Annandale Students, Parents, and Community,

Earlier this week, Virginia released School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF) designations, and Annandale High School earned the highest recognition possible: Distinguished. This designation is reserved for schools that are not only meeting but exceeding state expectations in academic achievement, student growth, graduation rates, and college and career readiness.

This is a significant achievement, especially for a school like Annandale. With over 70% of our students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, our community faces challenges that many schools don't encounter. Yet we didn't just meet expectations, we exceeded them. We outperformed predictions, defied stereotypes, and demonstrated what is possible when a community comes together with purpose and commitment. We are incredibly proud of this recognition, and the way it reflects the extraordinary work happening each and every day in our building.

What sets Annandale apart? Our relentless focus on our priorities: relationships and support, high-quality instruction, and strong collaboration.

Relationships and Support: We strengthen social-emotional learning through our W4 advisory classes, hold multiple one-on-one check-ins with students, and celebrate those who exemplify our Atoms Agreements of empathy, determination, and safety. Monthly W4 Activities Days also help build stronger connections among students and staff outside of the classroom.

High-Quality Instruction: In our classrooms, we emphasize clear learning targets, rigorous academic tasks, and the use of real-time evidence to drive student learning. Teachers work together in collaborative teams multiple times each week to plan lessons, review student data, and adjust instruction to meet learners' needs. For students who need extra support, we provide intervention during class time, through PRIDE Time, and in our After School Academic Program (ASAP).

Strong Collaboration: A collaborative culture is the cornerstone of our success and one reason we were recently named a Model PLC School, a national recognition shared by only about 600 schools in the U.S. and Canada. Through our environmental scans, teachers identify high-leverage moves, or strategies, implement them intentionally, and reflect together on their impact. As one teacher shared, "It helps me focus on getting really good at one thing. My high-leverage move has had such a big impact on my students!"

This recognition belongs to every member of Atom Nation. It reflects the hard work of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the support of our families and our community. It is proof that when we work together with intention, there is no limit to what we can achieve. 

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

Important Dates

Now - December 18 - Annual Deck the Doors W4 Contest
December 15 - Enhanced Weapons Detection System Begins
December 15-19 - Winter Spirit Week
December 15-19 - Holiday Hallways
December 16 - Choir Concert, 7pm
December 17-18 - IB Senior Diploma Library Day
December 17 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm
December 19 - Atoms Games Winners Announced
December 22-January 2 - Winter Break (No School)
January 8 - IB Diploma Ceremony
January 15 - Rising 9th Grade Open House
January 21 - Virginia Climate and Working Conditions Survey

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!

December 15 - Enhanced Weapons Detection System Begins: As part of FCPS' commitment to student safety, schools will be increasing the sensitivity of the weapons detection system beginning Monday, December 15. This update is not in response to any specific incident, but rather a proactive step to ensure the system remains effective as students have become more familiar with the process. With this adjustment, items like laptops, metal lunchboxes, 3-ring binders, and metal pencil cases may trigger alerts more frequently. Rest assured, any alerts will be handled with care and discretion, away from detectors to maintain student privacy and avoid delays. Families are encouraged to limit unnecessary metal items and remind students to hand these directly to staff when going through screening. 

December 15-19 - Spirit Week: 

Monday - Cozy Out! Wear your most comfortable and warm outfit— Pajamas, sweats, slippers, or soft sweaters!

Tuesday - Blizzard Day: Get ready for a snowstorm! Dress in white to match the winter snowflakes.

Wednesday - Age Flip: Let's mix things up! Students dress up/act like adults or senior citizens, and Teachers dress up/act like students!

Thursday - Sun vs. Snow: A seasonal showdown! Choose your best look: a sunny summer outfit or a cozy winter look!

Friday - Flannel Friday: Finish the week in cozy style by wearing your favorite flannel design!

December 17 & 18 - IB Senior Diploma Library Day: On Wednesday, December 17 and Thursday, December 18, IB Seniors will be in the library working on their Extended Essays. The goal of this time is for students to get uninterrupted time to write their completed drafts. Students will not be released to attend their scheduled classes on these days. Reach out to Meredith Hedrick or Linda Bradshaw with questions.

January 8 - IB Diploma Recognition Ceremony, W4/Pride Time: Our 73 IB Graduates of 2025 will be returning on Thursday, January 8 during W4/Pride Time to share their post high school/college experiences as well as receive their IB certificates in the auditorium. Current IB diploma juniors and seniors as well as selected sophomores will be invited to attend. 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 6:00–8:00pm, Annandale High School will welcome rising 9th grade students and their families for an Open House designed to showcase what high school at Annandale is all about. Throughout the evening, teachers will be in their classrooms to share information about our core and elective courses, and we will offer several short, optional sessions highlighting key programs and opportunities available to our students.

The goal is for students and parents to leave feeling excited about becoming Annandale Atoms and ready to complete the course request form when they meet with their middle school counselors. Breakout sessions will be offered on the following topics: 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.

