Annandale Community Insider - July 26
Here's what to expect as the school year approaches!
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Annandale Students, Parents and Community:

As we enjoy the final weeks of summer, I wanted to share a glimpse of the work taking place behind the scenes as we prepare for another successful school year at Annandale.

Our administrative team recently came together for our annual leadership retreat to reflect on the past year and begin planning for the year ahead. Using feedback from students, families, and staff, along with student achievement and school climate data, we celebrated the many successes our school community experienced this past year while identifying opportunities to continue improving.

Our conversations centered on the priorities that guide everything we do at Annandale: relationships and support, high quality instruction, and strong collaboration. We discussed ways to strengthen our systems, improve communication, expand opportunities for student engagement, and ensure every student feels connected, challenged, and supported throughout the school year. This time together allows us to align our work before students and staff return so we can begin the year with a clear vision and shared purpose.

Over the next few weeks, our counselors, teacher leaders, and coaches will join us as we prepare to welcome students back to campus. We look forward to welcoming our newest Atoms during Freshman and New Student Orientation on August 20, followed by our Open House for all students and families. We hope to see you there as we officially kick off the 2026-2027 school year. 

In the meantime, I hope you continue enjoying the remainder of your summer. Thank you for your continued support of Annandale High School. We look forward to welcoming our students back very soon.

As always, please reach out with any questions.

Shawn DeRose, Principal
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Awesome Atoms!

Advancing Unified Sports Across FCPS: Congratulations to Jae Lee for his leadership in expanding Special Olympics Unified Sports across Fairfax County Public Schools. Through his partnership with Special Olympics Virginia and ongoing support of schools across the division, Jae has helped grow FCPS Unified programming from 23 to 49 schools since the 24-25 SY, creating more opportunities for students of all abilities to compete, lead, and build meaningful friendships. His work was highlighted in Dr. Reid's Academic Matters Presentation to the School Board on Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools. Watch the Unified Champion Schools video to learn more about the impact of this work across FCPS.
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Annandale Nationally Recognized for High-Quality Instruction: Annandale High School was recently featured in Education Week for our innovative work supporting multilingual learners in mathematics. The article highlights Algebra I Plus teacher Anna Kyle and her students, showcasing how strong relationships, small-group instruction, academic discussion, visuals, and language supports help students access rigorous mathematics while building confidence and English proficiency. Congratulations to Anna and our entire math team for their commitment to high-quality instruction and ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed. We are proud to see Annandale's outstanding work recognized on the national stage!

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Annandale Admin Retreat - Preparing for an Outstanding Year: Our administrative team recently came together for our annual leadership retreat to reflect on the past year and plan for the year ahead. Using feedback from students, families, and staff, along with student achievement and school climate data, we celebrated our successes and identified ways to strengthen our systems, support our staff, and better serve our students and families. Our conversations focused on Annandale’s priorities of relationships and support, high quality instruction, and strong collaboration as we prepared for another great year. We are excited to continue this important work as we welcome students back to campus.

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Important Dates

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 11 - Meet the Coaches Night
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
August 26 - PTSA Pantry Distribution
September 4 & 7 - Labor Day Holiday (No School)
September 9 - PTSA Pantry Distribution
September 21 - Yom Kippur (No School)
September 17 - Back to School Night
September 23 - PTSA Pantry Distribution
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.

Important Information

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 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.

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 PSAT assessments in FCPS.
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Class of 2027 News

Annandale is Here to Support Your Senior Year College Journey! Annandale High School is committed to partnering with students and families as they navigate the college application process. Check out our recent Class of 2027 Newsletter that includes valuable resources, events, and personalized assistance to help seniors and families plan for life after high school with confidence.

Class of 2027 Meningococcal Vaccine Reminder: 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.