Annandale Community Insider - October 20

Annandale Students, Parents, and Community:

I am excited to share that Annandale High School has once again performed at the highest levels in academic achievement, continued to reduce achievement gaps, and increase student engagement and outcomes, as outlined by the Virginia Department of Education. In fact, our students continue to surpass all expectations, making Annandale the top-performing school in FCPS, based on the difference between predicted and actual results.

The foundation of our work at Annandale High School is our relentless focus on our priorities of relationships & support, high quality instruction, and strong collaboration. This approach has ensured that students spend the majority of class time meaningfully engaged—reading, writing, discussing, and thinking. The result is exceptional performance across multiple subjects, with a 95% success rate in English, a 90% success rate in Math, and 70% success rate in Science. 

FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards - Now Accepting Nominations!

At Annandale High School, we believe our staff is truly exceptional, and the work they do for our students deserves to be celebrated outside of Atom Nation! Each year, FCPS recognizes staff members who demonstrate outstanding excellence in their roles, including Outstanding Teacher, New Teacher, Leader, Professional Employee, Operational Employee, and Principal. We invite you to join us in honoring the incredible contributions made every day by highlighting some of our amazing staff members. Let’s shine a spotlight on the excellence that makes Annandale special!

To nominate an Annandale staff member, please complete the AHS Outstanding Employee Nomination Form. If you are interested in learning more about the overall FCPS awards process, you can visit the FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards Website. Nominations are due on Friday, November 12. Contact Jae Lee with any questions.

Important Dates

Today - FCPS College Fair

October 21-22 - Virtual Postsecondary Night

October 21-25 - Virginia College Application Week

October 22 - Chorus Concert, 7pm

October 23 - Fall Principal Check-in

October 23 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm

October 24 - IB Senior Diploma Library Day

October 26 - Annandale Parade

October 28 - W4 Activities Day

October 30 - Student of the Month Celebration

October 30 - Underclassmen Picture Retakes

October 31 - End of Q1, 2hr Early Release

October 31 - Trunk or Treat Tailgate

November 1 - Diwali (No School)

November 3 - Daylight Saving Time Ends

November 4 - School Planning Day (No School)

November 4 - Atoms Athletics Boosters Meeting, 6:30pm

November 5 - Teacher Work Day (No School)

November 11 - Winter Sport Tryouts Begin

November 12 - PTSA Meeting, 6:30pm

Today - FCPS College Fair: The annual FCPS College Fair will be held on Sunday, October 20 at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena from 4:00-6:30pm. Approximately 200 colleges and universities will be represented, including two and four-year colleges and US Service Academies. Following the fair, the Two-Night Postsecondary Virtual Event will be held on Monday, October 21 and Tuesday, October 22. Both events will help students be better prepared for the next chapter of their educational journey. Students can register here for the event.

October 21-22 - Virtual Postsecondary Night: FCPS will offer two virtual events on Monday and Tuesday, October 21-22 from 5-7pm. The events will feature workshops related to the college admissions process, financial aid, and other postsecondary educational opportunities. 

October 21-25 Virginia College Application Week (VCAW): During the week of October 21-25, students can get college application fee waivers for most Virginia colleges and universities, as well as assistance with completing your college applications. Help will be available in the Parent Resource Center during all lunches. Please note that college application fee waivers are only valid if you submit your application during that week.

October 22 - Chorus Fall Concert: Come and enjoy the choirs from AHS on Tuesday, October 22 at 7:00pm. This first concert of the year will feature all four of our choirs here at Annandale. Atom Chorale, Men’s Chorale, Chamber and the Annandale Singers will present songs of encouragement, positivity, hope and joy to remind us all how music can impact our lives.

October 23 - Fall Principal Check-In, 6:00pm: Join us on Wednesday, October 23 at 6:00pm for a Virtual Fall Principal Check-In, where I will share information about our practices as well as how we are supporting students with a focus on our priorities. Check your email on Tuesday, October 22 for a link to join.

