Annandale Community Insider - February 9

Annandale Students, Families, and Community,

I am excited to announce that Annandale High School has been recognized as the Best in Social Media among all FCPS high schools! From showcasing Inclusion Revolution Week to warmly welcoming future Atoms, our social media platforms highlight the diverse Annandale community. Through engaging and creative content on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, we celebrate our students, staff, and school spirit. A huge shoutout to Jen Cory and Jae Lee, our Social Media Coordinators, for their dedication to bringing Annandale’s story to life! #AtomNation

This past week, we had the opportunity to celebrate and appreciate our incredible school counselors during Counselor Appreciation Week! Each day, our counselors were recognized with heartfelt cards from students, special breakfasts and lunches, and small gifts. If you have not done so already, please reach out to our counselors to show them your appreciation! Their contact information can be found here. 

Finally, tomorrow we will conduct our monthly W4 Activities Day, a time for students to explore clubs and activities, connect with classmates and staff, and engage in shared interests. In addition, from now through February 14, teachers are conducting one-on-one check-ins with students in their W4 Advisory classes to support their social and emotional wellness. These conversations help build caring and trusting relationships, and create a supportive environment where every student feels seen and heard.

Have a great week, Atom Nation, and as always, feel free to reach out with any questions.

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

Now through February 14 - W4 Check-ins

February 10 - W4 Activities Day

February 11 - PTSA Social & Meeting, 5:30pm

February 12 - PRIDE Time 3.0 Begins

February 12 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm

February 13 - Singing Valentines

February 15 - School Resource Officer Appreciation Day

February 17 - Presidents Day (No School)

February 18 - Virtual Winter Principal Check-In, 6:30pm

February 20 - Financial Aid Completion Workshop, 5:30pm

February 20 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving, 6:30pm

February 21 - Just World Festival

February 22 - Heritage Night

February 24 - Spring Sports Begin

February 26 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm

February 27 - NOVA Parent Night, 5:30pm

Now through February 14 - W4 Check-ins: The social and emotional wellness of our students continue to be a priority at Annandale. Once again this semester, teachers have been conducting one-on-one check-ins with students in their advisory (W4) class. These conversations are another opportunity to build a caring and trusting environment for all students, cultivate positive relationships, and identify student needs.

February 10 - W4 Activities Day: Tomorrow, February 10 is our next W4 Activities Day, a time set aside for students to explore clubs and activities and connect with classmates and staff over shared interests. The schedule for the period will remain unchanged. Students were given access to the preview slideshow and registration form through their W4 and Schoology and assignments will be emailed to each student’s FCPS account. 

February 11 - PTSA Valentine’s Social & Meeting, 5:30pm: Our next meeting will be on February 11. Please join us early for a PTSA Valentine's Social. We'll have treats and decorations. Come mingle with other AHS families. We will open the doors for the social at 5:30pm. The monthly PTSA meeting will directly follow the social. Interested in helping with the social? Contact Angela at 571-618-8316, or atoms.ahs.president@gmail.com.

February 12 - PRIDE Time 3.0 Begins: Because of the two-hour delay last Thursday, new PRIDE Time 3.0 assignments will begin on Wednesday, February 12. PRIDE Time rosters have been updated in SIS. Students can find their new PRIDE Time assignments as period 11 in their schedule.

February 13 - Singing Valentines: On Thursday, February 13, the Choirs of AHS will deliver “Singing Valentines” throughout the day. Students can purchase a song for another student during all lunches, February 3-12.

February 15 - School Resource Officer Appreciation Day: On February 15, School Resource Officers are nationally recognized for their service in schools. SROs serve as liaisons to community services that support the well-being of youth and their families. SROs help educate students on crime prevention, safety measures, drug awareness, conflict resolution strategies, and insights into the legal system and law enforcement operations.  Annandale High School thanks SRO Hannah Isabella for her service to our school community. 

February 17 - Presidents Day (No School): As a reminder, all schools and offices will be closed on Monday, February 17, for the Presidents Day holiday. Classes will resume on Tuesday, February 18. See the complete 2023-24 School Year Calendar.

