Annandale Students, Parents, and Community:

Every day, I have the opportunity to visit classrooms and see firsthand the high quality instruction happening across Annandale. Our teachers work hard to build strong relationships with students, create engaging learning experiences, and maintain high expectations for every student. That work is at the heart of our students’ success and one of the reasons Annandale High School is one of the best high schools in Virginia.

This Thursday, families will have an opportunity to connect with the teachers who make that work possible at Back to School Night (BTSN). BTSN will take place on our stadium field from 6:00–8:00pm and is an opportunity to learn more about your student’s school experience, hear how they are doing, and discuss ways we can partner to support their success.

Reminders for BTSN:

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

For questions about this event, please contact Kara Franklin-Taylor. I look forward to seeing everyone Thursday evening as we continue working together to support our students and their success.

Have a great week and Go Atoms!

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

September 14 - College Visits Begin in College & Career Center
September 14 - Club & Activities Fair (During W4)
September 14 - Atoms Booster Club Meeting
September 15 - October 15 - National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 17 - Back to School Night, 6-8
September 17 - IB Diploma Parent Meeting
September 19 - Annandale Performing Arts Tag Day
September 21 - Yom Kippur (No School)
September 23 - PTSA Pantry Distribution
September 23 - Senior Parent Night, 6pm
September 23 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving, 6:30pm
September 24 - Track Field Turf Replacement Begins
September 28-October 2 - Homecoming Week
September 29 - W4 Activities Day
October 2 - Homecoming Football Game
October 3 - Homecoming Dance
October 5 - PRIDE Time and ASAP Begin
October 7 - SAT, PSAT, ASVAB Testing Day
October 7 - Early Release, 12:55pm
October 16 - Underclassmen Picture Makeups/Retakes
October 18 - FCPS College Fair
June 3 - Class of 2027 Graduation, 9am 

September 14 - Club & Activities Fair: On Monday, September 14, we will host our annual Clubs & Activities Fair during W4. Our goal as an Activities Department is increasing involvement and participation by our students in extracurricular offerings and the Activities Fair is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about everything that Annandale has to offer. For an up-to-date list of clubs currently offered at Annandale, visit this website.

September 14 - College Visits Begin: Beginning tomorrow, September 14, our College & Career Center will host visits from representatives for colleges and universities throughout the country. Students will have the opportunity to hear from college admissions representatives to learn what makes their institution unique, admission requirements, financial aid, and more. Students must log into Naviance to register. Click on "Colleges" at the top of the page and then click on "college visits." Click "register now" for the visits you would like to attend. Once you have signed up, you should receive a confirmation email. Passes will be delivered to your first class (R1/W2) the morning of the scheduled visit. If you do not have a first class you may pick up your pass from the Career Center (Room 103). Open to grades 10-12. Students who are not registered in Naviance for a college visit will be denied entry. 

September 14 - Atoms Booster Club Meeting: Come learn more about how you can support our Atoms Athletics teams! This is a great opportunity to meet fellow supporters, hear about upcoming events, and find out how you can get involved. We will meet at 6:30pm in the Driver’s Education room. Enter at Door 10. We look forward to seeing you there!

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

September 17 - Back to School Night, 6-8pm: Back to School Night (BTSN) will be held Thursday, September 17 from 6-8pm on our stadium field. Similar to years past, BTSN is an opportunity for families to have a brief, one-on-one, mini-conference with their students’ teachers.

September 17 - IB Diploma Parent Meeting: Parents of IB Diploma Juniors and Seniors are invited to attend a meeting to discuss IB requirements and support structures Annandale offers to ensure students are successful. The meeting will be held during Back to School Night, Thursday, September 17. Linda Bradshaw, IB Diploma Coordinator, will meet with parents of juniors from 7:15-7:35pm, and parents of seniors from 7:40-8:00pm, in the Main Gym.

September 19 - Annandale Performing Arts Tag Day: Tag Day is a major performing arts fundraiser where members of the Annandale Bands, Theatre, Chorus, Guitar and Orchestra go door to door within the community to ask for donations. The donations assist in funding uniforms, costumes, instruments, scholarships, clinicians, music, supplies, and registration for competitions. Your continued support enables us to proudly represent our school and community throughout the year.

September 23 - Senior Parent Night, 6-8pm: As senior year begins, it's the perfect time for students to start planning for life after high school. Join us on Wednesday, September 23 for an informative evening dedicated to exploring a variety of postsecondary pathways. Whether you're considering a four-year university, community college, trade school, or the military, this event offers a valuable opportunity to learn more about your options and begin shaping your future. Breakout sessions will be offered for each pathway, along with a session on financial aid for students. Students and parents are encouraged to attend.

