Annandale Community Insider - August 24

Annandale Students, Parents, and Community:

The 2025–26 school year is off to a fantastic start! It was wonderful to see our students back in the building this week, reconnecting with friends, meeting new teachers, and settling into their routines with the support of our amazing staff. 

During W4, students spent time building relationships and engaging with our Atoms Community Agreements, which highlight the values of Empathy, Determination, and Safety. As we shared with students, being an Annandale Atom means that each of us contributes to creating a welcoming, supportive community. This week, we also reviewed our new cell phone policy. We emphasized that keeping phones put away during class helps create a focused, distraction-free environment where everyone can stay engaged in learning.

Next week, we will continue to focus on our Atoms Agreements during W4, providing students with more opportunities to reflect on what these principles look like in action. You can view our Atoms Agreements matrix here, which outlines the expectations that guide our school community.

As I visited classrooms throughout the week, I saw firsthand the strong relationships that were being built between students and staff. Our teachers made it clear through their words and actions that they value their students as individuals and as learners. The combination of engaging instruction and community-building activities created an incredible sense of momentum that will carry us forward into the year ahead. Check out the photos below.

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions and Go Atoms!

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

August 26, 27, 28 - Auditions for Fall Musical “Annie”
August 27 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm
August 29 and September 1 - Labor Day Holiday (No School)
September 2 & 4 - SR&R Lessons in W4
September 3 & 10 - Underclass Pictures
September 3 - SAT School Day Intent Form Due
September 4 - Lockdown Drill
September 8 - Activities Fair (During W4)
September 8 - Atoms Booster Club Meeting
September 9 - Teacher Work Day (No School)
September 10 - Colleges Visits Begin in College & Career Center
September 10 - Exploring Life After High School, 6-8pm
September 13 - Annandale Performing Arts Tag Day
September 16 - PTSA Meeting
September 18 - Back to School Night 2025
September 20 - Taste of Annandale
September 22-26 - Homecoming Week
September 23 - Rosh Hashanah (No School)
September 27 - Homecoming Dance
June 8 - Class of 2026 Graduation, 7pm

August 26, 27, 28 - Auditions for Fall Musical “Annie”: The Annandale Theater Company invites all students to audition for our fall musical “Annie” taking place from September August 26-28. Prepare a 1-minute contemporary monologue and 1-minute song to showcase your talent on stage! If you have questions or need help preparing for auditions, visit Ms. Murray in Room 324. All levels of experience are welcome - sign up to audition here. See you on stage!

August 29-September 1 - Labor Day Holiday: Virginia legislation requires that schools opening prior to Labor Day must be closed the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day. As a result, Friday, August 29, is a holiday for students and staff members in addition to the Labor Day holiday, Monday, September 1. See the complete 2025-26 school year calendar.

September 2 - Student Lockers Requests Available: Student lockers will be available by request beginning on Tuesday, September 2. Students will receive information about how to request a locker during W4.

September 2 & 4 - SR&R Lessons in W4: On Tuesday, September 2, we will start our Student Rights and Responsibilities lessons in W4. The lessons are divided into two different parts to help facilitate student conversations and build community in our classes. Part 1 will be an interactive lesson the W4 class will participate in to build community and understanding around our school norms. Students will also receive a hard copy of the SR&R Signature Sheet for parents/guardians to sign and to be turned into their W4 teacher on Thursday. Part 2 will include the SR&R test on September 4.

September 3 - SAT School Day Intent Form Due: On Wednesday, October 8, Annandale High School students in Grade 12 will have the opportunity to take the SAT School Day or the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). FCPS will cover the cost for any senior to take this test. The essay option and subject area tests are not available during SAT School Day. To reserve a seat for your senior to take the SAT School Day exam and ensure appropriate test materials are available for your student, families are asked to complete this form by Wednesday, September 3. Your student will need to use an @fcpsschools.net email account to access and complete this form. A translated version of the form may be found on the SAT School Day Intent Form webpage.

General information about the SAT School Day test format is available on the College Board webpage. We will share exam day schedules and additional details in the coming weeks. If you have questions about the SAT School Day administration at Annandale High School, please contact our SAT School Day Coordinator, Meg Anderson.

September 3 & 10 - Underclassmen Pictures: Underclassmen pictures will be taken through English classes on September 3 and 10 in the auditorium. Parents should receive an email from Legacy Studios with online ordering instructions and mailing options. Parents can order leading up to, on, and after picture days. For assistance, please contact Legacy Studios Customer Care team directly at customercare@legacystudios.com or 716-512-6336.

