Annandale Community Insider - October 27

Annandale Students, Parents, and Community:

What an incredible week to be an Annandale Atom! 

We are thrilled to announce that two of our Spanish teachers, Lauren Paz Soldan and Miles Meijer, have been recognized by the Foreign Language Association of Virginia (FLAVA) as Virginia’s 2024 World Language Teacher of the Year and Novice Teacher of the Year, respectively—an honor reflecting their commitment to inspiring our students to embrace new languages and cultures and become thoughtful global citizens. Huge congratulations to Lauren and Miles for this well-deserved recognition! 

Adding to the excitement, our Field Hockey team won the National District Tournament Championship. Led by first team all-district players Riply Hotaling, Sofia Savvedra, Lilly Flores and district player of the year, Callia Uviedo, the Atoms defeated their three opponents by a combined score of 13-0 en route to their 2nd district championship in three years. And as if that were not enough, our Annandale Band had the privilege of leading the Annandale Parade this week, filling the streets with their energy and sound, representing the heart of our community with pride. 

The excitement continues this week as we host our first W4 Activities Day on Monday, with the goal of expanding the ways we help our students feel connected to school. Later that evening, the Boys Volleyball team will host the first round of the district tournament against Falls Church. Our Girls Field Hockey team returns to the field for the regional quarterfinals on Wednesday, and on Halloween, our Varsity Football team will take on Lewis at 6:00pm. Before the football game, join us for Trunk or Treat starting at 4:30pm. It’s the perfect chance to celebrate a fun, festive evening together as a community!

As a reminder, this week is the end of the first quarter and a short week for students. Thursday, October 31 is a two hour early release and Friday is a holiday. See below for more information.

As always, please reach out with any questions.

Shawn DeRose, Principal

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 Tuesday, November 12. Contact Jae Lee with any questions.

Important Dates

October 28 - W4 Activities Day

October 28 - Emerging Leaders Interest Meeting, 3:10pm

October 28 & 29 - Immunization Clinic, 3-7pm

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 & Día de los Muertos (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 6 - PTSA Pantry Distribution

November 10 - Fall Check-In Survey Due

November 11 - Veterans Day (No School)

November 11 - Winter Sport Tryouts Begin

November 12 - PTSA Meeting, 6:30pm

November 12 - FCPS Honors Nominations Due

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.

October 28 - Emerging Leaders Program Interest Meeting: EduFuturo is bringing their Emerging Leaders Program to Annandale High School. This free five-week program will be held Mondays and Thursdays after school from 3:15-4:15pm. Students will improve their leadership and networking skills, build their resume, and improve their public speaking. In addition, students can win college scholarships up to $1,000. Students who are interested should plan to attend the Info Session on October 28, at 3:10pm in the cafeteria.

October 30 - Underclassmen Picture Retakes: Picture Retakes will be held in Clausen Hall throughout the school day on Wednesday, October 30. Students and staff can go during their free time to get their picture taken and receive an ID.

October 30 - Virginia Summer Residential Governor's School Interest Meeting: 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. 

October 31 - Last Day of Quarter 1: October 31, is the last day of the first quarter, and a two-hour early release for students. You can view the bell schedule on our website.

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. Don’t be a scaredy cat–Let’s have a HOWLING good time!

November 2 - Atoms Thrift Market and Student Craft Fair: The Atoms Football program will be hosting the Atoms Thrift Market and Student Craft Fair on Saturday, November 2 from 8:00am - 2:00pm. Come check out handmade crafts, jewelry, artwork, baked goods, and more from current AHS students, as well as gently used clothing, kitchen items, sporting gear, toys, and small furniture items sold by neighbors, community members and alumni.

If you would like to become a vendor, contact Shannon Rumpf for more information. Vendor stalls consist of two adjacent parking spaces and can be reserved for $20. Current AHS students will receive a discounted rate of $10.

November 3 - NCAA Webinar for College Bound Student Athletes and Families, 6-7 pm: Are you a student-athlete dreaming of playing your sport at the NCAA level? This webinar offered by the NCAA Eligibility center will help students and families gain an understanding the requirements and how to prepare for NCAA certification. Join NCAA Eligibility Center staff, who will walk you through what you need to do to compete at the NCAA Division I, II or III level. Staff will be answering questions live during the presentation, so come prepared to learn how to take your game to the next level! Click here to register.

November 4-5 - Student Holiday: Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 4, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 5, for a teacher workday. See the complete school year calendar.

Awesome Atoms

Seniors Visit ALCANZA College Fair: This past week, George Mason University hosted the ALCANZA College Fair as part of their effort to increase college interest and awareness among high school students in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area during Hispanic Heritage month. Annandale High School took 45 seniors the college fair where they had the opportunity to visit with over 120 colleges from all over the nation and explore their educational opportunities beyond high school.

Annandale PACE Pours at DCDT Conference: Recently, our PACE Pours team attended the International Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT) conference showcasing the work they do in our school. DCDT is an international professional educational organization affiliated with the International Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) whose members are dedicated to shaping policies and practices that impact the quality of career development and transition services of youth with exceptionalities.

New Bathrooms Approved: At the September 12, 2024 Fairfax County Public Schools School Board meeting, the construction contract was awarded for Stadium Restrooms – Phase 2 for the 14 high schools. The contractor will be mobilizing the last week of October/first week of November. This involves preparing the slab for the pre-manufactured concrete building. Groundwork includes electrical conduits to provide power to the building and additional domestic water and sanitary lines. Setting the restroom building is scheduled for the week of December 1, 2024. The dates are preliminary and subject to change based on the restroom building manufacturer building delivery schedule. Design and Construction’s intention is to limit construction to one high school at a time, with some overlap as one location installation completes and start-up at the next high school.

English 12 Teachers Participate in Lab Site: Recently, English 12 teachers came together for a full day of learning about how to implement the workshop model in order to provide targeted small-group instruction to meet students’ needs. This group spent the morning aligning on common language and purpose, observed Jeniva Miller, English coach teach a block, and discussed what they noticed. In the afternoon, teachers collaboratively planned upcoming lessons around this model and gave each other feedback. They will come together again in November in order to build upon their learning, this time with a particular focus on implementing small group instruction.

At Annandale, we know that the work of our teams is some of the best professional development we can get. Four of our CTs have now worked together through Lab Sites: Chemistry, English 10, Geometry, and now English 12. This intense professional learning requires thoughtful engagement and a commitment to getting better, and is a testament to the high level of professionalism our teachers demonstrate.

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. An email was sent on Monday, October 21 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 Middle School Grade Form Now Available: 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. 

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

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!

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.

November 4 - Atoms Athletics Boosters Meeting, 6:30pm Join us and 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.

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. 

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.

November 12 - PTSA Meeting, 6:30pm: Our next PTSA meeting will be on Tuesday, November 12 at 6:30pm in the library. Spanish translation will be available. If you can't attend in person, consider joining us virtually on Zoom. The link will be active 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Also, if you have not done so already, please consider joining the PTSA by filling out the online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.

November 18 - Hidden in Plain Sight: The Annandale HS PTSA invites you to “Hidden In Plain Sight” on Monday, November 18 at 6:30pm in Clausen Hall. The Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) program is an in-person interactive program for adults to be educated about the signs of risky behavior in teens and young adults. It touches on drug and alcohol use, vaping, mental health and behavioral concerns, risky sexual behaviors, trending "challenges” and more.

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.