Important Information

Signs of Suicide Prevention Program: The teen years are marked by a rollercoaster ride of emotions that may be difficult for teens, their parents, and educators. It is easy to misread depression as normal adolescent turmoil, however, depression (among the most common of mental illnesses) appears to be occurring at a much earlier age, and the past decade has seen teen suicide rates double. The FCPS Signs of Suicide Wellness Lessons and Screenings for Grade 9 will take place on the following dates: September 16, September 23, and October 1. Grade 11 will take place in November. Families of these grade levels received a targeted notification with lesson and screening goals, as well as opt out procedures. Please contact Erin Crowley with any questions.

October 9 - Social and Emotional Learning Screener: One of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is the SEL Screener. The screener is offered to all students in grades 3-12 in October and again in March. It addresses skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. The SEL Screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create the learning, experiences, and environments students need to be successful. SEL Screener results are sent to families via postal mail. Families who wish to opt their child out should complete the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or in the Digital Parental Consent App. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. Families recently received an e-notify with hard copy opt-out forms as well. Please note that the SEL Screener differs from the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey.

Students Working Toward the FCPS IB MYP Certificate: As an IB World School, Annandale is proud to support students completing the final requirements for the FCPS IB Middle Years Programme Certificate. This recognition celebrates students who demonstrate initiative, reflection, collaboration, service, and meaningful action, while building a strong foundation for future IB coursework and college, career, and life readiness. Students may also include the certificate among the awards and honors on their college applications. Interested students should attend the MYP Certificate Information Session on September 18 during W4 in the library. Service experiences and six reflections are due September 30, and eligible students will be celebrated at the MYP Certificate Ceremony on October 21. Questions may be directed to Meredith Hedrick, MYP Coordinator.

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

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

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

Safety Drills During the School Year: Keeping students and staff safe is a priority at Annandale High School. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including fire and lockdown drills, each year. In the coming weeks we will conduct our first lockdown drill of the school year. Your student may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your student about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Here are some helpful tips for families to use to support their students before and after school lockdown drills. Working together, we create a safe, secure environment for students to learn and grow in our schools.

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

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

Reporting Student Attendance: Regular attendance is essential for student success. Research shows that absenteeism in the first month of school often predicts poor attendance for the rest of the year—half of the students who miss 2–4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school. To help your student get the most out of their education, please make sure they are in school and on time every day.

If your student must be absent, please notify the school by calling the attendance line at 703-642-4151. Families also have the option to submit full-day absences directly through SIS ParentVUE. Step-by-step instructions are available on the Attendance page.

Supporting Students Getting to Class On-Time: As part of our commitment to ensure our students are accessing high quality instruction and arriving to all their classes on time, every day, we will be implementing our Start on Time tardy sweep stations during every class transition. Students who are still in the hallways after the late bell will be escorted to their classes, where teachers will update their attendance accordingly. If students are arriving late to school with a note from a parent/guardian to explain their tardiness, they should report to the Attendance Office.

Opportunities

Thursday College Application Workshops: Every Thursday from 3:00-4:00pm in F151 in the art hallway, AVID teachers and students will be assisting students with various topics: Making a College List; Transcript Request Form; Common App; Recommendation Requests. Students are welcome to drop in with questions about any aspect of the process.

Visit the AHS Library! The AHS Library welcomes you! No pass is needed to visit before school (7:45-8:10am), during Second Chance Breakfast, or after school until 3:15pm. Passes to use the library during the lunch block are available every day in the library before school and during Second Chance Breakfast. We look forward to seeing you! For any questions, please contact Jessica Bombardier. 

Atoms Writing Center Opening Soon! The Atoms Writing Center will reopen the first week of October to help students with academic writing, including college essays and supplemental questions. We will also be hosting a College Essay Workshop with College and Career Specialist Ms. Acosta during Pride Time on Tuesday, October 20, which you can register for on Naviance. Join our school-wide info page on Schoology (access code: 9MSF-KSDM-B7HCP) to keep up-to-date on our other writing workshops, events, and tutoring availability.

Nominate AHS to Win a Teacher’s Lounge Makeover! The Virginia Lottery and The Supply Room are awarding two K-12 public schools a Teachers' Lounge Makeover valued at $10,000 each! It’s simple to enter by using the form below to nominate your favorite school(s)! Adults 18+ may enter any K-12 public school. So, go ahead, get that entry form completed and give your favorite school a chance to win!

