Annandale Community Insider - July 12
Welcome to the 2026-27 school year!
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Annandale Students, Parents and Community:

Welcome to the official start of the 2026-27 school year! I just returned from vacation in Ohio, where I spent time with my family on the shores of Lake Erie. We had fun boating, tubing, skiing and riding roller coasters at Cedar Point.

Each and every week, I will send out this newsletter titled, "Annandale Community Insider" to students, parents and community members that communicates the amazing things that are happening here at Annandale and outlines ways to get involved. In addition, I hope this newsletter will not only keep you up to date on all things Annandale, but will also serve as a conversation starter between students and parents about specific events here at Annandale.

The start of our fall sports season begins in a few weeks, and I want to encourage students to participate in after school activities, especially sports, this upcoming school year. The benefits of participating in athletics, arts and other activities in high school is well documented. Students who participate in athletics in high school, for example, perform better academically than their peers. In fact, the National Association of State High School Associations recently shared that students who participate in high school athletics 1) have a stronger sense of self-confidence in building relationships with others and having an expanded capacity for empathy; 2) develop a better understanding of self and how their actions affect others; and 3) build foundations for lifelong fitness habit. 

Fall sports, which include cheer, cross-country, football, field hockey, and volleyball will begin on Monday, August 3. Golf will begin on July 27. No experience is necessary. All are welcome! To participate, students need to complete a VHSL physical form and register online to play, look for a registration link from FinalForms by Tuesday, July 7. Here is the link to the physical form that must be completed by a doctor. Once you have completed the physical form, turn in the form at the Activities Office. The office is open every day from 8:00am-2:00pm. See detailed tryout information below and if you have any questions, email Brandon Sutphin, Director of Student Activities.

The Marching Atoms Band Camp begins on August 3 and will run over three weeks of rehearsals and section-specific camp. Our students will be supported by a full staff of professional instructors, including alumni from the GMU Green Machine, the JMU Marching Dukes, Florida State University, Virginia Tech, and the Washington Commanders Marching Band. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Director of Bands, Zach Wadsworth.

Finally, throughout the coming weeks and once school has started, I will continue to share the many opportunities we offer to students to help them deepen their connections with our Annandale High School community.

As always, please reach out with questions and Go Atoms!

Shawn DeRose, Principal
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Important Dates

July 22 - Senior Pictures
July 27 - Golf Practice Begins
August 3 - Fall Sports Tryouts Begin
August 3 - Band Camp Begins
August 7-9 - Virginia’s Sales Tax Holiday
August 10-13 - New Teacher Orientation
August 14 - First Day for Teachers
August 20 - Student Schedules Available
August 20 - Parent Information Session
August 20 - New Student Orientation & Open House
August 21 - Family Band Night Showcase 
August 24 - First Day of School for Students
September 4 & 7 - Labor Day Holiday (No School)
September 21 - Yom Kippur (No School)
September 17 - Back to School Night
September 28-October 2 - Homecoming Week
October 2 - Homecoming Football Game
October 3 - Homecoming Dance

August 3 - Band Camp Begins: The Marching Atoms Band Camp begins on August 3 and will run through three weeks of rehearsals and section-specific camp. Our students will be supported by a full staff of professional instructors, including alumni from George Mason University, James Madison University, Florida State University, Virginia Tech, and the Washington Commanders Marching Band. If you have any questions, please contact Zach Wadsworth, Director of Bands.

  • During Week 1, August 3-7, Percussion and Color Guard Camp will take place from 9:00am to 1:00pm for all percussion and color guard members. Student Leadership Camp will meet from 2:00pm to 4:00pm Monday through Wednesday for the leadership team, and New Marcher Camp will meet from 2:00pm to 4:00pm on Thursday and Friday for all new students and the leadership team.
  • During Week 2, August 10-14, all marching band members will meet from 8:00am to 8:00pm.
  • During Week 3, August 17-21, all marching band members will meet from 3:30pm to 6:00pm, followed by the Family Night Showcase from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. 

August 3 - Fall Sports Begin: Fall sports, which include Cheer, Cross Country, Football, Field Hockey, and Volleyball will begin Monday, August 3. Golf begins on July 27. No experience is necessary. All are welcome! To participate, students need to complete a VHSL physical form and register online to play. Here is the link to the physical form that must be completed by a doctor. Once you have completed the physical form, turn in the form at the Activities Office. The office is open every day from 8:00am-2:00pm. See detailed tryout information below and if you have any questions, email Brandon Sutphin, Director of Student Activities.

