FCPS

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New Gymnasium Seating

After months of updates and renovations, the main gymnasium is officially complete! All games moving forward will have a new seating arrangement. Upon arrival and entering into the gymnasium, all HOME seating will be located on the right side (opposite our new mural). We have moved our team benches to what is now the visitors side. We will have before and after pictures of the gymnasium in next weeks newsletter!

NEW ATOMS ONLINE STORE!!

We’re thrilled to share that we have a new Atoms online store! The new store has a variety of brands like Nike, Under Armour, Lululemon, and more. You will find hundreds of different design options, kids and toddler clothing, new accessories, and direct to your door shipping. Grab your gear now and give a gift for the holidays! 

ANNANDALE ATOMS ONLINE STORE (20% off your order until January 1!)

Atoms Athletics Recap

Boys Basketball played host to Centreville and George Wythe before hitting the road to district rival Falls Church Friday evening. The Atoms got the week started against the Wildcats and faced an early deficit to a team that could compete for a region championship in the Northern Region. The Atoms hung tough and cut the lead to single digits multiple times but couldn't quite get past the Wildcats as they took the win. Thursday evening saw the Atoms take on George Wythe. It was a cold night of shooting and foul trouble that ultimately doomed the Atoms. The Atoms got up early only to see the rim get a little tighter and fouls mount up on several key players as the Maroons got hot in the second and third quarter to provide enough cushion to seal the deal. The Atoms traveled to Falls Church Friday evening for their first district game of the year. The Atoms cold streak from Thursday continued in the first quarter but the second quarter saw the Atoms light the nets on fire scoring 24 in the quarter highlighted by a buzzer beater just before the half to lead by 18. The Jaguars made it interesting in the third as they cut the lead to nine but that was as close as they would get as the Atoms ran out the clock to get the district win. The Atoms are off until they host Hayfield on January 3.

Girls Basketball welcomed Independence to Robert Hardage Gymnasium Thursday evening. The Atoms hung tough against a tall Tigers team throughout the first half. However, the height underneath took over in the second half and the Tigers were able to put the Atoms away in the second half. Friday evening saw the Atoms play the first game of a varsity doubleheader at Falls Church. The Atoms saw a big deficit throughout the first half, trailing by 20 at the half. However, the second half was a different story as the Atoms battled back and trailed the Jaguars by 8 halfway through the fourth quarter. The Atoms couldn't quite get over the hump but battled throughout as the Jaguars won 40-28. The Atoms travel to Mount Vernon, December 27, 28, and 30 to play in the Winter Classic.

Gymnastics continued to work hard and improve their skills on the mat Wednesday evening at McLean. The Atoms will be at full strength when they return from winter break with all of their gymnasts gearing up before district championship at the end of January.

Indoor Track had their second meet of the season Friday and today at TJ Middle School. Several Atoms performed last night and had personal best times as they continue to prepare for the National District Championship meet in January. The Atoms will hit the track again today at TJ and return for their third meet after the winter break.

Boys & Girls Wrestling the Atoms return to the mat today at Woodson. Over the break the Atoms will participate in the Battle of the Bridge at Woodbridge High School on December 27 and 28.

Boys & Girls Swim/Dive took on Lewis Friday evening at Franconia and it was a dominant performance by the Atoms. Both boys and girls had great swims and it showed as both teams came away with big wins! The boys won 214-63, while the girls took home the meet win 149-76. The Atoms will paddle their way through the break and return to the pool vs TJ on January 10. 

Atoms Recognized for Postseason Teams

We have officially finished our fall seasons with many of our Atoms student-athletes earning postseason All-District and All-Region recognition. These student-athletes worked hard and their achievements should be acknowledged! Check out the recipients using the link below:

Fall 2024 All District and Region Recognition

*All State and some region voting has yet to occur for a few sports*

Purchase your Atoms Pass for 2024-2025

Effective with the start of the 2024-2025 school year all FCPS schools will have consistent regular season, district tournament and region tournament entry fees for general admission. Adults (18 and over) will be $7. FCPS students will be $5. Schools will continue to offer free admission to senior citizens and children under 6. The VHSL sets ticket prices for VHSL State Competitions. Schools are not allocated funding for uniforms and consumable supplies and ticket revenue is the primary funding source for those items. 

With the new pricing for tickets for FCPS, The Atoms Booster Club’s All-Season passes are a no brainer! 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! **UPDATED price change for adults**

To purchase your Atoms Pass click HERE

Our next Booster Membership Meeting is Monday, January 6

Join us on Monday, January 6 in-person at Annandale High School in the Driver’s Education Room. The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm. Come and find out how you can get involved and support out Atoms' athletic programs!

Winter Olympics Camp

Annandale High School's will host Winter Olympics Camp at Annandale High School during winter break, January 2-3, 2025. This is a great opportunity for your child to have an incredible time with our wonderful coaches for a very affordable price of $75. Camps run each day from 8:30am to 3:00pm. Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp.

SIGN UP HERE!

Winter Baseball Clinics

Sundays in January & February - Baseball Skills Camp: Annandale Baseball is hosting their Sunday Skills camps starting in January. Each camp will be held in the main and auxiliary gyms at Annandale High School from 9:30-11:00am. Sessions are $25 each or $110 for all 5!

SIGN UP HERE

Dance Team Fundraiser

Dance Team’s winter fundraiser is here! Follow the link to purchase a Dance Team Supporter shirt and help the team raise money for competition fees, dance shoes, uniforms, and transportation. Thank you for continuing to support us as we keep building up this new program! If the shirt is not for you, you can also follow the same link to make a cash donation instead.

CLICK HERE

Atoms Boosters Concession Stand Help

Attention Parents! Volunteers are needed to sell concessions at games throughout the year. We welcome any and all parents to volunteer but when parents of a particular sport work a game, a portion of concessions sales directly benefit that team. If you are not able to help directly at home games, there are many ways you can get involved with the Atoms Athletics Boosters by attending our monthly meetings or being a team liaison. Thank you for your support for Atom’s Athletics! 

For questions about concession stand sign ups, contact Odessa Murray.

Basketball Concessions

Winter Sports Pictures

Winter Sports Pictures: Team and individual pictures for all winter sports occurred on Thursday and Friday, December 5 and 6. To order use the information below:

• Images can be accessed via this link: Legacy Studios Events or by going to events.legacystudios.com. 
• Please use code 4542E25 to view your images on the website. 
• Please note that if your images have not uploaded to the site yet, when entering that code you'll receive a 'Gallery not found' notification.  Please allow 7 days after picture day before trying to access your images to avoid any frustration. 

Annandale Legacy Wall 

**Updated picture of the wall below**

Annandale High School has a rich history of success, community support, and strong alumni base that stretches back to its creation in 1954. There is a legacy that surrounds Annandale that many are proud to be a part of as it feels like home to  those who have walked our halls. We want to provide our students, alumni, and community members the opportunity to be a part of the Annandale legacy. Looking for a graduation gift, birthday gift, or to share your own legacy with the Annandale community, then purchase an acrylic block for $100, that will be on displayed along the stadium field wall!

To purchase a block and leave your legacy, click here

*Note orders will be made once the quantity reaches 50 purchased blocks*

For more information, contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris

Atoms Chairs for Sale

Looking for a piece of Atoms furniture to add to your house?! Purchase an Atoms chair! New chairs were ordered this summer for events around school and we're selling our old chairs. There is a limited amount of chairs so get yours before they're gone! Price is $60 for one, $100 for two. Contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris to purchase yours!

Partners for Safe Teen Driving

Included in Grade 10 Health & PE is one quarter, or 30-36 hours, of in-classroom driver education. To obtain your driver’s license in Virginia, you must successfully complete, or 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 or legal guardian. Annandale High School is hosting five (5) PSTD presentations this school year, one each quarter and two during the fourth quarter. They are free to students enrolled in Health & PE 10 at Annandale HS and begin at 630pm in the auditorium. You must attend with a parent or legal guardian, arrive ON TIME, and remain the duration of the presentation for your attendance to be verified. Choose a date convenient for you and your parent or legal guardian. You may attend a session outside of your Driver Education quarter. 

 Patterns for Safe Teen Driving Dates at Annandale High School:

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

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 on various Mondays throughout the school year.

Click HERE for more information.

Any questions can be directed to Lizzie McManus

Winter Break Practice Schedule

Below you will find the practice schedule for winter break.

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

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Annandale Students, Parents, and Community:

As we approach winter break, I find myself reflecting on how much we have to be thankful for here at Annandale High School. I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to everyone in our community for your ongoing support and partnership throughout the first half of this school year.

I would also like to thank our Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) for the many ways they contribute to our school and community. Their efforts help strengthen and support Annandale, and we are grateful for their commitment. If you have not done so already, please consider joining the Annandale PTSA.

We’re wrapping up the year with some festive fun during Winter Spirit Week! Students are invited to show their school spirit by dressing up. Check out the daily themes below and join in the fun! In addition, we will hold our final collection of pantry items for the Winning4Giving contest and W4 Advisory classes will compete for the best and most creative door decorations.

In the spirit of ensuring a restful holiday for all, we are continuing our tradition of a homework-free break. Teachers will not assign homework, projects, or papers during the break and will avoid scheduling major assessments or project deadlines during the first two days back. This time is an opportunity for students, staff, and families to relax and recharge in their favorite ways. On behalf of the entire Annandale staff, I wish you a joyful and safe winter break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on January 6, 2025. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

As always, please let me know if you have any questions, and Go Atoms!

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Donate Gift Cards for AHS Staff

At events throughout the year, we recognize staff who go above and beyond with gift cards donated by community members at the beginning of the year. It has been a huge hit and I am requesting your help again since we are not permitted to use any kind of FCPS funds, local or otherwise, for this purpose. It is amazing how much a $5 or $10 gift card is appreciated. If you are so inclined, please feel free to drop them off at the main office or place them in the mail. Attention: Jen Buchanan. It can be for any business you want to support, in any amount. Nothing is too small.

Annandale Winter Performances

The Choirs, Band, and Orchestra at Annandale have been busy preparing for a wonderful season of concerts and outreach events during the month of December.

 

December 17 - Winter Chorus Concert: Deck the Halls, 7pm: Our Winter Concert with the Annandale Singers, Atom Chorale, Men's Chorale, and the Chamber Ensemble at 7:00pm in the Auditorium. 

 

December 18 - Noonday Noël, 12:05pm: Annandale Singers and Chamber Ensemble sing for the Noonday Noël at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House at 12:05pm (323 South Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA)

 

December 19 - Caroling at the Willard Hotel (DC), 6:00-6:45 and 7:15-8:00pm: Join the Annandale Singers as they spread holiday cheer with two mini-concerts at the historic Willard Hotel in Washington, DC (1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC).

Important Dates

Now - December 18 - Annual Deck the Doors W4 Contest

December 16 - W4 Activities Day

December 16-20 - Holiday Spirit Week

December 17 - Chorus Concert, 7pm

December 18 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm

December 23-January 3 - Winter Break

January 9 - IB Diploma Recognition Ceremony

January 15 - Rising 9th Grade Open House

 

Now - December 18: Annual Deck the Doors W4 Contest: Annandale’s Leadership Class is excited to lead our annual Deck the Doors holiday contest. Each W4 class will decorate their door based on their Nation’s theme. Prizes will be awarded to the top three doors. This year, there’s an extra prize—one Nation will be named the Overall Nation Winner! Judging will take place on December 18. 

 

December 16 - W4 Activities Day: Annandale will host our monthly W4 Activities Day on December 16 during W4. During this time, students will have an opportunity to attend club meetings or join in on a variety of other activities. Students will select their preferred activity via a Google form shared through their W4 lessons and on Schoology. We are excited to offer this experience for our students and look forward to offering more ways to help our students feel connected to school.

 

Holiday Spirit Week - December 16-20: Join the fun and earn points for your Nation by dressing up each day! Snap and submit class pictures to score. 

December 16 – Winter Jersey Day: Show team pride in your favorite sports jersey.

December 17 – Candy Cane Day: Rock red and white for festive peppermint vibes.

December 18 – Pajama Day: Get cozy with winter-themed PJs—bonus for slippers!

December 19 – Santa’s Workshop: Dress as your grade’s role: Seniors: Santa; Juniors: Snowmen; Sophomores: Rudolph; Freshmen: Elves

December 20 – Ugly Sweater Day: Wear your quirkiest holiday sweater.

 

January 9 - IB Diploma Recognition Ceremony, W4/Pride Time: Our 76 IB Graduates of 2024 will be returning on Thursday, January 9 during W4/Pride Time to share their post high school/college experiences as well as receive their IB certificates. We also invited our current IB diploma juniors and seniors and all sophomores enrolled in advanced chemistry to attend. We will open with a panel led by our graduates about their IB experiences and then distribute certificates. Light refreshments will be served following the ceremony in the IB office. Please be welcoming as graduates may visit teachers in the afternoon.

 

January 15 - Rising 9th Grade Open House, 6pm: On January 15 from 6-8pm Annandale HS will host an Open House for our rising 9th grade students and families to learn more about what high school at Annandale is all about! We will offer short optional sessions on our various programs, and teachers will be in their classrooms throughout the evening to share all about our core and elective courses. The goal is for students and parents to leave this event excited about all the opportunities students will have as an Annandale Atom and prepared to complete the course request form when students meet with their middle school counselors! Breakout Sessions on the following topics will be offered throughout the evening: Welcome to Annandale, Course Request 101; IB/MYP Program; Activities and Athletics; English for Speakers of Other Languages Program; Special Education Office, and Student Life.

Awesome Atoms

AHS & Cake for Kids Celebrate Sweet Success: This week, we celebrated 100 students who made impressive improvements in their attendance. Students were recognized for showing a renewed commitment to spending more time in the classroom by making improvements in their attendance as well as reducing tardies. To honor their efforts, each student was treated to a delicious cupcake provided by the local volunteer organization, Cakes4Kids. Great job, Atoms—keep up the fantastic work!

 

Student-Run Page Turners Program Supports Literacy: National English Honor Society students have partnered with newcomer multilingual students during PRIDE Time to increase engagement around reading and writing skills while also fostering community within the student body at Annandale! The program is called Page Turners and is almost entirely student-run by Safa Touri. Teachers Ms. Malentaqui and Mr. Girma have also helped pilot this program in their classes. If you are interested in having tutors in the future during Pride Time, please reach out to Liz Amundson and Jessica Park.

 

Annandale Hosts Scholastic Bowl: Last Thursday our Annandale HS Scholastic Bowl team hosted Robinson High School for a well-played scrimmage to prepare for the Regional Tournament in January. Students Jimmy Nguyen, Henry Nguyen, Kelly AuNguyen and Nattha Poolchuay represented well against a strong Robinson side, impressively competing as Annandale’s newest VHSL activity.

 

Carlos Alvarez Earns Double Honors! Congratulations to Carlos Alvarez on an outstanding achievement! At the recent All-Region Meeting, Carlos was named 1st Team All-Region in two positions: Running Back and Kick Returner. This incredible recognition showcases his exceptional skill, hard work, and dedication. Way to go, Carlos—we’re proud of you!

 

Congrats to Attendance Office Staff Maro Moussessian & Jesica Mera! Maro Moussessian, our wonderful attendance office AA, is retiring on Friday, December 20 after 37 years of service! She has been a staple of the Annandale HS community and a welcoming and positive presence in our halls. She will be missed! Thank you, Maro, for everything you’ve done for our school and community. Jesica Mera, our fantastic attendance office assistant, has been promoted as our new attendance office AA! We are looking forward to continuing to work with Jesica as she takes on this new role. 

Important Information

Follow Annandale HS on Social Media: Stay connected with Annandale High School by following us on social media! It's the best way to keep up with our latest news, celebrate student achievements, and keep up with everything going on in #AtomNation. Links: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube.

 

Substance Abuse Prevention Lesson for Students in Grades 11 & 12: All FCPS schools will provide two substance abuse prevention lessons to all students in grades 11 and 12 during the 2024-2025 academic year. The lessons will be provided during W4 Advisory. Lessons will cover the following topics: Most Commonly Used Substances, In-depth Opioid Information, Negative Impact of Substances, Reasons Why Youth Use Substances, Healthy Alternatives to Substances, and Available FCPS and Fairfax County Resources. For additional information related to FCPS’ approach to addressing youth substance use please see the FCPS Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Programs page. If you do not wish for your child to take part in these lessons, please complete this form no later than January 15. Your child will be assigned an alternate activity in a separate supervised location during the time the lessons are taking place. If you have questions about the lessons, please contact Stefan Mascoll, Senior Manager II of Student Safety and Wellness, at 571-423-4270.

 

Preparing for Winter Weather: Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made. FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated. Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange for childcare if needed.

 

Winter Break Office Hours: The Annandale administrative offices will be open by appointment only from Monday, December 23 through Friday, January 3. Offices will re-open on Monday, January 6 at 7:00am.

 

Assignments Over Winter Break: We hope you are able to spend the holiday resting and rejuvenating in your favorite ways. In support of this, teachers will not assign homework, projects, or papers over breaks, and refrain from assigning any major assessments or project due dates on the first two days back. If you have questions regarding specific assignments in a particular class, we always encourage students and families to reach out directly to their teachers for clarification and information.

 

No-Cost Virtual Therapy for High School Students: The holiday season can be a joyful time, but it can also bring stress or emotional challenges. Virtual therapy sessions are available to FCPS high school students at no cost to provide a safe space to address concerns such as: Mood/behavior; changes, motivation, grief/loss; Anxiety, worry, fears; Social skills, bullying, peer and family relationships; Academic stress. You may refer your child by calling 571-749-2940. Visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information.

Opportunities

NOVA Early Online College – Spring 2025 Semester: NOVA Early Online College (EOC) allows current high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take up to 2 tuition free college courses. EOC courses for the Spring semester begin on February 4 and end on April 28, 2025. The deadline to register is January 8, 2024 at 5pm. Courses are asynchronous, online, and for college credit only. 13 different courses are offered along with courses that fulfill the IT Technical Support Career Studies Certificate. EOC courses are selected because they meet the requirements for most of NOVA’s associate degrees as well as being highly transferable as general education requirements for most colleges and universities.

 

All Night Grad Tickets On Sale Now! We’re excited to announce that tickets are now on sale for this year’s All Night Grad Celebration. This event is a safe and fun place for your kids to enjoy a night out. This is adult supervised and volunteer run by Annandale High School PTSA and parents. This year the event takes place on June 4, beginning at 11pm, Doors will close at Midnight. The cost is $45 with prices increasing to $60 at the door. The evening will feature delicious food, games, DJ, and top-notch entertainment—there’s something for everyone to enjoy! *Discounted tickets are also available for students in need. If your child would like to apply, they can speak directly to their school counselor. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate in a welcoming and secure environment. Get your tickets now! To make this event a success, we need your help! Sign up to volunteer here. Email Rheanna Bernard with any questions.

 

Yearbook Ads for Sale: As the calendar flips to 2025, the countdown to graduation begins. Senior year is a milestone, and a personal ad in the 2025 yearbook is the perfect space to include a heartfelt note or a special family photo. Your message will be something your graduate cherishes for years to come. But hurry—there’s only one week left before winter break! Don’t miss your opportunity to create a meaningful keepsake here today!

 

Winter Olympics Camp Coming to Annandale! Winter Break Camp will again run from 8:30am-3pm, with drop off as early as 8am on Thursday and Friday, January 2 & 3. Sign up now! The cost is $75. Sign up at https://bit.ly/OlympicsCamp25.

News from Student Services

Academic Advising for the 2024-25 School Year: It is hard to believe, but we are already beginning to plan for the 2024-2025 school year. We wanted to provide an overview of how we are supporting students with the course selection process. Note: Access all the information needed for course selection can be found on our Academic Advising page, which has the grade level information presented by counselors.

January 7 - Course & Electives Fair: Students will visit information sessions on three courses of their choosing during our Course & Elective Fair. Our electives and IB teachers will provide a 15 minute overview of the course to help students make informed decisions about their course selections for next year. 

January 9 - Course Selection Day: Students in grades 9-11 will select their courses for the 2025-2026 school year during W4 using a Google Form. This will help prepare students for their individual academic advising conversations with their counselors. Students will only be able to submit the form once and a copy will be emailed to their student email account. All students must have selected courses by February 28. 