September 18 - Prayer Room Opens: Silent Space for Prayer & Reflection: Beginning September 14, the Annandale High School Reflection and Silent Space is available in the library for students who need to pray, meditate, or engage in silent reflection. This space is inclusive of all students’ religious and non-religious beliefs. Students may access the Reflection and Silent Space before school, after school, and during lunch. Students who need to access this space during class time will need to have the Parent/Guardian Authorization for Reflection Space Access form completed and submitted to the main office. Forms are available in the main office and the library. Students will receive a laminated prayer room pass once their form is turned in and they are added to the list. The teachers of students who have parent permission to access the prayer room will be contacted directly.

September 23 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving: To get your driver’s license in Virginia, you must successfully pass the classroom portion of driver education. You must also attend a 90-minute parent-teen traffic safety program, Partners for Safe Teen Driving, or PSTD, with a parent/guardian. Annandale High School is hosting our first PSTD presentations on September 23. It is free to students enrolled in Health & PE 10 at Annandale HS and begins at 6:30pm in the auditorium. You must attend with a parent/guardian, arrive ON TIME, and remain the duration of the presentation for your attendance to be verified. Register here (must use fcpsschools.net account). If you have any questions, please contact Lizzie McManus.

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

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

News from Students Services

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

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

College & Career Planning Site: Check out College and Career Resources Site, which offers a variety of postsecondary planning resources including the college application process, community college, military and trade pathways, financial aid and scholarship opportunities. The Career Center also shares updates about new college and career opportunities through Naviance. These updates generate an email, so be sure to check your email regularly for the latest information.

October 7 - SAT, PSAT and ASVAB Testing Day: On Wednesday, October 7, Annandale High School will administer several important assessments at no cost to families. Students in grades 10 and 11 will take the digital PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT). All seniors will take either the digital SAT School Day exam or the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).

Seniors who did not register for the SAT will automatically be scheduled to take the ASVAB. In addition to measuring skills for potential military careers, the ASVAB provides students with a personalized score report that can help them identify their strengths and explore possible career paths. Additional information about testing schedules will be shared in the coming weeks.

Because of testing, October 7 will be an unscheduled day for most ninth-grade students. Students are encouraged to use the day to complete missing assignments and prepare for the end of the first quarter. Ninth-grade students with disabilities who receive low-incidence special education services will attend school for in-person instruction and be released two hours early. Families may learn more about the SAT and PSAT assessments on the FCPS website.

Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE: Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Parents should receive an activation code when they register their student. Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same ParentVUE account. Access SIS ParentVUE by using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices. Need help creating a SIS ParentVUE account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.

News from the Activities Office

At Annandale, we foster belonging both inside and outside the classroom. Sports and activities are another way for students to deepen a sense of belonging at school. Check out their weekly newsletter to learn more about Annandale's activities, clubs, and sports programs. You can also visit their website or Instagram page.

September 14 - Girls' Flag Football Begins: Annandale Girls' Flag Football kicks off its season with the first practice on Monday, September 14, at 4:00pm on the baseball field. Students interested in joining the team must have a current VHSL Physical and complete all required registration before participating. We are excited to see our student-athletes get involved and represent Annandale this season! For more information, contact DSA Brandon Sutphin or Head Coach Terry Chisley.

September 18 - Swim & Dive Interest Meeting: Interested in joining the Annandale Swim & Dive Team? Students are invited to an interest meeting on Friday, September 18, at 3:05pm in the Drivers Ed Room (C-43). Meet the coaches, learn more about the upcoming season, and find out how you can become an Aquatic Atom. Whether you are an experienced swimmer or diver or interested in trying something new, come learn how to get involved!

ATC Holding Auditions for Fall Play: Annandale Theatre Company (ATC) is looking for students to take the stage in this fall's production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet! Auditions will be held September 16, 17, and 18 for ATC's modern take on the classic story, set in a dystopian Verona, Italy. Auditions are open to all Annandale students, and no previous theatre experience is necessary. Sign up for an audition and stop by Room 324 to see Ms. Murray with any questions. This is a great opportunity to get involved, try something new, and be part of ATC!

Purchase a Red Card: Each fall, our sports programs sell a discount “Red Card” to raise money for their teams. The red cards include various discounts at local businesses including: Buffalo Wild Wings, Glory Days, Hangry Joes, Jet’s Pizza, Jiffy Lube, Kilroy’s, and Wingstop. Red Cards are only $20 and can be used at any of the businesses through October 2027. If you would like to purchase a Red Card, please reach out to a fall athlete or email Brandon Sutphin, Director of Student Activities. The Activities Office thanks you in advance for your support of our student athletes. Go Atoms!

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

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