Annandale Community Insider - September 14

Annandale Students, Parents, and Community,

Annandale High School is one of the best high schools in Virginia because of the high quality instruction that is happening each and every day in our classrooms. Quality classroom instruction is the foundation of student success. Research shows that effective teaching practices have the greatest impact on student achievement, more than any other school-related factor.

At Annandale, our “Environmental Scans” facilitate meaningful collaboration between administrators, instructional coaches, and teachers. Through classrooms visits and reflective conversations, our staff work together to identify, implement, and refine instructional practices that have the most significant impact on learning.

This Thursday, at Back to School Night (BTSN), families will have an opportunity to learn about the incredible work that is happening here at Annandale. BTSN will take place on our stadium field from 6:00–8:00pm, and is an opportunity to learn more about your student’s school experience and connect directly with their teachers. You will be able to have brief conversations about your student’s progress and ways we can partner support their success.

Reminders for BTSN:

• Bring a copy of your student’s schedule so you can identify their teachers.
• Conversations are brief (no more than five minutes). Longer conferences can be scheduled at a later date.
• Limited translation services will be available, and students are welcome to attend to support as needed.
• Be mindful of time and prioritize which teachers you want to meet with.

For questions about this event, please contact Kara Franklin-Taylor. I look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday evening.

As always, reach out if you have any questions. Have a great week and Go Atoms!

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

September 15-October 15 - National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 16 - PTSA Meeting
September 18 - Back to School Night
September 18 - IB Diploma Parent Meeting
September 20 - Taste of Annandale
September 22-26 - Homecoming Week
September 23 - Rosh Hashanah (No School)
September 26 - Homecoming Pep Rally
September 26 - Homecoming Tailgate
September 27 - Homecoming Dance
September 29 - W4 Activities Day
September 30 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving
October 2 - Yom Kippur (No School)
October 6 - PRIDE Time Begins
October 8 - SAT, PSAT, ASVAB Testing Day
October 8 - Early Release, 12:55pm
June 8 - Class of 2026 Graduation, 7pm 

September 15 - October 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month: Fairfax County Public Schools and Annandale High School proudly celebrate the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of our Hispanic and Latino community members. This month honors individuals whose heritage is rooted in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America — recognizing their enduring impact on our school, our community, and our country.

September 16 - PTSA Meeting, 7pm: Our next PTSA meeting will be on Tuesday, September 16 beginning at 7pm 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 for the 2025-2026 school year by purchasing membership in our new store. For more information about the Annandale PTSA contact us at atoms.ahs.president@gmail.com.

September 18 - Back to School Night, 6-8pm: Back to School Night (BTSN) will be held Thursday, September 18 from 6-8pm on our stadium field. Similar to years past, BTSN is an opportunity for families to have a brief, one-on-one, mini-conference with their students’ teachers.

September 18 - IB Diploma Parent Meeting: Parents of IB Diploma Juniors and Seniors are invited to attend a meeting to discuss IB requirements and support structures Annandale offers to ensure students are successful. The meeting will be held during Back to School Night, Thursday, September 18. Linda Bradshaw, IB Diploma Coordinator, will meet with parents of Juniors from 7:15-7:35 pm, and parents of Seniors from 7:40-8:00 pm, in the Main Gym. How do you know if your child is an IB Diploma candidate? Check their 4th period/Teacher Advisory in their schedule. IB Diploma candidates have one of the following teachers: Consumano, Duran-Russell, Dwyer, Hanneman, Hanson, Mathis, Needham, Obando, or Weintraut. If you are unable to attend, the presentation slides will be posted in the Community Insider following the meeting. Questions? Please email Linda Bradshaw.

September 20 - Taste of Annandale! The annual Taste of Annandale is back on Saturday, September 20 from 10:30am–6pm on Columbia Pike! This family-friendly festival is a vibrant celebration of our community’s rich diversity, bringing together residents, local businesses, and restaurants to showcase the unique flavors and cultures that make Annandale special. Organized by volunteers and community leaders, the event also supports vital youth programs through its proceeds. Learn more at the Taste of Annandale website.

September 22-26 - Homecoming Spirit Week: Students and staff are encouraged to show their spirit by dressing in each day’s theme.

  • Monday, September 22 - PJ Day
  • Tuesday, September 23 - Rosh Hashanah (No School)
  • Wednesday, September 24 - Anything But A Backpack
  • Thursday, September 25 - Camo
  • Friday, September 26 - Underclass Blackout vs. Seniors Whiteout

September 26 - Homecoming Pep Rally: Our fall pep rally will be held Friday, September 26. We will follow a special red day pep rally schedule. Students will be released from class at 1:55pm to attend the single pep rally in the stadium from 2:10-2:55pm. Students will be dismissed from school immediately following the pep rally.

September 26 - Homecoming Tailgate: Our annual Homecoming Tailgate is a way to bring our entire community together before our homecoming football game from 4:00-6:00pm. Join us in the main gym to learn about different clubs at AHS and have fun playing outdoor games. It’s a great place to connect with other Atoms and get into the school spirit and ready to cheer on our Atoms Football Team!

September 27 - Homecoming Dance: The Homecoming Dance will be held Saturday, September 27 from 8:00-11:00 pm. Celebrate under the glow of the moon at our Moonlight Masquerade. Enjoy an evening of music, dancing, and mystery with friends. Leadership is in need of chaperones!! If you are interested and available, even for a portion of the evening, please complete this form. 

