Annandale Students, Parents, and Community,

This week, we launched PRIDE Time and our After School Academic Program (ASAP), providing targeted intervention to nearly 670 students in one or more subjects. I am so proud of the determination our students show by attending their assigned interventions and the intentionality our incredible staff brings to supporting student success. We also hosted PSAT, SAT, and ASVAB testing for students in grades 10-12. A huge shout out to our Assessment Coach, Meg Anderson, and College and Career Specialist, Viri Acosta, for organizing a smooth testing day.

October is an exciting time for our Performing Arts Department with a fantastic lineup of concerts. Our Band delivered a great performance last Tuesday evening at their fall concert. This Thursday, Orchestra will take the stage with their first concert of the year. Then on Tuesday, October 20, our Chorus program will present songs of the fall season. I encourage you to come out and enjoy these wonderful performances.

Additionally, I invite you to join me on Wednesday, October 28, at 6:00pm for a virtual Fall Principal Check-In. I'll be discussing our academic practices and sharing how we are supporting students with a focus on our priorities. Keep an eye out for an email with a link to join.

Lastly, tomorrow, October 12, is Indigenous Peoples' Day. There will be no school for students. Enjoy the long weekend!

Have a great week, Atom Nation. As always, reach out if you have any questions.

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

Now through October 15 - National Hispanic Heritage Month
October 12 - Indigenous Peoples’ Day (No School)
October 13 - PTSA Meeting, 7pm
October 15 - Orchestra Concert, 7pm
October 16 - Underclassmen Picture Makeups/Retakes
October 16 - Football vs. Hayfield, 7pm
October 16 - World Language Credit Exam Registration Deadline
October 17 - Special Olympics Soccer Tournament, 9am
October 18 - FCPS College Fair, 4-6pm
October 19-23 - Virginia College Application Week
October 19 - FCPS Virtual Postsecondary Night
October 20 - Chorus Concert, 7pm
October 21 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm
October 24 - Academic Coaching
October 24 - Annandale Parade, 10am
October 26 - W4 Activities Day
October 28 - Student of the Month Celebration
October 28 - Fall Principal Check-In
October 30 - End of the Quarter (Early Release)
November 9 - Fairfax County Youth Survey

Now through 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.

October 13 - PTSA Meeting: Join us for our next PTSA meeting on Tuesday, October 13 at 7:00pm in the library. Students, families, and community members are welcome! Meetings are bilingual, with Spanish translation provided. Las reuniones de PTSA son bilingües y se proporciona traducción al español. You can also join virtually. While you are at it, consider joining the PTSA for the 2026-27 school year. Questions? Contact atoms.ahs.president@gmail.com.

October 15 - Fall Orchestra Concert: Join us Thursday, October 15 at 7:00pm for the AHS Orchestra Fall Concert! Enjoy spooktacular music performed by our AHS Orchestra students, along with a special performance by the Poe Middle School Orchestra. Our performers will be competing in a costume contest, and audience members are encouraged to get into the Halloween spirit and dress up too! Be sure to arrive early for our legendary Orchestra Booster Bake Sale, featuring all homemade treats. Admission is free for all, so bring your family and friends for a fun fall evening of music, costumes, and community!

October 16 - Underclassmen Picture Makeups/Retakes: Did you miss picture day or want to retake your photo? Please go to Clausen Hall (with a pass from your teacher!) between 8:00am and 2:30pm to have your picture taken. Bring your original photo slip or an index card with the following information on it: First and Last Name, Student ID#, Grade, English Teacher to give to the photographer. These pictures will be included in the yearbook, and you will receive a school ID card. If you have questions, please contact the yearbook advisers, Mrs. Hedrick and Mrs. Kapuscinski.

October 16 - World Language Credit Exam Registration Deadline: Does your student speak, read, and write in a language other than English? If so, they may be eligible to earn high school credit through the World Languages Credit By Exam. This exam allows students to earn credits to help fulfill requirements for the Advanced Studies Diploma and Virginia's Seal of Biliteracy. If your student would like to register for the World Languages Credit by Exam, please reach out to your counselor by Friday, October 16 to ensure you meet the registration deadline. Students need parent permission to take the test. Please print and sign the testing permission form and return it to your student’s counselor. If you have any questions, contact Jacquelyn Costa.

October 19-23 - Virginia College Application Week (VCAW): During the week of October 19-23, students will have an opportunity to take advantage of College Application Week. Throughout this week, students can receive college application fee waivers for most Virginia colleges and universities, helping to reduce the financial burden of applying to multiple schools. In addition to the fee waivers, support will be available in the Career Center during all lunch periods, where counselors will be on hand to answer questions, review application materials, and guide students through the submission process. Please remember that fee waivers are only valid if your application is submitted during this designated week.

October 20 - Fall Choir Concert: Joined by the United States Army Chorus, come and celebrate the cultural richness of the Annandale High School Choral Department as we present I Hear America Singing. This concert will be presented on Tuesday night, October 20 at 7:00pm in Watson Auditorium and will feature all four of our choirs: Atom Chorale, Men’s Chorale, Chamber and the Annandale Singers, as well as our special guests, the United States Army Chorus. Accompanied by piano, guitar, violin and percussion. This concert features several of the 66 languages spoken here at AHS! You will enjoy music in Arabic, English, Gaelic, Hebrew, Korean, Latin and Tahitian. Come and enjoy this wonderful evening celebrating OUR United States of America in I Hear America Singing!

Awesome Atoms

Annandale Bands Showcase Their Talents at Fall Concert: On Tuesday, October 6, our Annandale High School Bands took the stage for their Fall Concert, showcasing the hard work and progress our student musicians have made since the start of the school year. The evening featured performances by our Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble. 