January 13 - February 28 - Individual Academic Advising Meetings: Students will meet one-on-one with their counselors to finalize their course selections for next year. Students will be given specific appointment times through their English classes. Students will receive their appointment times via email. We will begin with current juniors on January 13 and will conclude with current freshmen in February. 

 

College Application Help: Annandale High School offers free college application support twice each week. Wednesdays during Lunch in the Career Center (Room 103) and Thursdays 3-4pm in Trailer 14. In addition, the Atoms Writing Center will be available to help students with their college essays and supplemental application questions during PRIDE Time and Wednesdays after school from 3-4pm in room 274.

 

College & Career Resources Schoology Site: Check out the Student Services: Annandale High School Schoology Page, which provides up-to-date information on the college application process; college representative visits; financial aid and FAFSA/VASA workshops; military options; information on apprenticeships; as well as resources for finding a job.

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. To learn more about Annandale's Spring sports programs, check out this week’s “Atoms Athletics and Activities Newsletter." In addition, learn more about Annandale High School Athletics and Activities by visiting their website, AHS Athletics Twitter or Instagram page.

 

Purchase Your 'Atoms Pass' for 2024-2025! 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! To purchase your Click here to purchase your 2024-25 Atoms Booster Pass! 

 

Atoms Gear On Sale Now! We’re thrilled to share that we have a new Atoms online store! The new store has a variety of brands like Nike, Under Armour, Lululemon, and more. You will find hundreds of different design options, kids and toddler clothing, new accessories, and direct to your door shipping. Grab your gear now and give a gift for the holidays!

News from the PTSA

PTSA Membership for the 2024-25 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 2024-2025 school year by filling out the online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.

 

PTSA Pantry Is Always Restocking and Needs Your Help! The AHS PTSA Pantry supports current AHS students who experience food insecurity. We are gearing up for the new school year and need your help to restock our shelves! In addition, the pantry distribution schedule for the school year can be found here. All donations to the AHS PTSA Pantry are tax deductible. Contact the pantry with questions. 

Shop Locally

Please see our list of most frequently needed items here, you can shop in your local store. Items may be brought to the front office during school hours.

Amazon

Items can be shipped directly from our Amazon Wishlist. 

Funding

Make a monetary donation through PayPal by clicking the Donate button below or by check made payable AHS PTSA (Please write AHS Pantry in the memo line and mail it to AHS PTSA, 4700 Medford Drive, Annandale, VA  22003)

Sign up to be a Food For Neighbors Red Bag Donor

It is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Sign up to be a red bag donor.
2. Fill the red bag with the list provided
3. Put the red bag outside your door by 8:30am on the donation days.

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

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NEW ATOMS ONLINE STORE!!

We’re thrilled to share that we have a new Atoms online store! The new store has a variety of brands like Nike, Under Armour, Lululemon, and more. You will find hundreds of different design options, kids and toddler clothing, new accessories, and direct to your door shipping. Grab your gear now and give a gift for the holidays! 

ANNANDALE ATOMS ONLINE STORE (20% off your order until January 1!)

Atoms Athletics Recap

Boys Basketball traveled to Fairfax Friday evening to take on the Lions. The freshman got the night started. The result may not have been what they wanted but the Atoms played hard. The JV team was a close game from start to finish but the Lions were too much in the end to get the win. The varsity game was a competitive back and forth affair. The Atoms kept it close for the entirety but the Lions were too much as they took home the 54-44 win. The Atoms hold their home opener Monday evening when they welcome Centreville to the new look Robert Hardage Gymnasium.

Girls Basketball hosted Fairfax for their home opener Friday night. The Lions made it a clean sweep of the evening but not without some fight from the Atoms. The freshman played hard in their first game of high school basketball while the JV kept it close throughout keeping the Lions sweating all the way until the final buzzer. Varsity saw a big deficit early but cut it to single digits just after the half. The Atoms pushed the Lions up and down the floor but a fourth quarter run by the Lions sealed the win. The Atoms return to the court Thursday evening when they host Independence at 5:00pm.

Gymnastics tumbled on their way onto the mat Wednesday evening at South County. Two of the four members performed with Kate and Holly continuing to show their skills and techniques of multiple events. The Atoms will get back on the beam Wednesday evening at McLean

Indoor Track had the week off and jump back on the track Friday evening at TJ Middle School.

Boys & Girls Wrestling traveled to Morgantown last weekend and had several Atoms with impressive showing in their first event of the season. The Atoms returned to the mat in a tri vs Edison and FC at TJ on Thursday. The perennial district power of Edison dominated the Atoms on their way to a big win in the first match. However, the Atoms took their anger out on the Jaguars as they out worked FC on their way to a 33-24 district win! The Atoms were scheduled to be in Sherando this weekend but due to unforeseen circumstances, the Atoms had to back out of the tournament. They return to the mat next Saturday at Woodson.

Boys & Girls Swim/Dive dove back into the pool for the second meet of the season vs Hayfield. Both teams had impressive swims throughout each event. The girls swam well but Hayfield ran away in the end to get the meet victory. The boys dominated their part of the meet as they gave Hayfield all they could handle and then some as they dominated the Hawks on their way to a 174-123 win! The Atoms are back in the pool tonight as they take on Justice at Oakmont Rec Center at 6:00pm.

Atoms Recognized for Postseason Teams

We have officially finished our fall seasons with many of our Atoms student-athletes earning postseason All-District and All-Region recognition. These student-athletes worked hard and their achievements should be acknowledged! Check out the recipients using the link below:

Fall 2024 All District and Region Recognition

*All State and some region voting has yet to occur for a few sports*

Purchase your Atoms Pass for 2024-2025 (Updated FCPS ticket prices)

Effective with the start of the 2024-2025 school year all FCPS schools will have consistent regular season, district tournament and region tournament entry fees for general admission. Adults (18 and over) will be $7. FCPS students will be $5. Schools will continue to offer free admission to senior citizens and children under 6. The VHSL sets ticket prices for VHSL State Competitions. Schools are not allocated funding for uniforms and consumable supplies and ticket revenue is the primary funding source for those items. 

With the new pricing for tickets for FCPS, The Atoms Booster Club’s All-Season passes are a no brainer! 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! **UPDATED price change for adults**

To purchase your Atoms Pass click HERE

Dance Team Fundraiser

Dance Team’s winter fundraiser is here! Follow the link to purchase a Dance Team Supporter shirt and help the team raise money for competition fees, dance shoes, uniforms, and transportation. Thank you for continuing to support us as we keep building up this new program! If the shirt is not for you, you can also follow the same link to make a cash donation instead.

CLICK HERE

Our next Booster Membership Meeting is Monday, January 6

Join us on Monday, January 6 in-person at Annandale High School in the Driver’s Education Room. The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm. Come and find out how you can get involved and support out Atoms' athletic programs!

Winter Chorus Concert

Join us Tuesday, December 17 at 7:00pm as our Atoms Choral members perform for the annual Winter concert in the auditorium! Come out and enjoy some beautiful songs sung by our outstanding students under the director of Mr. Pat Vaugn.

Atoms Boosters Concession Stand Help

Attention Parents! Volunteers are needed to sell concessions at games throughout the year. We welcome any and all parents to volunteer but when parents of a particular sport work a game, a portion of concessions sales directly benefit that team. If you are not able to help directly at home games, there are many ways you can get involved with the Atoms Athletics Boosters by attending our monthly meetings or being a team liaison. Thank you for your support for Atom’s Athletics! 

For questions about concession stand sign ups, contact Odessa Murray.

Basketball Concessions

Winter Sports Pictures

Winter Sports Pictures: Team and individual pictures for all winter sports occurred on Thursday and Friday, December 5 and 6. To order use the information below:

• Images can be accessed via this link: Legacy Studios Events or by going to events.legacystudios.com. 
• Please use code 4542E25 to view your images on the website. 
• Please note that if your images have not uploaded to the site yet, when entering that code you'll receive a 'Gallery not found' notification.  Please allow 7 days after picture day before trying to access your images to avoid any frustration. 

Annandale Legacy Wall 

**Updated picture of the wall below**

Annandale High School has a rich history of success, community support, and strong alumni base that stretches back to its creation in 1954. There is a legacy that surrounds Annandale that many are proud to be a part of as it feels like home to  those who have walked our halls. We want to provide our students, alumni, and community members the opportunity to be a part of the Annandale legacy. Looking for a graduation gift, birthday gift, or to share your own legacy with the Annandale community, then purchase an acrylic block for $100, that will be on displayed along the stadium field wall!

To purchase a block and leave your legacy, click here

*Note orders will be made once the quantity reaches 50 purchased blocks*

For more information, contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris

Atoms Chairs for Sale

Looking for a piece of Atoms furniture to add to your house?! Purchase an Atoms chair! New chairs were ordered this summer for events around school and we're selling our old chairs. There is a limited amount of chairs so get yours before they're gone! Price is $60 for one, $100 for two. Contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris to purchase yours!

Partners for Safe Teen Driving

Included in Grade 10 Health & PE is one quarter, or 30-36 hours, of in-classroom driver education. To obtain your driver’s license in Virginia, you must successfully complete, or 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 or legal guardian. Annandale High School is hosting five (5) PSTD presentations this school year, one each quarter and two during the fourth quarter. They are free to students enrolled in Health & PE 10 at Annandale HS and begin at 630pm in the auditorium. You must attend with a parent or legal guardian, arrive ON TIME, and remain the duration of the presentation for your attendance to be verified. Choose a date convenient for you and your parent or legal guardian. You may attend a session outside of your Driver Education quarter. 

 Patterns for Safe Teen Driving Dates at Annandale High School:

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

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 on various Mondays throughout the school year.

Click HERE for more information.

Any questions can be directed to Lizzie McManus

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

NEW ATOMS ONLINE STORE!!

We’re thrilled to share that we have a new Atoms online store! The new store has a variety of brands like Nike, Under Armour, Lululemon, and more. You will find hundreds of different design options, kids and toddler clothing, new accessories, and direct to your door shipping. Grab your gear now and give a gift for the holidays! 

ANNANDALE ATOMS ONLINE STORE (20% off your order until January 1!)

Dance Team Fundraiser

Dance Team’s winter fundraiser is here! Follow the link to purchase a Dance Team Supporter shirt and help the team raise money for competition fees, dance shoes, uniforms, and transportation. Thank you for continuing to support us as we keep building up this new program! If the shirt is not for you, you can also follow the same link to make a cash donation instead.

CLICK HERE

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Dear Annandale Students, Parents, and Community,

This past week, our Advisory classes kicked off the Atoms Games, and the energy was amazing! It was great to see so many students and staff proudly wearing their Nation’s colors on Friday, showcasing their school spirit. In just the first week, our classes collected over 500 new and gently used toys and books to support Annandale families!

The Atoms Games continue with our Winning4Giving contest, Annandale’s annual Winter Food Drive to support the AHS Pantry. W4 classes are competing to collect the most non-perishable items, with points awarded to the top contributors. Meanwhile, our hallways are starting to look festive as W4 classes work on decorating their doors in their Nation’s theme. Classes will continue decorating next week to compete for best individual doors, and best overall Nation.

As we approach the midpoint of the school year, we’re also staying focused on student success. Counselors are meeting individually with students who are failing more than one class to create actionable plans, while counselors and administrators are working with families to support students who are facing challenges in multiple courses. In addition, teachers are providing targeted help to seniors to ensure they complete the tasks needed to pass graduation-required classes, including offering after-school support, and academic coaching.

Families can help by monitoring student progress through ParentVUE, reminding students to attend after-school help sessions, and maintaining open communication with teachers and counselors. A list of days each teacher stays after school can be found here. With everyone working together, we can ensure all of nour students finish 2024 strong and continue to succeed.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions, and Go Atoms!

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Donate Gift Cards for AHS Staff

At events throughout the year, we recognize staff who go above and beyond with gift cards donated by community members at the beginning of the year. It has been a huge hit and I am requesting your help again since we are not permitted to use any kind of FCPS funds, local or otherwise, for this purpose. It is amazing how much a $5 or $10 gift card is appreciated. If you are so inclined, please feel free to drop them off at the main office or place them in the mail. Attention: Jen Buchanan. It can be for any business you want to support, in any amount. Nothing is too small.

Annandale Winter Performances

The Choirs, Band, and Orchestra at Annandale have been busy preparing for a wonderful season of concerts and outreach events during the month of December.

 

December 9 - Caroling for the Retired Teachers Luncheon, 1pm: The Annandale Singers and Chamber Ensemble will be providing a program for the Retired Teachers Luncheon in the Fellowship Hall at the First Baptist Church in Alexandria (2932 King St., Alexandria) at 1:00pm.

 

December 10 - Orchestra Winter Concert, 7pm: Orchestra will be having their Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 10 at 7:00 pm partnered with Falls Church High School! The challenging program has pushed students to the next level and spotlights sections in several of the ensembles. Support the program by purchasing baked goods (including our famous giant chocolate chip cookies!) after school by the auditorium and by coming to hear the student’s hard work in the evening. We encourage you to come wearing an ugly holiday sweater or wearing a festive hat!

 

December 12 - Caroling for the Shepherds Center Luncheon, 12pm: The Annandale Singers and Chamber Ensemble will be providing a program for the Shepherds Center Luncheon in Wright Hall of the Annandale United Methodist Church (6935 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA) at noon.

 

December 12 - Winter Band Concert, 7pm: The Annandale High School Bands will present Winter Nights, their annual holiday concert on Thursday December 12 at 7:00pm in the AHS auditorium. The concert will feature all of the AHS band students in a collaborative presentation of seasonal favorites, including a special narration of "Scrooge" and our traditional “Sleigh Ride.” Doors open at 6:45pm; admission is free.

 

December 17 - Winter Chorus Concert: Deck the Halls, 7pm: Our Winter Concert with the Annandale Singers, Atom Chorale, Men's Chorale, and the Chamber Ensemble at 7:00pm in the Auditorium. 

 

December 18 - Noonday Noël, 12:05pm: Annandale Singers and Chamber Ensemble sing for the Noonday Noël at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House at 12:05pm (323 South Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA)

 

December 19 - Caroling at the Willard Hotel (DC), 6:00-6:45 and 7:15-8:00pm: Join the Annandale Singers as they spread holiday cheer with two mini-concerts at the historic Willard Hotel in Washington, DC (1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC).

Important Dates

Now - December 18 - Annual Deck the Doors W4 Contest

December 9 - ASVAB Testing

December 10 - Student Experience Survey

December 10 - Orchestra Concert, 7pm

December 11 - Immunization Clinic

December 12 - Boundary Review Community Meeting, 6:45pm

December 12 - Band Concert, 7pm

December 16 - W4 Activities Day

December 16-20 - Holiday Spirit Week

December 17 - Chorus Concert, 7pm

December 18 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm

December 23-January 3 - Winter Break

January 9 - IB Diploma Recognition Ceremony

January 15 - Rising 9th Grade Open House

 

Now - December 18: Annual Deck the Doors W4 Contest: Annandale’s Leadership Class is excited to lead our annual Deck the Doors holiday contest. Each W4 class will decorate their door based on their Nation’s theme. Prizes will be awarded to the top three doors. This year, there’s an extra prize—one Nation will be named the Overall Nation Winner! Judging will take place on December 18. 

 

December 10 - Student Experience Survey Pilot: Annandale High School has been selected to participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey pilot. This survey will help the school division gather valuable feedback from students and improve the overall school experience. It aligns with the Strategic Plan’s five equity commitments, which focus on elevating student voice and experiences. We will administer the survey on Tuesday, December 10 during W4. All students, except those who have been opted out, will receive the survey link.

 

December 11 - Immunization Clinic: Annandale High School is partnering with the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) to host a School Site Immunization Clinic on December 11 during school hours. This clinic is exclusively for Annandale students and offers the following vaccines: Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY), Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis (Tdap). Students under 18 must have parental permission and register in advance to participate. For questions, contact our public health nurse, Katherine Estrada.

 

December 12 - Boundary Review Community Meeting: FCPS is hosting community meetings to discuss the Comprehensive School Boundary Review in each of its six regions. Annandale High School will host the meeting for our region on Thursday, December 12, from 6:45-8:15pm in the cafeteria. We encourage you to attend and share your input. Please click here to register in advance. Language interpretation will be available during the meeting.

 

December 16 - W4 Activities Day: Annandale will host our monthly W4 Activities Day on December 16 during W4. During this time, students will have an opportunity to attend club meetings or join in on a variety of other activities. Students will select their preferred activity via a Google form shared through their W4 lessons and on Schoology. We are excited to offer this experience for our students and look forward to offering more ways to help our students feel connected to school.

 

Holiday Spirit Week - December 16-20: Join the fun and earn points for your Nation by dressing up each day! Snap and submit class pictures to score. 

December 16 – Winter Jersey Day: Show team pride in your favorite sports jersey.

December 17 – Candy Cane Day: Rock red and white for festive peppermint vibes.

December 18 – Pajama Day: Get cozy with winter-themed PJs—bonus for slippers!

December 19 – Santa’s Workshop: Dress as your grade’s role: Seniors: Santa; Juniors: Snowmen; Sophomores: Rudolph; Freshmen: Elves

December 20 – Ugly Sweater Day: Wear your quirkiest holiday sweater.

 

January 9 - IB Diploma Recognition Ceremony, W4/Pride Time: Our 76 IB Graduates of 2024 will be returning on Thursday, January 9 during W4/Pride Time to share their post high school/college experiences as well as receive their IB certificates. We also invited our current IB diploma juniors and seniors and all sophomores enrolled in advanced chemistry to attend. We will open with a panel led by our graduates about their IB experiences and then distribute certificates. Light refreshments will be served following the ceremony in the IB office. Please be welcoming as graduates may visit teachers in the afternoon.

 

January 15 - Rising 9th Grade Open House, 6pm: On January 15 from 6-8pm Annandale HS will host an Open House for our rising 9th grade students and families to learn more about what high school at Annandale is all about! We will offer short optional sessions on our various programs, and teachers will be in their classrooms throughout the evening to share all about our core and elective courses. The goal is for students and parents to leave this event excited about all the opportunities students will have as an Annandale Atom and prepared to complete the course request form when students meet with their middle school counselors! Breakout Sessions on the following topics will be offered throughout the evening: Welcome to Annandale, Course Request 101; IB/MYP Program; Activities and Athletics; English for Speakers of Other Languages Program; Special Education Office, and Student Life.

Awesome Atoms

AVID Field Trip to Virginia Tech and James Madison: Last week, AVID students had the exciting opportunity to experience campus life at both the University of Virginia and James Madison University. During their visits, they toured the facilities, engaged in Q&A sessions with admissions representatives, and learned about academic programs and campus life. Highlights included the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountain views and the iconic Jefferson Rotunda, making this trip an unforgettable glimpse into college life!

 

Annandale Student Featured For Work With Baskets for Babies: Annandale High School’s own Tyson Perkins was featured during the Good Morning Washington segment, Kids Give Back. He shared about his work with the local non-profit to promote their "Baskets for Babies" initiative. This program encourages children to assemble and distribute essential items for families with infants, teaching the importance of giving back. Tyson shared his experiences and discussed the Atoms Games, an Annandale event that builds school community and gives back to Annandale families. Check it out on wjla.com!

 

World History 2 Participates in Labsite! The World History 2 team recently participated in a full-day professional learning lab focused on the workshop model and small group instruction. The morning session established a shared understanding of the workshop model, followed by an observation of Social Studies Coach Meghan McLain’s lesson. In the afternoon, teachers collaborated on lesson planning and reflected on integrating the workshop model into their practice. They will reconvene in January to build on this work, emphasizing small group instruction.

At Annandale, our teacher teams embrace collaborative learning as a cornerstone of professional growth. With five teams—Chemistry, English 10, Geometry, English 12, and now World History 2—engaging in lab sites, this approach showcases the dedication and professionalism of our educators.