January 21 - Virginia Climate and Working Conditions Survey: On Wednesday January 21, during W4, students will participate in the Virginia School Climate Survey. The purpose of the survey is to provide schools with information on school climate, safety, and working conditions in order to maintain a safe and orderly school environment conducive to learning. The survey measures student perceptions of school rules and discipline, teacher-student relationships, student engagement in school, and the extent of bullying and teasing at school. The survey is a component of the annual school safety audit which school divisions are required to submit to the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety (VCSCS). You may preview the questions asked in the student survey at this website. If you do not wish for your child to participate, please complete and return the opt out form to the main office by January 12.

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 15-19 - Holiday Hallways: Enjoy festive music every morning, during second chance breakfast, and at dismissal brought to you by Orchestra and Tri-M!

December 16 - Winter Chorus Concert: Gaudete (Rejoice): Our Winter Concert with the Annandale Singers, Atom Chorale, Men's Chorale, and the Chamber Ensemble at 7:00pm in the Auditorium. 

December 17 - Noonday Noël: 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).

Important Information

December 15 - Enhanced Weapons Detection System Begins: As part of FCPS' commitment to student safety, schools will be increasing the sensitivity of the weapons detection system beginning Monday, December 15. This update is not in response to any specific incident, but rather a proactive step to ensure the system remains effective as students have become more familiar with the process.

With this adjustment, items like laptops, metal lunchboxes, 3-ring binders, and metal pencil cases may trigger alerts more frequently. Rest assured, any alerts will be handled with care and discretion, away from detectors to maintain student privacy and avoid delays. Families are encouraged to limit unnecessary metal items and remind students to hand these directly to staff when going through screening.

Winter Break Office Hours: The Annandale High School administrative offices will be open by appointment only from Monday, December 22 through Friday, January 2. Offices will re-open on Monday, January 5 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.

Prepare for Winter Weather: Winter weather is here! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS. 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, the new FCPS mobile app, 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 emergency child care if needed.

Lightspeed Parent Portal Allows Parents to Manage Student Screen Time: FCPS has introduced new parent controls in the Lightspeed Parent Portal to help families manage screen time on FCPS-issued devices. Through the portal, parents can control their child's access to YouTube and pause web browsing during designated After-School Hours while students are off the FCPS network. These controls are active Monday - Friday from 3:30pm to 6:00am (even on student holidays) and all day Saturday and Sunday. They do not affect district filtering policies during the instructional day. Parents can register for the Lightspeed Parent Portal using the link provided in their weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email. For more information about the Parent Portal, please visit the Lightspeed Parent Portal page on the FCPS website.

Awesome Atoms

Teachers Embrace the Mystery of 67 In SUS Spirit Day: Teachers participated in a 67 Secret Underground Spirit (SUS) Day, and while no one can quite explain what "67" actually means, that did not stop our staff from enthusiastically jumping on board! What we do know is that our students love it, and that was reason enough for our educators to show up in coordinated themes. Once again, Annandale staff proved they are always ready to build community and have a little fun. Thanks to everyone who participated and brought extra energy to the building, even if the meaning of "67" remains delightfully unclear!

Opportunities

Join the Interact Summit 2026 – A Day of Leadership, Service, and Impact! Looking to grow your leadership skills, meet other student leaders, and make a real impact? Check out the 2026 Interact Summit happening on Saturday, January 24 at George Mason University! Students will spend the day diving into important topics like mental health, peacebuilding, and ending human trafficking, plus get hands-on with a service project and even compete in a Shark Tank-style challenge. If you are interested, contact our Leadership Teachers Lizzie McManus or JuJu Norvell.

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

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

Academic Support & Tutoring Opportunities

Need Help in Your Class? Stay After School With Your Teacher: Stay With Your Teacher After School! Annandale High School offers late bus transportation three (3) days per week: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. All teachers stay after school at least one day a week to provide academic support for students. Please refer to this list to see which day your student’s teacher is available after school.

Retake Room is Up and Running! To support students in retaking assessments or making up missed assignments, the retake room is located in room 299 at the end of the Social Studies hall. Retakes are available on Late Bus Days after school, and every White Day during PRIDE Time. Students who would like to take advantage of the retake room must work with their teacher to sign up.

Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost: FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes; on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring; essay editing; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

Saturday Academic Coaching: Annandale teachers will be available on select Saturdays from 8:30am to 11:00am to support students in prioritizing their work, completing outstanding assignments, and facilitating assessment retakes. This is a focused, distraction-free window to get individualized help, improve grades, and stay on track. Academic Coaching sessions will be offered on January 10, January 24, February 28, March 14, April 18, May 2, 16, & 30, June 6, & 13. Reach out to Cass Hersh with questions.

Academic Advising for the 2026-2027 School Year

It is hard to believe, but we are already beginning to plan for the 2026-2027 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 1, 3, 9- 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 14 - 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 16 - 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 20 - 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 20 and will conclude with current freshmen in February. 

News from Students Services

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

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

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

Transcript Requests for College Applications & Scholarships: Seniors need to request official high school transcripts one month prior to application deadlines. For example, if a college application is due on January 15, the Transcript Request Form is due on December 15. We will be receiving a very high volume of requests in the coming months, and our Student Services staff needs adequate time to proces