October 24 - IB Senior Diploma Library Day: On Thursday, October 24, our IB Diploma Candidates will dedicate the entire day to working on their Extended Essays in the library. This important day allows students to focus on a key component of the IB program, giving them the time and support needed to make significant progress. Students will not attend their regular classes during this time, as they will be fully engaged in their essay work. Teachers will also be available in the library throughout the day to provide assistance if needed.

October 26 - The Annandale Parade: Join the Annandale Marching Atoms at the annual Annandale Parade along Columbia Pike this Saturday, October 26 at 10:00am. This event has been a favorite tradition since 1950. It promotes community involvement and neighborhood camaraderie while celebrating the rich diversity of Annandale. Mark your calendar, participate or bring the family to view this Annandale Tradition. Children are invited to wear their Halloween Costumes, to cheer the participants, and to marvel at the exhibits.

October 28 - W4 Activities Day: A continued focus at Annandale is to increase student involvement in activities outside of the classroom. One way we are doing this is by providing opportunities for students to explore clubs and activities and connect with classmates and staff over shared interests during the school day through our W4 Activities Day. These opportunities will occur each month from October to April, during W4 and Pride Time. Students selected their preferred activity via a Google form shared through their W4 lessons and on Schoology and an email was sent out this weekend sharing their assigned session for Monday. We are excited to offer this experience for our students and look forward to offering more ways to help our students feel connected to school.

Awesome Atoms

Annandale High School Named Global Navigator School for Third Year: For the third consecutive year, Annandale High School has been selected as a Global Navigator School by the Center for International Education and Exchange (CIEE). AHS students have received over $180,000 in scholarships to study abroad, providing them with opportunities to explore new languages, connect with diverse cultures, and address global and local issues. CIEE will visit in November to meet with students and families interested in learning more about these opportunities. Teachers are also encouraged to get involved, with applications now open for program leaders for the summer of 2025. For more information or questions, reach out to Meredith Hedrick.

Atoms Unified Soccer Wins First Place! Annandale High School’s Unified Special Olympics soccer team took home first place in their division at this past weekend’s soccer tournament! After two hard-fought games, the team tied against the Madison Warhawks and secured the win with a game-winning goal against the Marshall Statesmen.

Professional Butcher Visits AHS Culinary Students: Last week, Annandale’s culinary students enjoyed a unique experience with Nick Grossi, head butcher at Organic Butcher of McLean, recently named the top butcher in the USA by USA Today for 2024. Mr. Grossi demonstrated how to butcher a whole pig, explaining each cut and its role in the food industry. For students who don’t eat pork, he related the cuts to other animals and connected them to global cuisines. All the food prepared during the session will be used throughout the year as part of the culinary program’s lessons.

Two Annandale Art Teachers Featured in Artist Teacher Exhibition! We are incredibly honored to announce that two of Annandale’s outstanding art teachers, Erin Mahoney and Luis Navas-Reyes, have been selected to showcase their artwork in the 17th Annual Artist Teacher Exhibition: Materiality at the Workhouse Arts Center. This prestigious exhibition, running from October 18 through November 9, highlights the talents of FCPS art teachers and explores how artists push boundaries and create meaning through the materials they use.

Important Information

Fall Check-In Survey Now Open! With the school year well underway, we want to hear from our staff, students and families. Specifically, we would like to hear what is going well for you and your student, what is a challenge you would like to work together to problem-solve, who is someone who has helped you, and answer any questions. Keep an eye out for an email on Monday with a link to our Fall Check In Survey. We would appreciate your feedback by Sunday, November 10. In the coming weeks, we will share survey trends as well as how we are responding to your feedback.

