Annandale Students, Parents, and Community,

As we enter the final full week of the school year, I am incredibly proud of the work this community has done together. Over these last several weeks, running up to SOLs, IB exams, and our upcoming graduation ceremony, I have highlighted the many ways we continue to work together to support our students. That support does not come from teachers alone. It comes from every staff member at Annandale High School, as well as our families and community members.

On Monday, we will hold our graduation ceremony at EagleBank Arena. I look forward to celebrating the Class of 2026 with our families and distinguished guests on this momentous occasion. The ceremony will be livestreamed and available for viewing at https://bit.ly/Annandale2026.

Underclassmen will attend school tomorrow (graduation day) and follow a modified schedule featuring two PRIDE Time sessions, a valuable opportunity to get academic support, complete missing assignments, and prepare for final exams. Students not requested for PRIDE Time will remain with their period 11 teacher throughout the morning. Breakfast will be available before school, and a Grab n' Go meal will be offered at dismissal. Buses will depart at 10:30am.

Final exams begin Thursday. Students will be dismissed at 11:25am on exam days. As a reminder, final exams are worth 10% of a student's course grade. Our Atoms Agreement of Determination means we do our best, even when things are hard. I encourage every student to take full advantage of this week, and Academic Coaching this Saturday from 8:30 to 11:00am in the Library, to ask for help, complete missing work, or prepare for reassessments. If a student does not know where to start, their teacher is the best first step.

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

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Parent Volunteers and Donations Needed! 

The final weeks of the school year include important events and opportunities to support Annandale High School through donations or volunteering. Detailed opportunities are listed below.

June 9 - Volunteers Needed for the All Night Grad Celebration: We also need volunteers to support the All Night Grad Celebration! Let's keep the legacy of this amazing event, providing a safe environment for our Seniors to celebrate their graduation. Sign up here to support the day of the event.

Important Dates

June 8 - Graduation (Early Release, 10:30am)
June 8 - Graduation, 7pm
June 9 - PTSA Meeting, 7pm
June 9 - All Night Grad Party, 11pm
June 10 - PTSA Pantry Distribution, 3:30pm
June 11-16 - Underclass Exams
June 13 - Saturday Academic Coaching
June 17 - Last Day of School (Dismissal 10:10am)
June 22 - Annandale Summer Camps Begin

June 8 - Early Release: Monday, June 8, will be an early release day due to graduation later that afternoon. Students will follow a modified morning schedule featuring two PRIDE Time sessions—a valuable opportunity to get academic support, complete missing assignments, and prepare for final exams. Schedule for the day:

8:10–9:13 – PRIDE Time 1
9:20–10:23 – PRIDE Time 2

Students not requested for PRIDE Time will stay with their teacher throughout the morning. Breakfast will be available and a Grab n’ Go meal will be offered at dismissal. Buses will depart at 10:30am.

June 8 - Graduation, 7:00pm: Graduation will be held on Monday, June 8, at 7:00pm at Eagle Bank Arena. Tickets are not required.

June 9 - Last Day of PRIDE Time: Tuesday, June 9 will be the last day of PRIDE Time this year. The W4 lesson will contain some end of year reminders for students. Teachers will use the remainder of the time as an end-of-year community builder or celebration with students.

June 9 - All Night Grad Celebration: Annandale High School’s All Night Grad Celebration is June 9 from 11:00pm-5:00am at Audrey Moore Rec Center! Tickets are on sale now for $55. Students can order tickets here. After June 1, tickets will only be available at the door for $65. If you would like, you can sponsor a Senior and purchase their ticket! Questions? Please contact the ANGC Chair if you have questions or concerns about the All Night Graduation Celebration. Parents can join the fun by volunteering to help! It takes a lot of volunteers to make this a successful night for our seniors. Please look at the sign-up and find a shift that works for you.

June 11-16 - Final Exams (Dismissal 11:25am): Final exams for our underclass students begin this Thursday. See the exam schedule below. On exam days, students will be dismissed at 11:25am. Students can pick up a grab-and-go lunch before leaving for the day.

June 13 - Saturday Academic Coaching: Annandale teachers will be available this Saturday 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. Reach out to Cass Hersh with questions.

June 17 - Last Day of School (Dismissal 10:10am): Wednesday, June 17, is a two-hour day with students being dismissed for the year at 10:10am.

June 22 - Annandale Summer Camps Begin: Looking for fun activities for your child this summer? Annandale High School is offering a variety of summer camps this year for current elementary and middle school students led by our own Annandale coaches. Help spread the word to friends, family and neighbors! Registration for all camps can be found here. See descriptions of the various camps below. Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp, and they should bring a snack and a water bottle each day. Cash or checks are accepted. Checks should be made out to “Annandale Athletic Boosters.”

Awesome Atoms

Annandale Senior Awarded WKWS Scholarship: Congratulations to Annandale High School senior Gina Chae on being selected as a recipient of a $1,500 Washington Korean Women’s Society (WKWS) Scholarship. Gina was recognized for her academic achievement, resilience, and dedication to her future goals. This fall, she will attend the University of Virginia, where she will continue pursuing her academic and personal aspirations. We are proud of Gina’s accomplishments and wish her continued success in this exciting next chapter.