August 7-9 - Virginia Sales Tax Holiday: Save on School Supplies! Mark your calendars! Virginia’s annual three-day Sales Tax Holiday kicks off on Friday, August 7 at 12:01am and runs through Sunday, August 9 at 11:59pm. This is a great opportunity for families to save on back-to-school essentials and more. For more details and a full list of eligible items, visit the Virginia Department of Taxation website.

August 20 - Student Schedules Available: Beginning Thursday, August 20 at 6:00am, all students and parents will have access to class schedules in SIS StudentVUE and ParentVUE. SIS (Student Information System) is the application to see attendance, class performance, and demographic data.

August 20 - Freshmen (Grade 9) and New Student Orientation: Annandale High School is excited to welcome rising freshmen as well as new students to our school orientation on August 20 from 1:30-3:30pm. Students and parents will meet administrators, counselors, teachers, and other essential school personnel and have an opportunity to explore the school building and learn more about student life at Annandale. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Kara Franklin Taylor.

August 20 - Parent Information Session: We would like to also invite parents to a Family Coffee session that will be held during New Student Orientation from 1:30-3:30pm. During this information session, you will learn more about Annandale High School, our values, and what to expect as your student(s) matriculates through high school from course selections to extra-curricular activities. At the end of the session, you will have an opportunity to visit various stations to acquire additional information from counselors, sports activities, and clubs.

August 20 - Open House: All returning Annandale students and their families are invited to our Open House on August 20 from 3:30-4:30pm. Open House provides students an opportunity to walk through our halls and find their classes for next year. There is no formal program during this time, but rather an informal chance to get reacquainted with AHS. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Kara Franklin Taylor.

August 24 - First Day of School: Monday, August 24 is the first day of school for the 2026-27 school year. View the 2026-27 school year calendar.
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Awesome Atoms!

IB Success at Annandale - Celebrating the Class of 2026: This year, 44 Annandale seniors earned the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, successfully completing one of the most academically rigorous programs offered in high school. This is an increase from 39 last year. In total, 433 students sat for 1,260 IB exams, demonstrating our students’ growing investment in challenging, college-level coursework

Annandale students earned scores of 6 and 7 in a wide range of subjects, including Literature, Language and Literature, History, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Business Management, Psychology, French, Arabic, Spanish, Math Analysis, Math Applications, Geography and Physics.

IB scores were released on July 5 and are available at https://candidates.ibo.org. Students needing assistance with access or score reports should contact Linda Bradshaw at LMBradshaw@fcps.edu. Seniors who completed the Senior Survey already have an IB transcript request submitted, which can be viewed in the results portal.

Building Improvements Continue This Summer! Special shoutout to our custodians, who are working hard to prepare for the return of staff and students. In addition to cleaning classrooms and waxing floors, they are ensuring that our school is in top shape for the new academic year. Their dedication and hard work do not go unnoticed, and we are incredibly grateful for their efforts in maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
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Jen Cory Wins Onthank Award for Merit: Jen Cory has been honored with the A. Heath Onthank Award for Merit from the Fairfax County Civil Service Commission for her exceptional leadership in expanding academic support and credit recovery opportunities for students at Annandale High School and across FCPS. This past year, she launched Saturday Academic Coaching and led a ten-school Summer Credit Continuation Pilot that helped hundreds of students stay on track for graduation, resulting in 357 course credits and 88 verified credits earned division-wide. Though her title is School Based Technology Specialist, Jen stepped well beyond her assigned role to create, coordinate, and support programs that made a meaningful difference for students and families.

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A Winning Week at Olympics Camp! Our Olympics Camp for rising second through ninth graders, which took place from June 22-26, was a huge success! Campers had a fantastic time playing a variety of sports, including basketball, kickball, volleyball, soccer, and touch football. They also participated in fun competitions, earned medals, and made lasting memories with friends. Thank you to Coach Bagot and the entire camp staff for creating such an engaging and memorable experience for our campers.

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Shawn DeRose Recognized as a Virginia Principal of Distinction! We are proud to share that Principal Shawn DeRose has been named a Virginia Principal of Distinction by the Virginia Department of Education. This recognition is part of the inaugural class of principals honored statewide for their outstanding leadership, commitment to student achievement, instructional excellence, and positive school culture. Principal DeRose’s dedication to supporting students, staff, and families reflects the very best of Annandale, and this well-deserved honor is a celebration for our entire community.

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Important Information

Summer Office Hours: The Annandale Main Office will be open from 8:00am-2:00pm this summer. Registrations are by appointment only. Please contact Annandale registrar, Esther Amenyah to schedule an appointment.