 

Orchestra Teacher Annie Ray Featured on Reimagine Mason Podcast Launch! Annandale High School’s very own Annie Ray, GRAMMY Educator of the Year and Orchestra Director was featured on the first episode of Reimagine Mason, a new podcast spotlighting the amazing people who make Mason District a vibrant, diverse community. Check it out on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter)

Important Information

Follow Annandale HS on Social Media: Stay connected with Annandale High School by following us on social media! It's the best way to keep up with our latest news, celebrate student achievements, and keep up with everything going on in #AtomNation. Links: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube.

 

Substance Abuse Prevention Lesson for Students in Grades 11 & 12: All FCPS schools will provide two substance abuse prevention lessons to all students in grades 11 and 12 during the 2024-2025 academic year. The lessons will be provided during W4 Advisory. Lessons will cover the following topics: Most Commonly Used Substances, In-depth Opioid Information, Negative Impact of Substances, Reasons Why Youth Use Substances, Healthy Alternatives to Substances, and Available FCPS and Fairfax County Resources.

For additional information related to FCPS’ approach to addressing youth substance use please see the FCPS Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Programs page. If you do not wish for your child to take part in these lessons, please complete this form no later than January 15. Your child will be assigned an alternate activity in a separate supervised location during the time the lessons are taking place. If you have questions about the lessons, please contact Stefan Mascoll, Senior Manager II of Student Safety and Wellness, at 571-423-4270.

 

Preparing for Winter Weather: Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made. FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated. Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange for childcare if needed.

 

Winter Break Office Hours: The Annandale administrative offices will be open by appointment only from Monday, December 23 through Friday, January 3. Offices will re-open on Monday, January 6 at 7:00am.

 

Assignments Over Winter Break: We hope you are able to spend the holiday resting and rejuvenating in your favorite ways. In support of this, teachers will not assign homework, projects, or papers over breaks, and refrain from assigning any major assessments or project due dates on the first two days back. If you have questions regarding specific assignments in a particular class, we always encourage students and families to reach out directly to their teachers for clarification and information.

Opportunities

NOVA Early Online College – Spring 2025 Semester: NOVA Early Online College (EOC) allows current high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take up to 2 tuition free college courses. EOC courses for the Spring semester begin on February 4, 2025, and end on April 28, 2024. The deadline to register is January 8, 2024 at 5pm. Courses are asynchronous, online, and for college credit only. 13 different courses are offered along with courses that fulfill the IT Technical Support Career Studies Certificate. EOC courses are selected because they meet the requirements for most of NOVA’s associate degrees as well as being highly transferable as general education requirements for most colleges and universities.

 

December 9-13 - Computer Science Week: Computer Science Education Week, December, 6-12: Computer Science (CS) Education Week is December 6 through 12. CS Week is an important opportunity to inspire students through computer science (CS). Students and parents can explore free resources on the FCPS CS Week Educator Page and visit the FCPS STEAM and Computer Science public page. Please be aware that some digital resources may require parental consent before they can be used. Find more information about parental consent for digital resources in the Digital Ecosystem Library or reach out to Jen Cory, our School-Based Technology Specialist (SBTS).

 

Winter Olympics Camp Early Bird Sign-up: Winter Break Camp will again run from 8:30am-3pm, with drop off as early as 8am on Thursday and Friday, January 2 & 3. Sign up now for the early bird rate of $60. Regular Rate is $75. Sign up at https://bit.ly/OlympicsCamp25.

News from Student Services

Academic Advising for the 2024-25 School Year: It is hard to believe, but we are already beginning to plan for the 2024-2025 school year. We wanted to provide an overview of how we are supporting students with the course selection process. Note: Access all the information needed for course selection can be found on our Academic Advising page, which has the grade level information presented by counselors.

December 2, 4, & 6 - Grade Level Academic Advising Presentations: Our counselors have recently presented information to students about the course selection and academic planning processes. This included reminders about graduation requirements, outlining course sequencing and options, and providing information about the course selection process. 

January 7 - Course & Electives Fair: Students will visit information sessions on three courses of their choosing during our Course & Elective Fair. Our electives and IB teachers will provide a 15 minute overview of the course to help students make informed decisions about their course selections for next year. 

January 9 - Course Selection Day: Students in grades 9-11 will select their courses for the 2025-2026 school year during W4 using a Google Form. This will help prepare students for their individual academic advising conversations with their counselors. Students will only be able to submit the form once and a copy will be emailed to their student email account. All students must have selected courses by February 28. 

January 13 - February 28 - Individual Academic Advising Meetings: Students will meet one-on-one with their counselors to finalize their course selections for next year. Students will be given specific appointment times through their English classes. Students will receive their appointment times via email. We will begin with current juniors on January 13 and will conclude with current freshmen in February. 

 

College Application Help: Annandale High School offers free college application support twice each week. Wednesdays during Lunch in the Career Center (Room 103) and Thursdays 3-4pm in Trailer 14. In addition, the Atoms Writing Center will be available to help students with their college essays and supplemental application questions during PRIDE Time and Wednesdays after school from 3-4pm in room 274.

 

College & Career Resources Schoology Site: Check out the Student Services: Annandale High School | Schoology (fcps.edu), which provides up-to-date information on the college application process; college representative visits; financial aid and FAFSA/VASA workshops; military options; information on apprenticeships; as well as resources for finding a job.

 

No-Cost Virtual Therapy for High School Students: Virtual therapy sessions are available to FCPS high school students at no cost to provide a safe space to address concerns such as: Mood/behavior; changes, motivation, grief/loss; Anxiety, worry, fears; Social skills, bullying, peer and family relationships; Academic stress. You may refer your child by calling 571-749-2940. Visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information.

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. To learn more about Annandale's Spring sports programs, check out this week’s “Atoms Athletics and Activities Newsletter." In addition, learn more about Annandale High School Athletics and Activities by visiting their website, AHS Athletics Twitter or Instagram page.

 

Purchase Your 'Atoms Pass' for 2024-2025! 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! To purchase your Click here to purchase your 2024-25 Atoms Booster Pass! 

News from the PTSA

PTSA Membership for the 2024-25 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 2024-2025 school year by filling out the online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.

 

PTSA Pantry Is Always Restocking and Needs Your Help! The AHS PTSA Pantry supports current AHS students who experience food insecurity. We are gearing up for the new school year and need your help to restock our shelves! In addition, the pantry distribution schedule for the school year can be found here. All donations to the AHS PTSA Pantry are tax deductible. Contact the pantry with questions. 

Shop Locally

Please see our list of most frequently needed items here, you can shop in your local store. Items may be brought to the front office during school hours.

Amazon

Items can be shipped directly from our Amazon Wishlist. 

Funding

Make a monetary donation through PayPal by clicking the Donate button below or by check made payable AHS PTSA (Please write AHS Pantry in the memo line and mail it to AHS PTSA, 4700 Medford Drive, Annandale, VA  22003)

Sign up to be a Food For Neighbors Red Bag Donor

It is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Sign up to be a red bag donor.
2. Fill the red bag with the list provided
3. Put the red bag outside your door by 8:30am on the donation days.

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

NEW ATOMS ONLINE STORE!!

We’re thrilled to share that we have a new Atoms online store! The new store has a variety of brands like Nike, Under Armour, Lululemon, and more. You will find hundreds of different design options, kids and toddler clothing, new accessories, and direct to your door shipping. Grab your gear now and give a gift for the holidays! 

ANNANDALE ATOMS ONLINE STORE (20% off your order until January 1!)

Atoms Athletics Recap

Boys Basketball started regular season play last night in the Langley Tip-Off Tournament and they started in winning fashion. The Atoms took on the host Saxons in the Friday nightcap. The Atoms played great team ball throughout the night, holding a 13 point lead into the fourth quarter that allowed the Atoms to cruise to a comfortable victory to open the season. The Atoms play this afternoon at 5:30 at Langley vs McLean. 

Girls Basketball got their season underway in the Gar-Field Tip Off Tournament Monday and Tuesday evening. Monday saw the Atoms take on the host Gar-Field Red Wolves. The game was a back and forth battle from the opening tip with the Red Wolves holding a lead at the half. The second half was all Atoms as they roared back and ran away from the Red Wolves to win 37-31, led by a game high 23 points from Megan Murray. Tuesday, The Atoms took on Mountain View in the championship game. Unfortunately, the Atoms were cold from the floor for the evening as Mountain View took the lead and never relinquished it on their way to a 40-18 win. The Atoms return to the floor in their home opener for all three levels Friday evening vs Fairfax. 

Gymnastics hit the mat for their first performances of the year. The Atoms had two gymnasts perform for the first meet. Kate Hanlen who looks to get back to regions this year and freshman Holly Tran. Both Atoms were able to perform and look to grow and improve with each meet this season. The Atoms travel to South County Wednesday evening.

Indoor Track had their first meet of the season last night. The Atoms had good performances across the board and look ready to have many athletes qualify for the region meet in January. 

Boys & Girls Wrestling held their first JV jamboree Wednesday evening with many Atoms getting their first competitive match of the season. The varsity Atoms are on the road this weekend in Morgantown. 

Boys & Girls Swim/Dive dove into the pool last night for their first meet of the year vs Falls Church. Many swimmers got their opportunity to swim with some hitting their personal best times to date. The boys teams narrowly lost to the Jaguars but the season looks promising after night one. The Atoms jump back into the pool next Friday vs Hayfield at Franconia. 

Atoms Recognized for Postseason Teams

We have officially finished our fall seasons with many of our Atoms student-athletes earning postseason All-District and All-Region recognition. These student-athletes worked hard and their achievements should be acknowledged! Check out the recipients using the link below:

Fall 2024 All District and Region Recognition

*All State and some region voting has yet to occur for a few sports*

Purchase your Atoms Pass for 2024-2025 (Updated FCPS ticket prices)

Effective with the start of the 2024-2025 school year all FCPS schools will have consistent regular season, district tournament and region tournament entry fees for general admission. Adults (18 and over) will be $7. FCPS students will be $5. Schools will continue to offer free admission to senior citizens and children under 6. The VHSL sets ticket prices for VHSL State Competitions. Schools are not allocated funding for uniforms and consumable supplies and ticket revenue is the primary funding source for those items. 

With the new pricing for tickets for FCPS, The Atoms Booster Club’s All-Season passes are a no brainer! 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! **UPDATED price change for adults**

To purchase your Atoms Pass click HERE

Our next Booster Membership Meeting is Monday, January 6

Join us on Monday, January 6 in-person at Annandale High School in the Driver’s Education Room. The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm. Come and find out how you can get involved and support out Atoms' athletic programs!

Winter Orchestra and Band Concerts

Annandale Orchestra and Band will hold their winter concerts this week!  Annandale Orchestra will be performing with the Falls Church Orchestra Tuesday, December 10 at 7:00pm. The Annandale Band will hold their concert Thursday, December 12 at 7:00pm. Make time to come out and enjoy beautiful music from out Performing Arts students!

Atoms Boosters Concession Stand Help

Attention Parents! Volunteers are needed to sell concessions at games throughout the year. We welcome any and all parents to volunteer but when parents of a particular sport work a game, a portion of concessions sales directly benefit that team. If you are not able to help directly at home games, there are many ways you can get involved with the Atoms Athletics Boosters by attending our monthly meetings or being a team liaison. Thank you for your support for Atom’s Athletics! 

For questions about concession stand sign ups, contact Odessa Murray.

Basketball Concessions

Winter Sports Pictures

Winter Sports Pictures: Team and individual pictures for all winter sports occurred on Thursday and Friday, December 5 and 6. To order use the information below:

• Images can be accessed via this link: Legacy Studios Events or by going to events.legacystudios.com. 
• Please use code 4542E25 to view your images on the website. 
• Please note that if your images have not uploaded to the site yet, when entering that code you'll receive a 'Gallery not found' notification.  Please allow 7 days after picture day before trying to access your images to avoid any frustration. 

Annandale Legacy Wall 

**Updated picture of the wall below**

Annandale High School has a rich history of success, community support, and strong alumni base that stretches back to its creation in 1954. There is a legacy that surrounds Annandale that many are proud to be a part of as it feels like home to  those who have walked our halls. We want to provide our students, alumni, and community members the opportunity to be a part of the Annandale legacy. Looking for a graduation gift, birthday gift, or to share your own legacy with the Annandale community, then purchase an acrylic block for $100, that will be on displayed along the stadium field wall!

To purchase a block and leave your legacy, click here

*Note orders will be made once the quantity reaches 50 purchased blocks*

For more information, contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris

Atoms Chairs for Sale

Looking for a piece of Atoms furniture to add to your house?! Purchase an Atoms chair! New chairs were ordered this summer for events around school and we're selling our old chairs. There is a limited amount of chairs so get yours before they're gone! Price is $60 for one, $100 for two. Contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris to purchase yours!

Partners for Safe Teen Driving

Included in Grade 10 Health & PE is one quarter, or 30-36 hours, of in-classroom driver education. To obtain your driver’s license in Virginia, you must successfully complete, or 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 or legal guardian. Annandale High School is hosting five (5) PSTD presentations this school year, one each quarter and two during the fourth quarter. They are free to students enrolled in Health & PE 10 at Annandale HS and begin at 630pm in the auditorium. You must attend with a parent or legal guardian, arrive ON TIME, and remain the duration of the presentation for your attendance to be verified. Choose a date convenient for you and your parent or legal guardian. You may attend a session outside of your Driver Education quarter. 

 Patterns for Safe Teen Driving Dates at Annandale High School:

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

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 on various Mondays throughout the school year.

Click HERE for more information.

Any questions can be directed to Lizzie McManus

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Dear Annandale Students, Parents, and Community,

I hope you all had a restful Thanksgiving Break! This year, my family and I stayed local for a change, spending Thanksgiving morning at the Holocaust Museum. It was a meaningful way to reflect on what we are truly thankful for. 

Thanksgiving weekend wouldn't be complete without watching The Game (aka Ohio State v. Michigan). Although the outcome was not what I was hoping for, The Game reminded me of what I cherish most about sports and activities: the dedication of players, performers, teachers, and coaches to their teams and their school. That same dedication is on full display here at Annandale, and over the next three weeks, there are plenty of opportunities to see it in action.

Not only is our winter sports season kick off this week, our performing arts department has several events coming up, with performances from orchestra, chorus, and band scheduled this month. It is inspiring to see our students develop and showcase their talents, while also building a strong sense of community. I encourage you to attend one of these events with family or friends. For a full list of upcoming events, visit the Annandale Activities and Athletics website. 

Additionally, the Fall Sports Recap is now available! From playoff runs and championship victories to standout individual performances, this season was a testament to the resilience, growth, and spirit of Atoms Athletics.

Finally, Giving Tuesday marks the beginning of the holiday giving season. As we reflect on all that we are thankful for, and the ways we can support our community, I encourage you to consider giving to the PTSA Pantry. Contributions help provide for students who are facing food insecurity and their families.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions, and Go Atoms!

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Annandale Winter Performances

The Choirs, Band, and Orchestra at Annandale have been busy preparing for a wonderful season of concerts and outreach events during the month of December.

 

December 9 - Caroling for the Retired Teachers Luncheon, 1pm: The Annandale Singers and Chamber Ensemble will be providing a program for the Retired Teachers Luncheon in the Fellowship Hall at the First Baptist Church in Alexandria (2932 King St., Alexandria) at 1:00pm.

 

December 10 - Orchestra Winter Concert, 7pm: Orchestra will be having their Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 10 at 7:00 pm partnered with Falls Church High School! The challenging program has pushed students to the next level and spotlights sections in several of the ensembles. Support the program by purchasing baked goods (including our famous giant chocolate chip cookies!) after school by the auditorium and by coming to hear the student’s hard work in the evening. We encourage you to come wearing an ugly holiday sweater or wearing a festive hat!

 

December 12 - Caroling for the Shepherds Center Luncheon, 12pm: The Annandale Singers and Chamber Ensemble will be providing a program for the Shepherds Center Luncheon in Wright Hall of the Annandale United Methodist Church (6935 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA) at noon.

 

December 12 - Winter Band Concert, 7pm: The Annandale High School Bands will present Winter Nights, their annual holiday concert on Thursday December 12 at 7:00pm in the AHS auditorium. The concert will feature all of the AHS band students in a collaborative presentation of seasonal favorites, including a special narration of "Scrooge" and our traditional “Sleigh Ride.” Doors open at 6:45pm; admission is free.

 

December 17 - Winter Chorus Concert: Deck the Halls, 7pm: Our Winter Concert with the Annandale Singers, Atom Chorale, Men's Chorale, and the Chamber Ensemble at 7:00pm in the Auditorium. 

 

December 18 - Noonday Noël, 12:05pm: Annandale Singers and Chamber Ensemble sing for the Noonday Noël at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House at 12:05pm (323 South Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA)

 

December 19 - Caroling at the Willard Hotel (DC), 6:00-6:45 and 7:15-8:00pm: Join the Annandale Singers as they spread holiday cheer with two mini-concerts at the historic Willard Hotel in Washington, DC (1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC).

Support the AHS PTSA Pantry on Giving Tuesday!

Support our SOS Campaign this Giving Tuesday, December 3! Every contribution helps us Stock Our Shelves and provide for students facing food insecurity. With an average cost of $1,300 per distribution, your generosity makes a huge difference helping us support our students and families who are food insecure. 

Important Dates

December 2 - Atoms Booster Club Meeting, 6:30pm

December 2, 4 & 6 - Course Selection Presentations

December 4 - Federal Impact Aid Survey Due

December 4 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm

December 4 - ASVAB Test Registration Deadline

December 4 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving, 6:30pm

December 5-6 - Winter Sports Pictures

December 6 - Atoms Games First Toys/Books Collection

December 9 - ASVAB Testing

December 9 - Student Experience Survey

December 10 - Orchestra Concert, 7pm

December 11 - Immunization Clinic

December 12 - Boundary Review Community Meeting, 6:45pm

December 12 - Band Concert, 7pm

December 16 - W4 Activities Day

December 16-20 - Holiday Spirit Week

December 17 - Chorus Concert, 7pm

December 18 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm

December 23-January 3 - Winter Break

January 15 - Rising 9th Grade Open House

 

December 2 - Atoms Booster Club Meeting: Join us on tomorrow, December 2 in-person for our next meeting in the Driver’s Education Room. The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm. Come and find out how you can get involved and support out Atoms' athletic programs!

 

December 2-20 - Annual Deck the Doors W4 Contest: Annandale’s Leadership Class is excited to lead our annual Deck the Doors holiday contest. This year, there’s a twist! Each W4 class has been divided into 14 Nations for the Atoms Games. Classes will vote on a theme for their Nation. Three classes will be chosen as individual winners and there will also be a prize for the Best Overall Nation. Winning classes and Nations will be awarded points in our Atoms Games contest!

 

December 2, 4 & 6 - Course Selection Presentations: Counselors will be presenting the 2025-2026 course selection process to students in W4 Advisory on December 2, 4, and 6.  The presentations will cover important information including course options for next school year and the process for how to select their courses. The presentation will be recorded and posted on the Student Services Webpage for students who do not have a W4 class. Students should reach out to their counselor if they have any questions.

 

December 4 - Federal Impact Aid Survey Due: On Friday, Federal Impact Aid Survey forms were distributed during W4 to students who have not completed the form electronically. Federal funding for our school is tied to this form. So, it is important that it is returned as soon as possible. Please complete the form, sign it, and return it to school with your child by Wednesday, December 4. We appreciate your efforts in this task.

 

December 4 - ASVAB Testing Registration Deadline: The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test measures a young adult’s strengths and weaknesses and provides feedback on potential for future career success. Students are encouraged to take the test because it is a valuable career assessment tool which can help identify which career is best for each student. Though the test is developed by the Department of Defense, it is not just for those going into the military. It’s a great start to finding the perfect career for students by highlighting those skills which students naturally have. The test will be administered on Monday, December 9. The deadline to register is Wednesday, December 4. To register visit https://tinyurl.com/ASVABforMilitary. 

 

December 4 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving: Annandale High School is hosting Partners for Safe Teen Driving for students in Health & PE 10 on December 4 at 6:30pm in the auditorium. This 90-minute parent-teen traffic safety program is required for both student and parent/guardian. Participants must arrive on time as doors close at 6:30pm. Parents and their teen must stay for the duration of the presentation for your attendance to be verified. If you have any questions, contact Lizzie McManus. Additinational sessions of Partners for Safe Teen Driving at Annandale High School are: March 12, 2025; April 2, 2025; and May 14, 2025.

