Annandale Community Insider - December 1

Dear Annandale Students, Parents, and Community,

I hope you all had a restful Thanksgiving Break! This year, my family and I stayed local for a change, spending Thanksgiving morning at the Holocaust Museum. It was a meaningful way to reflect on what we are truly thankful for. 

Thanksgiving weekend wouldn't be complete without watching The Game (aka Ohio State v. Michigan). Although the outcome was not what I was hoping for, The Game reminded me of what I cherish most about sports and activities: the dedication of players, performers, teachers, and coaches to their teams and their school. That same dedication is on full display here at Annandale, and over the next three weeks, there are plenty of opportunities to see it in action.

Not only is our winter sports season kick off this week, our performing arts department has several events coming up, with performances from orchestra, chorus, and band scheduled this month. It is inspiring to see our students develop and showcase their talents, while also building a strong sense of community. I encourage you to attend one of these events with family or friends. For a full list of upcoming events, visit the Annandale Activities and Athletics website. 

Additionally, the Fall Sports Recap is now available! From playoff runs and championship victories to standout individual performances, this season was a testament to the resilience, growth, and spirit of Atoms Athletics.

Finally, Giving Tuesday marks the beginning of the holiday giving season. As we reflect on all that we are thankful for, and the ways we can support our community, I encourage you to consider giving to the PTSA Pantry. Contributions help provide for students who are facing food insecurity and their families.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions, and Go Atoms!

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Annandale Winter Performances

The Choirs, Band, and Orchestra at Annandale have been busy preparing for a wonderful season of concerts and outreach events during the month of December.

December 9 - Caroling for the Retired Teachers Luncheon, 1pm: The Annandale Singers and Chamber Ensemble will be providing a program for the Retired Teachers Luncheon in the Fellowship Hall at the First Baptist Church in Alexandria (2932 King St., Alexandria) at 1:00pm.

December 10 - Orchestra Winter Concert, 7pm: Orchestra will be having their Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 10 at 7:00 pm partnered with Falls Church High School! The challenging program has pushed students to the next level and spotlights sections in several of the ensembles. Support the program by purchasing baked goods (including our famous giant chocolate chip cookies!) after school by the auditorium and by coming to hear the student’s hard work in the evening. We encourage you to come wearing an ugly holiday sweater or wearing a festive hat!

December 12 - Caroling for the Shepherds Center Luncheon, 12pm: The Annandale Singers and Chamber Ensemble will be providing a program for the Shepherds Center Luncheon in Wright Hall of the Annandale United Methodist Church (6935 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA) at noon.

December 12 - Winter Band Concert, 7pm: The Annandale High School Bands will present Winter Nights, their annual holiday concert on Thursday December 12 at 7:00pm in the AHS auditorium. The concert will feature all of the AHS band students in a collaborative presentation of seasonal favorites, including a special narration of "Scrooge" and our traditional “Sleigh Ride.” Doors open at 6:45pm; admission is free.

December 17 - Winter Chorus Concert: Deck the Halls, 7pm: Our Winter Concert with the Annandale Singers, Atom Chorale, Men's Chorale, and the Chamber Ensemble at 7:00pm in the Auditorium. 

December 18 - Noonday Noël, 12:05pm: Annandale Singers and Chamber Ensemble sing for the Noonday Noël at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House at 12:05pm (323 South Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA)

December 19 - Caroling at the Willard Hotel (DC), 6:00-6:45 and 7:15-8:00pm: Join the Annandale Singers as they spread holiday cheer with two mini-concerts at the historic Willard Hotel in Washington, DC (1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC).

Support the AHS PTSA Pantry on Giving Tuesday!

Support our SOS Campaign this Giving Tuesday, December 3! Every contribution helps us Stock Our Shelves and provide for students facing food insecurity. With an average cost of $1,300 per distribution, your generosity makes a huge difference helping us support our students and families who are food insecure. 