Updated FCPS Cellphone Policy: Under a new Virginia cellphone law (SB108) and the updated FCPS Cellphone Policy, high school students at FCPS will no longer be able to use cellphones and other smart devices during lunch time, starting July 1. This includes watches that serve a dual purpose, such as smart watches, as well as earbuds, headsets, smart glasses, 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 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.

IB Transcript Requests: Graduates who filled out the Senior Survey in May will have an IB transcript sent to the college that was listed in the survey. IB will send out transcripts in August either electronically or via a paper copy. If a student’s university plans have changed, students may request a transcript for a fee at any time. If you have questions, please contact Linda Bradshaw. 

IB Scores Released: Information on how to obtain IB scores was handed out during IB testing. Results will be posted after July 6 and can be found at https://candidates.ibo.org. Here are a few helpful hints accessing the IB candidate portal: Enter pin exactly (case sensitive); If locked out, wait a few hours and try again; Best browsers to use are Chrome or Firefox. Please reach out to Linda Bradshaw, IB Diploma Coordinator, if you need login information or have questions.

SOL Scores Posted in SIS ParentVUE: Families can find Standards of Learning (SOL) reports for spring testing in the SIS ParentVUE Documents section on or before the last day of school. Log in to your ParentVUE account to access the official SOL Score Report with overall and reporting category performance for all spring tests. Visit the FCPS website for additional information about spring assessment reporting practices and timelines. Need help creating a SIS ParentVUE account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.

Required Immunizations for Rising Seniors: Additional immunizations are required for students entering grade 12. All students entering 12th grade are to receive one dose of Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) prior to the beginning of school. To meet the MenACWY 12th grade requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 16 or older. Please consider getting your child’s immunizations early so that they can attend school in the fall. Summer is a busy time for families and healthcare providers. Additional resources are available on the FCPS Immunization Resources webpage and the Fairfax County Health Department. 

Opportunities

Is Your Student Ready to Drive? If you have logged hours behind the wheel, have your Virginia Learner’s Permit, and have earned your pink card, then you may be ready to obtain your license! Consider enrolling in Behind the Wheel through ACE. Conveniently, you can meet the instructor and the car at Annandale HS on various dates throughout the summer. Check out the many sessions offered and enroll here: Driver Education Behind the Wheel at Annandale HS. If you have any questions, email Lizzie McManus.

Summer 2026 Inspire Immunization Events for All FCPS Students: Inspire Health Alliance, in partnership with FCPS, will be providing school-required immunizations during Summer 2026. Immunizations will be provided at no out-of-pocket cost to students or families. Registering families will be required to provide insurance information, if applicable, but students without insurance may still participate. Summer 2026 event dates are available on our FCPS and Inspire Health Alliance Student Immunization Events | Fairfax County Public Schools webpage. Additional event dates will be made available throughout the upcoming school year, 4-5 weeks before the event, on the public webpage. Additional immunization resources are also available.

Summer Learning Resources for Families: FCPS Summer Learning Resources are now available for students and families. Resources are organized by grade level and provide opportunities for students to review previously taught concepts, practice skills, and explore new ideas throughout the summer. Families can access the resources at any time as one of many ways to support continued learning and engagement over the summer.

Free Breakfast and Lunch All Summer! - Annandale Terrace Elementary School is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Breakfast and lunch are provided free of charge through July 31! Breakfast is from 9-10am and lunch is from 12:00-1:00pm. There is no registration involved and everyone is welcome! Click here for more information.

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.
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News from Student Services

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.

Students can be referred by a guardian or designated school staff member. You may refer your child by calling 571-749-2940 or by contacting our school counselor, social worker, psychologist, or director of Student Services. Visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information.

SAT School Day and PSAT/NMSQT 2026: SAT School Day and PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) exams for the 2026-27 school year will be held at each high school on Wednesday, October 7, at no cost to families. The digital SAT School Day exam is offered to 12th grade students, and the digital PSAT/NMSQT exam is provided to 10th and 11th grade students. 

Because these exams are operated by the College Board, students do not automatically receive testing accommodations or multilingual learner (ML) supports. If you have a student with disabilities entering 10th, 11th, or 12th grade, please review the accommodations request process and return forms to the high school by Monday, August 3, to request new or updated College Board testing accommodations. 

If you have a multilingual learner entering 10th, 11th, or 12th grade, please review the ML support request process and return forms by Thursday, August 27, if you wish to request ML supports for the October 2026 PSAT/NMSQT or SAT School Day. Find out more about SAT and