 

December 6 - First Atoms Games Toys/Books Collection: W4 classes are collecting new and gently used toys and books for Annandale families as part of our Atoms Games contest. Friday, December 6 is the first donation collection day. To participate and earn points for your Nation, students should bring items to their W4 class. Items will be collected on December 6, 12 & 18.

 

December 9 - Student Experience Survey: On December 9, Annandale students will have the opportunity to participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey pilot. This important initiative aims to provide valuable insights into students’ experiences within our schools. It will take approximately 30 minutes and offers a meaningful way for students to share their perspectives to help shape the future of FCPS. Students will take the survey in their W4 classes.

 

December 11 - Immunization Clinic: Annandale High School is partnering with the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) to host a School Site Immunization Clinic on December 11 during school hours. This clinic is exclusively for Annandale students and offers the following vaccines: Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY), Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis (Tdap). Students under 18 must have parental permission and register in advance to participate. For questions, contact our public health nurse, Katherine Estrada, at [email protected].

 

December 12 - Boundary Review Community Meeting: FCPS is hosting community meetings to discuss the Comprehensive School Boundary Review in each of its six regions. Annandale High School will host the meeting for our region on Thursday, December 12, from 6:45-8:15pm in the cafeteria. We encourage you to attend and share your input. Please click here to register in advance. Language interpretation will be available during the meeting.

 

December 16 - W4 Activities Day: Annandale will host our monthly W4 Activities Day on December 16. During this time, students will have an opportunity to attend club meetings or join in on a variety of other activities. Students will select their preferred activity via a Google form shared through their W4 lessons and on Schoology. We are excited to offer this experience for our students and look forward to offering more ways to help our students feel connected to school.

 

January 15 - Rising 9th Grade Open House, 6pm: On January 15 from 6-8pm Annandale HS will host an Open House for our rising 9th grade students and families to learn more about what high school at Annandale is all about! We will offer short optional sessions on our various programs, and teachers will be in their classrooms throughout the evening to share all about our core and elective courses. The goal is for students and parents to leave this event excited about all the opportunities students will have as an Annandale Atom and prepared to complete the course request form when students meet with their middle school counselors! Breakout Sessions on the following topics will be offered throughout the evening: Welcome to Annandale, Course Request 101; IB/MYP Program; Activities and Athletics; English for Speakers of Other Languages Program; Special Education Office, and Student Life.

Awesome Atoms

Congratulations to Wendy Lopez-Ferrufino! Join us in celebrating Wendy Lopez-Ferrufino, who has been recognized as Student of the Quarter in the Cyber: Exploring IT course at Edison Academy! This well-deserved honor reflects her hard work and dedication. Check out the full list of first-quarter award winners and view their achievements in the photo album.

 

AHS Pantry Celebrates Six Years! This November, the AHS Pantry marks six years of supporting students and families facing food insecurity. Since 2018, it has grown to include fresh produce, expanded refrigeration. At the most recent distribution the AHS Pantry served 487 members of 98 families. The pantry’s success is thanks to Norma Forti and the Annandale community’s generosity through donations, volunteering, and drives. Together, we’re weaving a strong fabric for Atom Nation. Thank you for your support!

Important Information

PSAT / SAT School Score Reports Available to Students: Students who participated in the PSAT / SAT School Day received a lesson on how to access and interpret their scores this past week during Advisory. For more information, the following videos to support students and families with this information has been shared by the College Board. 

• Understanding your Digital PSAT Scores - Video
• Understanding your Digital SAT Scores - Video

 

Follow Annandale HS on Social Media: Stay connected with Annandale High School by following us on social media! It's the best way to keep up with our latest news, celebrate student achievements, and keep up with everything going on in #AtomNation. Links: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube

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.

 

After School Tutoring Available on Wednesdays: Tutoring is available every Wednesday from 3:00-4:30 pm in Trailer 12. Students can receive help with any class from Honor Society members, IB Diploma students, and AVID students. No sign-up is required—just drop in for extra support!

 

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.

 

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.

Opportunities

NOVA Early Online College – Spring 2025 Semester: NOVA Early Online College (EOC) allows current high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take up to 2 tuition free college courses. EOC courses for the Spring semester begin on February 4, 2025, and end on April 28, 2024. The deadline to register is January 8, 2024 at 5pm. Courses are asynchronous, online, and for college credit only. 13 different courses are offered along with courses that fulfill the IT Technical Support Career Studies Certificate. EOC courses are selected because they meet the requirements for most of NOVA’s associate degrees as well as being highly transferable as general education requirements for most colleges and universities.

 

Orchestra Merch Shop Closes Today! The Annandale High School Orchestra Merchandise Store is LIVE! Visit tinyurl.com/AHSOrchMerch to explore a variety of items and show your support for our talented orchestra students. Order by today, December 1 to ensure delivery in time for the holidays. The store will remain open year-round, but don’t miss this chance to get your items for the festive season!

News from Student Services

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 November 20, the Transcript Request Form is due on October 20. 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.

 

College Application Help: Annandale High School offers free college application support twice each week. Wednesdays during Lunch in the Career Center (Room 103) and Thursdays 3-4pm in Trailer 14. In addition, the Atoms Writing Center will be available to help students with their college essays and supplemental application questions during PRIDE Time and Wednesdays after school from 3-4pm in room 274.

 

College & Career Resources Schoology Site: Check out the Student Services: Annandale High School | Schoology (fcps.edu), which provides up-to-date information on the college application process; college representative visits; financial aid and FAFSA/VASA workshops; military options; information on apprenticeships; as well as resources for finding a job.

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. To learn more about Annandale's Spring sports programs, check out this week’s “Atoms Athletics and Activities Newsletter." In addition, learn more about Annandale High School Athletics and Activities by visiting their website, AHS Athletics Twitter or Instagram page.

 

Purchase Your 'Atoms Pass' for 2024-2025! 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! To purchase your Click here to purchase your 2024-25 Atoms Booster Pass! 

 

Join Our Cheerleading Team as Assistant Winter Cheerleading Coach! The cheerleading team is looking for an enthusiastic Assistant Winter Cheerleading Coach to support our team in the upcoming season. If you love working with students or know someone who would be a great fit, please reach out to Victoria Douglas at [email protected].

News from the PTSA

PTSA Membership for the 2024-25 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 2024-2025 school year by filling out the online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.

 

PTSA Pantry Is Always Restocking and Needs Your Help! The AHS PTSA Pantry supports current AHS students who experience food insecurity. We are gearing up for the new school year and need your help to restock our shelves! In addition, the pantry distribution schedule for the school year can be found here. All donations to the AHS PTSA Pantry are tax deductible. Contact the pantry with questions. 

Shop Locally

Please see our list of most frequently needed items here, you can shop in your local store. Items may be brought to the front office during school hours.

Amazon

Items can be shipped directly from our Amazon Wishlist. 

Funding

Make a monetary donation through PayPal by clicking the Donate button below or by check made payable AHS PTSA (Please write AHS Pantry in the memo line and mail it to AHS PTSA, 4700 Medford Drive, Annandale, VA  22003)

Sign up to be a Food For Neighbors Red Bag Donor

It is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Sign up to be a red bag donor.
2. Fill the red bag with the list provided
3. Put the red bag outside your door by 8:30am on the donation days.

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Atoms Athletics Recap

First week of the winter regular seasons officially kick off this Monday! Make sure to get your Atoms passes to show your support! We look forward to picking the weekly recaps up next week!

In the meantime, make sure that you check out the complete list our fall Annandale Atoms athletes who were recognized for postseason teams and a link to their pictures below.

It must be highlighted that two Atom field hockey players, Callia Uviedo and Sofia Saavedra, received first and second team All-State recognition for their play this year!

The success on the field and court were apparent with many Atoms receiving district and region recognition. Several of our Atoms who received recognition were underclassman and shines a light on a bright future across all of our fall programs!

WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY... CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR FALL ATOMS ATHLETES WHO RECEIVED POSTSEASON RECOGNITION!!! Atoms Recognized for Postseason Teams

We have officially finished our fall seasons with many of our Atoms student-athletes earning postseason All-District and All-Region recognition. These student-athletes worked hard and their achievements should be acknowledged! Check out the recipients using the link below:

Fall 2024 All District and Region Recognition

*All State and some region voting has yet to occur for a few sports*

Purchase your Atoms Pass for 2024-2025 (Updated FCPS ticket prices)

Effective with the start of the 2024-2025 school year all FCPS schools will have consistent regular season, district tournament and region tournament entry fees for general admission. Adults (18 and over) will be $7. FCPS students will be $5. Schools will continue to offer free admission to senior citizens and children under 6. The VHSL sets ticket prices for VHSL State Competitions. Schools are not allocated funding for uniforms and consumable supplies and ticket revenue is the primary funding source for those items. 

With the new pricing for tickets for FCPS, The Atoms Booster Club’s All-Season passes are a no brainer! 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! **UPDATED price change for adults**

To purchase your Atoms Pass click HERE

Our next Booster Membership Meeting is Monday, December 2

Join us on Monday, December 2 in-person at Annandale High School in the Driver’s Education Room. The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm. Come and find out how you can get involved and support out Atoms' athletic programs!

Atoms Choir places singers at District Chorus

Annandale Choirs Place 35 Singers in District Chorus

On Saturday, November 9, 55 singers from the choir department at AHS auditioned for a place in District Chorus held. The auditions were held at Mt. Vernon High School. Alongside 650 other students from District X, our 55 students held their own by placing 35 students in one of the two auditioned choirs!

Please join me in congratulating the following students on this great accomplishment:

Treble Choir

Lucy Baboyian, Sylvie Bankester, Alice Banks, Alyvia Banks, Kaira Campos Chanez, Deena Elfaki, Estefani Guzman Moza, Frieda Lamar, Sophie Le, Josie McElveen, Ella McKenna, Nellia Mejia Castro, Elizabeth Porter, Gee Riester and Elvicha Joy Strobel

Mixed Choir

Lina Abuelhawa, Marcella Canniff, Harper Chapman, Ahsley Cruz-Rivera, Nathaniel Dosen, Louise Fitzgerald, Gabbi Fuentes-Quinteros, Colin Hoyt, Christine Mahoney, Jakob McElveen, Drew McKenna, Tyler Miller, Quinn Mongold, Megan Murray, Noah Plank, Finn Sample, Ryan Tran, Josh Vaughn, Sean Visperas, and Basilio Zetino

Annandale Legacy Wall 

**Updated picture of the wall below**

Annandale High School has a rich history of success, community support, and strong alumni base that stretches back to its creation in 1954. There is a legacy that surrounds Annandale that many are proud to be a part of as it feels like home to  those who have walked our halls. We want to provide our students, alumni, and community members the opportunity to be a part of the Annandale legacy. Looking for a graduation gift, birthday gift, or to share your own legacy with the Annandale community, then purchase an acrylic block for $100, that will be on displayed along the stadium field wall!

To purchase a block and leave your legacy, click here

*Note orders will be made once the quantity reaches 50 purchased blocks*

For more information, contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris

Atoms Chairs for Sale

Looking for a piece of Atoms furniture to add to your house?! Purchase an Atoms chair! New chairs were ordered this summer for events around school and we're selling our old chairs. There is a limited amount of chairs so get yours before they're gone! Price is $60 for one, $100 for two. Contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris to purchase yours!

Partners for Safe Teen Driving

Included in Grade 10 Health & PE is one quarter, or 30-36 hours, of in-classroom driver education. To obtain your driver’s license in Virginia, you must successfully complete, or 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 or legal guardian. Annandale High School is hosting five (5) PSTD presentations this school year, one each quarter and two during the fourth quarter. They are free to students enrolled in Health & PE 10 at Annandale HS and begin at 630pm in the auditorium. You must attend with a parent or legal guardian, arrive ON TIME, and remain the duration of the presentation for your attendance to be verified. Choose a date convenient for you and your parent or legal guardian. You may attend a session outside of your Driver Education quarter. 

 Patterns for Safe Teen Driving Dates at Annandale High School:

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

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 on various Mondays throughout the school year.

Click HERE for more information.

Any questions can be directed to Lizzie McManus

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

AHS Pantry Celebrates Six Years of Serving Atom Nation!

As we celebrate Thanksgiving and the AHS Pantry's 6th anniversary, we take a moment to reflect on our mission, vision, and the incredible milestones we have achieved together.

Our mission has always been to support and provide resources to our students and families facing food insecurity. Our vision is to fulfill this mission with dignity while raising awareness of food insecurity within our community. 

Over the past six years, we have made tremendous progress: adding fresh produce, expanding refrigeration and freezer space, and introducing a market-style distribution where families can select the items that best suit their family. These changes have allowed us to grow and adapt to meet the changing needs of our AHS community.

Since opening our doors in November 2018, the pantry has done more than provide food—it has built relationships, fostered community partnerships, created friendships, and established a dignified space where students who are food insecure can find support with respect and compassion.

We are profoundly grateful to our broader community for your support. Whether through in-kind and monetary donations, volunteering on distribution days, hosting pantry drives, sharing your talents, or contributing to our successful Thanksgiving donation drive, you have helped us make a difference.

At our most recent distribution, 98 families were able to shop in the pantry, benefiting a total of 487 family members.

The Pantry’s tagline reads: The fabric of our community is stronger when we weave together. On behalf of the pantry, myself, and the AHS community we serve, thank you to everyone who has been a thread in this fabric over the past six years.

With gratitude,

Norma Foti, Pantry Coordinator

News from the PTSA

PTSA Membership for the 2024-25 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 2024-2025 school year by filling out the online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.

 

PTSA Pantry Is Always Restocking and Needs Your Help! The AHS PTSA Pantry supports current AHS students who experience food insecurity. We are gearing up for the new school year and need your help to restock our shelves! In addition, the pantry distribution schedule for the school year can be found here. All donations to the AHS PTSA Pantry are tax deductible. Contact the pantry with questions. 

Shop Locally

Please see our list of most frequently needed items here, you can shop in your local store. Items may be brought to the front office during school hours.

Amazon

Items can be shipped directly from our Amazon Wishlist. 

Funding

Make a monetary donation through PayPal by clicking the Donate button below or by check made payable AHS PTSA (Please write AHS Pantry in the memo line and mail it to AHS PTSA, 4700 Medford Drive, Annandale, VA  22003)

Sign up to be a Food For Neighbors Red Bag Donor

It is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Sign up to be a red bag donor.
2. Fill the red bag with the list provided
3. Put the red bag outside your door by 8:30am on the donation days.

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Annandale Students, Parents, and Community::

I am excited to share that Annandale High School has once again performed at the highest levels in academic achievement, continued to reduce achievement gaps, and increase student engagement and outcomes, as outlined by the Virginia Department of Education. In fact, our students continue to surpass all expectations, making Annandale the top-performing school in FCPS, based on the difference between predicted and actual results.

The foundation of our work at Annandale High School is our relentless focus on our priorities of relationships & support, high quality instruction, and strong collaboration. This approach has ensured that students spend the majority of class time meaningfully engaged—reading, writing, discussing, and thinking. The result is exceptional performance across multiple subjects, with a 95% success rate in English, a 90% success rate in Math, and 70% success rate in Science. 

More impressive, our success extends across all student subgroups, including multilingual learners, economically disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities. By focusing on our priorities, we have been able to close achievement gaps and ensure that every student can thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Annandale High School is truly a place where we are changing the trajectory of the lives of our students. The success we continue to have demonstrates that our commitment to equity and excellence is paying off, and I am excited to continue this journey with our incredible community.

Thank you for your continued support of Atom Nation. Go Atoms!

Shawn DeRose

Principal, Annandale High School

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Dear Annandale Students, Parents, and Community,

I am excited to announce, the launch of the Atoms Games! For the first time ever, we’re hosting a school-wide competition designed to unite students and staff through friendly rivalry, school spirit, and a shared commitment to giving back to our community.

Here’s how it works. Students in W4 classes have been grouped into 14 Nations, each represented by a unique color. Throughout the Games, Nations will compete in a variety of fun and impactful activities to earn points. The Nation with the most points at the end will win the ultimate prize—a breakfast party! Every member of Atom Nation counts. To earn points for your Nation participate in the Atoms Games Challenges:

• 🎁 Winning 4 Giving (Now–Dec. 18): Support local families by bringing in items for the AHS Pantry.
• 🎨 Deck the Doors (Dec. 4–18): Decorate classroom doors in your Nation's theme.
• 👕 Show Your Colors (Dec. 6 & 12): Wear your Nation’s color to show your spirit and earn points.
• 📚 Toys & Books Drive (Dec. 6, 12 & 18): Donate new or gently used toys and books to help Annandale families.
• ❄️ Winter Spirit Week (Dec. 16–20): Participate in themed dress-up days for even more points!

Whether it’s through donating, decorating, dressing up, or cheering on your Nation, every contribution makes a difference. Let the games begin!

As a reminder, this is a short week. Schools will be closed November 27-29 for Thanksgiving Break. Once again, we will continue our tradition of allowing everyone to relax and refresh over holiday breaks. Teachers will not assign homework, projects, or papers over breaks, and refrain from assigning any major assessments or project due dates on the first two days back. We want our staff and students to enjoy a wellness break and have time to connect with family and friends this Thanksgiving holiday.

As always, please reach out with any questions.

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Annandale Winter Performances

The Choirs, Band, and Orchestra at Annandale have been busy preparing for a wonderful season of concerts and outreach events during the month of December.

 

December 9 - Caroling for the Retired Teachers Luncheon, 1pm: The Annandale Singers and Chamber Ensemble will be providing a program for the Retired Teachers Luncheon in the Fellowship Hall at the First Baptist Church in Alexandria (2932 King St., Alexandria)at 1:00pm.

 

December 10 - Orchestra Winter Concert, 7pm: Orchestra will be having their Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 10 at 7:00 pm partnered with Falls Church High School! The challenging program has pushed students to the next level and spotlights sections in several of the ensembles. Support the program by purchasing baked goods (including our famous giant chocolate chip cookies!) after school by the auditorium and by coming to hear the student’s hard work in the evening. We encourage you to come wearing an ugly holiday sweater or wearing a festive hat!

 

December 12 - Caroling for the Shepherds Center Luncheon, 12pm: The Annandale Singers and Chamber Ensemble will be providing a program for the Shepherds Center Luncheon in Wright Hall of the Annandale United Methodist Church (6935 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA) at noon.

 

December 12 - Winter Band Concert, 7pm: The Annandale High School Bands will present Winter Winds, their annual winter concert on Monday December 12 at 7:00pm in the AHS auditorium. The concert will feature all of the AHS band students in a collaborative presentation of Holiday favorites, including our traditional “Sleigh Ride.” Doors open at 6:45pm; admission is free.

 

December 17 - Winter Chorus Concert: Deck the Halls, 7pm: Our Winter Concert with the Annandale Singers, Atom Chorale, Men's Chorale, and the Chamber Ensemble at 7:00pm in the Auditorium. 

 

December 18 - Noonday Noël, 12:05pm: Annandale Singers and Chamber Ensemble sing for the Noonday Noël at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House at 12:05pm (323 South Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA)

 

December 19 - Caroling at the Willard Hotel (DC), 6:00-6:45 and 7:15-8:00pm: Join the Annandale Singers as they spread holiday cheer with two mini-concerts at the historic Willard Hotel in Washington, DC (1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC).

Important Dates

November 25 - W4 Activities Day

November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break (No School)

December 2-6 - Academic Advising

December 4 - Federal Impact Aid Forms Due

December 4 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm

December 4 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving, 6:30pm

December 5-6 - Winter Sports Pictures

December 9 - ASVAB Testing

December 9 - Student Experience Survey

December 10 - Orchestra Concert, 7pm

December 11 - Immunization Clinic

December 12 - Boundary Review Community Meeting, 6:45pm

December 12 - Band Concert, 7pm

December 16 - W4 Activities Day

December 16-20 - Holiday Spirit Week

December 17 - Chorus Concert, 7pm

December 18 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm

December 23-January 3 - Winter Break

 

November 25 - W4 Activities Day: On Monday, November 25, Annandale will host W4 Activities Day. Students will have an opportunity to attend club meetings or join in on a variety of other activities. Students selected their preferred activity via a Google form shared through their W-4 lessons and on Schoology and an email was sent out this weekend sharing their assigned session for Wednesday. We are excited to offer this experience for our students and look forward to offering more ways to help our students feel connected to school.

