Annandale Community Insider - November 9

Annandale Students, Parents, and Community,

This Tuesday marks Veterans Day, a time to honor the men and women who have bravely served our country. On Wednesday, Annandale High School will commemorate this day with a W4 lesson dedicated to recognizing the sacrifices of veterans and their families. During W4 Advisory, students will reflect on the contributions of service members, especially those within our own community. We are proud to recognize Annandale staff members who have served in the Armed Forces: Herb Eggert, Jerome McAvoy, Andrew Phalan, Regina Jackson, and Leonard Bumbaca.

This weekend also brings the opening of the Annandale Theatre Company’s production of the beloved musical Annie! The show follows a loveable orphan on her journey to find her forever home and chosen family. With its catchy songs, showstopping choreography, and larger-than-life characters, this family-friendly production is sure to delight our “Annie-dale” community. Performances are November 13 & 14 at 7:00pm, and November 15 at 2:00pm. and 7:00pm. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for students and seniors (60+), and $5 for children age 10 and under. Admission is free for AHS staff members. Tickets can be purchased at annandaletheatre.org.

Finally, the deadline for FCPS Honors nominations is approaching and will close on Friday, November 14. These awards celebrate exceptional educators and staff across Fairfax County Public Schools, and we encourage you to nominate any staff member who has made a meaningful difference. This is our chance to recognize those who go above and beyond for our students and school community. To submit a nomination, please complete the AHS Outstanding Employee Nomination Form.

Have a great week, Atom Nation! As always, please reach out with any questions.

Shawn DeRose, Principal

FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards - Now Accepting Nominations!

At Annandale High School, we believe our staff is truly exceptional, and the work they do for our students deserves to be celebrated outside of Atom Nation! Each year, FCPS recognizes staff members who demonstrate outstanding excellence in their roles, including Outstanding Teacher, New Teacher, Leader, Professional Employee, Operational Employee, and Principal. We invite you to join us in honoring the incredible contributions made every day by highlighting some of our amazing staff members. Let’s shine a spotlight on the excellence that makes Annandale special!

To nominate an Annandale staff member, please complete the AHS Outstanding Employee Nomination Form. If you are interested in learning more about the overall FCPS awards process, you can visit the FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards Website. Nominations are due on Friday, November 14. Contact Jae Lee with any questions.

Important Dates

Today - Fall Check-In Survey Closes
November 10 - Winter Sports Tryouts Begin
November 11 - Veterans Day (No School)
November 12 - CIEE Parent Night, 7pm
November 12-13 - World Language Credit By Exam
November 13-15 - Fall Musical - Annie
November 17 - MYP Certificate Celebration, 7pm
November 18 - PRIDE Time 2.0 Begins
November 18 - PTSA Meeting
November 19 - Winter Meet the Coaches Night
November 19 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm
November 20 - Atoms Games Begin
November 20 - Thanksgiving Lunch
November 24 - W4 Activities Day
November 26-28 - Thanksgiving Break (No School)

Now through November 10 - SIS ParentVUE End-of-Quarter Closure: The Gradebook in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed for the end of the first quarter until Monday, November 10, 6:00am. Activate your ParentVUE account to easily access grade reports.

Today - Fall Check-In Survey Closes! With the school year well underway, we want to hear from our staff, students and families. Specifically, we would like to hear what is going well for you and your student, what is a challenge you would like to work together to problem-solve, who is someone who has helped you, and answer any questions. Please share your feedback through this anonymous survey. We would appreciate your feedback by today, November 9. In the coming weeks, we will share survey trends as well as how we are responding to your feedback.

November 10 - Winter Sports Tryouts: Winter sports season is almost here! The first official day of tryouts will be Monday, November 10, and we are excited to kick off another great season of competition and teamwork. This year’s winter sports include boys and girls basketball, swim and dive, boys and girls wrestling, gymnastics, sideline cheer, and indoor track. To participate, students must complete two important steps before tryouts begin: submit a completed Sports Physical to our Athletic Trainer, Ryan Hughes, and complete the online Activity Registration, which includes the Emergency Care Form and Concussion Education Training. Be sure to check out the winter tryout schedule below for specific times and locations. For more information, email Brandon Sutphin.

November 13-15 - Annandale Theatre Company presents “Annie” Is it a Hard Knock Life? Don’t worry, the Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow, or rather in November when our theatre company performs the beloved musical “Annie.” Follow Annie, a loveable orphan on her journey to find her forever home and chosen family. With catchy songs, showstopping choreography, and bigger than life characters, this family-friendly musical will delight our Annie-dale community. Check it out on November 13 & 14 at 7pm, and November 15 at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are $15/general, $10 students/60+, $5/age 10 and under. Free to AHS Staff Members! Purchase tickets: annandaletheatre.org.

November 17 - PRIDE Time and ASAP 2.0 Begin: Students will begin their new PRIDE Time and ASAP assignments the week of November 17. Those who have been identified as needing additional academic support will begin new PRIDE Time intervention and possibly After School Academic Support (ASAP) assignments. ASAP 2.0 begins Monday, November 17 and PRIDE Time 2.0 begins Tuesday, November 18. Students will be able to view their PRIDE Time assignment in StudentVue as their period 11 class by November 16. Students and families will receive emails regarding ASAP assignments on November 13. We encourage you to talk with your students about how they’re making the most of these valuable opportunities during PRIDE Time and ASAP.