Important Dates

December 2 - Atoms Booster Club Meeting, 6:30pm

December 2, 4 & 6 - Course Selection Presentations

December 4 - Federal Impact Aid Survey Due

December 4 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm

December 4 - ASVAB Test Registration Deadline

December 4 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving, 6:30pm

December 5-6 - Winter Sports Pictures

December 6 - Atoms Games First Toys/Books Collection

December 9 - ASVAB Testing

December 9 - Student Experience Survey

December 10 - Orchestra Concert, 7pm

December 11 - Immunization Clinic

December 12 - Boundary Review Community Meeting, 6:45pm

December 12 - Band Concert, 7pm

December 16 - W4 Activities Day

December 16-20 - Holiday Spirit Week

December 17 - Chorus Concert, 7pm

December 18 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm

December 23-January 3 - Winter Break

January 15 - Rising 9th Grade Open House

December 2 - Atoms Booster Club Meeting: Join us on tomorrow, December 2 in-person for our next meeting in the Driver’s Education Room. The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm. Come and find out how you can get involved and support out Atoms' athletic programs!

December 2-20 - Annual Deck the Doors W4 Contest: Annandale’s Leadership Class is excited to lead our annual Deck the Doors holiday contest. This year, there’s a twist! Each W4 class has been divided into 14 Nations for the Atoms Games. Classes will vote on a theme for their Nation. Three classes will be chosen as individual winners and there will also be a prize for the Best Overall Nation. Winning classes and Nations will be awarded points in our Atoms Games contest!

December 2, 4 & 6 - Course Selection Presentations: Counselors will be presenting the 2025-2026 course selection process to students in W4 Advisory on December 2, 4, and 6.  The presentations will cover important information including course options for next school year and the process for how to select their courses. The presentation will be recorded and posted on the Student Services Webpage for students who do not have a W4 class. Students should reach out to their counselor if they have any questions.

December 4 - Federal Impact Aid Survey Due: On Friday, Federal Impact Aid Survey forms were distributed during W4 to students who have not completed the form electronically. Federal funding for our school is tied to this form. So, it is important that it is returned as soon as possible. Please complete the form, sign it, and return it to school with your child by Wednesday, December 4. We appreciate your efforts in this task.

December 4 - ASVAB Testing Registration Deadline: The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test measures a young adult’s strengths and weaknesses and provides feedback on potential for future career success. Students are encouraged to take the test because it is a valuable career assessment tool which can help identify which career is best for each student. Though the test is developed by the Department of Defense, it is not just for those going into the military. It’s a great start to finding the perfect career for students by highlighting those skills which students naturally have. The test will be administered on Monday, December 9. The deadline to register is Wednesday, December 4. To register visit https://tinyurl.com/ASVABforMilitary. 

December 4 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving: Annandale High School is hosting Partners for Safe Teen Driving for students in Health & PE 10 on December 4 at 6:30pm in the auditorium. This 90-minute parent-teen traffic safety program is required for both student and parent/guardian. Participants must arrive on time as doors close at 6:30pm. Parents and their teen must stay for the duration of the presentation for your attendance to be verified. If you have any questions, contact Lizzie McManus. Additinational sessions of Partners for Safe Teen Driving at Annandale High School are: March 12, 2025; April 2, 2025; and May 14, 2025.

December 6 - First Atoms Games Toys/Books Collection: W4 classes are collecting new and gently used toys and books for Annandale families as part of our Atoms Games contest. Friday, December 6 is the first donation collection day. To participate and earn points for your Nation, students should bring items to their W4 class. Items will be collected on December 6, 12 & 18.

December 9 - Student Experience Survey: On December 9, Annandale students will have the opportunity to participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey pilot. This important initiative aims to provide valuable insights into students’ experiences within our schools. It will take approximately 30 minutes and offers a meaningful way for students to share their perspectives to help shape the future of FCPS. Students will take the survey in their W4 classes.

December 11 - Immunization Clinic: Annandale High School is partnering with the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) to host a School Site Immunization Clinic on December 11 during school hours. This clinic is exclusively for Annandale students and offers the following vaccines: Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY), Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis (Tdap). Students under 18 must have parental permission and register in advance to participate. For questions, contact our public health nurse, Katherine Estrada, at kestrada@fcps.edu.