 

November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break: At Annandale, we hope you are able to spend the holiday break resting and rejuvenating in your favorite ways. In support of this, teachers will not assign homework, projects, or papers over breaks, and refrain from assigning any major assessments or project due dates on the first two days back. If you have questions regarding specific assignments in a particular class, we always encourage students and families to reach out directly to their teachers for information and clarification.

 

December 2, 4, and 6 - Course Selection Presentations: Counselors will be presenting the 2025-2026 course selection process to students in W4 Advisory on December 2, 4, and 6.  The presentations will cover important information including course options for next school year and the process for how to select their courses. The presentation will be recorded and posted on the Student Services Webpage for students who do not have a W4 class. Students should reach out to their counselor if they have any questions.

 

December 4 - Federal Impact Aid Survey Due: On Friday, Federal Impact Aid Survey forms were distributed during W4 to students who have not completed the form electronically. Federal funding for our school is tied to this form so it is important that it is returned as soon as possible. Please complete the form, sign it, and return it to school with your child by Wednesday, December 4. We appreciate your efforts in this task.

Fall Sports Recap

The 2024 season was a testament to the resilience, growth, and spirit of Atoms Athletics. Teams across all sports demonstrated remarkable improvement, celebrated personal bests, and achieved milestones that will inspire future athletes. From thrilling playoff runs and championship victories to standout individual performances, the Atoms showed grit, determination, and teamwork at every turn. With seasoned leaders graduating and promising young talent returning, the future of Atoms Athletics looks brighter than ever. Click here for the full story!

Follow Us on Social Media

Stay connected with Annandale High School by following us on social media! It's the best way to keep up with our latest news, celebrate student achievements, and keep up with everything going on in #AtomNation.

Links: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube

Awesome Atoms

Celebrating Writing Success at Annandale! This week, 430 students in English 11, IB Language & Literature, and IB English Lit 1 classes took the ACT WorkKeys Business Writing test as a pathway to earn verified credit in Writing. We are thrilled to share that 97% of our students passed! A huge congratulations to these students and our incredible English 11 team: Herman McClain, Julia Hanneman, Stephanie Hanson, Evelyn Hsia, Tricia Kapuscinski, Kathleen Mathis, Chris Bagot, Nina Avedissian, and Beth Nank. Their hard work and dedication to preparing students for this assessment have brought them one step closer to graduation!

 

Debate Team: The AHS Debate Team attended their first Policy Debate competition last weekend with Freshmen Rowan Readinger and Isabella Izaguirre representing the Atoms! While it was a long day, the two had a fantastic showing and won their very first debate. Coaches Vera and Falvey are quite proud of the hard work that they have put in so far this season and are excited to see what they can do during the upcoming November tournament.

 

Veteran Visits Social Studies Class for Veterans Day: Earlier this month, Social Studies classes took time to honor those who serve in our military. In Ms. Wright’s W4 class, her husband, who is a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, visited her class to talk about his role in the military. Other classes held academic discussions on Veterans Day, using a variety of sources to learn more about the day to honor those who serve.

 

Annandale Singers Shine at VCU Invitational! After wrapping up their fall concert, the Annandale Singers took part in their first-ever VCU Invitational in Richmond! Their day began with a brunch stop at Cracker Barrel before heading to campus for a full day of music and collaboration. “It was very cool to work with a lot of other choirs and sing one big piece together,” shared junior Ryan Tran, who also enjoyed meals at the VCU dining hall. The singers had the chance to watch VCU choirs perform, and their fast-paced, challenging pieces left a lasting impression on choir directors from other schools.

 

AHS Celebrates Students of the Month: Congratulations to Sarem Bonger, Marina Bonilla-Gomez, Justin Calvillo-Vega, Sofia Castillo-Pena, Rita Choukairi, Jade Eloise, Nathalia Fraser, Nicole Gamez-Hernandez, Adonis Garcia Abarca, Evan Lamb, Jamiee Le, Roxy Marchetti, Verenice Martinez, Keily Orellana, Whitaker Raymer, Cave Reinoehl, Sophia Terrazas-Toranzo, Valeria Urquilla, and Kiah Van Heerden for being selected as our Quarter One Students of the Month from September and October. Each month, Annandale teachers nominate students who exemplify one of our Atoms Agreements of Empathy, Determination, and Safety. In September, our focus was on Safety and in October, our focus Empathy. We celebrated our Student of the Month Winners with a first quarter Chick-fil-A breakfast party. We are so proud of these students and congratulate them for being selected as exemplary citizens of Atom Nation.

Important Information

PSAT / SAT School Score Reports Available to Students: Students who participated in the PSAT / SAT School Day received a lesson on how to access and interpret their scores this past week during Advisory. For more information, the following videos to support students and families with this information has been shared by the College Board. 

• Understanding your Digital PSAT Scores - Video
• Understanding your Digital SAT Scores - Video

 

Supporting Military-Connected Students and Families: Is your student military-connected or has your military-connected status changed? We are working to update our records surrounding Military Connected Families. If one or more parents or guardians in your household are military connected, defined as Active duty, Reserve, National Guard Active Service, and National Guard Reserve, please fill out this form and return it to the Main Office. Our goal with this information is to better serve our military-connected students and families by offering specialized information and support. Thank you for your service!

 

Stay Healthy This Season: The Power of Handwashing: As we enter the fall and winter months, practicing good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette is essential to reduce the spread of germs, especially during the busy holiday season. Encourage students to wash their hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol when soap isn’t available. Remind them to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow, dispose of tissues properly, and avoid touching their face with unwashed hands. Check out these videos for more tips: Hand Washing Prevents The Spread of the Flu and Your Health Is In Your Hands with Help from a Shark.

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.

 

After School Tutoring Available on Wednesdays: Tutoring is available every Wednesday from 3:00-4:30 pm in Trailer 12. Students can receive help with any class from Honor Society members, IB Diploma students, and AVID students. No sign-up is required—just drop in for extra support!

 

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.

 

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.

Opportunities

NOVA Early Online College – Spring 2025 Semester: NOVA Early Online College (EOC) allows current high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take up to 2 tuition free college courses. EOC courses for the Spring semester begin on February 4, 2025, and end on April 28, 2024. The deadline to register is January 8, 2024 at 5pm. Courses are asynchronous, online, and for college credit only. 13 different courses are offered along with courses that fulfill the IT Technical Support Career Studies Certificate. EOC courses are selected because they meet the requirements for most of NOVA’s associate degrees as well as being highly transferable as general education requirements for most colleges and universities.

 

Take the ASVAB Test - December 9: The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test measures a young adult’s strengths and weaknesses and provides feedback on potential for future career success. Students are encouraged to take the test because it is a valuable career assessment tool which can help identify which career is best for each student. Though the test is developed by the Department of Defense, it is not just for those going into the military. It’s a great start to finding the perfect career for students by highlighting those skills which students naturally have. The test will be offered on Monday, December 9. The deadline to register is Wednesday, December 4. To register visit https://tinyurl.com/ASVABforMilitary. 

 

Support the Orchestra: Shop Merchandise Now! The Annandale High School Orchestra Merchandise Store is LIVE! Visit tinyurl.com/AHSOrchMerch to explore a variety of items and show your support for our talented orchestra students. Order by Thursday, December 1 to ensure delivery in time for the holidays. The store will remain open year-round, but don’t miss this chance to get your items for the festive season!

News from Student Services

Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results Coming Soon: One of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is through the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener. In October, students in grades 3-12 took this screener, which gives information about their skills such as achieving goals, handling emotions, building relationships with adults and peers, and making good choices. The screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create learning, experiences, and environments for students to succeed. In early December, families will be able to view SEL Screener results in SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent by mail. Learn more about the screener on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. For help understanding your child’s results or ideas to support them at home, review the Family Guide or contact your child’s school.

 

December 9 - Student Experience Survey: On December 9, Annandale students will have the opportunity to participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey pilot. This important initiative aims to provide valuable insights into students’ experiences within our schools. Annandale HS has been selected to take part in this pilot. It will take approximately 30 minutes and offers a meaningful way for students to share their perspectives to help shape the future of FCPS. Students will take the survey in their W4 classes.

 

College Application Help: Annandale High School offers free college application support twice each week. Wednesdays during Lunch in the Career Center (Room 103) and Thursdays 3-4pm in Trailer 14. In addition, the Atoms Writing Center will be available to help students with their college essays and supplemental application questions during PRIDE Time and Wednesdays after school from 3-4pm in room 274.

 

College & Career Resources Schoology Site: Check out the Student Services: Annandale High School | Schoology (fcps.edu), which provides up-to-date information on the college application process; college representative visits; financial aid and FAFSA/VASA workshops; military options; information on apprenticeships; as well as resources for finding a job.

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. To learn more about Annandale's Spring sports programs, check out this week’s “Atoms Athletics and Activities Newsletter." In addition, learn more about Annandale High School Athletics and Activities by visiting their website, AHS Athletics Twitter or Instagram page.

 

December 4 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving: Annandale High School is hosting Partners for Safe Teen Driving for students in Health & PE 10 on December 4 at 6:30pm in the auditorium. This 90-minute parent-teen traffic safety program is required for both student and parent/guardian. Participants must arrive on time as doors close at 6:30pm, and you must stay for the duration of the presentation for your attendance to be verified. If you have any questions, please contact Lizzie McManus. Partners for Safe Teen Driving Dates at Annandale High School: March 12, 2025; April 2, 2025; and May 14, 2025.

 

Purchase Your 'Atoms Pass' for 2024-2025! 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! To purchase your Click here to purchase your 2024-25 Atoms Booster Pass! 

 

Join Our Cheerleading Team as Assistant Winter Cheerleading Coach! The cheerleading team is looking for an enthusiastic Assistant Winter Cheerleading Coach to support our team in the upcoming season. If you love working with students or know someone who would be a great fit, please reach out to Victoria Douglas at [email protected].

News from the PTSA

PTSA Membership for the 2024-25 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 2024-2025 school year by filling out the online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.

 

PTSA Pantry Is Always Restocking and Needs Your Help! The AHS PTSA Pantry supports current AHS students who experience food insecurity. We are gearing up for the new school year and need your help to restock our shelves! In addition, the pantry distribution schedule for the school year can be found here. All donations to the AHS PTSA Pantry are tax deductible. Contact the pantry with questions. 

Shop Locally

Please see our list of most frequently needed items here, you can shop in your local store. Items may be brought to the front office during school hours.

Amazon

Items can be shipped directly from our Amazon Wishlist. 

Funding

Make a monetary donation through PayPal by clicking the Donate button below or by check made payable AHS PTSA (Please write AHS Pantry in the memo line and mail it to AHS PTSA, 4700 Medford Drive, Annandale, VA  22003)

Sign up to be a Food For Neighbors Red Bag Donor

It is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Sign up to be a red bag donor.
2. Fill the red bag with the list provided
3. Put the red bag outside your door by 8:30am on the donation days.

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

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Atoms Athletics Recap

Atoms Golf continued to grow from 2023 as the Atoms had their largest roster in some time with 17 golfers teeing it up this year. The Atoms showed great improvement and skill development as it led them to three team wins in 2024. The Atoms had multiple golfers score personal best scores led by sophomore Carter Demers with a career low 37 in a match. The girls were paced by junior girls zone qualifier Sophia Sewall and her personal best round of 38. The Atoms qualified three golfers (Carter Demers, Cole Cardwell, & Quinn Mongold) for the Occoquan Region Championships at Twin Lakes while Sophia qualified for the Girls Region Zone Qualifier. The Atoms graduate two seniors but return six golfers who saw a lot of time on the course this year. The future continues to look bright for the Atoms golf team.

Girls Volleyball had their best season since before COVID. The Atoms won multiple district games this year, highlighted by a dominating 3-0 wins over perennial district powerhouses Edison and Justice. The Atoms showed grit and energy all season that included a three game winning streak that helped propel the Atoms to a sixth place finish in the district. The placement helped the Atoms qualify for the Occoquan Region Tournament and a date with Woodson. The Atoms gave the Cavaliers all they could handle in the match but fell short  in their upset attempt. The Atoms were led by first team all district setter Sarah Murphy and second team member Miah Henderson. The Atoms lose three key seniors but return several young players in Esther Jung, Kiley Foster, and the Moreland sisters to go with others that look to keep the Atoms competitive in 2025 and beyond!

Boys Volleyball had a season to remember in their first year of existence. What started out as what will this look like turned into memories that will carry on forever in Atoms Boys Volleyball. It was a balanced season of wins and losses for the Atoms that saw the Atoms win 3 of their final four games to secure the number four seed in the district tournament and a home first round game. The Atoms took care of business defeating Falls Church to lock up a region tournament spot. However, the Atoms were not done yet, as they took down number one seed Hayfield in the semifinals to punch their ticket to the district championship vs TJ and a home region game. The Atoms fell short in the district championship to TJ in an epic five set thriller but hosted Madison in the first round of the region tournament. The Atoms once again showed why they a force this year as they beat the Warhawks 3-1 to move on and face McLean. The Highlanders were too much for the Atoms to bring their season to an end. The Atoms have a lot to be proud of. The Atoms lose several seniors including first team all district player Logan Noyes but return second team district players Jairo Castillo Cardona and Andrew Banks to a team of young hungry players looking forward to 2025!

Field Hockey had another banner year, literally as the Atoms won their second National District Championship in three years. Atoms rolled their way to a 13-4 record, undefeated in regular season National District play, and the number one seed in the district tournament. The Atoms rolled through the tournament winning all three games by a combined score of 13-0 on their way to the National District Championship and the number one seed in the Occoquan Regional Tournament. The last two years saw the Atoms season come to an end vs Robinson but this year would not hold the same result. The Atoms battled throughout the game to win 2-1 and advance to the region semifinals. The Atoms took on Woodson but couldn't overcome a couple early goals by the Cavaliers to bring their season to an end. The Atoms graduate several seniors including first team all district selection Ripley Hotaling and second teamer Anna Pemberton but return first teamers Lilly Flores and Sofia Saavedra to go along with National District and Occoquan Region Player of the Year Callia Uviedo. The Atoms look ready to hang a third banner in 2025!

Football took to the field this year with new faces across multiple positions to start the season. The Atoms may have graduated 40 plus seniors over the last two years but their grit and perseverance were on display early against a schedule that by seasons end saw four teams with a combined record of 29-11. The Atoms played tough against Falls Church but a perfected play in the last minute of the game by FC resulted in a heart breaker. The Atoms took care of business vs Justice and Lewis on the back half of the schedule to notch their first two wins of the year. The Atoms played their final game of the season vs Rock Ridge and held a lead late into the fourth quarter before turning the ball over on downs deep in their territory that gave Rock Ridge a glimmer of light that they took advantage of to steal the game from the Atoms. The Atoms showed drastic improvement from game one to game ten and were led by a several new players this year including senior first team all district running back and kick returner Carlos Alvarez. The Atoms lose other keys position players including QB Noah Lenn, RB Osman Conteh, Bryan Sob, and OL Noel Sanchez. However, they return some tough players including Pascual Aguilar-Rodriguez, Ioannis Prionas, and Adnan Abdul-Haqq among others to a team poised to breakout.

Boys and Girls Cross Country continued to bring out runners this year with many of them achieving their personal best times in multiple races. The Atoms may not have had a dominant runner this year but their team mindset within both programs was great to watch. The Atoms ran with passion and desire to be better with each race. The girls were led by several seniors including the Nagle twins and Angela Salazar who have been key runners in the program but leave it with many young runners poised to showcase their talents. The boys program were led by multiple runners throughout the season and their team finish in the district championship meet to qualify for the region championship meet. The Atoms graduate several seniors that were instrumental in the success in 2024 but return some strong runners including Dosen, Uzokoff, among others to build upon the success.

Atoms Recognized for Postseason Teams

We have officially finished our fall seasons with many of our Atoms student-athletes earning postseason All-District and All-Region recognition. These student-athletes worked hard and their achievements should be acknowledged! Check out the recipients using the link below:

Fall 2024 All District and Region Recognition

*All State and some region voting has yet to occur for a few sports*

Purchase your Atoms Pass for 2024-2025 (Updated FCPS ticket prices)

Effective with the start of the 2024-2025 school year all FCPS schools will have consistent regular season, district tournament and region tournament entry fees for general admission. Adults (18 and over) will be $7. FCPS students will be $5. Schools will continue to offer free admission to senior citizens and children under 6. The VHSL sets ticket prices for VHSL State Competitions. Schools are not allocated funding for uniforms and consumable supplies and ticket revenue is the primary funding source for those items. 

With the new pricing for tickets for FCPS, The Atoms Booster Club’s All-Season passes are a no brainer! 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! **UPDATED price change for adults**

To purchase your Atoms Pass click HERE

Our next Booster Membership Meeting is Monday, December 2

Join us on Monday, December 2 in-person at Annandale High School in the Driver’s Education Room. The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm. Come and find out how you can get involved and support out Atoms' athletic programs!

Atoms Choir places singers at District Chorus

Annandale Choirs Place 35 Singers in District Chorus

On Saturday, November 9, 55 singers from the choir department at AHS auditioned for a place in District Chorus held. The auditions were held at Mt. Vernon High School. Alongside 650 other students from District X, our 55 students held their own by placing 35 students in one of the two auditioned choirs!

Please join me in congratulating the following students on this great accomplishment:

Treble Choir

Lucy Baboyian, Sylvie Bankester, Alice Banks, Alyvia Banks, Kaira Campos Chanez, Deena Elfaki, Estefani Guzman Moza, Frieda Lamar, Sophie Le, Josie McElveen, Ella McKenna, Nellia Mejia Castro, Elizabeth Porter, Gee Riester and Elvicha Joy Strobel

Mixed Choir

Lina Abuelhawa, Marcella Canniff, Harper Chapman, Ahsley Cruz-Rivera, Nathaniel Dosen, Louise Fitzgerald, Gabbi Fuentes-Quinteros, Colin Hoyt, Christine Mahoney, Jakob McElveen, Drew McKenna, Tyler Miller, Quinn Mongold, Megan Murray, Noah Plank, Finn Sample, Ryan Tran, Josh Vaughn, Sean Visperas, and Basilio Zetino

Annandale Legacy Wall 

**Updated picture of the wall below**

Annandale High School has a rich history of success, community support, and strong alumni base that stretches back to its creation in 1954. There is a legacy that surrounds Annandale that many are proud to be a part of as it feels like home to  those who have walked our halls. We want to provide our students, alumni, and community members the opportunity to be a part of the Annandale legacy. Looking for a graduation gift, birthday gift, or to share your own legacy with the Annandale community, then purchase an acrylic block for $100, that will be on displayed along the stadium field wall!

To purchase a block and leave your legacy, click here

*Note orders will be made once the quantity reaches 50 purchased blocks*

For more information, contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris

Atoms Chairs for Sale

Looking for a piece of Atoms furniture to add to your house?! Purchase an Atoms chair! New chairs were ordered this summer for events around school and we're selling our old chairs. There is a limited amount of chairs so get yours before they're gone! Price is $60 for one, $100 for two. Contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris to purchase yours!

Partners for Safe Teen Driving

Included in Grade 10 Health & PE is one quarter, or 30-36 hours, of in-classroom driver education. To obtain your driver’s license in Virginia, you must successfully complete, or 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 or legal guardian. Annandale High School is hosting five (5) PSTD presentations this school year, one each quarter and two during the fourth quarter. They are free to students enrolled in Health & PE 10 at Annandale HS and begin at 630pm in the auditorium. You must attend with a parent or legal guardian, arrive ON TIME, and remain the duration of the presentation for your attendance to be verified. Choose a date convenient for you and your parent or legal guardian. You may attend a session outside of your Driver Education quarter. 