September 8 - Club & Activities Fair: On Monday, September 8, we will be hosting our annual Clubs & Activities Fair during W4. Our goal as an Activities Department is increasing involvement and participation by our students in extracurricular offerings and the Activities Fair is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about everything that Annandale has to offer. For an up-to-date list of clubs currently offered at Annandale, visit this website.

September 8 - Atoms Booster Club Meeting: Come 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 6:00pm in the Driver’s Education room. Enter at Door 10.

September 10 - Colleges Visits Begin in College & Career Center: Our College & Career Center will host visits from representatives for colleges and universities throughout the country. Juniors and Seniors will have the opportunity to hear from college admissions representatives to learn what makes their institution unique, admission requirements, financial aid, and more. Students 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 a student has signed up, they should receive a confirmation email. Passes will be delivered to their first class (R1/W2) the morning of the scheduled visit. If they 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. 

September 10 - Exploring Life After High School, 6-8pm: As senior year begins, it's the perfect time for students to start planning for life after high school. Join us on Wednesday, September 10, in Clausen Hall for an informative evening dedicated to exploring a variety of postsecondary pathways. Whether you're considering a four-year university, community college, trade school, or the military, this event offers a valuable opportunity to learn more about your options and begin shaping your future. You'll hear from representatives of each path, get your questions answered, and gain insights to help guide your next steps. Students and parents are encouraged to attend.

September 13 - Annandale Performing Arts Tag Day: Tag Day is a major performing arts fundraiser where members of the Annandale Bands, Theatre, Chorus, Guitar and Orchestra go door to door within the community to ask for donations. The donations assist in funding uniforms, costumes, instruments, scholarships, clinicians, music, supplies, and registration for competitions. Your continued support enables us to proudly represent our school and community throughout the year.

September 16 - PTSA Meeting: The first PTSA of the 2025-26 school year will be on Tuesday, September 16 at 7:00pm in the library. PTSA meetings are bilingual and Spanish translation is provided. Las reuniones de PTSA son bilingües y se proporciona traducción al español.

Important Information

Class of 2026 Graduation Date Announced! The Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2026 will be held on Monday, June 8, at 7:00pm at EagleBank Arena. Please mark your calendars and share this date with family and friends. 

Student Parking: Parking applications may be picked up in the Main Office. Both the “Parking Agreement” and “Parking Application” forms must be turned into the Main Office by Wednesday, September 3. All payments must be submitted online via MySchoolBucks (on the “Annandale online store” tab). Parking permits will be issued during all lunches in the cafeteria on Thursday, September 4. 

Students must have a parking pass to park in AHS student parking spaces beginning Monday, September 8. If you have any questions, please email Aaron Schneider. Note: All financial obligations must be cleared before you may receive a parking permit.

Monitor Your Student’s Online Activity: FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their student’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service. Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites their student visited. The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their student’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours. Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.

Reporting Student Attendance: Regular attendance is essential for student success. Research shows that absenteeism in the first month of school often predicts poor attendance for the rest of the year—half of the students who miss 2–4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school. To help your student get the most out of their education, please make sure they are in school and on time every day.

If your student must be absent, please notify the school by calling the attendance line at 703-642-4151. Families also have the option to submit full-day absences directly through SIS ParentVUE. Step-by-step instructions are available on the Attendance page.

Safety Drills During the School Year: Keeping students and staff safe is a priority at Annandale High School. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including fire and lockdown drills, each year. In the coming weeks we will conduct our first lockdown drill of the school year. Your student may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your student about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Here are some helpful tips for families to use to support their students before and after school lockdown drills. Working together, we create a safe, secure environment for students to learn and grow in our schools.

PRIDE Time 0.5 Begins Monday! At Annandale, we have robust systems to support our students’ academic needs during class as well as through PRIDE Time and our after school academic program (ASAP). Starting on Monday, August 25, students who need to earn verified credits in our September and October testing windows will be supported through PRIDE Time 0.5. Students who have been identified for this support have already been notified, and families of these students should also have received an email. Please reach out to your student’s teachers with any questions.

Supporting Students Getting to Class On-Time: As part of our commitment to ensure our students are accessing high quality instruction and arriving to all their classes on time, every day, AHS will be implementing our Start on Time tardy sweep stations between every class transition starting Tuesday, September 2. Students who are still in the hallways after the late bell will be escorted to their classes, where teachers will update the attendance accordingly. If students are arriving late to school with a note from a parent/guardian to explain their tardiness, they should report to the Attendance Office.

Opportunities

VDOE Student Advisory Board Applications Are Open for Seniors! The Student Advisory Board is a highly competitive opportunity consisting of one high school senior from each of the eight Superintendent’s Regions in the Commonwealth. Appointed by the Governor, the Board works closely with the VDOE to provide student perspectives on important issues and play a vital role in the creation of policy by the Virginia Board of Education. Applications are open to any Virginia rising high school senior. The application window closes September 15. Find out more information today!