November 17 - MYP Certificate Ceremony, 7:00pm: Join us on Monday, November 17 at 7:00pm as we celebrate over 50 students who have earned the Middle Years Programme Certificate. These students have demonstrated incredible dedication through their language studies, volunteer service, and outstanding MYP Personal Projects. Edward Osborne, FCPS Global Specialist, will serve as keynote speaker for this year's theme, "Becoming Global Citizens: Connected, Compassionate, Curious." The evening will include recognition, reflection, cookies, and community. We look forward to celebrating their achievements and recognizing their hard work!

November 21 - Mentor Open House: Interested in becoming a mentor? Join us for an open house on November 21 from 3:00-4:00pm in Clausen Hall to learn more about our mentoring program. We will have pizza and refreshments as we share information about this rewarding opportunity to support Annandale students. Please RSVP here so we can plan accordingly. Questions? Contact Chris Edmonds. We hope to see you there!

November 26 - Federal Impact Aid Survey Due: The Federal Impact Aid Survey forms were distributed to students during W4. Our school can receive additional funding if we have families federally connected. Each year, every school is required to survey their families. Parents/Guardians, please complete the form, sign it, and return it to school with your child by Tuesday, November 26.

Important Information

Federal Impact Aid Survey: FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid. Returning this form is important because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year. The grants from these programs will become part of FCPS' general operating budget and are critical to ensuring that all children in FCPS receive an excellent education. This year, families will have access to the Federal Impact Aid Survey in electronic format via ParentVUE. All parents with a ParentVUE account will be able to complete the survey online using their computer at home. Step by step directions for filling out the online form can be found here. For families unable to complete the survey on-line, a paper form will be available. Also, families who do not complete the online application by the requisite deadline will be provided with a printed survey form. Important dates:

• Available Now! Federal Impact Aid Survey electronic data collection in ParentVUE opens.
• November 14: Federal Impact Aid Survey paper forms are available.

Understanding the State Accountability and Standards of Learning (SOL) Changes: The Virginia Board of Education and the General Assembly are planning significant changes to SOL assessments. These changes will have a significant and potentially detrimental impact on schools and students. FCPS is a model of excellence: home to 7 of Virginia’s top 10 high schools and 262 National Merit Semifinalists this year. But with these upcoming changes, many schools and students across the state could be unfairly labeled as failing. Learn more about these changes by the state of Virginia. Watch Dr. Reid’s message about the changes. 

Cell Phone Policy Reminder: All cell phones, headphones, and phone accessories must remain off and away all day, including during hallway transitions. Students may only use their devices in the cafeteria during lunch. Any devices seen in use outside of that time will be confiscated. Students can pick up their devices after school in the cafeteria. We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing this expectation at home and helping all of our Atoms stay focused on learning throughout the day.

PSAT/SAT School Day Scores Available: Students who participated in the School Day SAT/PSAT are now able to access scores via the College Board BigFuture School App or their College Board accounts. Video tutorials for accessing and understanding PSAT and SAT scores are available on the College Board website.

2025-26 AP/IB Test Opt-Out Timeline and Fees: As part of the FCPS budget, FCPS is continuing to pay for the first six IB/AP tests a student wishes to take. Students will be assessed Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) test fees for any tests beyond the first six funded by FCPS. Students that have free/reduced lunch status and have completed the consent to share form, will not be charged these fees. FCPS and Annandale High School encourage all students to take IB/AP tests for courses in which they are enrolled. This is an excellent opportunity to practice taking a college level exam. The IB exam calendar can be found here. The AP exam calendar can be found here. 

When scores are released in July 2026, students have the ability to share their scores with their colleges. However, if students wish to not test they will have the opportunity to opt-out. To obtain the opt-out form, students must see Mrs. Bradshaw, IB Diploma Coordinator, in the library. Parents will be billed in December through MySchoolBucks for any test fees beyond the six FCPS funded tests. These fees are non-refundable and there is no spring cancellation option.

Support for AHS Families Impacted by the Federal Government Shutdown: Fairfax County is home to around 80,000 federal employees and thousands of federal contractors. Its Federal Workforce Resource Hub is intended to help navigate current and future issues for residents, government employees, active military/veterans, contractors, nonprofits, and businesses who may be affected by actions, changes, or disruptions to federal services or employment. Find more community resources available to families.

Please know that your student’s well-being remains our top priority. We are here to support you and connect you with local resources as needed. If your family is experiencing financial hardship or needs assistance with essentials such as food, school supplies, fees, or other immediate needs due to the shutdown, please reach out to one of the following contacts: Family Liaisons: Arlene Tunon, Gisela Sanchez, Social Workers: Ghada Khalaf, Jordan Payne. 