 Patterns for Safe Teen Driving Dates at Annandale High School:

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

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 on various Mondays throughout the school year.

Click HERE for more information.

Any questions can be directed to Lizzie McManus

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

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Winter Meet the Coaches Night 

As our coaches and teams complete week one of tryouts/practices, we want to invite all parents/guardians of our winter athletes to join us for an informational session tonight. You will have the opportunity to hear from the Activities Office staff, athletic trainers, athletic boosters and your student-athletes coach. Join us at 6:30pm in the Annandale Auditorium

General session in the cafeteria and team breakouts will be in classrooms.

Winter Coaches Contacts

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

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Dear Annandale Students, Parents, and Community,

This weekend, the Annandale Theater Company wowed audiences with their performance of Peter Pan and Wendy! Over 50 talented students dedicated months to preparing this show, and their hard work and determination were on full display. To make the performances even more special, several Annandale staff members joined the cast for surprise guest appearances. A huge congratulations to everyone who brought this timeless story to life so beautifully!

Last week, our Instructional Council, CT Leads, Administrators, and Instructional Coaches came together for our biannual progress monitoring meeting. During this important session, we reviewed our School Improvement & Innovation Plan (SIIP) and highlighted evidence of our strategies in action. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Teams from across the school demonstrated a commitment to using evidence of student learning to make instructional shifts that support students by name and need. Our area of focus continues to be finding ways to improve how we can partner with families in order to continue to support our students. As a first step, we will be sending progress reports home to families. These reports will include the student’s updated PRIDE Time assignment, as well as some helpful conversation starters to support discussions at home.

Adding to this week’s excitement, Annandale High School was featured on NBC4 Washington for being named a National Unified Champion School! This honor reflects the incredible efforts of our students, staff, and families in building a community where everyone truly belongs. Watch the NBC4 feature here and join us in celebrating this exciting achievement!

Have a great week, Atom Nation and as always, reach out with any questions.

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Follow Us on Social Media

Stay connected with Annandale High School by following us on social media! It's the best way to keep up with our latest news, celebrate student achievements, and keep up with everything going on in #AtomNation.

Links: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube

Important Dates

November 18 - PTSA Hidden in Plain Sight, 6:30pm

November 19 - PRIDE Time 2.0 Begins

November 19 - Meet the Coaches Night, 6:30pm

November 21 - Thanksgiving Lunch

November 21 - Financial Aid Workshop, 6pm

November 25 - W4 Activities Day

November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break (No School)

 

November 18 - Hidden in Plain Sight: The Annandale HS PTSA invites you to “Hidden In Plain Sight” on Monday, November 18 at 6:30pm in Clausen Hall. The Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) program is a unique in-person, interactive program for adults to be educated about the signs of risky behavior in teens and young adults. It touches on drug and alcohol use, vaping, mental health and behavioral concerns, risky sexual behaviors, trending "challenges” and more. Following the HIPS presentation, representatives from The Chris Atwood Foundation and Community Services Board (CSB) will provide additional information about resources available within our community. CSB will also be offering Narcan training to anyone who is interested. For more information and to register for this free event please visit https://bit.ly/hipsahs11182024.

 

November 18 - Boundary Review Community Meeting: FCPS invites all community members to participate in upcoming Boundary Review Community Meetings held across each of the six regions. Open to the entire FCPS community, these meetings will follow the same format at each location. While registration isn’t required, it helps us plan for childcare and language interpretation services. The first meeting will take place on Monday, November 18 from 6:30 to 8:00pm at Glasgow Middle School. Register here.

 

November 18 - FCPS Honors Nominations Closes: 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. 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 November 18. Contact Jae Lee with any questions.

 

November 19 - Winter Meet the Coaches Night: Parents of student-athletes on a winter team, join us Tuesday, November 19 at 6:30pm in the auditorium for Meet the Coaches Night. 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.

 

November 19 - PRIDE Time 2.0 Begins: Students will begin their new PRIDE Time assignments on Monday, November 19. Those who have been identified as needing additional academic support will begin new PRIDE Time intervention and possibly After School Academic Support (ASAP) assignments.

 

November 21 - AWC Interest Meeting: On Thursday, November 21, the Atoms Writing Center will be holding a new tutor interest meeting in room 274 at 3:10pm. We welcome students from all grade levels who are confident in their writing and communication skills, and enjoy helping their peers, to attend the interest meeting and apply to join our tutor team. The link to the application and light refreshments will be provided at the meeting. 

 

November 21 - Thanksgiving Lunch: Students will be able to purchase a Thanksgiving Lunch in the cafeteria on Thursday, November 21! The menu will consist of turkey with stuffing and gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, and fresh apples or chilled peaches. Check out the FCPS School Lunch page for more information about lunches!

 

November 21 - Financial Aid Workshop for Seniors and Parents: On Thursday, November 21 at 6:00pm in the cafeteria. This program is designed to help current seniors and their families understand the financial aid process (FAFSA, VASA, CCS). Included is a step-by-step guide on how to apply for financial aid (which forms are required, how to access them, what student/parental information is needed).

 

November 25 - W4 Activities Day: On Monday, November 25, Annandale will host W4 Activities Day. Students will have an opportunity to attend club meetings or join in on a variety of other activities. Students selected their preferred activity via a Google form shared through their W4 lessons and on Schoology. Students will recieve an email with their assigned activity. We are excited to offer this experience for our students and look forward to offering more ways to help our students feel connected to school.

Awesome Atoms

Annandale Choirs Place 35 Singers in District Chorus: On Saturday, November 9, 55 talented Annandale singers auditioned for the highly competitive District Chorus at Mt. Vernon High School, standing out among 650 students from District X. We are incredibly proud to announce that 35 of our students earned places in one of the two auditioned choirs! Congratulations to Treble Choir members: Lucy Baboyian, Sylvie Bankester, Alice Banks, Alyvia Banks, Kaira Campos Chanez (1st alternate), Deena Elfaki, Estefani Guzman Moza, Frieda Lamar (2nd alternate), Sophie Le, Josie McElveen, Ella McKenna, Nelli Mejia Castro, Elizabeth Porter, Gee Riester, and Elvicha Joy Strobel.

In the Mixed Choir, Lina Abuelhawa, Marcello Canniff, Harper Chapman (2nd alternate), Ashley Cruz-Rivera, Nathaniel Dosen, Louise Fitzgerald, Gabbi Fuentes-Quinteros, Colin Hoyt (1st alternate), Christine Mahoney, Jakob McElveen, Drew McKenna, Tyler Miller (1st Chair, Bass 2), Quinn Mongold, Megan Murray, Noah Plank, Finn Sample, Ryan Tran, Josh Vaughn (1st Chair, Bass 1), Sean Visperas, and Basilio Zetino, all earned places. Congratulations to all of our singers for a successful season!

 

Art Teacher Juries at Torpedo Factory Art Center: After navigating a rigorous, three-phase jury process, Annandale High School’s art teacher, Luis Navas Reyes, has been awarded studio space at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria. With the support of colleagues, Carmen Lucas and Erin Mahoney, he will open Studio #344 on weekends. Community members are invited to stop by to see his work, connect, and explore the vibrant art community.

 

Annandale High School Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony! Annandale High School proudly hosted its first Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and dinner since 2019, celebrating the outstanding achievements and dedication of our athletes and coaches. The evening included a social hour, dinner, and inspiring remarks from Director of Student Activities Brandon Sutphin and many inductees. Hall of Fame 2019 inductee Cindy Hook, who has coached at Annandale for 45 years, reflected, “I enjoy being around students at Annandale and their families. I’ve always wanted to share what I learned with students.” In a memorable moment, the Class of 1974, celebrating their 50th reunion, presented the Atoms Booster Club with a generous gift of $10,074. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this celebration unforgettable!

 

Callia Uviedo: Occoquan Region Field Hockey Player of the Year! Congratulations to Callia Uviedo, junior and field hockey star, named Player of the Year for the Occoquan Region! This marks her third consecutive year making First Team All-District and All-Region—an incredible achievement. Way to go, Callia! We are so proud of you!

 

Take Your Legislator to School Day at Annandale! We were thrilled to host School Board Member Ricardy Anderson and Delegate Vivian Watts at AHS for Take Your Legislator to School Day! Our students enjoyed the chance to connect with local leaders, ask questions, and learn more about civic engagement and the impact of public service. Thank you to Dr. Anderson and Delegate Watts for inspiring #AtomNation with your dedication and insights!

 

AHS Student Leaders Shine at Ken Tilley Conference! This weekend, our Annandale student leaders had a fantastic time connecting and learning at the Ken Tilley Conference! They spent time developing leadership skills, making new friends, and representing #AtomNation with pride. Huge thanks to West Potomac High for hosting such a memorable event—our students came back inspired and ready to make a difference!

Important Information

PSAT / SAT School Score Reports Available to Students: Students who participated in the PSAT / SAT School Day received a lesson for how to access and interpret their scores this past week during Advisory. The following videos to support students and families with this information has been shared by the College Board. 

• Understanding your Digital PSAT Scores - Video
• Understanding your Digital SAT Scores - Video

 

Supporting Military-Connected Students and Families: Is your student military-connected or has your military-connected status changed? We are working to update our records surrounding Military Connected Families. If one or more parents or guardians in your household are military connected, defined as Active duty, Reserve, National Guard Active Service, and National Guard Reserve, please fill out this form and return it to the school. Our goal with this information is to better serve our military-connected students and families by offering specialized information and support. Thank you for your service!

 

First Quarter Attendance Report Mailed Home: Annandale recently mailed a First Quarter Attendance report with specific attendance data to families for each student, including total number of days and classes they were reported late or having missed completely. In addition, the report provides statistics on the long-term negative impacts of poor attendance, and ways families can encourage and support students to be in school. Included with the mailing we include a small magnet that families can use to quickly access ways to notify us about your student’s absence. If you have any questions about your student’s attendance and would like to speak with someone, please call Cass Hersh in the Attendance Office at 703-642-4363. If you would like to report an absence, please call 703-642-4151 and leave a voice message including your student’s ID number.

 

PTSA Pantry Needs You! The AHS PTSA Pantry provides both shelf stable and perishable items as well as household and personal hygiene items. All are distributed through our pantry to our AHS students and their families who have need. We work hard to continue to stock our shelves for our school community and during the holiday season, we hold small targeted fundraisers to provide a little extra. Here you will find ways to donate to the pantry to support ongoing efforts to keep our shelves stocked. Thank you for your consideration.

 

December 4 - Federal Impact Aid Survey Due: On Friday, Federal Impact Aid Survey forms were distributed during W4 to students who have not completed the form electronically. Federal funding for our school is tied to this form so it is important that it is returned as soon as possible. Please complete the form, sign it, and return it to school with your child by Wednesday, December 4. We appreciate your efforts in this task.

Deadline Extended! FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards 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 Monday, November 18. Contact Jae Lee with any 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.

 

After School Tutoring Available on Wednesdays: Tutoring is available every Wednesday from 3:00-4:30 pm in Trailer 12. Students can receive help with any class from Honor Society members, IB Diploma students, and AVID students. No sign-up is required—just drop in for extra support!

 

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.

 

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.

Opportunities

PTSA Pantry Needs You! The AHS PTSA Pantry provides both shelf stable and perishable items as well as household and personal hygiene items.  All are distributed through our pantry to our AHS students and their families who have need. We work hard to continue to stock our shelves for our school community and during the holiday season, we hold small targeted fundraisers to provide a little extra.  Here you will find ways to donate to the pantry to support ongoing efforts to keep our shelves stocked. Thank you for your consideration.

 

Take the ASVAB Exam: Attention Seniors and Juniors interested in joining the military! The first step is to take the ASVAB Exam, which helps determine what branch and careers students can be eligible for. The ASVAB will be offered twice at Annandale HS. The fall date is Monday, December 9 and the deadline to register is Wednesday, December 4, 2024. To register visit https://tinyurl.com/ASVABforMilitary

 

Support the Orchestra: Shop Merchandise Now! The Annandale High School Orchestra Merchandise Store is LIVE! Visit tinyurl.com/AHSOrchMerch to explore a variety of items and show your support for our talented orchestra students. Order by Thursday, December 1 to ensure delivery in time for the holidays. The store will remain open year-round, but don’t miss this chance to get your items for the festive season!

News from Student Services

College Application Help: Annandale High School offers free college application support twice each week. Wednesdays during Lunch in the Career Center (Room 103) and Thursdays 3-4pm in Trailer 14. In addition, the Atoms Writing Center will be available to help students with their college essays and supplemental application questions during PRIDE Time and Wednesdays after school from 3-4pm in room 274.

 

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 November 20, the Transcript Request Form is due on October 20. 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 College & Career Google site.

 

College & Career Resources Schoology Site: Check out the Student Services: Annandale High School | Schoology (fcps.edu), which provides up-to-date information on the college application process; college representative visits; financial aid and FAFSA/VASA workshops; military options; information on apprenticeships; as well as resources for finding a job.

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. To learn more about Annandale's Spring sports programs, check out this week’s “Atoms Athletics and Activities Newsletter." In addition, learn more about Annandale High School Athletics and Activities by visiting their website, AHS Athletics Twitter or Instagram page.

 

Purchase Your 'Atoms Pass' for 2024-2025! 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! To purchase your Click here to purchase your 2024-25 Atoms Booster Pass! 

 

Add Your Name to the Atoms Legacy Wall: The Annandale High School history of success, community support, and strong alumni base stretches back to its creation in 1954. To help commemorate and preserve that legacy, students, alumni, and community members have the opportunity to purchase an acrylic block on the Legacy Wall as a graduation or birthday gift, or to simply share a legacy with the Annandale community. Each acrylic block can be purchased for $100 and will be displayed along the stadium field wall. To purchase a block, visit myschoolbucks.com. *Note orders will be made once the quantity reaches 50 purchased blocks* For more information, contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris. 

News from the PTSA

PTSA Membership for the 2024-25 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 2024-2025 school year by filling out the online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.

 

PTSA Pantry Is Always Restocking and Needs Your Help! The AHS PTSA Pantry supports current AHS students who experience food insecurity. We are gearing up for the new school year and need your help to restock our shelves! In addition, the pantry distribution schedule for the school year can be found here. All donations to the AHS PTSA Pantry are tax deductible. Contact the pantry with questions. 

Shop Locally

Please see our list of most frequently needed items here, you can shop in your local store. Items may be brought to the front office during school hours.

Amazon

Items can be shipped directly from our Amazon Wishlist. 

Funding

Make a monetary donation through PayPal by clicking the Donate button below or by check made payable AHS PTSA (Please write AHS Pantry in the memo line and mail it to AHS PTSA, 4700 Medford Drive, Annandale, VA  22003)

Sign up to be a Food For Neighbors Red Bag Donor

It is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Sign up to be a red bag donor.
2. Fill the red bag with the list provided
3. Put the red bag outside your door by 8:30am on the donation days.

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

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Atoms Athletics Recap

Winter sports started this week and there were incredible numbers across the board for our programs! We are excited for the winter season and hope that you all will join us at our events and support the Atoms! Check out all of our winter schedules at www.annandaleatoms.net. Weekly recaps will start back up in a couple weeks!

Check back next week as we recap our fall seasons!

Winter Season Tryouts

Winter sports include basketball, swim & dive, wrestling, gymnastics, sideline cheer, and indoor track. In order to participate, there are 2 items that need to be completed prior to the first day of tryouts: 1) Sports Physical - Completed and turned in to Athletic Trainers Ryan Hughes and 2) Activity Registration. This is an online submission that encompasses the Emergency Care Form and Concussion Education Training.

Students interested in participating in a winter sport can submit their physicals and register for a sport on Monday, November 11 from 9:00am-12:00pm in the main gym lobby. The first official day for winter tryouts will be Tuesday, November 12. For more information about tryouts, check out www.annandaleatoms.net.

Winter Sports Pictures Purchase your Atoms Pass for 2024-2025

Effective with the start of the 2024-2025 school year all FCPS schools will have consistent regular season, district tournament and region tournament entry fees for general admission. Adults (18 and over) will be $7. FCPS students will be $5. Schools will continue to offer free admission to senior citizens and children under 6. The VHSL sets ticket prices for VHSL State Competitions. Schools are not allocated funding for uniforms and consumable supplies and ticket revenue is the primary funding source for those items. 

With the new pricing for tickets for FCPS, The Atoms Booster Club’s All-Season passes are a no brainer! 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! **UPDATED price change for adults**

To purchase your Atoms Pass click HERE

Annandale's Theatre Fall Play

The Annandale Theatre Company is proud to present “Peter Pan and Wendy.” Bold, budding scientist Wendy Darling dreams of earning a Nobel Prize. When Peter Pan arrives at her bedroom window, she takes a leap and leaves finishing school behind, chasing adventure among the stars. Facing down fairies, mermaids, and the dastardly Captain Hook, Wendy, Peter, Tiger Lily and their friends discover the power of standing up together for what’s right. J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan is reimagined for a new generation of theatregoers as a bright, charming, feminist, anti-colonial, empowering play for all ages. You can purchase tickets online www.annandaletheatre.org

November 16 at 2pm and 7pm

$5 for kids 10 and under

$10 for students over 10

$15 for general admission

Our next Booster Membership Meeting is Monday, December 2

Join us on Monday, December 2 in-person at Annandale High School in the Driver’s Education Room. The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm. Come and find out how you can get involved and support out Atoms' athletic programs!

Annandale Legacy Wall 

**Updated picture of the wall below**

Annandale High School has a rich history of success, community support, and strong alumni base that stretches back to its creation in 1954. There is a legacy that surrounds Annandale that many are proud to be a part of as it feels like home to  those who have walked our halls. We want to provide our students, alumni, and community members the opportunity to be a part of the Annandale legacy. Looking for a graduation gift, birthday gift, or to share your own legacy with the Annandale community, then purchase an acrylic block for $100, that will be on displayed along the stadium field wall!

To purchase a block and leave your legacy, click here

*Note orders will be made once the quantity reaches 50 purchased blocks*

For more information, contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris

Atoms Chairs for Sale

Looking for a piece of Atoms furniture to add to your house?! Purchase an Atoms chair! New chairs were ordered this summer for events around school and we're selling our old chairs. There is a limited amount of chairs so get yours before they're gone! Price is $60 for one, $100 for two. Contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris to purchase yours!

Atoms Jibbitz for sale!

Looking for new Annandale swag for your shoes?! Stop by the Activities Office and pick up an Annandale Atoms jibbitz for $5.00! Hurry and get yours before they sell out!

Partners for Safe Teen Driving

Included in Grade 10 Health & PE is one quarter, or 30-36 hours, of in-classroom driver education. To obtain your driver’s license in Virginia, you must successfully complete, or 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 or legal guardian. Annandale High School is hosting five (5) PSTD presentations this school year, one each quarter and two during the fourth quarter. They are free to students enrolled in Health & PE 10 at Annandale HS and begin at 630pm in the auditorium. You must attend with a parent or legal guardian, arrive ON TIME, and remain the duration of the presentation for your attendance to be verified. Choose a date convenient for you and your parent or legal guardian. You may attend a session outside of your Driver Education quarter. 

 Patterns for Safe Teen Driving Dates at Annandale High School:

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

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 on various Mondays throughout the school year.

Click HERE for more information.

Any questions can be directed to Lizzie McManus

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

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Annandale Community:

We are excited to share the success of our recent math professional development sessions, held across the Annandale Pyramid. This collaboration is part of our ongoing commitment to aligning and enhancing math instruction from kindergarten through 12th grade, ensuring every student benefits from innovative, inclusive approaches to learning.

The sessions were made even more memorable by a visit from Superintendent Reid, who observed one of the workshops at Annandale Terrace Elementary School. She highlighted the visit in her "Weekly Reflections" newsletter, sharing her appreciation for our teachers’ dedication: "It was inspiring to see second grade teachers from across the pyramid collaborating on the upcoming math unit, sharing strategies, and adapting resources specifically to support our multilingual learners." Her words energize us to continue this vital work in supporting our diverse learners.