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.

News from Students Services

Course Change Request Window: Students who wish to request a change to their current schedule may do so by completing the Schedule Change Request Form, available in Student Services from August 25 through September 12. Before submitting the form, students must speak with the teacher of the class they wish to drop and obtain parent or guardian approval, which must be noted on the form. This is the only opportunity to request schedule changes for the 2025–26 school year. Requests will be prioritized based on student need, and counselors will contact students as necessary. Please reach out to your student’s counselor or Erin Crowley if you have any questions.

Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE: Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Parents should receive an activation code when they register their student. Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same ParentVUE account. Access SIS ParentVUE by using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices. Need help creating a SIS ParentVUE account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.

Update Your Students’ Information Online: FCPS is excited to announce that parents can now update student information online using the Online Verification Update Packet. Parents can conveniently update phone numbers, emergency contacts, health conditions, and immunization dates for students in grades K-12. Accessible through SIS ParentVUE, the online update feature streamlines registration for parents and staff.

College & Career Planning Site: Check out Student Services: Annandale High School | Schoology (fcps.edu), which offers a variety of postsecondary planning resources including the college application process, community college, military and trade pathways, financial aid and scholarship opportunities. The Student Services Team also uses this platform to share updates on new college and career opportunities, so be sure to check it regularly for the latest information. Parents should use SIS ParentVUE account to login.

College Visits – Register Now! Beginning September 10, Our College & Career Center will host visits from representatives for colleges and universities throughout the country. Juniors and Seniors will have the opportunity to hear from college admissions representatives to learn what makes their institution unique, admission requirements, financial aid, and more. Students 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. 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. 

SAT/ASVAB Day Coming October 8! On Wednesday, October 8, all Annandale seniors will take either the SAT School Day or the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). FCPS covers the cost for both exams. Families who want their student to take the SAT must complete the SAT School Day Intent Form by Wednesday, September 3, using their student’s @fcpsschools.net email account. A translated version of the form is available on the SAT School Day Intent Form webpage. Seniors who do not register for the SAT will automatically be scheduled for the ASVAB, which provides a score report and helps identify potential career paths. More details about exam day schedules will be shared in the coming weeks.

Have a Rising Senior? Meningococcal Vaccine Reminder: The Code of Virginia requires all students to be immunized against certain communicable diseases prior to entrance into one of its schools. All students in grade 12 are required to have been immunized with one dose of the Meningococcal Vaccine given at the age of 16 or older. Please review the immunization requirements here. Proof of immunization must be submitted to the school. These documents need to be returned prior to the start of the 2025-26 school year. For more information on this requirement, visit this FCPS website.

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. Check out their weekly newsletter to learn more about Annandale's activities, clubs and sports programs. You can also visit their website, AHS Athletics Twitter or Instagram page. 

Annandale Girls' Flag Football Interest Meeting: Interested in joining Annandale’s first-ever girls' flag football team this fall? Come to the interest meeting on Wednesday, August 27 at 3:05pm in the Driver Education room (C-43) to meet the head coach and learn more about the upcoming season. No experience is necessary—just bring your enthusiasm and questions! For more information, contact Brandon Sutphin, Director of Student Activities.

Purchase Your 'Atoms Pass' for 2025-2026! 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! Click here to purchase your 2025-26 Atoms Booster Pass!

Purchase a Red Card! Each fall, our sports programs sell a discount “Red Card” to raise money for their teams. The red cards include various discounts at local businesses including: Glory Days, Subways, Jet’s Pizza, Kilroy’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Jiffy Lube, and AHS Sports Camps. Red Cards are only $20 and can be used at any of the businesses through October 1, 2026. If you would like to purchase a Red Card, please reach out to a fall athlete or email Brandon Sutphin, Director of Student Activities.

News from the PTSA

PTSA Membership for the 2025-26 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 2025-2026 school year by purchasing membership in our new store. Don't forget to sign your students up as well! For more information about the Annandale PTSA contact us at atoms.ahs.president@gmail.com. 

Support the PTSA Welcome Back Breakfast! As we gear up for another exciting school year, we invite you to contribute to the PTSA Welcome Back Breakfast for our dedicated teachers and staff on Thursday, August 14. This special event is our way of showing appreciation for their hard work and commitment to our students. Whether you can volunteer your time or make a financial contribution, your support will make a huge difference. Together, we can create a warm and welcoming start to the new school year for our amazing educators. Sign Up here!