Important Information

Fairfax County Youth Survey - November 9: The Fairfax County Youth Survey, a collaboration between the Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, is a comprehensive, anonymous, and voluntary survey given each year to students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12. The survey examines behaviors, experiences, and other factors that influence the health and well-being of Fairfax County's youth. The results, published each year at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/youthsurvey, identify trends and areas of need, providing a snapshot of the county's youth and serving as a barometer of the community's effectiveness in fostering healthy choices in young people

Annandale High School will be administering the Fairfax County Youth Survey on November 9 during W-4. While it is our hope that as many students as possible will participate, if you do not wish for your child to take part in the Youth Survey, please complete the form linked here and return it to the main office no later than November 4. If you have already opted your child out of this survey using the Parental Digital Consent Portal you do not need to provide additional information.

2026-27 AP/IB Test Opt-Out Timeline and Fees: As part of the FCPS budget, FCPS is continuing to pay for the first six IB/AP tests a student wishes to take. Students will be charged Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) test fees for any tests beyond the first six funded by FCPS. Students who have free/reduced lunch status and have completed the consent to share form, will not be charged these fees. FCPS and Annandale High School encourage all students to take IB/AP tests for courses in which they are enrolled. This is an excellent opportunity to practice taking a college level exam. Here are links to the IB exam calendar and the AP exam calendar. When scores are released in July 2027, students have the ability to share their scores with their colleges. However, if students wish to not test they will have the opportunity to opt-out. To obtain the opt-out form, students must see Mrs. Bradshaw, IB Diploma Coordinator, in the library. Opt-Out forms are due by October 30 to Student Services. Parents will be billed in December through MySchoolBucks for any test fees beyond the six FCPS funded tests. These fees are non-refundable and there is no spring cancellation option.

Expunge Form Reminder for Grade 9 Students: If your current grade 9 student wished to have a high school course taken in middle school removed from their transcript, the expunge form must be signed and returned to Student Services by the end of the first quarter, which we will accept through Friday, November 6. The form is available here. Please contact your student’s counselor with questions.

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.

Opportunities

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. 

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.

October 20 - College Essay Workshop in the Atoms Writing Center: 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.

IB Diploma Extended Essay Workshops During PRIDE Time: This year, we are introducing an improved plan to support IB Diploma seniors as they complete their Extended Essays. During PRIDE Time, students will attend workshops that break the process into manageable steps and provide support along the way. 

The workshops will help students prepare for these important deadlines: the rough draft is due December 18, the final draft is due January 30, and the Viva Voce and RPF submission are due February 19. Workshops will take place on October 9, 2026, on deepening investigation and research; October 20 on planning the research; November 5 on research support and outlining; November 17 on outlines and getting started with writing; and December 2 on writing.

Silent Space for Prayer & Reflection: The Annandale High School Reflection and Silent Space is available in the library for students who need to pray, meditate, or engage in silent reflection. This space is inclusive of all students’ religious and non-religious beliefs. Students may access the Reflection and Silent Space before school, after school, and during lunch. Students who need to access this space during class time will need to have the Parent/Guardian Authorization for Reflection Space Access form completed and submitted to the main office. Forms are available in the main office and the library. 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.

PTSA Holiday Market: Calling All Vendors! The Annandale High School PTSA is excited to host its 2026 Holiday Market on Sunday, November 15, from 10:00am-4:00pm at Annandale High School. Local crafters, artists, bakers, students, and community members are invited to reserve a space and share their products with our Annandale community. Vendor spaces are $40, with an early bird rate of $30 for vendors who register by October 16 and a special $15 rate for FCPS students. To reserve a space, email Sarah Henken at ahsptsavpprograms@gmail.com.

News from Students Services

FAFSA Now Open! The 2027–28 FAFSA is now open. All college-bound seniors seeking federal, state, or school financial aid should complete the FAFSA as early as possible. Check each college’s financial aid website for deadlines and required forms. The Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) application is expected to open in late January for students unable to complete the FAFSA. Visit the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia website for guidance on which application to use.

October 18 - FCPS College Fair, 4-6pm: The annual FCPS College Fair is scheduled for Sunday, October 18, and will take place at George Mason University’s EagleBank Arena from 4:00 to 6:00pm. This highly anticipated event brings together representatives from approximately 200 colleges and universities from across the country. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with a wide variety of institutions, including two-year and four-year colleges, public and private universities, and U.S. Service Academies. More information can be found here.

October 19 - FCPS Virtual Postsecondary Night: FCPS will be offering a series of virtual workshops designed to support students and families as they navigate the college admissions process. These sessions will cover a wide range of important topics, including how to prepare and apply for college, understanding and securing financial aid, and exploring various postsecondary educational pathways such as community college, vocational training programs, and military options. To view FCPS previous recordings with this information, click here.

November 4, December 1, and January 21 - Financial Aid Completion Workshops, 5:30-7:30pm: Annandale High School will host a College Financial Aid Workshop where students and their families can receive hands-on assistance with completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or the VASA (Virginia Alternative State Aid) application for undocumented students. Note: Students and Parents should bring their 2025 federal income tax returns. Workshops will be held on November 4, December 1, and January 21. To request an appointment, email appointments@CollegeAccessFairfax.org.

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. Sophomores, 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 & Career Planning Site: Check out the 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.

News from the Activities Office

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

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

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

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

November 9 - Winter Sports Tryouts Begin: Winter sports tryouts begin Monday, November 9! We encourage all students interested in participating in basketball, wrestling, swimming and diving, gymnastics, indoor track and field, and winter cheerleading to get involved and become part of Atom Nation! All athletes must have a completed VHSL Physical on file before participating. Click here for VHSL Physical information. We look forward to another exciting season of Annandale Athletics!

News from the PTSA

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