Annandale Students, Parents, and Community,

This week, staff members came together to reflect on the Shadow a Student Challenge. In this experience, educators spend a full day following a student to better understand the school experience from the student perspective. Staff shared strong evidence of our priorities in action. They highlighted high quality instruction across the building and the purposeful ways teachers build relationships with students. Staff also identified areas for continued growth. Each year, these reflections help shape our instructional focus for the coming school year.

This focus on our students is a reflection of our staff. I truly believe that we have the most incredible educators in all of FCPS, and that belief is only reinforced by the recognition they receive. Our Director of Student Services, Erin Crowley, was recently named Outstanding Leader for Region 6. Erin will go on to compete in the division-wide FCPS Honors competition in June. Congratulations, Erin and thank you for all of your hard work in service of our students, staff, and community!

Looking ahead, this week marks the final week of the quarter, with Friday being an early release. Students should take full advantage of their time during PRIDE Time, ASAP, and opportunities to stay after school with teachers for additional support. Families are also encouraged to review SIS and Schoology together to ensure all assignments are complete and grades are up to date.

As Spring Break approaches, we will continue our tradition of allowing everyone to relax and refresh over the holiday. Teachers will not assign work over spring break with the exception of long term assignments that span those dates. Furthermore, to ease the transition back into academic routines, there will be no assessments the first two days back after break.

Finally, when we return, we will hold our annual Senior Breakfast. This is a parent-sponsored event, and we need your support to make it a success. Sign up today to volunteer! If you’re unable to volunteer, please consider making a donation to help make this event a success.

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

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Erin Crowley, Named Region 6 Outstanding Leader!

Annandale High School is proud to share that Director of Student Services, Erin Crowley, has been named the Outstanding Secondary Leader for Region 6. She was recognized by Region leadership and School Board members for her leadership, commitment to students, and positive impact on staff, students, and families. Erin is known for designing systems that ensure students remain on track for graduation from the moment they enter high school. Her leadership has led to measurable improvements in student outcomes, including increased access to advanced coursework and stronger on time graduation pathways. Erin is now a finalist for Fairfax County Outstanding Secondary Leader, with the division level honoree to be announced in June. Congratulations to Erin on this well earned recognition and for representing Annandale High School!

Important Dates

March 25 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm
March 27 - Quarter 3 Ends
March 30-April 3 - Spring Break (No School)
April 6-10 - Assistant Principal Appreciation Week
April 6 - Teacher Workday (No School)
April 7 - IB Art Show
April 7 - Northern Virginia Regional College Fair
April 8 - Senior Breakfast
April 8 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm
April 9 - Glasgow Student & Parent Coffee, 7:30am
April 10 - School Planning Day (No School)
April 11 - Mulch Madness
April 14 - Annandale Pyramid Art Show, 6pm
April 15 - FCPS Purple Up Day
April 15 - ASVAB Testing
April 16 - Special Olympics Feet Meet
April 18 - Saturday Academic Coaching
April 22 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm
April 21 - Statewide Election (No School)
April 23 - Frost & Lake Braddock Rising 9th Grade Parent & Student Coffee, 7:30am
April 23-25 - Spring Play, 7pm

March 27 - End of 3rd Quarter: Friday, March 27, is the last day of the third quarter and early release for students. SIS Gradebook will be unavailable to all FCPS parents and students from March 27, at 4pm until April 14 at 6am.

March 27 - Two Hour Early Dismissal: Students will be dismissed two hours early on Friday, March 27. Grab-n-Go Lunch will be available for pick up during dismissal. 

March 30-April 3 - Spring Break: Schools and school offices will be closed. See the complete 2025-26 school year calendar.

April 6 - Teacher Workday: Monday, April 6 is a teacher workday. There will be no school for students.

April 6 - Annandale High School Golf Tournament Fundraiser: Get ready to hit the links in support of Annandale Athletics. Our annual Annandale High School Golf Tournament will take place on Monday, April 6 at 8:30am at Chantilly National Golf and Country Club. This event is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a great day of golf while directly supporting our student athletes and athletic programs. Gather your friends, teammates, colleagues, or family members and register as a team, or sign up as an individual player. Individual and Team registration is now open. The cost is $150 for individuals or $560 per team. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for those who would like to further support Annandale Athletics. Email Brandon Sutphin for more information.