February 18 - Principal Check-In: Please join me on Tuesday, February 18 at 6:30pm for a Virtual Principal Check-In, where I will share information about our approach to instruction and assessment, as well as how we are supporting students with a focus on our priorities. Please submit questions that you would like to be addressed in the presentation here. A link to the meeting will be sent prior to the meeting.

Annandale Celebrates Black History Month

February is Black History Month. This year’s theme is “African Americans and Labor”. Throughout the month, we will celebrate and honor the experiences, achievements, and contributions made by African Americans and their central role in US History.

Our Social Studies teams are offering students opportunities to make their own connections to curriculum content and providing resources to further their learning. Currently, our US/VA History classes are wrapping up their Reconstruction unit, studying the African American experience during the Reconstruction era and the empowerment of Black elected officials into government office. In their next unit on Urbanization and Progressivism, students will be looking at the contributions of Black workers, progressivists, and the rise of Black Wall Street, especially during their Great Migration lesson.

In World History, students are wrapping up their Imperialism unit, learning about how African nations were impacted by imperialism. Students will soon learn about WWI and the role African Americans played in the war effort. In Government, students are about to begin their Executive Branch unit. During this unit, students will study presidential executive orders which advanced racial equality beginning with the Emancipation Proclamation. 

In addition, our African American History students are exploring black communities through the Latin American diaspora. Through the unit, students explored contributions to these communities and throughout Latin America. Over the past two years, students created school-wide lessons to highlight the contributions African Americans have made in shaping our country’s history. These lessons will be used again during W4 this year, as a wonderful opportunity for all of us to learn from and with each other.

Awesome Atoms

Annandale HS Wins FCPS Best in Social Media Award! Annandale HS recently received the award for Best in Social Media in FCPS. From highlighting Inclusion Revolution Week to welcoming future Atoms, our Instagram and Facebook consistently celebrate our diverse community, engaging followers with creative, high-quality content. A huge shoutout to Jen Cory and Jae Lee, our Social Media Coordinators, for their dedication to making Annandale’s story come to life! #AtomNation #BestInSocialMedia

Mentors Make a Difference at Annandale: Ms. Kapuscinski and Ingrid have been working together as mentor and mentee, focusing on navigating tough conversations with teachers to advocate for support in challenging classes. Ingrid has made great strides in building confidence and communication skills, and while she’s not at the finish line just yet, she’s making steady progress. With hard work and determination, our eyes are on the prize—graduation is within reach! Way to go Ingrid and Ms. Kapuscinski! 

Shemaa Elamin Named Finalist for Prestigious GMU University Scholars Program! Congratulations to Shemaa Elamin for being selected as a finalist for George Mason University’s prestigious University Scholars Program! This highly competitive program offers a full-tuition scholarship and a four-year co-curricular experience. Out of more than 2,400 Honors College students, only 165 were chosen for this final stage—a true testament to Shemaa’s academic excellence and community contributions.

Important Information

Make Sure Your Student is Up-to-Date on Immunizations: 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, May 19, students who have not provided proof of immunization may not be allowed to attend school. You can check your child’s immunization status and submit updated immunization information by accessing SIS ParentVUE.

Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure your child is up to date on required immunizations for the 2024-25 school year. If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or view other Immunization Resources. Be wise and immunize!

February 14-18 - Student Information System (SIS) Upgrade and Downtime: FCPS will upgrade the SIS platform over President's Day Weekend ensuring limited downtime impact during instructional hours. SIS, StudentVUE, and ParentVUE will be unavailable beginning 5:00pm, Friday, February 14, through 6:00am, Tuesday, February 18. 

Opportunities

Spring Sports Tryouts Begin February 24! Spring sports tryouts are just around the corner, starting on Monday, February 24. This season includes lacrosse, soccer, baseball, softball, tennis, and outdoor track. To participate, all athletes must complete two requirements prior to Friday, February 21: submit a completed sports physical to Athletic Trainer Ryan Hughes and complete the online activity registration, which includes the Emergency Care Form and Concussion Education Training. Athletes who do not have these items on file by February 21 will not be allowed to try out on February 24. Those who submit their physical and registration after this date will become eligible to try out starting the day after their forms are received. For more information and updates, visit www.annandaleatoms.net. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the action—get ready to represent Atom Nation this spring!