Here’s a look at the event highlights and outcomes:

Annandale Pyramid Elementary Schools: The recent Annandale Pyramid Elementary Math Professional Development session, held across various schools, brought together K-5 teachers for focused workshops tailored to each grade level. The sessions began with an overview of goals and shared resources, emphasizing adaptations for multilingual learners. Teachers then practiced effective scaffolding techniques in small groups and rehearsed lesson plans, with peer feedback to refine their approaches. These collaborative efforts aimed to enhance support for multilingual students and foster consistent instructional strategies across schools.

Annandale Pyramid Secondary Schools (Grades 6-12): Teachers from Annandale High School, Poe Middle School, and Holmes Middle School worked closely to share best practices to support our diverse group of students. They explored ways to address students’ needs through teacher-led small groups and used pictorial anchor charts to strengthen students' mathematical language. Content teams identified specific upcoming lessons where they plan to apply these strategies. This collaborative work highlights our commitment to building community across our schools and supporting our unified vision:

In the Annandale Pyramid, mathematics teaching and learning focuses on developing an understanding of concepts and procedures through problem-solving, reasoning, and discourse.

Thank you for your continued support as we foster a collaborative learning community in the Annandale Pyramid. Together, we are making strides toward a brighter future for all our students.

The Annandale Pyramid Principals

Ingrid Badia (Annandale Terrace ES), Keesha Jackson-Muir (Braddock ES), Elizabeth Williams (Bren Mar Park ES), Michael Astudillo (Columbia ES), Felicia Usher (Weyanoke ES), Chad McRae (North Springfield ES), Serena Giron (Holmes MS), Jason Pannutti (Poe MS), and Shawn DeRose (Annandale HS)

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

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Annandale Theatre Company presents,
Peter Pan and Wendy, November 15-16!

The Annandale Theatre Company is proud to present “Peter Pan and Wendy.” Bold, budding scientist Wendy Darling dreams of earning a Nobel Prize. When Peter Pan arrives at her bedroom window, she takes a leap and leaves finishing school behind, chasing adventure among the stars. Facing down fairies, mermaids, and the dastardly Captain Hook, Wendy, Peter, Tiger Lily and their friends discover the power of standing up together for what’s right. J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan is reimagined for a new generation of theatregoers as a bright, charming, feminist, anti-colonial, empowering play for all ages.

Dates and times: November 15 at 7pm and November 16 at 2pm and 7pm. Students $5, Seniors $10, General $15. Click here to purchase tickets to the show.

Exclusive Opportunity: $25 Dinner & Show Ticket (Friday, Nov 15 only) – Enjoy a delicious meal before the show prepared by our AHS Culinary Program. Purchase your tickets today!

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

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Annandale Students, Parents, and Community:

Happy Veterans Day, Atom Nation! Today, we honor the veterans who have bravely served our country. Last Friday, Annandale High School marked this special day with a W4 lesson dedicated to recognizing the sacrifices of veterans and their families. During W4 Advisory, students had the opportunity to reflect on the contributions of service members, especially those in our own AHS community. We are proud to recognize Annandale staff members who have served in the Armed Forces: Herb Eggert, Regina Jackson, PJ Taylor, Leonard Bumbaca, and Chad Steffey.

This coming weekend marks the opening of the Annandale Theatre Company’s performance of Peter Pan and Wendy, a reimagined classic that follows budding scientist Wendy Darling as she chooses adventure and discovery over finishing school. Together with Peter Pan, Tiger Lily, and friends, Wendy faces fairies, mermaids, and the notorious Captain Hook as she learns the power of courage and standing up for what’s right. This family-friendly production brings a new perspective to J.M. Barrie’s beloved story. Performances are scheduled for November 15 at 7:00pm and November 16 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm. Tickets are $5 for children under ten, $10 for students, and $15 for general admission. Purchase your tickets today!

Finally, we have extended the deadline for FCPS Honors nominations to Monday, November 18. These awards recognize exceptional educators and staff across FCPS, and we encourage you to nominate Annandale staff members who have made a difference. This is a opportunity to celebrate those who go above and beyond for our students. To nominate an Annandale staff member, please complete the AHS Outstanding Employee Nomination Form.

Have a great week and as always, please reach out with any questions.

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Deadline Extended! FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards 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 Monday, November 18. Contact Jae Lee with any questions.

Follow Us on Social Media

Stay connected with Annandale High School by following us on social media! It's the best way to keep up with our latest news, celebrate student achievements, and keep up with everything going on in #AtomNation.

Links: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube

Important Dates

November 11 - Veterans Day (No School)

November 11 - Winter Sport Tryouts Begin

November 12 - PTSA Meeting, 7pm

November 12 - FCPS Honors Nominations Due

November 13 - Fall Check-In Survey Closes

November 15 - Federal Impact Aid Survey Due

November 15 & 16 - Fall Play

November 16 - Our Voices, Our Future: Multilingual Learners’ Day of Service

November 18 - PTSA Hidden in Plain Sight, 6:30pm

November 18 - Boundary Review Community Meeting

November 19 - PRIDE Time 2.0 Begins

November 19 - Meet the Coaches Night, 6:30pm

November 21 - Thanksgiving Lunch

November 21 - FAFSA Completion Event, 6pm

November 25 - W4 Activities Day

November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break (No School)

 

November 11 - Winter Sport Tryouts Begin: Winter sports include basketball, swim & dive, wrestling, gymnastics, sideline cheer, and indoor track. In order to participate, there are 2 items that need to be completed prior to the first day of tryouts: 1) Sports Physical - Completed and turned in to Athletic Trainers Ryan Hughes and 2) Activity Registration. This is an online submission that encompasses the Emergency Care Form and Concussion Education Training. Students interested in participating in a winter sport can submit their physicals and register for a sport on Monday, November 11 from 9:00am-12:00pm in the main gym lobby. The first official day for winter tryouts will be Tuesday, November 12. For more information about tryouts, check out www.annandaleatoms.net. 

 

November 12 - PTSA Meeting, 6:30pm: Our next PTSA meeting will be on Tuesday, November 12 at 6:30pm 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 the PTSA by filling out the online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.

 

November 13 - 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. Yesterday, families received a reminder email with a link to the survey. We would appreciate your feedback by Wednesday, November 13. In the coming weeks, we will share survey trends as well as how we are responding to your feedback.

 

November 15 - Federal Impact Aid Survey Due: 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 to ensure that all students 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 have received an email from the division last week and can complete the survey online. Step by step directions for filling out the online form can be found here. For families who are unable to complete the survey on-line or do not do so prior to November 11, a paper form will be provided to students on November 15 during their W4 class.

 

November 15 & 16 - Fall Play: The Annandale Theatre Company is proud to present “Peter Pan and Wendy.” Bold, budding scientist Wendy Darling dreams of earning a Nobel Prize. When Peter Pan arrives at her bedroom window, she takes a leap and leaves finishing school behind, chasing adventure among the stars. Facing down fairies, mermaids, and the dastardly Captain Hook, Wendy, Peter, Tiger Lily and their friends discover the power of standing up together for what’s right. J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan is reimagined for a new generation of theatre goers as a bright, charming, feminist, anti-colonial, empowering play for all ages. Performances are on November 15 at 7:00pm and November 16 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm. Tickets are $5 for children under ten, $10 for students, and $15 general admission.

Exclusive Opportunity: $25 Dinner & Show Ticket (Friday, Nov 15 only) – Enjoy a delicious meal before the show prepared by our AHS Culinary Program. Purchase your tickets today!

 

November 16 - Our Voices, Our Future: Multilingual Learners’ Day of Service: Our Voices, Our Future: Multilingual Learners’ Day of Service will be offered for FCPS secondary students on Saturday, November 16, 2024, from 9:00-11:30am at Edison High School. Dr. José Luis Zelaya, keynote speaker at the Multilingual Learners’ Summit this past summer, will be returning as the featured guest for this student workshop. Dr. Zelaya will engage and empower students with the strengths of multilingualism, as students explore leadership skills to plan for future success. Reflective service learning practices allow students to impact their communities through advocacy, engagement, and empowerment. All FCPS secondary students who attend will earn service learning credit for participating. Students planning to attend should register and bring their FCPS laptop to the event. Light refreshments and family resources will be available for parents/caregivers during the student workshop.

Awesome Atoms

Honoring Our Heroes: Veterans Day at AHS: On Friday, we celebrated Veterans Day by honoring AHS staff and their family members who served in the Armed Forces. We also held a special lesson during W4, giving students a chance to reflect on the sacrifices made by veterans and their families. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our AHS veterans: Herb Eggert, Chad Steffey, Regina Jackson, PJ Taylor, and Leonard Bumbaca. We honor and appreciate your service to our nation.

 

AHS Speech Team Competes in First Tournament! On Saturday, Ms. Mooney and the Annandale High School Speech Team, supported by enthusiastic parents, attended their first tournament at Yorktown High School in Arlington, Virginia. Competing in Declamation and Dramatic Interpretation, our team gained valuable experience through multiple rounds and attended a seminar offering insights from a judge’s perspective. As this is AHS’s inaugural year with a Speech Team, the day was both enlightening and inspiring. Below are our team captains, Cecilia Marigliano and Julia Gallo Wedolowski, pictured proudly with tournament head, Mr. Mark Deaton.

 

AHS Alumni Delivers Keynote at Center for International Education Exchange: Alison Coria Tarazona (Class of 2024) was one of the keynote speakers at the Center for International Education and Exchange (CIEE) annual conference held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. Alison studied the Leadership and Service in Public Health in the Dominican Republic program. At the conference, Alison shared the impact study abroad had on her life and how it influenced her post-secondary options to study neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University. Here is the blog post Alison wrote when she returned. In her reflection, Alison shared how the experience influenced her educational pathway, as well as, her confidence, independence, and ability to overcome challenges. 

 

Fall Intramural Soccer Tournament Scores Big! The Fall Intramural Soccer Tournament, hosted by our Student Life Team was a great success! Dedicated students gathered at the AHS Stadium at 7:15am for some friendly competition. Information about morning intramurals is shared on the All Students Schoology page, with activities moving to the Main Gym when needed. Morning Intramurals are open to all students who are looking for a little morning physical and social activity, and set a positive tone for the academic day.

 

Congrats to AHS Art Teachers Erin Mahoney and Luis Navas Reyes! Kudos to Erin Mahoney and Luis Navas Reyes for having their artwork featured in the 17th Annual Artist Teacher Exhibition: Materiality. This show features original works by FCPS art teachers, with this year’s theme focusing on "Materiality"—exploring how artists experiment with and push the boundaries of different media and materials in their creations. We are proud of Erin and Luis for representing AHS in this inspiring exhibition!

 

Top Ten Reasons to Love Annandale Revealed: FCPS recently released the Top Ten Reasons to Love Annandale High School page! From our vibrant, diverse community (#1) and welcoming environment (#2) to our extensive academic programs (#3) and wide range of extracurriculars (#5), AHS truly has something for everyone. Our dedicated staff (#4) supports each student, and our College and Career Center (#8) offers valuable resources for future planning. Explore the full list to see why AHS is a place where students thrive! #AtomNation

 

Alumni Spotlight Pathways to Success Panel: On our first W4 Activities Day, AHS senior Leyla Yilma and our College Career Specialist Viri Acosta hosted the Alumni Spotlight Pathways to Success panel.  The virtual panel consisted of Annandale High School alumni sharing their experiences transitioning to college. Participants had the opportunity to ask them questions about the college application process, their academic journey, and what life is like at their universities. 

Important Information

Prayer Room/Reflection and Silent Space: The Annandale High School prayer room is available in the library for students who need to pray, meditate, or engage in silent reflection and 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 as well. 

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.

 

After School Tutoring Available on Wednesdays: Tutoring is available every Wednesday from 3:00-4:30 pm in Trailer 12. Students can receive help with any class from Honor Society members, IB Diploma students, and AVID students. No sign-up is required—just drop in for extra support!

 

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.

 

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.

Opportunities

PTSA Pantry Needs You! The AHS PTSA Pantry provides both shelf stable and perishable items as well as household and personal hygiene items.  All are distributed through our pantry to our AHS students and their families who have need. We work hard to continue to stock our shelves for our school community and during the holiday season, we hold small targeted fundraisers to provide a little extra.  Here you will find ways to donate to the pantry to support ongoing efforts to keep our shelves stocked. Thank you for your consideration.

 

November 18 - Boundary Review Community Meeting: FCPS invites all community members to participate in upcoming Boundary Review Community Meetings held across each of the six regions. Open to the entire FCPS community, these meetings will follow the same format at each location. While registration isn’t required, it helps us plan for childcare and language interpretation services. The first meeting will take place on Monday, November 18, 2024, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Glasgow Middle School. Register here to help us prepare!

 

Free Conversational English Sessions at AHS! Annandale High School is proud to announce that the AHS Family Resource Center will offer English sessions for parents on the first 3 Fridays of the month, from 10:30am to 12:30pm. We are partnering with county volunteers that teach at The English Empowerment Center (former Literacy Council of Northern Virginia) in our area. Stop by the Family Resource Center each Friday from 8am-3pm for support with SIS ParentVue, Health insurance forms, work skills, Parent coffees with the Principal, and more!

News from Student Services

College Application Help: Annandale High School offers free college application support twice each week. Wednesdays during Lunch in the Career Center (Room 103) and Thursdays 3-4pm in Trailer 14. In addition, the Atoms Writing Center will be available to help students with their college essays and supplemental application questions during PRIDE Time and Wednesdays after school from 3-4pm in room 274.

 

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 November 20, the Transcript Request Form is due on October 20. 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 College & Career Google site.

 

College & Career Resources Schoology Site: Check out the Student Services: Annandale High School | Schoology (fcps.edu), which provides up-to-date information on the college application process; college representative visits; financial aid and FAFSA/VASA workshops; military options; information on apprenticeships; as well as resources for finding a job.

 

November 21 - Financial Aid Completion Event: On Thursday, November 21 at 6:00pm in the cafeteria, staff will be on-site to assist families and seniors with completing their Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications.

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. To learn more about Annandale's Spring sports programs, check out this week’s “Atoms Athletics and Activities Newsletter." In addition, learn more about Annandale High School Athletics and Activities by visiting their website, AHS Athletics Twitter or Instagram page.

 

November 19 - Winter Meet the Coaches Night: For those parents of student-athletes on a winter team, join us Tuesday, November 19 at 6:30pm in the auditorium. 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 2024-2025! 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! To purchase your Click here to purchase your 2024-25 Atoms Booster Pass! 

 

Add Your Name to the Atoms Legacy Wall: The Annandale High School history of success, community support, and strong alumni base stretches back to its creation in 1954. To help commemorate and preserve that legacy, students, alumni, and community members have the opportunity to purchase an acrylic block on the Legacy Wall as a graduation or birthday gift, or to simply share a legacy with the Annandale community. Each acrylic block can be purchased for $100 and will be displayed along the stadium field wall. To purchase a block, visit myschoolbucks.com. *Note orders will be made once the quantity reaches 50 purchased blocks* For more information, contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris. 

 

Winter Sports Tryout Schedule 2024

News from the PTSA

PTSA Membership for the 2024-25 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 2024-2025 school year by filling out the online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.

 

November 18 - Hidden in Plain Sight: The Annandale HS PTSA invites you to “Hidden In Plain Sight” on Monday, November 18 at 6:30pm in Clausen Hall. The Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) program is a unique in-person, interactive program for adults to be educated about the signs of risky behavior in teens and young adults. It touches on drug and alcohol use, vaping, mental health and behavioral concerns, risky sexual behaviors, trending "challenges” and more. Following the HIPS presentation, representatives from The Chris Atwood Foundation and Community Services Board (CSB) will provide additional information about resources available within our community. CSB will also be offering Narcan training to anyone who is interested.  For more information and to register for this free event please visit https://bit.ly/hipsmadisonhs24.

 

PTSA Pantry Is Always Restocking and Needs Your Help! The AHS PTSA Pantry supports current AHS students who experience food insecurity. We are gearing up for the new school year and need your help to restock our shelves! In addition, the pantry distribution schedule for the school year can be found here. All donations to the AHS PTSA Pantry are tax deductible. Contact the pantry with questions. 

Shop Locally

Please see our list of most frequently needed items here, you can shop in your local store. Items may be brought to the front office during school hours.

Amazon

Items can be shipped directly from our Amazon Wishlist. 

Funding

Make a monetary donation through PayPal by clicking the Donate button below or by check made payable AHS PTSA (Please write AHS Pantry in the memo line and mail it to AHS PTSA, 4700 Medford Drive, Annandale, VA  22003)

Sign up to be a Food For Neighbors Red Bag Donor

It is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Sign up to be a red bag donor.
2. Fill the red bag with the list provided
3. Put the red bag outside your door by 8:30am on the donation days.

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

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Atoms Athletics Recap

Girls Volleyball traveled to Woodson Monday for the first round of the Occoquan Region Tournament. The Atoms didn't back down from a tough Cavalier team, seeing themselves in a 22-15 hole in the first set, the Atoms rattled off 9 straight to take a 24-22 lead. Unfortunately, the Atoms couldn't put the set away and lost a heartbreaking first set 28-26. The teams went back and forth in the second set before Woodson pulled away to win the second 25-19. The Cavaliers put the Atoms away in the third set to bring their season to an end. It was a special season as this was the first time the Atoms had qualified for the regional tournament since before COVID. The team graduates a few key players but return a young core that saw a lot of court time this year.

Boys Volleyball continued their magical season with an appearance in the National District Finals Monday evening at TJ. The fans were treated to an exciting back and forth match. The Atoms fell in the first set before taking set two to even the score. TJ ran away a little bit in the third but the Atoms battled their way to fourth set win to bring the district championship to a deciding fifth set. The Atoms looked as though they had spent their energy working their way through the fourth as TJ pulled away to secure the district championship. Despite the loss, the Atoms hosted a first round regional game Wednesday when they welcome Madison to Robert Hardage Gymnasium. The Atoms were on fire in the first set as they dominated the Warhawks to take the opening frame. Madison turned the tables in set two to even the match but that was all they could muster as the Atoms won set three and four to secure their first ever regional win in school history. It was a quick turnaround for round two as the Atoms traveled to McLean. The Highlanders overpowered the Atoms throughout to win the match 3-0. The Atoms had an incredible first season as a program and with a large turnout in year one, year two looks to continue the growth of what was started in 2024.

Field Hockey's season unfortunately came to an end Monday evening at Woodson in the region semifinals. The Atoms trailed after one quarter 1-0 before putting a point on the board to knot the score at 1. It was back and forth throughout the second before the Cavaliers scored with just under three to play in the half to hold a 2-1 lead. The Cavaliers added a third goal in the third to seal the win as the Atoms were unable to get another one in the net before the final horn sounded. Despite the loss, the Atoms were a force to be throughout the 2024 season and walk away with a district championship and the opportunity to play for a state berth. The Atoms looked poised to make another run in 2025, so stay tuned!

Football played their final game of the season last night when they welcome Rock Ridge to J. Wallace Bolding Stadium. The Atoms were up early before the Phoenix tied it 7-7 in the second quarter. It was back and forth throughout the second with the Atoms holding a 22-15 advantage heading into halftime. both teams added a touchdown in the third with the Atoms holding a 35-22 leading halfway through the fourth quarter. The Phoenix scored a short touchdown to bring it to a one score game. The Atoms were unable to muster a final drive and punted the ball back to Rock Ridge with two minutes to play. The Phoenix busted a lost run to put them into scoring position and punched it through with 40 seconds to play to hold a 36-35 lead. The Atoms had one last effort to score but was pushed out of bounds at the 15 as the clocked expired. The Atoms head into the offseason with a few holes to fill but return a core group of players who saw significant time this year.

Boys Cross Country competed in the Region Championship meet Wednesday at Burke Lake. The Atoms were up against some stiff competition but ran a great race! The Atoms performed well throughout the season and it was evident with their qualification for the region championship meet. A couple seniors depart but the Atoms are stacked with young runners ready to show they have what it takes to compete again in 2025.

Winter Season Tryouts

Winter sports include basketball, swim & dive, wrestling, gymnastics, sideline cheer, and indoor track. In order to participate, there are 2 items that need to be completed prior to the first day of tryouts: 1) Sports Physical - Completed and turned in to Athletic Trainers Ryan Hughes and 2) Activity Registration. This is an online submission that encompasses the Emergency Care Form and Concussion Education Training.