December 12 - Boundary Review Community Meeting: FCPS is hosting community meetings to discuss the Comprehensive School Boundary Review in each of its six regions. Annandale High School will host the meeting for our region on Thursday, December 12, from 6:45-8:15pm in the cafeteria. We encourage you to attend and share your input. Please click here to register in advance. Language interpretation will be available during the meeting.

December 16 - W4 Activities Day: Annandale will host our monthly W4 Activities Day on December 16. During this time, students will have an opportunity to attend club meetings or join in on a variety of other activities. Students will select their preferred activity via a Google form shared through their W4 lessons and on Schoology. 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.

January 15 - Rising 9th Grade Open House, 6pm: On January 15 from 6-8pm Annandale HS will host an Open House for our rising 9th grade students and families to learn more about what high school at Annandale is all about! We will offer short optional sessions on our various programs, and teachers will be in their classrooms throughout the evening to share all about our core and elective courses. The goal is for students and parents to leave this event excited about all the opportunities students will have as an Annandale Atom and prepared to complete the course request form when students meet with their middle school counselors! Breakout Sessions on the following topics will be offered throughout the evening: Welcome to Annandale, Course Request 101; IB/MYP Program; Activities and Athletics; English for Speakers of Other Languages Program; Special Education Office, and Student Life.

Awesome Atoms

Congratulations to Wendy Lopez-Ferrufino! Join us in celebrating Wendy Lopez-Ferrufino, who has been recognized as Student of the Quarter in the Cyber: Exploring IT course at Edison Academy! This well-deserved honor reflects her hard work and dedication. Check out the full list of first-quarter award winners and view their achievements in the photo album.

AHS Pantry Celebrates Six Years! This November, the AHS Pantry marks six years of supporting students and families facing food insecurity. Since 2018, it has grown to include fresh produce, expanded refrigeration. At the most recent distribution the AHS Pantry served 487 members of 98 families. The pantry’s success is thanks to Norma Forti and the Annandale community’s generosity through donations, volunteering, and drives. Together, we’re weaving a strong fabric for Atom Nation. Thank you for your support!

Important Information

PSAT / SAT School Score Reports Available to Students: Students who participated in the PSAT / SAT School Day received a lesson on how to access and interpret their scores this past week during Advisory. For more information, the following videos to support students and families with this information has been shared by the College Board. 

• Understanding your Digital PSAT Scores - Video
• Understanding your Digital SAT Scores - Video

Follow Annandale HS on Social Media: Stay connected with Annandale High School by following us on social media! It's the best way to keep up with our latest news, celebrate student achievements, and keep up with everything going on in #AtomNation. Links: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube

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

NOVA Early Online College – Spring 2025 Semester: NOVA Early Online College (EOC) allows current high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take up to 2 tuition free college courses. EOC courses for the Spring semester begin on February 4, 2025, and end on April 28, 2024. The deadline to register is January 8, 2024 at 5pm. Courses are asynchronous, online, and for college credit only. 13 different courses are offered along with courses that fulfill the IT Technical Support Career Studies Certificate. EOC courses are selected because they meet the requirements for most of NOVA’s associate degrees as well as being highly transferable as general education requirements for most colleges and universities.

Orchestra Merch Shop Closes Today! The Annandale High School Orchestra Merchandise Store is LIVE! Visit tinyurl.com/AHSOrchMerch to explore a variety of items and show your support for our talented orchestra students. Order by today, December 1 to ensure delivery in time for the holidays. The store will remain open year-round, but don’t miss this chance to get your items for the festive season!

News from Student Services

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 Student Services Website.

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.

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.

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! 

Join Our Cheerleading Team as Assistant Winter Cheerleading Coach! The cheerleading team is looking for an enthusiastic Assistant Winter Cheerleading Coach to support our team in the upcoming season. If you love working with students or know someone who would be a great fit, please reach out to Victoria Douglas at vcdouglas@fcps.edu.

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.