School Night, 6-8pm: Back to School Night (BTSN) will be on Thursday, September 19 from 6-8pm. BTSN is an opportunity to share with families what their student is learning in school and how to better support them. Similar to years past, this event will be an opportunity for families to have a brief, one-on-one, mini-conference with their students’ teachers. For questions about this event, please contact Dr. Sarah Eqab.

September 19 - IB Diploma Parent Meeting: Parents of IB Diploma Juniors and Seniors are invited to attend a meeting to discuss IB requirements and support structures Annandale offers to ensure students are successful. The meeting will be held during Back to School Night, Thursday, September 19. Linda Bradshaw, IB Diploma Coordinator, will meet with parents of Juniors from 7:15-7:35 pm, and parents of Seniors from 7:40-8:00 pm, in the Main Gym. How do you know if your child is an IB Diploma candidate? Check their 4th period/Teacher Advisory in their schedule. IB Diploma candidates have one of the following teachers: Consumano, Duran-Russell, Dwyer, Hanneman, Herman, Layaly, Mathis, Obando, or Weintraut. If you are unable to attend, the presentation slides will be posted in the Community Insider following the meeting. Questions? Please email Linda Bradshaw.

September 26 - Senior Student/Parent College Night, 6-8pm: Are you undecided about what path to pursue after high school? Please join us on Thursday, September 26 to learn about various postsecondary options and what seniors can do now to prepare. Representatives from 4-year universities, community college, trade, and military will speak about their opportunities. Students and parents will be given the opportunity to ask the speakers questions. The event will take place in Clausen Hall. Questions? Email College and Career Specialist, Viri Acosta.

Important Information

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. 

This week we will conduct a fire drill and 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.

Silent Space for Prayer & Reflection: The Annandale High School Reflection and Silent Space is available in the library for students who need to pray, meditate, or engage in silent reflection. This space is inclusive of all students’ religious and non-religious beliefs. Students may access the Reflection and Silent Space before school, after school, and during lunch. Students who need to access this space during class time, will need to have the Parent/Guardian Authorization for Reflection Space Access form completed and submitted to the main office. Forms are available in the main office and the library.

Immunization Requirements: Please check with your health care 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 may 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. 

Awesome Atoms

New Stadium Bathrooms Coming Soon: We are excited to announce that new permanent restrooms will soon replace the porta-johns at Annandale High School's stadium! The School Board recently approved a contract for this much-anticipated upgrade, which will greatly improve the experience for everyone attending events. 

Support our Performing Arts Department - Donate Today! This Saturday was Tag Day, a special day for our Annandale Performing Arts programs! Students from our Bands, Theater, Chorus, Guitar, and Orchestra went door-to-door in the community, seeking support for our largest fundraiser of the year. If you missed it, there's still time to contribute! Your donations help us provide uniforms, instruments, music supplies, scholarships, clinicians, and competition fees—ensuring our talented students have the resources to thrive and represent Annandale proudly. If you'd like to support, please click here to donate. Thank you for your generosity!

Annandale High School PTSA Food Pantry Awarded Rustic Love Grant: September is Hunger Action Month, and we are excited to announce that our Annandale High School PTSA Food Pantry has been selected as one of the recipients of Rustic Love’s generous grant! We are incredibly proud of our Pantry Team and grateful to Rustic Love and the community for their continued support in providing healthy take-home nutrition for our students.

Yearbook Editors Attend Workshop: This week, our 3 yearbook editors attended an all-day fall workshop. During our visit, the editors explored award-winning yearbooks, talked with other yearbook editors and staff, and finalized our theme: Soundtrack of Our Lives. The most exciting part of the trip was when the editors sat down with a graphic designer from our publishing company and designed our 2025 yearbook cover! The editors are so excited to begin the process of documenting everything that makes this year unique to our Annandale community. 2025 yearbooks are available now for pre-order at 10% off! Pre-order yours at http://yearbookforever.com!

Annandale Singers Perform at FCPS School Board Meeting: The Annandale Singers represented Annandale High School and sang the National Anthem at the FCPS School Board Meeting this past Thursday at Luther Jackson Middle School. This honor highlights the talent of our students and the excellence of our performing arts program.

