Annandale Community Insider - September 7

Annandale Students, Parents, and Community:

I hope everyone is enjoying the Labor Day weekend! Mine has been centered around football. On Thursday, I filled in as the PA announcer and watched our Atoms defeat Freedom (Woodbridge), 41-0. On Friday, I traveled to Ohio to support my sister Shana, an English teacher at Perkins High School, as her school hosted “Tackle Epilepsy,” a fundraiser to help a former student receive a seizure alert service dog. Then on Saturday, I took my son Jack to his first Ohio State game, where we watched the Buckeyes win 56-3. Three football games in three days, each special for a different reason!

With the first two weeks of school behind us, our students and staff have done a great job settling into the routines of a new school year. I have enjoyed visiting classrooms, talking with students, and seeing them engaged in challenging learning with teachers who know, support, and believe in them.

As I have shared on Instagram, and in this newsletter, Annandale students continue to achieve at levels that challenge what demographics might predict. These results reflect the hard work of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the support of our families.

This year, we are building on that foundation with an even greater focus on belonging. At Annandale, belonging means our students know people care about them, believe they have something meaningful to contribute, feel safe taking risks and making mistakes, and know they can be successful with the support of others.

We build that sense of belonging every day and families are an important part of this work. I encourage you to ask your student about what they are learning, encourage them to get involved, connect with their teachers, and join us at a game, performance, or school event.

As always, reach out with any questions and Go Atoms!

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

September 8 - PTSA Meeting, 7pm
September 9 - PTSA Pantry Distribution
September 11 - National Day of Service
September 14 - College Visits Begin in College & Career Center
September 14 - Club & Activities Fair (During W4)
September 14 - Atoms Booster Club Meeting
September 16 - Lockdown Drill
September 17 - Back to School Night, 6-8
September 17 - IB Diploma Parent Meeting
September 19 - Annandale Performing Arts Tag Day
September 21 - Yom Kippur (No School)
September 23 - PTSA Pantry Distribution
September 23 - Senior Parent Night
September 24 - Track Field Turf Replacement Begins
September 28-October 2 - Homecoming Week
September 29 - W4 Activities Day
October 2 - Homecoming Football Game
October 3 - Homecoming Dance
June 3 - Class of 2027 Graduation, 9am 

September 8 - PTSA Meeting: Join us for our first PTSA meeting of the 2026-27 school year on Tuesday, September 8 at 7:00pm in the library. Students, families, and community members are welcome! Meetings are bilingual, with Spanish translation provided. Las reuniones de PTSA son bilingües y se proporciona traducción al español. You can also join virtually. While you are at it, consider joining the PTSA for the 2026-27 school year. Questions? Contact atoms.ahs.president@gmail.com.

September 11 - National Day of Service: With the upcoming anniversary of September 11, FCPS acknowledges the loss of life, the heroism of our first responders, and the resilience of our country. The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, also called Patriot Day, is a chance to reflect and act in service to others to honor those who were injured or killed in the terrorist attacks. All FCPS students are encouraged to participate in service learning as it supports Portrait of a Graduate (POG) attributes and social and emotional learning (SEL) skills. Middle and high school students can learn more about service learning by logging into their Naviance account to access x2VOL.

September 14 - Club & Activities Fair: On Monday, September 14, we will host 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 14 - 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 will meet at 6:30pm in the Driver’s Education room. Enter at Door 10. We look forward to seeing you there!

September 17 - Back to School Night, 6-8pm: Back to School Night (BTSN) will be held Thursday, September 17 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 17 - 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 17. Linda Bradshaw, IB Diploma Coordinator, will meet with parents of juniors from 7:15-7:35pm, and parents of seniors from 7:40-8:00pm, in the Main Gym.

September 19 - 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 23 - Senior Parent Night, 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 23 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. Breakout sessions will be offered for each pathway, along with a session on financial aid for students. Students and parents are encouraged to attend.

