The A-Blast

28/11/2023

So proud of Annandale journalism!

High school reporters aim to save the news business with solutions-oriented journalism.

14/07/2023

For Mr. Weintraut's birthday, we are again asking for support of The A-Blast media program. Any funds you contribute will help send low-income students to journalism camps and national conventions. Last year we raised $2700, sent 6 students to a national convention and 3 to our summer journalism camp. Our school's poverty rate is around 70% now, and many of our journalism students are low-income. You can click on the link below and scroll down to "donate to The A-Blast." You can contribute as a guest without setting up an account, and you will get an emailed receipt for your taxes. If it asks, the state is Virginia & school district is Fairfax County Public Schools. We will send you a nice note and a subscription to the newspaper. Thank you!

https://annandalehs.fcps.edu/index.php/student-life-and-activities/student-publications?fbclid=IwAR0kEAAkUsELMhWjiJtdg9EESip6Ye1p8qn34QKJueetIuvvklE02sADix4

The A-Blast is the Annandale High School online school newspaper. The sponsor of The A-Blast is Alan Weintraut, who can be reached at . View the most recent edition Submit a letter to the A-Blast Advertise with us The School Yearbook sponsor is Julia Hanneman. She can be reached at . Don...

01/12/2022

Check out the Principal's response to an editorial critical of the new grading policy:

As principal, it is important that I stay informed about issues that are top of mind among our students, our families, and our community. And right now, it seems that high school grading practices are in the spotlight. In fact, grading practices across FCPS have been all over the news lately. Over t...

17/05/2022

Read about this years All Night Grad Party here: https://www.thea-blast.org/news/2022/04/27/ptsa-brings-back-all-night-grad-celebration-for-seniors/

The All Night Grad Celebration, an annual senior tradition, has finally returned. All Night Grad is an event that typically takes place the night of graduation where students participate in a variety of activities like massage therapy, getting their faces drawn by a caricature artist, swimming the p...

30/03/2022

Read about the celebration of the variety of cultures here at AHS here: https://www.thea-blast.org/international/2022/03/30/cultural-differences-celebrated/

AHS is one of the most diverse schools in the entire county with over 74 countries represented and over 55 languages spoken. Students at AHS had the chance to display their cultural clothing during Heritage night. Heritage Night is a most popular event where students were able to showcase their heri...

24/03/2022

Former principal leaves a spirit of compassion, touches many
https://www.thea-blast.org/news/2022/03/24/former-principal-leaves-a-spirit-of-compassion-touches-many/

Editor’s note: background information for this story was written by the Clausen family. Photo gallery below. A beloved figure and the namesake of Clausen Hall, former AHS principal Donald Clausen died on March 21 from a Glioblastoma (brain tumor). He was the school’s fourth principal, and he ser...

10/03/2022

Read about the Special Olympics Tournament here: https://www.thea-blast.org/uncategorized/2022/02/27/special-olympics-tournament-is-a-success/

The Special Olympics team has made a strong return this year despite Covid-19. The team, led by special education teacher Jae Lee, has hosted multiple events throughout the school year. Last Saturday, Feb. 26, the Special Olympics Basketball Tournament was hosted at AHS. The athletes faced off again...

08/03/2022

Read a students review on a restaurant here: https://www.thea-blast.org/top-stories/2022/03/01/food-review-kabobistan/

Kabobistan is a Family owned restaurant with two chains. They sell kebabs and combos that come with two choices of meat, chickpeas, rice, a salad, and a single piece of flatbread. I purchased the A1 boneless chicken breast and the chicken itself was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The flatbread also....

23/02/2022

Read about field hockey coach Cindy Hook's departure from AHS after 43 years here: https://www.thea-blast.org/top-stories/2022/02/23/cindy-hook-leaving-her-legacy/

After 43 years full of victory, defeat and field hockey fun, AHS field hockey coach Cindy Hook is retiring. As one of only three field hockey coaches AHS has had since the program started in 1954, Hook has surely left her mark. “‘I’ve decided to retire from coaching field hockey because it jus...

02/02/2022

Read about how the class of 2022 is preparing for prom here: https://www.thea-blast.org/news/2022/01/27/senior-class-prepares-for-prom/

This year’s Prom date and location has finally been announced as we get closer and closer to the spring. Prom will be held at the Torpedo Factory on May 20. Typically the annual dance is held on a Saturday, but this year’s date lands on a Friday. The reasoning for the late Prom date was...

02/02/2022

Read about how class of 2022 is preparing for prom here: https://www.thea-blast.org/news/2022/01/27/senior-class-prepares-for-prom/

This year’s Prom date and location has finally been announced as we get closer and closer to the spring. Prom will be held at the Torpedo Factory on May 20. Typically the annual dance is held on a Saturday, but this year’s date lands on a Friday. The reasoning for the late Prom date was...

27/01/2022

Read about the teachers who were recognized for the FCPS honors awards here: https://www.thea-blast.org/news/2022/01/26/fcps-honors-outstanding-staff-members/

AHS recently announced the school level winners of FCPS’s Outstanding Staff Awards. Five staff members from AHS were chosen from a pool of nominees. ESOL teacher Tricia Kapuscinski won Outstanding Teacher. Math teacher Allyson Pak won Outstanding New Teacher. Social studies teacher and tech specia...

06/12/2021

Read about Library censorships here: https://www.thea-blast.org/news/2021/12/01/libraries-overcome-censorship/

Two books have recently been put back into FCPS libraries after being temporarily removed. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison and Gender Q***r: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe were put under review after parents complained that the books had sexually explicit content and references to pedophelia. “The decision r...