Now through February 17 - Application to Participate in the 2025 Family Summit Open: The 2025 FCPS Family Summit will take place on Saturday, March 15, at South Lakes High School. Visit the Family Summit webpage for more information. At the event, FCPS students are invited to showcase projects and advocacy efforts around inclusivity in schools. This is a great resume-building opportunity, and students can earn service hours as well. Students may share their work in a share-fair environment using posters, essays, videos, songs, or art. They will interact with attendees through conversations about their work, ideas, and efforts to foster inclusivity in school communities. Students must use this Google Form to participate by Monday, February 17. A list of possible projects is also on the form. More information will be provided after the student’s submission is received. Please contact Manuel Gomez Portillo with any questions.

'Fresh Views of the American Revolution' Special Exhibition - Call for Student Artists Submissions: Student artists are invited to answer the question “What does your America look like?"  through two-dimensional artwork. This opportunity is in conjunction with the upcoming ‘Fresh Views of the American Revolution’ exhibition scheduled to be held at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown October 2025 – May 2026. Submitted artwork must be delivered to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and remain for the duration of the exhibition. Submissions due by March 14.

Application Open for the 2025 Student Representative to the School Board: The School Board student representative represents the interests of Fairfax County Public Schools students. The student representative is not a member of the School Board but serves in a nonvoting, advisory capacity. Students currently in grades 9, 10, and 11 are eligible. To learn more and apply check out the FCPS Website.

Now through February 21 - Heritage Night Tickets on Sale: Due to popular demand, we will hold two performances of Heritage Night. The performances will take place February 22 at 2:00pm and 6:00pm. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity for Annandale students to showcase their culture through music, dance, fashion, and more. Cost is $10. No tickets will be available for purchase at the door! This event has been incredibly popular in the past, so we highly recommend purchasing your tickets now to ensure a spot at this incredible performance! Get your tickets today!

All Night Grad Tickets On Sale Now! We’re excited to announce that tickets are now on sale for this year’s All Night Grad Celebration. This event is a safe and fun place for your kids to enjoy a night out. This is adult supervised and volunteer run by Annandale High School PTSA and parents. This year the event takes place on June 4, beginning at 11pm, Doors will close at Midnight. The cost is $45 with prices increasing to $60 at the door. The evening will feature delicious food, games, DJ, and top-notch entertainment—there’s something for everyone to enjoy! *Discounted tickets are also available for students in need. If your child would like to apply, they can speak directly to their school counselor. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate in a welcoming and secure environment. Get your tickets now! To make this event a success, we need your help! Sign up to volunteer here. Email Rheanna Bernard with any questions.

News from Student Services

Academic Advising for the 2025-26 School Year: At Annandale, we want to ensure students and families know where to access all the information needed for course selection. Our Academic Advising page has the grade level information presented by counselors and the course selection Google forms that students must complete. We encourage you to visit this site with your student to discuss courses for next year.

Please reach out to our counselors if any questions or concerns arise. Their emails and phone numbers can be found on our Student Services page. We are here to help and look forward to supporting our students through this process! In addition, below is an overview of how we are supporting students with the course selection process.

Now through February 19 - High School Academy Open Houses: FCPS high school academies will hold open houses for interested students beginning in mid-January. A high school academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses that can prepare students for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Students enrolling in Academy elective courses will be provided with opportunities to participate in a variety of career experiences including shadowing, mentoring, and/or internships with local businesses. Click here to learn more and find the calendar of Academy Open Houses.

Now through February 28 - Individual Academic Advising Meetings: Students will meet one-on-one with their counselors to finalize their course selections for next year. Students will be given specific appointment times through their English classes. Students will receive their appointment times via email. We will begin with current juniors on January 21 and will conclude with current freshmen in February. 

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 Page, 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 program, 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! 

Annandale Baseball Winter Camp—Sign Up Today! Join us for the Annandale Baseball Winter Camp at Annandale High School, designed for players in grades K–8. These skill-focused sessions are led by the Atoms coaching staff and players and will take place in our main and auxiliary gyms. The camp covers key areas like throwing, defense, and hitting, with all necessary equipment provided if your player needs a glove, bat, or helmet. Just wear tennis shoes and come ready to play!