April 8 - Senior Breakfast, W4 & PRIDE Time: We will be hosting a Senior Breakfast on April 8 during W4 and PRIDE Time. The event will begin in the auditorium, where students will receive important information about end-of-year events, including senior exams, senior activities, graduation, and All Night Grad Party. After the presentation, students will report to the cafeteria for a breakfast and celebration with their classmates.

This is a parent-sponsored event, and we need your support to make it a success. Sign up today to volunteer! If you’re unable to volunteer, please consider making a donation to help make this event a success.

April 14 - Annandale Pyramid Art Show, 6pm: Every spring our K-12 Annandale Pyramid artists are celebrated in an art show hosted at Annandale High School. The show includes 2D and 3D artwork from Annandale Terrace ES, Braddock ES, Bren Mar Park ES, Columbia ES, North Springfield ES, Weyanoke ES, Holmes MS, Poe MS, and Annandale HS in Clausen Hall on April 14 6:00-8:00pm. This year our theme is Our Artists are Out of This World and will have space themed awards for the artwork and activities for kids of all ages hosted by our NAHS students. Come support all of our galactic artists big and small!

Important Information

April 21 - Statewide Election and No School for Students: There will be no school for students on Tuesday, April 21, for the Virginia statewide election. Student activities, athletic practices, and events may proceed as scheduled. Fairfax County Public Schools will still exceed the required number of instructional hours for students, as set by the Virginia Department of Education.

Academic Advising Update - Parent Acknowledgement Feature: As the Academic Advising and Course Selection period draws to a close, we want to ensure all families feel confident about their child's educational path. To facilitate this, SIS ParentVUE now allows parents and guardians to review and acknowledge their student's course requests for the 2026-27 school year. This acknowledgement window is open now through March 27, 2026. Please note that this information is not a schedule, it is a list of courses only. Schedules will be finalized and released in August before school starts. 

Instructions to view and acknowledge course requests, log into your ParentVUE account and navigate to the Course Request module. Review your student’s course request list for next school year. Navigate to the Student Info module and click Edit Information. Then, locate the Course Request Acknowledgment field and update to “Yes.” Please reach out to Director of Student Services, Erin Crowley, with any questions.

Awesome Atoms

Annandale Students Earn Recognition In Regional Science And Engineering Fair: Annandale High School students recently competed in the Fairfax County Regional Science and Engineering Fair, where they presented research projects across a range of scientific fields including chemistry, physics, and astronomy. During the judging session, students shared their research findings and responded to questions from professional judges representing academic and industry fields. Congratulations to sophomore Nico Kreamer, who received the Naval Science Award and a $50 prize from the Office of Naval Research for his project examining how chilling times affect cookie spread. In addition, several Annandale students earned honorable mentions and had the opportunity to make connections with professionals in scientific fields.

Academic Support & Tutoring Opportunities

Kaplan PSAT & SAT Prep Access: All students in grades 9-11 now have access to Kaplan online PSAT and SAT preparation resources. Students should log in at https://tinyurl.com/FCPSKaplan using their FCPS username and password. Access will remain active through October 31, allowing students to prepare for multiple SAT administrations as well as the October PSAT.

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.

Need to Make Up a Test? Sign Up for the Retake Room! 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 April 18, May 2, 16, & 30, June 6, & 13. Reach out to Cass Hersh with questions.

Opportunities

Spring Break College Application Bootcamp And SAT Intensive: Seniors from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology are hosting a virtual Spring Break College Application Bootcamp and SAT Intensive from March 30-April 3 via Zoom. The SAT Intensive will be held from 9:00am-12:00pm, and the College Application Bootcamp will take place from 1:00pm-4:00pm. Programming includes one-on-one consultations, essay workshops, and focused lessons on commonly missed SAT problem types. Families may register for the SAT Intensive for $249, the College Application Bootcamp for $349, or a bundled option for $549. Space is limited to support individualized attention, and interested students can register here or email jemini.prep@gmail.com for additional information.

