Annandale Students, Parents, and Community:

The 2026–27 school year is off to a fantastic start! It was wonderful to see our students back in the building this week, reconnecting with friends, meeting new teachers, and settling into their routines with the support of our amazing staff. 

During W4, students spent time building relationships and engaging with our Atoms Community Agreements, which highlight the values of Empathy, Determination, and Safety. As we shared with students, being an Annandale Atom means that each of us contributes to creating a welcoming, supportive community. This week, we also reviewed our new cellphone policy. We emphasized that keeping phones put away throughout the day helps create a focused, distraction-free environment where everyone can stay engaged in learning.

Next week, we will continue to focus on our Atoms Agreements during W4, providing students with more opportunities to reflect on what these principles look like in action. You can view our Atoms Agreements matrix here, which outlines the expectations that guide our school community.

As I visited classrooms throughout the week, I saw firsthand the strong relationships that were being built among students and staff. Our teachers made it clear through their words and actions that they value their students as individuals and as learners. The purposeful combination of engaging instruction and community-building activities creates momentum that will carry us forward into the year ahead. Check out the photos below.

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions and Go Atoms!

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Important Dates

September 2 - SAT School Day Intent Form Due
September 3 - Varsity Football v. Freedom Woodbridge
September 4 & 7 - Labor Day Holiday (No School)
September 8 - PTSA Meeting, 7pm
September 9 - PTSA Pantry Distribution
September 14 - College Visits Begin in College & Career Center
September 14 - Club & Activities Fair (During W4)
September 14 - Atoms Booster Club Meeting
September 16 - Lockdown Drill
September 17 - Back to School Night, 6-8
September 17 - IB Diploma Parent Meeting
September 19 - Annandale Performing Arts Tag Day
September 21 - Yom Kippur (No School)
September 23 - PTSA Pantry Distribution
September 23 - Senior Parent Night
September 24 - Track Field Turf Replacement Begins
September 28-October 2 - Homecoming Week
September 29 - W4 Activities Day
October 2 - Homecoming Football Game
October 3 - Homecoming Dance
June 3 - Class of 2027 Graduation, 9am 

September 3 - Varsity Football vs. Freedom-Woodbridge: Come out and support our Atoms as Varsity Football takes on Freedom-Woodbridge in our first home game of the season! Kickoff is at 7:00pm at Annandale High School. Bring your Annandale spirit, cheer on our student-athletes, and help us create a great home-field atmosphere. Go Atoms!

September 4 & 7 - Labor Day Holiday: Annandale High School will be closed on Friday, September 4, and Monday, September 7, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. Classes will resume on Tuesday, September 8. We hope our students, staff, and families enjoy the long weekend and return ready for another great week at Annandale! View the FCPS 2026-27 School Year Calendar. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Awesome Atoms

Teachers Take Learning Around the World: This summer, several Annandale educators traveled abroad with CIEE, gaining experiences they can bring back to our students. Nhu Tran supported the Japanese Language, Culture, and Anime program in Japan; Stuart Converse served as a program leader for Ecology and Sustainability in Costa Rica; Viri Acosta attended a college and career counselor workshop in Berlin focused on automotive technology and music production programs in Germany; and Lily Craig and Meredith Hedrick led students in the Diplomacy and Governance program in the Netherlands. We are proud of these Awesome Atoms for expanding their own global perspectives while creating connections and opportunities that enrich learning for our students. Interested in getting involved with CIEE? Contact Meredith Hedrick for more information.

Important Information

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

Bell Schedule: The bell schedule for the 2026-27 school year is the same as last year. See below for the detailed schedule. Click here for the red/white day calendar and a complete list of alternative bell schedules at Annandale High School.

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

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

PRIDE Time 0.5 Begins Monday! At Annandale, we have robust systems to support our students’ academic needs during class as well as through PRIDE Time and our after school academic program (ASAP). Starting on Monday, August 31, students who need to earn verified credits in our September and October testing windows will be supported through PRIDE Time 0.5. Students who have been identified for this support have been notified, and families of these students should also have received an email. Please reach out to your student’s teachers with any questions.

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

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

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

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

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

Supporting Students Getting to Class On-Time: As part of our commitment to ensure our students are accessing high quality instruction and arriving to all their classes on time, every day, AHS will be implementing our Start on Time tardy sweep stations between every class transition starting Tuesday, September 8. Students who are still in the hallways after the late bell will be escorted to their classes, where teachers will update the attendance accordingly. If students are arriving late to school with a note from a parent/guardian to explain their tardiness, they should report to the Attendance Office.

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

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

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

Updated FCPS Cellphone Policy: Under a new Virginia cellphone law (SB108) and the updated FCPS Cellphone Policy, high school students at FCPS are no longer be able to use cellphones and other smart devices during lunch time. This includes watches that serve a dual purpose, such as smart watches, as well as earbuds, headsets, smart glasses, personal laptops and other items connected to the internet. During the school day, including during lunch time, high school students will have to keep cellphones and other smart devices off and stored out of view in a locker, backpack, pouch, purse, etc. This policy does not apply to school-issued devices. Visit the FCPS Cellphone Policy webpage for more information.

New Student ID Cards This Fall: This fall, all Annandale High School students will receive a new FCPS student ID card. Students will be expected to wear their ID throughout the school day, and students who ride the school bus will use their ID to tap on and tap off the bus each day. These new ID cards are part of a divisionwide effort to improve student safety, modernize school transportation, and strengthen communication with families. We will distribute student ID cards during the first few weeks of school, and additional information will be shared with families soon. Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards on the FCPS website.

Opportunities

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

September 2 - SAT School Day Intent Form Due: On Wednesday, October 7, Annandale High School students in Grade 12 will have the opportunity to take the SAT School Day exam. FCPS will cover the cost for any senior to take this test. The essay option and subject area tests are not available during SAT School Day. To reserve a seat for your senior to take the SAT School Day exam and ensure appropriate test materials are available for your student, Grade 12 students are asked to complete this form by Wednesday, September 2. Students will need to use their @fcpsschools.net email account to access and complete the form. A translated version of the form may be found on the SAT School Day Intent Form webpage.

General information about the SAT School Day test format is available on the College Board webpage. We will share exam day schedules and additional details in the coming weeks. If you have questions about the SAT School Day administration at Annandale High School, please contact our SAT School Day Coordinator, Meg Anderson.

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

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

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

News from Students Services

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

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

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

SAT/ASVAB Day Coming October 7! On Wednesday, October 7, all Annandale seniors will take either the SAT School Day or the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). FCPS covers the cost for both exams. Families who want their student to take the SAT must complete the SAT School Day Intent Form by Wednesday, September 2, using their student’s @fcpsschools.net email account. A translated version of the form is available on the SAT School Day Intent Form webpage. Seniors who do not register for the SAT will automatically be scheduled for the ASVAB, which provides a score report and helps identify potential career paths. More details about exam day schedules will be shared in the coming weeks.

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