Each session runs from 9:30 to 11:00am, with a cost of $25 per session or $110 for all five sessions. The camp will be held on the following dates: February 9, and February 16 for hitting. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to improve your skills and have fun with the Atoms! Click here to register for the Annandale Baseball Winter Camp.

Atoms Gear On Sale Now! We’re thrilled to share that we have a new Atoms online store! The new store has a variety of brands like Nike, Under Armour, Lululemon, and more. You will find hundreds of different design options, kids and toddler clothing, new accessories, and direct to your door shipping. Grab your gear now!

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.

February 11 - PTSA Valentine’s Social & Meeting, 5:30pm: Our next meeting will be on February 11. Please join us early for a PTSA Valentine's Social. We'll have treats and decorations. Come mingle with other AHS families. We will open the doors for the social at 5:30pm. The monthly PTSA meeting will directly follow the social. Interested in helping with the social? Contact Angela at 571-618-8316, or atoms.ahs.president@gmail.com.

Support Our Seniors! Donate Your Time or Items to Our Auction: We're gearing up for our All Night Grad Auction, and we need your help to make it unforgettable! We're seeking item donations to auction off, with all proceeds benefiting the All Night Grad Celebration, an amazing event for our graduating class. Items We’re Looking For: Gift cards, themed baskets, vacation or getaway donations, event tickets, services, or any creative contributions! Ready to donate? Visit http://bit.ly/40jc0AZ. Deadline to Donate: March 1. Thank you for your generosity!

Volunteers Needed for the All Night Grad Celebration: We also need volunteers to support the All Night Grad Celebration! Lets keep the legacy of this amazing event, providing a safe environment for our Seniors to celebrate their graduation. Sign up here to support the day of the event.

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. 

Summer Sports Camps - Registration Now Open!

Looking for fun activities for your child this summer? Annandale High School is offering a variety of summer camps this year for current elementary and middle school students led by our own Annandale coaches. Help spread the word to friends, family and neighbors! More information on signups upcoming!

Registration for all camps can be found here. See descriptions of the various camps below. More information can be found at AnnandaleAtoms.net. 

Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp, and they should bring a snack and a water bottle each day. Cash or checks are accepted. Checks should be made out to “Annandale Athletic Boosters.” Payment is due on the first day of camp.

Multi-Sport Camp - Rising 2nd-9th Graders - June 16-18, 20 ($120): Campers will have fun playing a variety of sports including basketball, kickball, volleyball, soccer, and touch football. They will participate in fun contests and win prizes! Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp. Hours are 8:30am-3:00pm. 

Olympics Camp - Rising 2nd-9th Graders - June 23-27 ($120): This exciting camp features team activities including soccer, volleyball, basketball, touch football, and relay races. Campers will also get a chance to compete and earn medals! Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp. Hours are 8:30am-3:00pm. For questions about Multi-Sport or Olympics Camps, please reach out to Christopher Bagot, Camp Director and Varsity Coach.

Wrestling Camp – K-12 - July 7-11 ($120 individual/$200 sibling): This camp is for all ages wrestling camp will spend time developing the skills in all three styles of wrestling, one style each of the first three days. In addition to technique and various games, on the last two days of camp there will be a takedown tournament and individually bracketed tournament! Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp. Hours are 9:00am to 3:00pm. For questions about Wrestling Camp please reach out to Josh Damico, Camp Director and Varsity Coach.

Basketball Camp - Rising 3rd-9th Graders - July 21-25 ($225): Campers will spend each day focused on developing their basketball skills. They will also receive a report card on their basketball abilities, a t-shirt, and a chance to win trophies. Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp. Hours are 9:00am to 3:00pm. For questions about Basketball Camp please reach out to Jerome McAvoy or Chelsea Harrison Camp Directors and Varsity Coaches.

Baseball Skills Camp -  Rising 3rd-9th Graders - August 12-16, 5pm-7pm ($110, or $25 a session) This camp is designed for 3rd - 9th graders and will be held on the baseball field at Annandale High. Focus will be on preparation for fall season and overall skill development. Camp will be conducted by Annandale High School Coaches and current college baseball players. Camp will run from 5pm-7pm. Questions, reach out to head baseball coach and camp director Kevin Rudd