01/12/2021

Read about the food pantry celebrating its third year here: https://www.thea-blast.org/news/2021/12/01/food-pantry-celebrates-third-year/

The AHS food pantry is celebrating its third year serving the AHS community. The pantry’s food distribution model has changed since its opening to better meet the needs of the students and community. “We launched in October 2018 with an idea and by November, we had started filling shelves, one c...

18/11/2021

Read about the Spider-Man movie trailer here: https://www.thea-blast.org/top-stories/2021/11/18/spider-man-no-way-home-explained/

We’ve struck gold! Marvel and Sony Pictures released the second trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home and it’s awesome. Marvel and Sony Pictures revealed the trailer at a fan event with actor Tom Holland there to give new information on the film. Jon Watts is returning to direct Spider-Man: No Way...

15/11/2021

Read here for a story in Spanish translation: https://www.thea-blast.org/spanish-translations/2021/11/09/humanos-de-annandale-senora-sofia-ramirez-custodiana/

¿Cuál es su país de herencia? “Yo soy de San Miguel, El Salvador.” ¿De qué manera contribuyes a la comunidad hispana? “Soy madre adoptiva. Tengo tres niños, los cuales yo crié como propios. Cuido a niños que son abandonados en la frontera. Actualmente, mi última está en el grado 11. ...

10/11/2021

Read about the effects of video games on students performance in school here: https://www.thea-blast.org/top-stories/2021/11/10/do-video-games-interfere-with-school/

10/11/2021

Read about the takeover of Book Tok here: https://www.thea-blast.org/student-life/academics/2021/11/05/53932/

During quarantine, people had to pick up new hobbies to keep themselves occupied and many were inspired by the thousands of fanbases, communities, and groups represented on TikTok. BookTok is a large group of avid readers and lovers of literature on TikTok. BookTok is one of many different subgroups...

08/11/2021

Read a review about the new Eternals movie here: https://www.thea-blast.org/top-stories/2021/11/08/eternals-a-complex-yet-convoluted-marvel-film/

Eternals is directed by Oscar winner Chloe Zhao (Nomadland, The Rider) and is the 26th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Based on Marvel Comics The Eternals by late writer Jack Kirby, Eternals is about a group of immortal beings sent to Earth 1000 years ago to protect humans from monstro...

04/11/2021

Read about FCPS' new snow day policy here: https://www.thea-blast.org/news/2021/10/26/snow-days-will-remain-for-winter/

04/11/2021

Read about how clubs are pushing through COVID here:https://www.thea-blast.org/news/2021/10/26/clubs-push-through-covid-19/

29/10/2021

Need something to do for Halloween? Read this article to get some ideas: https://www.thea-blast.org/in-depth/2021/10/27/fun-things-to-do-for-halloween/

With Halloween around the corner, there are many activities that are popping up to get people in the spirit. Whether you are in the mood to get scared or want to do a fun festive activity, we’ve got you covered. Here is a list of exciting activities that you could do this year for Halloween....

29/10/2021

Read about the upcoming Monopoly tournament here: https://www.thea-blast.org/news/2021/10/26/ptsa-to-host-third-annual-monopoly-tournament/

Monopoly has been one of the most popular and recognizable board games since its release in 1935. Monopoly is a staple in houses across the country and in the AHS community. The AHS PTSA is hosting its third annual Monopoly tournament on Sat. Nov. 13 in Clausen Hall. The tournament will take place f...

27/10/2021

Read about the AHS food pantry here: https://www.thea-blast.org/news/2021/10/27/ahs-food-pantry-gives-back/

Every second and fourth Friday of the month the PTSA sponsors the AHS food pantry where they distribute food, household and personal hygiene products for families and students in need. The pantry distribution is held from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. in Trailer 8. Students and families can pick up bags that ha...

26/10/2021

Read about the nearby shooting that impacted the Senior Night football game: https://www.thea-blast.org/news/2021/10/26/senior-night-faces-setback/

Last Friday, with less than six minutes left in the fourth quarter of the varsity football game, athletes, coaches, parents and students began to evacuate the field. When the evacuation started, students began running out of the stands after seeing the football teams run off the fields and towards t...

23/10/2021

Message regarding the incident that occurred during last nights football game: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/VAEDUFCPS/bulletins/2f8d046

Tonight's Varsity Football Game v. Falls Church Update Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 10/22/2021 11:07 PM EDT Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Annandale Community: During the 4th quarter of our Varsity Football game tonight vs. Falls Church, we were noti...

21/10/2021

Read about the effects of procrastination on students mental health here:
https://www.thea-blast.org/student-life/health/2021/10/02/procrastination-stresses-teens-out/

Procrastination can be a huge stressor, especially in teens. Not everyone is a procrastinator, but everyone procrastinates in some way. There are many reasons as to why one may procrastinate. It can be due to fear of failure, trouble focusing, lack of sleep or low self-esteem. Some people may really...

19/10/2021

Click here to read about the stabbing at Ossian Hall Park: https://www.thea-blast.org/news/2021/10/14/man-stabbed-at-ossian-hall-park-near-ahs/

This story is being updated through Friday Oct. 15. The Ossian Hall Park near AHS was shut down on the afternoon of Oct. 12. Police officers and FCPD helicopters searched the area for two suspects involved in a stabbing incident. The victim, an adult male, was sent to the hospital with life threaten...

04/10/2021

Read about Afghan refugees at AHS here: thea-blast.org/news/2021/09/28/annandale-welcomes-afghan-refugees/

After the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, an influx of Afghan refugees arrived, and were processed at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Since then, Annandale has welcomed more than a dozen Afghan refugees. In order to ensure that the new students are welcomed at Annandale, a...