Students interested in participating in a winter sport can submit their physicals and register for a sport on Monday, November 11 from 9:00am-12:00pm in the main gym lobby. The first official day for winter tryouts will be Tuesday, November 12. For more information about tryouts, check out www.annandaleatoms.net.

Purchase your Atoms Pass for 2024-2025 (Updated FCPS ticket prices)

Effective with the start of the 2024-2025 school year all FCPS schools will have consistent regular season, district tournament and region tournament entry fees for general admission. Adults (18 and over) will be $7. FCPS students will be $5. Schools will continue to offer free admission to senior citizens and children under 6. The VHSL sets ticket prices for VHSL State Competitions. Schools are not allocated funding for uniforms and consumable supplies and ticket revenue is the primary funding source for those items. 

With the new pricing for tickets for FCPS, The Atoms Booster Club’s All-Season passes are a no brainer! 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! **UPDATED price change for adults**

To purchase your Atoms Pass click HERE

Annandale's Theatre Fall Play

The Annandale Theatre Company is proud to present “Peter Pan and Wendy.” Bold, budding scientist Wendy Darling dreams of earning a Nobel Prize. When Peter Pan arrives at her bedroom window, she takes a leap and leaves finishing school behind, chasing adventure among the stars. Facing down fairies, mermaids, and the dastardly Captain Hook, Wendy, Peter, Tiger Lily and their friends discover the power of standing up together for what’s right. J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan is reimagined for a new generation of theatregoers as a bright, charming, feminist, anti-colonial, empowering play for all ages. You can purchase tickets online www.annandaletheatre.org

November 15 at 7pm

November 16 at 2pm and 7pm

$5 for kids 10 and under

$10 for students over 10

$15 for general admission

Winter Meet the Coaches Night

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

Our next Booster Membership Meeting is Monday, December 2

Join us on Monday, December 2 in-person at Annandale High School in the Driver’s Education Room. The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm. Come and find out how you can get involved and support out Atoms' athletic programs!

Annandale Legacy Wall 

**Updated picture of the wall below**

Annandale High School has a rich history of success, community support, and strong alumni base that stretches back to its creation in 1954. There is a legacy that surrounds Annandale that many are proud to be a part of as it feels like home to  those who have walked our halls. We want to provide our students, alumni, and community members the opportunity to be a part of the Annandale legacy. Looking for a graduation gift, birthday gift, or to share your own legacy with the Annandale community, then purchase an acrylic block for $100, that will be on displayed along the stadium field wall!

To purchase a block and leave your legacy, click here

*Note orders will be made once the quantity reaches 50 purchased blocks*

For more information, contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris

Atoms Chairs for Sale

Looking for a piece of Atoms furniture to add to your house?! Purchase an Atoms chair! New chairs were ordered this summer for events around school and we're selling our old chairs. There is a limited amount of chairs so get yours before they're gone! Price is $60 for one, $100 for two. Contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris to purchase yours!

Atoms Jibbitz for sale!

Looking for new Annandale swag for your shoes?! Stop by the Activities Office and pick up an Annandale Atoms jibbitz for $5.00! Hurry and get yours before they sell out!

Partners for Safe Teen Driving

Included in Grade 10 Health & PE is one quarter, or 30-36 hours, of in-classroom driver education. To obtain your driver’s license in Virginia, you must successfully complete, or 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 or legal guardian. Annandale High School is hosting five (5) PSTD presentations this school year, one each quarter and two during the fourth quarter. They are free to students enrolled in Health & PE 10 at Annandale HS and begin at 630pm in the auditorium. You must attend with a parent or legal guardian, arrive ON TIME, and remain the duration of the presentation for your attendance to be verified. Choose a date convenient for you and your parent or legal guardian. You may attend a session outside of your Driver Education quarter. 

 Patterns for Safe Teen Driving Dates at Annandale High School:

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

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 on various Mondays throughout the school year.

Click HERE for more information.

Any questions can be directed to Lizzie McManus

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter

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Annandale Students, Parents, and Community:

Another incredible week to be an Annandale Atom! Monday featured our first W4 Activities Day of the year, offering students a chance to participate in games, crafts, and activities that foster community and connection. From bracelet-making to sports and creative hair tinseling, the day was filled with opportunities for students and staff to connect. Thank you to our Student Life Team for their efforts in making this event happen. We look forward to the next session on November 25.

Halloween is one of my favorite Holidays and there is no better way to spend it than in Atom Nation, with staff and students showing their creativity. As a staff, we held our annual costume contest. There were some incredible group costumes this year. Our CAT B team brought a carnival complete with snacks, strong men, and a fortune teller. Our clinicians made an Olympic tribute, complete with a brake dancer. And, the admin team dressed as zoo animals, only to be tamed by Admin Assistant and zookeeper extraordinaire, Jen Buchannan.

But the Halloween fun didn’t stop there. After school, we hosted our first Trunk or Treat. It was great to see so many community members in their costumes, playing games and trick-or-treating at the various clubs. The evening ended with our varsity football team enjoying a strong 42-7 win against the Lewis Lancers. They’ll face Rock Ridge in the final home game of the season this Friday. 

Other sports enjoyed victories as well. The Boys Volleyball team secured a hard-fought win over Hayfield, moving them into the National District Championship. Our Field Hockey team also won their first game of the regional quarterfinals, defeating Robinson 2-1 and advancing to play Woodson. Tryouts for Winter sports including basketball, swim & dive, wrestling, gymnastics, sideline cheer, and indoor track begin November 11. We invite all students to take a shot at being part of our amazing teams.

As a reminder, Monday and Tuesday, there is no school for students. Classes will resume on Wednesday, November 6. The following Monday, November 11, is Veterans Day and a holiday. To celebrate and honor our veterans, we will hold a special Veterans Day lesson during W4 this Friday. During this lesson students will have an opportunity to pause, reflect, and recognize the extraordinary sacrifices our Veterans and their families have made on our behalf. We thank all of our Veterans for their service.

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 Tuesday, November 12. Contact Jae Lee with any questions.

Follow Us on Social Media

Stay connected with Annandale High School by following us on social media! It's the best way to keep up with our latest news, celebrate student achievements, and be part of our vibrant community. Whether you're a student, parent, or community member, you'll find exciting updates, important announcements, and inspiring stories that showcase the spirit of Annandale.

Links: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube

Important Dates

November 4 - School Planning Day (No School)

November 5 - Teacher Work Day (No School)

November 6 - PTSA Pantry Distribution

November 7 & 8 - Senior Picture Retakes

November 8 - Veterans Day Celebration

November 10 - Fall Check-In Survey Due

November 11 - Veterans Day (No School)

November 11 - Winter Sport Tryouts Begin

November 12 - PTSA Meeting, 6:30pm

November 12 - FCPS Honors Nominations Due

November 15 & 16 - Fall Play

November 18 - PTSA Hidden in Plain Sight, 6pm

November 19 - PRIDE Time 2.0 Begins

November 21 - Thanksgiving Lunch

November 21 - FAFSA Completion Event, 6pm

November 25 - W4 Activities Day

November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break (No School)

 

Tonight - NCAA Webinar for College Bound Student Athletes and Families, 6-7pm: Are you a student-athlete dreaming of playing your sport at the NCAA level? This webinar offered by the NCAA Eligibility center will help students and families gain an understanding the requirements and how to prepare for NCAA certification. Join NCAA Eligibility Center staff, who will walk you through what you need to do to compete at the NCAA Division I, II or III level. Staff will be answering questions live during the presentation, so come prepared to learn how to take your game to the next level! Click here to register.

 

November 4-5 - Student Holiday: Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 4, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 5, for a teacher workday. See the complete school year calendar.

 

November 6, 13 & 19 Signs of Suicide Prevention Program (Grade 11): 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 for students in grade 11 will take place on November 6, 13, and 19. 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.

 

November 8 - Veterans Day Celebration: In honor of Veterans Day, we will be honoring staff through a W4 presentation that includes photos and branch of service. Our Social Studies teachers will also be sharing information about Veterans Day in their classes to bring awareness to our students.

 

November 11 - Winter Sport Tryouts Begin: Winter sports include basketball, swim & dive, wrestling, gymnastics, sideline cheer, and indoor track. In order to participate, there are 2 items that need to be completed prior to the first day of tryouts: 1) Sports Physical - Completed and turned in to Athletic Trainers Ryan Hughes and 2) Activity Registration. This is an online submission that encompasses the Emergency Care Form and Concussion Education Training. Students interested in participating in a winter sport can submit their physicals and register for a sport on Monday, November 11 from 9:00am-12:00pm in the main gym lobby. The first official day for winter tryouts will be Tuesday, November 12. For more information about tryouts, check out www.annandaleatoms.net. 

 

November 12 - PTSA Meeting, 6:30pm: Our next PTSA meeting will be on Tuesday, November 12 at 6:30pm 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 the PTSA by filling out the online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.

 

November 15 & 16 - Fall Play: The Annandale Theatre Company is proud to present “Peter Pan and Wendy.” Bold, budding scientist Wendy Darling dreams of earning a Nobel Prize. When Peter Pan arrives at her bedroom window, she takes a leap and leaves finishing school behind, chasing adventure among the stars. Facing down fairies, mermaids, and the dastardly Captain Hook, Wendy, Peter, Tiger Lily and their friends discover the power of standing up together for what’s right. J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan is reimagined for a new generation of theatre goers as a bright, charming, feminist, anti-colonial, empowering play for all ages. Performances are on November 15 at 7:00pm and November 16 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm. Tickets are $5 for children under ten, $10 for students, and $15 general admission.

Exclusive Opportunity: $25 Dinner & Show Ticket (Friday, Nov 15 only) – Enjoy a delicious meal before the show prepared by our AHS Culinary Program. Purchase your tickets today!

 

November 18 - Hidden in Plain Sight: The Annandale HS PTSA invites you to “Hidden In Plain Sight” on Monday, November 18 at 6:30pm in Clausen Hall. The Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) program is an in-person interactive program for adults to be educated about the signs of risky behavior in teens and young adults. It touches on drug and alcohol use, vaping, mental health and behavioral concerns, risky sexual behaviors, trending "challenges” and more. Following the HIPS presentation, representatives from The Chris Atwood Foundation and Community Services Board (CSB) will provide additional information about resources available within our community. CSB will also be offering Narcan training to anyone who is interested.

Awesome Atoms

Chorus Fall Concert - A Lovely Day: The Annandale Choirs - Atom Chorale, Men’s Chorale, Chamber, and the Annandale Singers hosted their first concert of the year on Tuesday, October 22. The evening was filled with songs all about the day. Songs at the break of day, throughout our days, and songs of sleep and reflection. The powerful singing reminded us all of the impact music has in uplifting and uniting our community. The entire audience danced out of the auditorium singing Bill Withers, A Lovely Day. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this memorable night!

 

Annandale Celebrates Virginia College Application Week! Last week Annandale students took advantage of Virginia College Application Week and the waived college application fees for most Virginia colleges and universities. Students received assistance with completing their college applications during lunch and after school. 

 

W4 Activities Day Creates Connection to AHS! We held our first monthly W4 Activities Day this past Monday. It was so fun to see students connect with each other and staff through activities such as playing games and sports, making friendship bracelets, tinseling hair, scarf making, and coloring. Very few other schools the size of Annandale manage to organize an event like this, which we offer once a month. A huge thank you to our Activities Department for taking on this complex planning! Our next W4 Activities Day will be on Monday, November 25. We look forward to continuing to embed opportunities for our students to deepen their sense of connection and belonging at school.

Important Information

PTSA Pantry Thanksgiving Dinner Drive: We have much to be thankful for this season.  Please consider a $15 donation to purchase a chicken for an AHS family to roast and enjoy during their Thanksgiving break. Our goal is 100 chickens. Click here to donate towards our 100 chicken goal.

 

Fall Check-In Survey - Due November 10! 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. We would appreciate your feedback by Sunday, November 10. In the coming weeks, we will share survey trends as well as how we are responding to your feedback.

 

Impact Aid Survey - Due November 12: The Federal Impact Aid program provides money to districts that enroll federally connected students. Help FCPS secure funding from the Impact Aid Program by helping us identify military families. federally connected families. And families living on a military base. 

Please complete one form for each child in your household. Remember that only the enrolling parent can fill out the Impact Aid Survey form. For families without access to ParentVUE, a paper copy of the form will be sent home with your student starting November 12. Your information will be kept strictly confidential. Your support will ensure that we receive the resources for which we are eligible.

Step 1: Log into SIS ParentVue. If you don’t have a SIS ParentVUE account, contact the main office for an activation code. 

Step 2: After you’ve logged into your ParentVue Account, look for the ‘Online Packets’ link at the top of the page. Click ‘Online Packets’.

Step 3: Next, click the ‘Federal Impact Aid Survey’ button on the bottom of the page. This will take you to the Impact Aid Survey for you to complete.

 

Prayer Room/Reflection and Silent Space: The Annandale High School prayer room is available in the library for students who need to pray, meditate, or engage in silent reflection and 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 as well. 

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.

 

After School Tutoring Available on Wednesdays: Tutoring is available every Wednesday from 3:00-4:30 pm in Trailer 12. Students can receive help with any class from Honor Society members, IB Diploma students, and AVID students. No sign-up is required—just drop in for extra support!

 

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.

 

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.

Opportunities

PTSA Pantry Needs You! The AHS PTSA Pantry provides both shelf stable and perishable items as well as household and personal hygiene items.  All are distributed through our pantry to our AHS students and their families who have need. We work hard to continue to stock our shelves for our school community and during the holiday season, we hold small targeted fundraisers to provide a little extra.  Here you will find ways to donate to the pantry to support ongoing efforts to keep our shelves stocked. Thank you for your consideration.

 

November 16 - Our Voices, Our Future: Multilingual Learners’ Day of Service: Our Voices, Our Future: Multilingual Learners’ Day of Service will be offered for FCPS secondary students on Saturday, November 16, 2024, from 9:00-11:30am at Edison High School. Dr. José Luis Zelaya, keynote speaker at the Multilingual Learners’ Summit this past summer, will be returning as the featured guest for this student workshop. Dr. Zelaya will engage and empower students with the strengths of multilingualism, as students explore leadership skills to plan for future success. Reflective service learning practices allow students to impact their communities through advocacy, engagement, and empowerment. All FCPS secondary students who attend will earn service learning credit for participating. Students planning to attend should register and bring their FCPS laptop to the event. Light refreshments and family resources will be available for parents/caregivers during the student workshop. 

 

Free Conversational English Sessions at AHS! Annandale High School is proud to announce that the AHS Family Resource Center will offer English sessions for parents on the first 3 Fridays of the month, from 10:30am to 12:30pm. We are partnering with county volunteers that teach at The English Empowerment Center (former Literacy Council of Northern Virginia) in our area. Stop by the Family Resource Center each Friday from 8am-3pm for support with SIS ParentVue, Health insurance forms, work skills, Parent coffees with the Principal, and more!

 

Annandale High School Launches Speech & Forensics Team: We are thrilled to announce the formation of Annandale High School's new Speech and Forensics team! This exciting new program offers students an incredible opportunity to develop essential communication, critical thinking, and leadership skills through a diverse array of competitive events. Whether your student enjoys public speaking, debate, acting, or interpretation, there’s a place for everyone on this team. Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of something special! For more information, contact Speech coach, Megan Mooney, Room 334.

News from Student Services

Earn High School Credit through Work Based Learning Internship: Students can earn 1 business class credit for working the job you’re already doing! Learn skills to get promoted and plan your future career goals! Participants must have employment throughout the school year and be currently enrolled in a CTE class. Interested students should complete this form. For more information, visit Mr. Howard Dwyer in room 214 or Ms. Consumano in 217.

 

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.

 

College Application Help: Annandale High School offers free college application support twice each week. Wednesdays during Lunch in the Career Center (Room 103) and Thursdays 3-4pm in Trailer 14. In addition, the Atoms Writing Center will be available to help students with their college essays and supplemental application questions during PRIDE Time and Wednesdays after school from 3-4pm in room 274.

 

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 November 20, the Transcript Request Form is due on October 20. 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 College & Career Google site.

 

College & Career Resources Schoology Site: Check out the Student Services: Annandale High School | Schoology (fcps.edu), which provides up-to-date information on the college application process; college representative visits; financial aid and FAFSA/VASA workshops; military options; information on apprenticeships; as well as resources for finding a job.

 

November 21 - Financial Aid Completion Event: On Thursday, November 21 at 6:00pm in the cafeteria, staff will be on-site to assist families and seniors with completing their Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications.

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. To learn more about Annandale's Spring sports programs, check out this week’s “Atoms Athletics and Activities Newsletter." In addition, learn more about Annandale High School Athletics and Activities by visiting their website, AHS Athletics Twitter or Instagram page.

 

November 19 - Winter Meet the Coaches Night: On Tuesday, November 19 parents will have the opportunity to learn more about supporting their winter sports student athlete at Meet the Coaches Night at 7:00pm in the cafeteria.

 

Purchase Your 'Atoms Pass' for 2024-2025! 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! To purchase your Click here to purchase your 2024-25 Atoms Booster Pass! 

 

Add Your Name to the Atoms Legacy Wall: The Annandale High School history of success, community support, and strong alumni base stretches back to its creation in 1954. To help commemorate and preserve that legacy, students, alumni, and community members have the opportunity to purchase an acrylic block on the Legacy Wall as a graduation or birthday gift, or to simply share a legacy with the Annandale community. Each acrylic block can be purchased for $100 and will be displayed along the stadium field wall. To purchase a block, visit myschoolbucks.com. *Note orders will be made once the quantity reaches 50 purchased blocks* For more information, contact Brandon Sutphin or Bryan Harris. 

 

November 11 - Winter Sport Tryouts Begin: Winter sports include basketball, swim & dive, wrestling, gymnastics, sideline cheer, and indoor track. In order to participate, there are 2 items that need to be completed prior to the first day of tryouts: 1) Sports Physical - Completed and turned in to Athletic Trainers Ryan Hughes and 2) Activity Registration. This is an online submission that encompasses the Emergency Care Form and Concussion Education Training. Students interested in participating in a winter sport can submit their physicals and register for a sport on Monday, November 11 from 9:00am-12:00pm in the main gym lobby. The first official day for winter tryouts will be Tuesday, November 12. For more information about tryouts, check out www.annandaleatoms.net.

News from the PTSA

PTSA Membership for the 2024-25 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 2024-2025 school year by filling out the online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.

 

November 12 - PTSA Meeting, 6:30pm: Our next PTSA meeting will be on Tuesday, November 12 at 6:30pm 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 the PTSA by filling out the online Membership Form. For more information about membership visit the Annandale PTSA website.

 

November 18 - Hidden in Plain Sight: The Annandale HS PTSA invites you to “Hidden In Plain Sight” on Monday, November 18 at 6:30pm in Clausen Hall. The Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) program is an in-person interactive program for adults to be educated about the signs of risky behavior in teens and young adults. It touches on drug and alcohol use, vaping, mental health and behavioral concerns, risky sexual behaviors, trending "challenges” and more.

 

PTSA Pantry Is Always Restocking and Needs Your Help! The AHS PTSA Pantry supports current AHS students who experience food insecurity. We are gearing up for the new school year and need your help to restock our shelves! In addition, the pantry distribution schedule for the school year can be found here. All donations to the AHS PTSA Pantry are tax deductible. Contact the pantry with questions. 

Shop Locally

Please see our list of most frequently needed items here, you can shop in your local store. Items may be brought to the front office during school hours.

Amazon

Items can be shipped directly from our Amazon Wishlist. 

Funding

Make a monetary donation through PayPal by clicking the Donate button below or by check made payable AHS PTSA (Please write AHS Pantry in the memo line and mail it to AHS PTSA, 4700 Medford Drive, Annandale, VA  22003)

Sign up to be a Food For Neighbors Red Bag Donor

It is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Sign up to be a red bag donor.
2. Fill the red bag with the list provided
3. Put the red bag outside your door by 8:30am on the donation days.

4700 Medford Drive Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Office: 703.642.4100
Attendance: 703.642.4150 | Web | Twitter