Annandale Community Insider - September 21

Important Dates

September 22-26 - Homecoming Week
September 23 - Rosh Hashanah (No School)
September 24 - Flag Football Championship, 7:15pm
September 24 - PTSA Pantry Distribution
September 26 - Homecoming Pep Rally
September 26 - Homecoming Tailgate
September 26 - Homecoming Football Game
September 27 - Homecoming Dance
September 29 - W4 Activities Day
September 30 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving
September 30 - SR&R Acknowledgement Due
October 2 - Yom Kippur (No School)
October 4 - Saturday Academic Coaching
October 6 - PRIDE Time & ASAP Begin
October 6 - Late Buses Begin
October 6 - MYP Certificate Ceremony
October 6 - Booster Club Meeting
October 7 - Fall Band Concert
October 8 - PSAT/SAT/ASVAB Testing
October 8 - Early Release, 12:55pm
October 8 - PTSA Pantry Distribution
October 13 - Indigenous Peoples Day (No School)
October 15 - World Language Credit Exam Registration Deadline

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

  • Monday - PJ Day
  • Tuesday - Rosh Hashanah (No School)
  • Wednesday - Anything But A Backpack
  • Thursday - Camo
  • Friday - Underclass Blackout vs. Seniors Whiteout

September 24 - Flag Football Championship: The Annandale Student Leadership Team will be hosting our annual flag football game on Wednesday, September 24. The games begin at 7:15pm with Freshman taking on the Juniors, and then the Sophomores will take on the Seniors at 7:45pm. The night culminates in a championship game between the two winning classes! The game is free, come out and support your class by wearing yellow for Freshmen, green for Sophomores, orange for Juniors, and pink for Seniors.  Will the class of 2025 come out victorious, or will one of the underclass teams take the win?

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 a full school pep rally in the stadium from 2:10-2:55pm.

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 Annandale and have fun playing games. It is a great event to connect with other Atoms and get into the school spirit before our Homecoming football game!

September 27 - Homecoming Dance: The Homecoming Dance will be held Saturday, September 27 from 8:00-11:00pm. Celebrate under the glow of the moon at our Moonlight Masquerade. Enjoy an evening of music, dancing, and mystery with friends. All students must enter the dance by 9:30pm. Note: Leadership is in need of parent chaperones! If you are interested and available, even for a portion of the evening, please complete this form. 

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.

September 30 - Student Rights and Responsibilities Acknowledgement Due: FCPS’ updated Student Rights and Responsibility (SR&R) booklet is available online and in SIS ParentVUE. The SR&R booklet explains expectations for student behavior, and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. Each year, FCPS asks parents/caregivers to review and sign the SR&R. The SR&R will be visible upon logging in to SIS ParentVUE until the SR&R acknowledgment has been completed or the SR&R Signature Sheet is turned into the Main Office. Signatures are due by Tuesday, September 30. Visit the SIS ParentVUE Account Overview webpage for help logging in to your account. 

October 8 - SAT/PSAT/ASVAB Day: On Wednesday, October 8, Annandale High School will provide students in grades 10-12 will 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 take the ASVAB, which provides a score report that helps identify potential career pathways. All students in Grades 10 and 11 will take the PSAT. Ninth graders and 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. More details about exam day schedules will be shared in the coming weeks.

Important Information

IB Diploma Parent Meeting: We hope you found the IB presentations during Back to School Night helpful! For those who'd like to review the information or couldn't attend, here is a link to the slides for the IB Senior Presentation, as well as those for the IB Junior Presentation. As we look ahead to spring, please take a moment to review the IB exam schedule and keep those dates in mind when planning any family trips, since IB doesn't offer make-up exams. If you have any questions about the IB program, Linda Bradshaw, our IB Diploma Coordinator.

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

October 15 - World Language Credit Exam Registration Deadline: Does your student speak, read, and write in a language other than English? If so, they may be eligible to earn high school credit through the World Languages Credit By Exam. This exam allows students to earn credits to help fulfill requirements for the Advanced Studies Diploma and Virginia's Seal of Biliteracy. If your student would like to register for the World Languages Credit By Exam, please reach out to your counselor by Wednesday, October 15 to ensure you meet the registration deadline. Students need parent permission to take the test. Please print and sign the testing permission form and return it to your student’s counselor. If you have any questions, please contact Jacquelyn Costa.

Apply to Attend AI Bootcamp for Students: Students are encouraged to apply to attend Mark Cuban Foundation’s free, competitive AI Bootcamp, offering high school students hands-on experiences, mentorship from industry professionals, and exposure to real-world tech applications in a university setting. Coordinated by AI Ready RVA and sponsored by Dominion Energy, the program runs on Nov. 1, 8, and 15. Apply by September 30.

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.

Awesome Atoms

Three AHS Students Commended by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation: Congratulations to Annandale students Jasmin Dinh, Tyler Miller, and Khyber Zaheer for their outstanding achievement on the PSAT/NMSQT and recently being named as a Commended Scholars by the National Merit Scholarship Program.

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

Stock Our Shelves: Support the AHS PTSA Pantry! September is Hunger Action Month, and this fall we proudly celebrate seven years of the AHS PTSA Pantry serving our school community. What started as a small initiative has grown into a vital resource for many Annandale families—and we could not do it without your support.

This year, we are launching the Stock Our Shelves (SOS) Fundraising Campaign with the goal of raising $10,000 in the next three months. These funds will keep our shelves stocked and our students nourished through the end of the school year. 100% of what is raised will go directly to the pantry. In addition, there are many ways you can make a difference:

• Become a Red Bag donor through our partnership with Food for Neighbors. Annandale is a proud recipient of these generous collections five times a year.
• Volunteer your time as a driver to help with pick-ups from Food for Others or lend a hand at our distribution events.
• Donate items through our Amazon Wishlist, where you can easily provide our most needed supplies.
• Give financially—every contribution, no matter the size, directly supports students and families who are food insecure.

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.