Awesome Atoms

Performing Arts Take the Show on the Road: Our Band, Chorus, and Strings students kicked off the year by sharing their talents with future Atoms during our annual Elementary School Recruitment Tour! Our musicians visited feeder elementary schools to perform, connect with younger students, and give them a glimpse of the opportunities waiting for them at Annandale. The excitement throughout the tour highlighted the strong connections our performing arts programs build across our community and the pathway students can follow from elementary school through high school. We are proud of our talented musicians and staff for inspiring the next generation of Atoms and sharing what makes our performing arts family so special!

Important Information

Student Lockers: Students who would like a locker can request one now by completing the Annandale High School Locker Request form. Students will also receive information during W4 about how to request a locker. Locker assignments will begin the week of September 8.

Ensure Your Student Has Access To School Resources: Families can now easily grant consent for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account login. Parents can easily opt their child in or out of a variety of resources, including online educational tools, school counseling services, and more. Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.

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.

Free Breakfast and Lunch for Every Student! We are excited to announce that all Annandale students will receive free breakfast and lunch every day of the school year, thanks to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program. This USDA program ensures that every student, regardless of their family's income level, can enjoy nutritious meals at no cost. The meal service will remain the same as other schools, with a la carte items available for purchase. Check out the menus for breakfast, lunch, and other school meals, as well as allergen and nutrition information.

Note: Even though all students receive free meals, families who may qualify for additional benefits, such as waivers for lab fees, summer school tuition, and more, should still complete the Consent to Share form. Visit FCPS Free and Reduced Priced Meals website for more information.

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 8. 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.

Student Parking: Students who plan to park on campus must complete the following steps by Friday, September 11: pick up and submit the Parking Agreement and Parking Application in the Main Office, complete the online Vehicle Registration Form here or using the QR code on the Parking Agreement, and submit payment through MySchoolBucks under the "Annandale Online Store" tab. All outstanding financial obligations must be cleared before a parking permit can be issued.

Parking permits will be distributed during all lunches in the cafeteria on Monday, September 14. Beginning Tuesday, September 15, students must display a valid parking permit to park in AHS student parking spaces. If you have any questions, please email Peter Batista, Safety and Security Specialist.

Class of 2027 Graduation Date Announced! The Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2027 will be held on Thursday, June 3, at 9:00am at EagleBank Arena. Please mark your calendars and share this date with family and friends.

Senior Pictures: It’s time to schedule your senior pictures for the Class of 2027! Students should have received an email from our photography company, Legacy Studios, with instructions to schedule their appointment between 8:00am and 3:00pm on several upcoming dates (October 14-16, November 5-6, & 23-24). Pictures will be held in the AHS Dance Room (behind the Upstairs Gym). Please schedule your picture appointment at https://seniors.legacystudios.com/annandale-hs-va/. If you have any questions, please contact the Legacy Studios Senior Portraits Assistance for Parents/Students line at 716-512-6336 or email customercare@legacystudios.com.

Opportunities

Monitor Your Student's Classwork in Schoology: Schoology is where teachers post class materials, assignments, and important updates. Parents can use Schoology to view their student's classes, upcoming assignments, and school or class announcements. To access Schoology, parents need an active SIS/ParentVUE account. Learn more about how to log in and use Schoology.

Free Kaplan PSAT & SAT Prep Access: Annandale students now have access to Kaplan online PSAT and SAT preparation resources. To get started, students should log in at https://tinyurl.com/FCPSKaplan using their FCPS username and password. Access will remain available through October 31, giving students a valuable opportunity to prepare for multiple SAT administrations as well as the October PSAT.

Stay Connected with the FCPS Mobile App: Stay informed wherever you are by downloading the free FCPS mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app makes it easy to view school calendars, check breakfast and lunch menus, contact school staff, access ParentVUE and Schoology, and stay up to date on the latest FCPS news. Best of all, there is no login required. Simply download the app and stay connected to everything happening at Annandale High School and across FCPS.