Free Immunizations Available for All FCPS Students: Inspire Health Alliance, in partnership with FCPS, is providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Families will need to provide insurance information if applicable, but students without insurance may still participate. Upcoming immunization clinics will be held at:

Willow Oaks Administrative Office 8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Fairfax, 3:00-6:30pm:
    • Tuesday, November 18
    • Wednesday, November 19
    • Thursday, November 20

Frost Middle School 4101 Pickett Rd, Fairfax, 9:00am-4:30pm
    • Saturday, November 15

To schedule an appointment or for more information, visit the FCPS Inspire Health Alliance Student Immunization Events webpage.

Awesome Atoms

Cafecito con el Director Builds Home-School Partnerships: Families gathered for Cafecito con el Director to learn about ways they can partner with the school to support students and keep them safe. This informal morning coffee provided an opportunity for families to connect with school leadership, ask questions, and learn about resources available to support their students' success. A huge shout out to all the families who attended and continue to strengthen the partnership between home and school!

Opportunities

Compete for $1,000 in FCPS AI Innovation Challenge! Students can work in teams to design AI-powered apps that solve real problems in our schools and communities. No coding experience necessary! Teams compete first at school (prizes up to $150), then advance to FCPS AI Innovation Night in December where the top team wins $1,000 per student. Winners move on to the White House Presidential AI Challenge with over $1.5 million in national prizes. Interested? Sign up here by November 14!

November 12 - Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) Parent Night, 7pm: Annandale High School has been selected as a Global Navigator School partner with the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), giving our students access to scholarships to study abroad this summer. The programs and scholarships are intended to open the world to students, helping them navigate across languages, connect with other cultures, and impact global and local issues in today’s interconnected world. CIEE representatives will be at Annandale High School to meet with students during the day and will also offer an in-person evening meeting. For more information, please visit the CIEE website. The parent meeting is on Wednesday, November 12, at 7:00pm in the Parent Resource Center. Enter through Door 1.

Winter Break Olympics Camp: Calling all second through eighth graders! Winter Break Camp will again run from 8:30am-3:00pm, with drop off as early as 8:00am. Camp Runs December 22-23 at Poe Middle School and Dec 29-30 at Annandale High School. Sign up at: https://bit.ly/Winter25Camp.

Learner's Permit Testing at Annandale: Are you 15 and a half years old (or older) and ready to start your driving journey? Annandale High School is offering the Virginia Learner’s Permit Test after school in Room 43 throughout the school year. Find out more here or reach out to Driver’s Ed Teachers, Lizzie McManus or Morgan Neild with questions.

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.

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.

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

2026-27 FAFSA Form Now Open! Federal Student Aid has released the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Any college-bound high school senior — regardless of income — who wants to be considered for federal, state, and school financial aid programs should complete a FAFSA form. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to work with their students to complete the FAFSA as early as possible. Check each college’s financial aid office website for deadlines and financial aid forms. Then, create an account if you have not already done so, and fill out the FAFSA.

The Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) application has not yet opened, but should be available in late January for students who are unable to complete the FAFSA. To help determine which aid option is right for you, visit the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia website. 

Get Help Filling Out the FAFSA: Over the next few months, College Access Fairfax will offer several programs on completing the FAFSA/VASA and finding and applying for scholarships. Get information on these programs and how to access them on the College Access Fairfax website. College Access Fairfax staff are available for virtual one-on-one help sessions to help complete the FAFSA/VASA. To request an appointment, families should email appointments@CollegeAccessFairfax.org.

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 December 15, the Transcript Request Form is due on November 15. 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 .

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.

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.

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. 

November 10 - Winter Sports Tryouts: Winter sports season is almost here! The first official day of tryouts will be Monday, November 10, and we are excited to kick off another great season of competition and teamwork. This year’s winter sports include boys and girls basketball, swim and dive, boys and girls wrestling, gymnastics, sideline cheer, and indoor track. To participate, students must complete two important steps before tryouts begin: submit a completed Sports Physical to our Athletic Trainer, Ryan Hughes, and complete the online Activity Registration, which includes the Emergency Care Form and Concussion Education Training. Be sure to check out the winter tryout schedule below for specific times and locations. For more information, email Brandon Sutphin.

November 19 - Winter Meet the Coaches Night: For those parents of student-athletes on a winter team, join us Wednesday, November 19 at 6:30pm in the cafeteria. We will hold a general session prior to breakout groups for each program. Come hear about the program, expectations, and more from each winter season coach.

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!

New Atoms Online Store is Live! Show your Atom Pride with gear from our new online store featuring brands like Nike, Under Armour, Lululemon, and more! Browse hundreds of design options including apparel for all ages, and accessories—all with direct-to-door shipping. Whether you're gearing up for game day or looking for holiday gifts, now's the perfect time to shop. Grab your Atoms gear now!

News from the PTSA

June 9 - Save the Date: All Night Grad Celebration! Mark your calendars — our All Night Grad party is Tuesday, June 9! This beloved tradition gives our seniors one last night to celebrate together in a fun, safe, and fully chaperoned environment. Students will enjoy music from a live DJ, games, prizes, delicious food, a photo booth, and even pool access at the rec center!

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.