SAT/PSAT/ASVAB Day - October 8: On Wednesday, October 8, Annandale High School will provide students in grades 10-12 with an opportunity to take the SAT, PSAT, or the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Seniors who registered will take the SAT, while those who did not register will be scheduled for the ASVAB, which provides a score report and helps identify potential career pathways. All students in Grade 10 and 11 will take the PSAT. Ninth graders will not attend school and should use the day as a “Catch-Up Day” to complete outstanding assignments.

Students will be released two hours early. Please note that all academy classes and shuttles are canceled for the day, so families should plan accordingly. More details about exam day schedules will be shared in the coming weeks.

Important Information

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.

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, we will be implementing our Start on Time tardy sweep stations during every class transition. Students who are still in the hallways after the late bell will be escorted to their classes, where teachers will update their 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.

Cell Phones Off, Learning On: Thank you for helping to support the FCPS cell phone policy by waiting to call or text your child about non-urgent matters until the school day is over. In case of an emergency, it is always best to contact our school’s front office to reach your child during class time. Visit the FCPS Cell Phone Policy webpage to read more about usage policies by grade level and to share your feedback on the current cell phone policy.

Opportunities

September 30 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving: To get your driver’s license in Virginia, you must successfully pass the classroom portion of driver education. You must also attend a 90-minute parent-teen traffic safety program, Partners for Safe Teen Driving, or PSTD, with a parent/guardian. Annandale High School is hosting our first PSTD presentations on September 30. It is free to students enrolled in Health & PE 10 at Annandale HS and begins at 6:30pm in the auditorium. You must attend with a parent/guardian, arrive ON TIME, and remain the duration of the presentation for your attendance to be verified. Register here. If you have any questions, please contact Lizzie McManus.

Thursday College Application Workshops: Every Thursday from 3:00-4:00pm in Trailer 14, Counselors and AVID students will be assisting students with various topics: Making a College List; Transcript Request Form; Common App; Recommendation Requests. Students are welcome to drop in with questions about any aspect of the process.

Visit the AHS Library! The AHS Library welcomes you! No pass is needed to visit before school (7:45-8:10am), during Second Chance Breakfast, or after school until 3:15 pm. Passes to use the library during the lunch block are available every day in the library before school and during Second Chance Breakfast. However, an official AHS pass is required during all instructional blocks. During Pride Time, the library is open for students who are signed up through the Pride Time spreadsheet Library tab (at the bottom of the page) and have a pass - just ask your PRIDE Time teacher to sign you up starting in October. We look forward to seeing you! For any questions, please contact Pat Brown or Jane Scharankov

Silent Space for Prayer & Reflection: The Annandale High School Reflection and Silent Space is available in the library for students who need to pray, meditate, or engage in silent reflection. This space 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.

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.

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!

Awesome Atoms

Annandale Awarded Grant to Support Global Citizenship: Annandale High School has been awarded a grant from Academic Year in America in support of the Tony Cook Scholarship award. The funding will further the school's commitment to "Cultivating Global Citizens through the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)" and empower students to engage in meaningful projects that promote sustainability, equity, and peace. Exchange students Gagik (Armenia), Feras (Israel), and Vivian (Germany) delivered the award in person, highlighting the global connections that enrich our school community. This grant will bring new opportunities as Annandale continues to build a culture of global citizenship, cross-cultural understanding, and responsible leadership.

Senior Parent Night Shares Post-Secondary Opportunities: On Wednesday night, AHS welcomed families to our Senior Parent Night, an informative evening focused on post-secondary planning. Parents heard from various post-secondary representatives and had the opportunity to connect with both the presenters and AHS counselors to explore future pathways for their children. The event also highlighted the many ways AHS is supporting students throughout their journey beyond high school.

News from Students Services

Signs of Suicide Prevention Program: The teen years are marked by a rollercoaster ride of emotions that may be difficult for teens, their parents, and educators. It is easy to misread depression as normal adolescent turmoil, however, depression (among the most common of mental illnesses) appears to be occurring at a much earlier age, and the past decade has seen teen suicide rates double. The FCPS Signs of Suicide Wellness Lessons and Screenings are currently under way for Grade 9 (September 16, 22, and October 1) and Grade 11 will take place in November. Families of these grade levels received a targeted notification with lesson and screening goals, as well as opt out procedures. Please contact Erin Crowley with any questions.

October 15 - Social and Emotional Learning Screener: One of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is the SEL Screener. The screener is offered to all students in grades 3-12 in October and again in February or March. It addresses skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. The SEL Screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create the learning, experiences, and environments students need to be successful. SEL Screener results are sent to families via postal mail. Families who wish to opt their child out should complete the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or in the Digital Parental Consent App. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. Families received an e-notify this past week with hard copy opt-out forms as well. Please note that the SEL Screener differs from the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey.

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.

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.

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. 

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

Support the AHS PTSA Pantry! September is Hunger Action Month, and this fall the AHS PTSA Pantry is proud to celebrate seven years of supporting our school community. What began as a small initiative has grown into a vital resource for many Annandale families—and we couldn't do it without your help. There are many ways you can get involved and continue making a difference. Sign up to be a Food for Neighbors Red Bag donor—AHS is a proud partner and recipient of these generous collections five times a year. You can also volunteer as a driver to help with pick-ups from Food for Others, or lend a hand at one of our pantry distribution events. Want to donate items? Our Amazon Wishlist makes it easy to support from home by providing our most needed supplies. And if you prefer to give financially, we welcome contributions of any size. Every act of support helps ensure no Atom goes hungry. Join us in making a lasting impact this Hunger Action Month!

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. 

September 16 - PTSA Meeting: The first PTSA meeting will be on Tuesday, September 16 beginning at 7pm 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 for the 2025-2026 school year by purchasing membership in our new store. For more information about the Annandale PTSA contact us at atoms.ahs.president@gmail.com.