Free Bus Passes Available: All Fairfax County middle and high school students can get a Student Bus Pass SmarTrip card to ride the Fairfax Connector and Fairfax CUE buses for free! With the pass, fares are free from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, all year. Learn more about the Student Pass and access the application, which can be returned to the front office. Additionally, our students can ride Metrobus for free. Visit the Fairfax County website for details and approved Metrobus routes and to access the application. Children 12 and younger ride for free on the Fairfax Connector with a paying adult. It’s not just for kids! Fairfax Connector’s Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP) provides 50% off fares for low-income residents ages 18-65. Learn more about the TRIP program and how to apply.

News from Students Services

Course Change Process: Our counselors will continue to make modifications to student schedules that have errors. Students seeking a schedule change need to complete the Schedule Change Request Form located in Student Services. This form will only be available through September 18. Prior to completing the form, students must speak with the teacher of the course they are seeking to change out of. Students also must obtain parent/guardian approval and indicate this on the form. This will be the only request window available for the year. Counselors will prioritize these requests based on student need and will contact students, as necessary. Please reach out to your student’s counselor or Erin Crowley if you have any questions.

Senior Planning & Support: Our counselors are helping seniors get a strong start on planning for life after Annandale. During W4, counselors are visiting senior classes to share important information about postsecondary planning, college applications, financial aid, and other opportunities. Beginning September 9, seniors will also meet individually with their counselor to review graduation requirements and begin discussing their specific college, career, and life plans. Families are invited to learn more at Senior Parent Night on Wednesday, September 23 at 6:00pm, where we will share information and resources to help students navigate their senior year and prepare for what comes next.

College & Career Planning Site: Check out College and Career Resources Site, 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 Career Center also shares updates about new college and career opportunities through Naviance. These updates generate an email, so be sure to check your email regularly for the latest information.

College Visits - Register Now! Beginning September 14, our College & Career Center will host visits from representatives for colleges and universities throughout the country. Students 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). Open to grades 10-12. Students who are not registered in Naviance for a college visit will be denied entry. 

SAT/ASVAB Day Coming October 7! On Wednesday, October 7, 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. Seniors who did 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.

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.

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 or Instagram page.

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: Buffalo Wild Wings, Glory Days, Hangry Joes, Jet’s Pizza, Jiffy Lube, Kilroy’s, and Wingstop. Red Cards are only $20 and can be used at any of the businesses through October 2027. If you would like to purchase a Red Card, please reach out to a fall athlete or email Brandon Sutphin, Director of Student Activities. The Activities Office thanks you in advance for your support of our student athletes. Go Atoms!

Atoms Booster All-Season Passes Are Back: Support our Atoms and enjoy a full year of Annandale athletics with an Atoms Booster All-Season Pass! The Atoms Pass provides general admission to all regular season home football, baseball, basketball, soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, volleyball, and wrestling events. With nine sports included, it is a great way to cheer on our student-athletes throughout the year while supporting Annandale Athletics.

Passes for the 2026-27 school year are $80 for adults and $40 for students. Parking passes are also available for $30. The Atoms Athletic Boosters are transitioning to digital passes this year, with additional details coming soon. Purchase your Adult Pass or Student Pass today!

Athletic Facilities Improvement: We are excited to announce another improvement to our athletic facilities! Beginning September 24, the artificial turf on our track field will be replaced, with completion expected by November 30. During construction, the field and surrounding track area will be completely closed and unavailable for use. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in staying clear of the construction area as this important project is completed.

News from the PTSA

Join Our PTSA: The Annandale High School PTSA plays an important role in supporting our students, staff, and school community throughout the year. Your membership helps fund teacher grants, the AHS Food Pantry, community outreach events, the All Night Graduation Celebration, senior scholarships, and many other programs that enrich the student experience. Membership for the 2026-27 school year is just $20 for parents/community members and $10 for students. We encourage all families, staff, and community members to join and support the great work of our PTSA.