Class of 2026 Recognized at Senior Awards Ceremony: Annandale High School recently honored members of the Class of 2026 during the annual Senior Awards Ceremony. Students received recognition for academic achievement, leadership, service, fine arts accomplishments, and scholarship awards. The celebration highlighted the many ways seniors have made an impact both inside and outside the classroom throughout their time at Annandale. Congratulations to all of the students recognized for their achievements.

Finish Strong

End of Year Attendance Requirements: The last day of school for underclass students is Wednesday, June 17. With testing in full swing, there is still much going on in our classrooms. Teachers and teams are continuing to plan high quality instruction that will prepare students to be successful not only on final exams, but in the coming years. In some cases, students are working on certifications or other requirements for graduation. All students are expected to attend school each day to complete these activities and finish the year strong.

June 11-16, school will be held from 8:10-11:25am. During this time, students will complete their end of course exams. These culminating activities assess students’ mastery of the standards and skills they have been learning throughout the year.

Final Exams: In each class, the final exam or culminating activity counts for 10% of a student’s grade, regardless of the impact on the final grade. Per FCPS policy, a student whose absence from the final examination or activity is unexcused will receive an F for that examination. Exceptions to this must be approved by the principal. Final exams are not eligible for retakes.

It is important for students to recognize the impact their final exams will have on their grades, and take steps to prepare so they can do their best. In W4 Advisory, we held one-on-one check-ins with each student, reviewing their current grades, and helping them create a plan to prepare.

Saturday Academic Coaching: Annandale teachers will be available this Saturday 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. Reach out to Cass Hersh with questions.

Class of 2026 Information

Class of 2026 News: Graduation is tomorrow! Last week we sent out important information in our latest Class of 2026 Newsletter. If you have any questions about upcoming senior events, please contact our senior class sponsors, Erin Mahoney and Chase Cole or our senior class administrator, Jae Lee.

June 8 - Graduation, 7:00pm: Graduation will be held on Monday, June 8, at 7:00pm at Eagle Bank Arena. This is a momentous occasion for our students and families. In addition, this event is a celebration of our collective efforts to support the Class of 2026 over the past four years.

June 9 - All Night Grad Celebration: Annandale High School’s All Night Grad Celebration is June 9 from 11:00pm-5:00am at Audrey Moore Rec Center! Tickets are on sale now for $55. Students can order tickets here. After June 1, tickets will only be available at the door for $65. If you would like, you can sponsor a Senior and purchase their ticket! Questions? Please contact the ANGC Chair if you have questions or concerns about the All Night Graduation Celebration. Parents can join the fun by volunteering to help! It takes a lot of volunteers to make this a successful night for our seniors. Please look at the sign-up and find a shift that works for you.

Important Information

Student Testing Results Coming Soon: Throughout May and June, you will receive your child’s spring assessment results. If you aren’t sure what assessments your child took this year, there is a list of tests by grade level on the FCPS website. How the results are delivered depends on the test. Scores will be delivered in SIS ParentVUE or from the school or testing organization. Learn what to expect regarding assessment reporting practices and timelines. Visit the FCPS website for additional information about how test results are reported to families. Individual test websites provide report translations and help for interpreting test results. Please contact us with any testing questions or for additional information about how we use test results to support student success.

Medication Pickup: The school health room is reminding parents and guardians that all medication stored in the health room must be picked up no later than 12:00pm on Wednesday, June 10. Medications left in the health room after that time will be discarded. It is school policy that medications must be picked up by the parent or guardian, however, with parent or guardian written permission, a high school student may transport over-the-counter medications to and from the health room. If you have any questions, please contact the School Health Aide Larry Cooper Sr. at 703-642-4110, or the Public Health Nurse Michelle Dierkes.

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 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 emailed on March 18 from Linda Bradshaw, IB coordinator. Results will be posted after July 6 and can be found at https://candidates.ibo.org. Seniors were told to forward the email to a personal email address as fcps school accounts will be deactivated soon after graduation. Be sure to enter the PIN exactly as provided, including uppercase and lowercase letters, since it is case sensitive and changes each year. If you become locked out of the portal, wait a few hours before trying again. For the best experience, use either Chrome or Firefox. Please reach out to Linda Bradshaw, IB Diploma Coordinator, if you need login information or have questions.

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. 

Underclassmen Keep Their Laptops Over The Summer! As we prepare for the end of the school year, we want to share an important update regarding student device collection. Beginning this year, Annandale High School will only be collecting devices from graduating seniors and students who are withdrawing. All other students will keep their assigned devices over the summer. This change is intended to help students maintain access to educational resources, summer learning opportunities, and school-related activities. As a reminder, students are responsible for properly caring for and securing the device over the summer. Devices must return with the student at the start of the next school year in good working condition. Students and families remain responsible for any obligations, fees, or fines related to lost, stolen, or damaged devices and accessories. If there are any concerns about keeping the device over the summer, students may turn in their device June 11-16 in room 328 after they have completed final exams.

Opportunities

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 on June 1. 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.

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

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.

Earn Credit Toward Graduation This Summer: Summer is an excellent time for high school students to fulfill the Economics and Personal Finance graduation requirement through the self-directed course option. In this format, students work independently to complete all course requirements while maintaining flexibility over the summer months. For additional details and registration information, please visit the Summer Learning information page.

Career and Technical Education and Institute for the Arts Camps: Career and Technical Education camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Robinson Secondary School from 8:30am to 2:00pm. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Tuition assistance is available to FCPS families eligible for free or reduced meals.