Annandale Staff Member Interviewed on Retro VOA Podcast: Congratulations to Mario Villanueva Ramos, Annandale staff member and 2021 graduation speaker, for his appearance on the podcast Retro VOA! Have you ever wondered how school education differs between the U.S. and Latin America? In this episode of Retro VOA, they dive into the realities of studying in both regions. Check out this insightful conversation!

AHS Marching Band Brings Spirit to Annandale Terrace ES Pep Rally: The AHS Marching band joined Annandale Terrace ES on their pep rally, to perform common AHS songs and tunes in hope to make their pep rally a bit brighter. The kids and the band all had a blast, enjoying their screams, cheer and good music. “I hope this encourages them to join band” said Sophomore Arthur Baxter, a Euphonium player. Photo credit: Nathaly Maldonado.

Academic Support & Tutoring Opportunities

Need Help in Your Class? Stay After School With Your Teacher: Stay With Your Teacher After School! Annandale High School offers late bus transportation three (3) days per week: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. All teachers stay after school at least one day a week to provide academic support for students. Please refer to this list to see which day your student’s teacher is available after school.

After School Tutoring Available on Wednesdays: Tutoring is available every Wednesday from 3:00-4:30 pm in Trailer 12. Students can receive help with any class from Honor Society members, IB Diploma students, and AVID students. No sign-up is required—just drop in for extra support!

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.

Opportunities

Student Leadership Development Program Applications Open: The FCPS School Board is accepting applications for the Student Leadership Development Program, open to high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors in good academic standing with an interest in law, government, or public policy. Twelve students will be selected to work closely with the School Board, participate in advisory committees, and even run for student representative. Applications are due by September 30. For more details and to apply, visit FCPS Student Leadership Development Program.

October 10 - Camp Night at Annandale Football Game: Any camper who wears their camp shirt to the football game gets in free with a payment. Up to four campers per adult. Come watch the Atoms play and reunite with some friends from camp!

Winter Olympics Camp Early Bird Sign-up: Winter Break Camp will again run from 8:30am-3pm, with drop off as early as 8am on Thursday and Friday January 2 & 3. Sign up now for the early bird rate of $60. Regular Rate is $75. Sign up at https://bit.ly/OlympicsCamp25.

Visit the AHS Library! The AHS Library welcomes you! No pass is needed to visit before school (7:45-8:10am), during Second Chance Breakfast, or after school until 3:15 pm. However, an official AHS pass is required during all instructional blocks. During Pride Time, the library is open for students who are signed up and have a pass—just talk to your W4 teacher to get signed up. We look forward to seeing you! For any questions, please contact Pat Brown or Jane Scharankov.

Come to the Taste of Annandale on September 21!: The annual Taste of Annandale is a vibrant celebration of our community’s rich diversity and a testament to the power of collaboration. This family-friendly event brings together residents, local businesses, and restaurants, highlighting the unique flavors and cultures that make Annandale special. Organized by a dedicated team of volunteers and leaders from various Fairfax County agencies, the festival is rooted in a decade-long commitment to fostering community engagement that began with the “Dialogues on Diversity” at Annandale High School. Today, the Taste of Annandale not only showcases our community but also supports vital youth programs through its proceeds. Stay connected and learn more by visiting the Taste of Annandale Facebook page.

News from Student Services

Senior Advisory Lessons: Counselors are currently delivering lessons to the seniors during W4. Topics covered include post-secondary planning, college applications, financial aid, and more. This information will be covered at our Senior Parent Night on Thursday, September 26 at 6 pm. In addition, seniors are meeting with their counselors individually to go over their specific graduation requirements and begin discussing college and career options for after high school.

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.

Upcoming College Visits – Register Now! Beginning next week, Our College & Career Center will host visits from representatives for colleges and universities throughout the country. Find out which schools are visiting here. Juniors and Seniors who are interested in attending must log into Naviance to register. Click on "Colleges" at the top of the page and then click on "college visits." Click "register now" for the visits you would like to attend. Once you have signed up, you should receive a confirmation email. Please show the confirmation email to your teacher and get permission to attend.  Passes will be delivered to your first class (R1/W2) the morning of the scheduled visit. If you do not have a first class you may pick up your pass from the Career Center (Room 103). Students who are not registered in Naviance for a college visit will be denied entry.

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.

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.