Federal Impact Aid Survey: FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid. Returning this form is important because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year to ensure that all students in FCPS receive an excellent education. This year, families will have access to the Federal Impact Aid Survey in electronic format via ParentVUE. All parents with a ParentVUE account can complete the survey online. Step by step directions for filling out the online form can be found here. For families unable to complete the survey on-line, a paper form will be available. Also, families who do not complete the online survey will be provided with a printed copy. Important dates:

• October 21: Federal Impact Aid Survey electronic data collection in ParentVUE opens.
• November 11: Federal Impact Aid Survey paper forms are available.

Prayer Room/Reflection and Silent Space: The Annandale High School prayer room is available in the library for students who need to pray, meditate, or engage in silent reflection and 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 as well. 

Expunge Form Reminder for 9th Grade Families: If your current 9th grade student wished to have a high school course taken in middle school removed from their transcript, the expunge form must be signed and returned to Student Services by the end of the first quarter, which we will accept through Thursday, October 31. The form is available here. Please contact your student’s counselor with questions. 

Health Information and Emergency Care Forms: The Health Information Form and the Emergency Care Information form provide valuable information regarding student health conditions. These forms are required for all students. Enrolling parents/guardians who have a SIS ParentVUE account may submit them electronically by using the Online Verification/Update packet. For families without SIS ParentVue accounts, forms can be located in the Back to School packets and on the General Registration Forms page. 

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 may not be allowed to attend school. You may check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records can also be delivered to your school’s front office.

Safeway Immunization Clinics for All FCPS Students: Safeway Pharmacy will host immunization clinics for any FCPS student age 18 or younger at Frost Middle School on Monday, October 28, and Tuesday, October 29, from 3:00-7:00pm. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are highly encouraged to avoid wait times. A parent or guardian must accompany walk-in students age 18 or younger to provide consent. Learn more about immunization resources and registering in other languages for the Safeway clinic.

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.

Retake Room is Up and Running! To support students in retaking assessments or making up missed assignments, the retake room is located in room 299 at the end of the Social Studies hall. Retakes are available on Late Bus Days after school, and every White Day during PRIDE Time. Students who would like to take advantage of the retake room must work with their teacher to sign up.

Opportunities

Virginia Summer Residential Governor's School: The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) offers the opportunity for students in Grade 10 & 11 to apply to attend summer residential Governor’s schools in academics and Visual and Performing Arts. Students who are accepted into one of the programs will live in residence halls in one of the state colleges in Virginia for four weeks in June and July. To learn more about these opportunities, visit the FCPS website. In addition, an optional interest meeting will be offered during W4 on Wednesday, October 30 in room 320. Students who plan to apply must complete the interest forms for the Academic Program or the Visual and Performing Arts Program. Questions? Please reach out to Mx. Price.

Student Journalists, We Need You! We’re pleased to announce that the Annandale Journalism Project, a school-day extracurricular activity, will run for a second year. In this project, students work closely with national journalists from NPR, the Washington Post, the LA Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, and Fox 5. Participants commit to working on their project during most Pride Times throughout the second and third quarter. In exchange, they’ll forge relationships, explore media careers, learn about the world around them and create a polished work product they can use when applying for college and other opportunities. Students interested in writing, reporting, media, or politics, who aren’t assigned an intervention Pride Time, are encouraged to apply and learn more. All you need is curiosity. Apply here by midnight Monday, October 21.

Join the Annandale Theatre Company’s Fall Play Running Crew! The Annandale Theatre Company is excited to invite AHS students and 8th graders from our feeder middle schools to join the running crew for our fall play, "Peter Pan and Wendy." This is a great opportunity to meet new theatre friends, reconnect with old ones, and work behind the scenes on a fantastic production! To view commitment dates and apply, fill out [this form. For any questions, please reach out to Kylie Murray at knmurray@fcps.edu. Don’t miss out on being part of the magic!