Career Exploration Opportunity - Sign Up to Take the ASVAB! The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is a free career exploration assessment that helps students identify their strengths and explore career options in fields like skilled trades, healthcare, technology, and the military. This test isn’t just for those considering military service. It is a valuable tool for any student looking to understand their skills and plan for life after high school. Plus, students who earn a qualifying score will receive the Career Readiness Medal to wear at graduation. Additionally, we will host an after-school meeting to help students learn how to interpret their ASVAB results and use them to guide their postsecondary planning. More details will be shared soon—stay tuned! The ASVAB will be offered during the school day on April 15, so sign up today! For questions, see Ms. Acosta, College & Career Specialist. Sign up to take the ASVAB today!

April 18 - 2026 Special Education Family Conference: The 2026 Special Education Family Conference will feature Dr. Shelley Moore’s keynote, The Evolution of Inclusion, highlighting how our understanding of inclusion continues to grow. Families and staff are encouraged to register using the form linked here, explore breakout sessions, and consider volunteering. Staff can earn MyPDE credit, and students can receive service hours. The conference will be held at Marshall HS on April 18 from 8am-2pm.

April 18 - Earth Day Community Cleanup: The Hillbrook-Tall Oaks Civic Association invites students and families to participate in a community Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday, April 18 from 9:00am-12:00pm at the Poe Middle School parking lot. Volunteers will work together to remove litter, improve local spaces, and promote environmental stewardship across the Annandale community. All ages are welcome, and students may earn service hours while giving back. Supplies will be provided, and participants are encouraged to register in advance. Walk-up volunteers are also welcome.

May 2 - PTSA Community Yard Sale & Market: Reserve a Vendor Space NOW! Join us on Saturday, May 2 from 9:00am-2:00pm in the Annandale High School front parking lot for a PTSA-hosted Community Yard Sale & Market! Whether you’re an artist, baker, crafter, or student entrepreneur, this is a great opportunity to showcase your work and connect with the community. Vendor spaces start at just $25 for a single spot, or $15 for FCPS students. Email AHSPTSAVPPrograms@gmail.com to reserve a space!

Exploring Careers in Law Enforcement: Students interested in careers in law enforcement or public service have an opportunity to learn directly from the Fairfax County Police Department through the Community Police Academy. This program offers participants an inside look at many areas of policing, including investigations, training, and specialized units, while providing valuable insight into how officers serve and support the community. Students who are curious about a future in public safety are encouraged to explore this opportunity. More information is available on the Police Academy website.

All Night Grad Tickets On Sale Now! Tickets are now on sale for this year’s All Night Grad Celebration, a long-standing Annandale High School tradition made possible by the Annandale High School PTSA and the parent community. This safe, fun, and adult-supervised event is entirely volunteer-run and provides seniors with a memorable way to celebrate together.

The All Night Grad Celebration will take place on June 9, beginning at 11:00 PM, with doors closing at midnight. Tickets are available for $55 but will increase to $65 soon. Students can look forward to great food, games, a DJ, top-notch entertainment, and exciting door prizes, including computers and televisions.

Discounted tickets are available for students in need, and interested students are encouraged to speak with their school counselor for more information. Parent volunteers are also essential to the success of this event, and families are encouraged to sign up to help if they are able. Email Annandale.angc@gmail.com with any questions.

Parent Volunteers and Donations Needed! 

The final few months of the school year include several important events and opportunities to support Annandale High School through donations or volunteering. Community involvement helps make these events possible and strengthens the experiences we provide for students. Thank you for considering how you may be able to contribute. Detailed opportunities are listed below.

April 8 - Donations and Volunteers Needed for Senior Breakfast: We will be hosting a Senior Breakfast on April 15 and need your assistance making this event a success. Sign up today to volunteer! If you’re unable to volunteer, please consider making a donation to help make this event a success.

April 28-May 20 - Proctors Needed for IB Exams: Calling all Volunteers! The IB exams are starting soon and we are in need of help to proctor the exams. Volunteers are needed to walk around the testing room occasionally and sit/monitor students. No special training is needed ahead of time. Each testing room will have at least one experienced proctor that will be in charge of administering the test. We just need additional adult supervision. Volunteers must be 21 or older. Bring your driver’s license to check-in at the main office. Dress casually with comfortable shoes! If you are available to assist, please sign up here. Reach out to Linda Bradshaw with any questions.

May 9 - Prom Chaperones Needed: The Class of 2026 is seeking volunteers to chaperone Prom. Annandale’s prom is on Saturday, May 9 from 8pm - 11pm at the Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N Union St, Alexandria, VA 22314). This is a great time to dance and celebrate with the Class of 2026 in