College Essay Workshop: Attention Seniors! The Atoms Writing Center will be offering a College Essay Workshop on Thursday, October 24 during PRIDE Time and after school. During this workshop, you can get tips on writing the college essay and get feedback on your college essay draft from Atoms Writing Center Tutors. The PRIDE Time workshop details will be posted to the AWC Schoology page (join code: 9MSF-KSDM-B7HCP). If you are attending after school, come to Room 274 at 3:10pm.

Free Conversational English Sessions at AHS! Annandale High School is proud to announce that the AHS Family Resource Center will offer English sessions for parents on the first 3 Fridays of the month, from 10:30am to 12:30pm. We are partnering with county volunteers that teach at The English Empowerment Center (former Literacy Council of Northern Virginia) in our area. Stop by the Family Resource Center each Friday from 8am-3pm for support with SIS ParentVue, Health insurance forms, work skills, Parent coffees with the Principal, and more!

Sunrise Activities Tuesdays & Wednesdays: Are you ready to start your mornings with some fun? We’re excited to invite you to Sunrise Activities, every Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:00am on the AHS Soccer Field. We’ll play soccer every Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:00am! This is a great way to get moving, hang out with friends, and energize yourself before the school day begins. This is the perfect opportunity to have fun and connect with fellow students. All skill levels are welcome! No need to sign up—just show up and get ready to play! If you have any questions, please email Student Life Coordinator, Bryan Harris. See you on the field!

News from Student Services

Earn High School Credit through Work Based Learning Internship: Students can earn 1 business class credit for working the job you’re already doing! Learn skills to get promoted and plan your future career goals! Participants must have employment throughout the school year and be currently enrolled in a CTE class. Interested students should complete this form. For more information, visit Mr. Howard Dwyer in room 214 or Ms. Consumano in 217.

Upcoming College Visits – Register Now! Our College & Career Center hosts 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.

College Application Help: Annandale High School offers free college application support twice each week. Wednesdays during Lunch in the Career Center (Room 103) and Thursdays 3-4pm in Trailer 14. In addition, the Atoms Writing Center will be available to help students with their college essays and supplemental application questions during PRIDE Time and Wednesdays after school from 3-4pm in room 274.

Transcript Requests for College Applications & Scholarships: Seniors need to request official high school transcripts one month prior to application deadlines. For example, if a college application is due on November 20, the Transcript Request Form is due on October 20. We will be receiving a very high volume of requests in the coming months, and our Student Services staff needs adequate time to process them. Early Action and Early Decision application deadlines are quickly approaching. For step-by-step instructions and forms for submitting Transcript Requests, go to the AHS College & Career Google site.

College & Career Resources Schoology 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.

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! 

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. 

October 31 - Trunk or Treat Tailgate: BOO-tiful Atom Nation: are you ready to get your SPOOK on?! We’ve conjured up a ghoul-den opportunity for our student groups to serve our Annandale community and promote their club at TRUNK OR TREAT!  We are hosting a Varsity football game on Halloween night, and we want to invite YOU--faculty and staff, your families, and all the superheroes and witches in the ‘hood to trick-or-treat in the front lot of AHS prior to the game from 4:30-5:30pm. ALL Clubs and Athletic Teams are encouraged to request a table using this form. If you sponsor a club or coach a team, please encourage your students to secure a table. Don’t be a scaredy cat–Let’s have a HOWLING good time!

November 11 - Winter Sport Tryouts Begin: Winter sports include basketball, swim & dive, wrestling, gymnastics, sideline cheer, and indoor track. In order to participate, there are 2 items that need to be completed prior to the first day of tryouts: 1) Sports Physical - Completed and turned in to Athletic Trainers Ryan Hughes and 2) Activity Registration. This is an online submission that encompasses the Emergency Care Form and Concussion Education Training. Students interested in participating in a winter sport can submit their physicals and register for a sport on Monday, November 11 from 9:00am-12:00pm in the main gym lobby. The first official day for winter tryouts will be Tuesday, November 12. For more information about tryouts, check out www.annandaleatoms.net.

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.