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Updates from John Lewis High School’s Student Services Department
April 26, 2021
Important Dates:
May 3: Deadline: Students to Record Service Hours in x2vol
May 3-7: Senior Survey (required for each senior)
May 3-7: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 10: Deadline: Parent submits form allowing a P (Pass) for up to two classes
May 18-21: Final Exams for Seniors
May 27: Senior Awards Program
May 28: Academy bus shuttle service ends
May 31: Memorial Day Holiday (No School)
June 1: Graduation at the LHS Stadium-6pm
June 4-10: Final Exams for Underclassmen; Altered bell schedule (8:20-11:35)
June 11: Last Day of School; Early Release (10:20)
Important Information:
Academics
Updates on In Person Learning
As you may have heard, students may be able to return to four days (Tuesdays-Fridays) of In Person learning at Lewis High School. We are now ready for all requests, no matter if your child is 100% virtual. While VDOE guidance still remains in place requiring proper physical distancing and other health and safety mitigations in schools, our staff is prepared to review each request and bring as many students back as possible. If you would like for your child to attend school four days per week, please fill out this Google form: https://forms.gle/beJbeYPox9PrsbEN7. We will review all requests in the order in which they are received. Parents and students will be contacted once an approval has been made. In order to meet health guidelines, should a student be moved to four days a week, changes to the student’s schedule or teacher assignments may be necessary.
To allow for as many students to return to school for In Person learning as possible, any student who has not been attending school In Person (yet has the In Person status), will be transferred to virtual learning. To clarify, if a student has missed four consecutive days of In Person learning by remoting into their classes from home/an alternate location, he/she will be transitioned to virtual learning status automatically.
Finally, no additional changes in learning preferences will be made after the month of April. This deadline will allow our school staff to focus on culminating activities, such as testing and graduation.
FCPS Grade Policy Changes for the 2020-2021 School Year
As shared in an email from the Superintendent’s Office, FCPS has adopted a series of secondary grading policy changes to help our students achieve a strong finish to the school year.
FCPS is adjusting our grading policy for the 2020-21 school year to ensure students are not penalized by the challenges brought on by pandemic learning.
Key policy changes for high school students are listed below:
- Final Exam flexibility that ensures an exam can only serve to improve a student’s grade for the year. Teachers will apply this in their grading practices for each class.
- Use of No Mark, “NM”, instead of “F” grades for all courses. This will be automatically applied for any course in which a student receives an “F.”
- Allowing high school students to select a mark of “P” for pass for up to two courses for which a passing grade is earned for the final mark. As referenced above, for the 2020-21 school year, final marks of “F” will automatically receive a No Mark, “NM.”
Third quarter report cards and the Pass - No Mark Request Form are now available in ParentVue. Report cards for families who did not opt out of paperless report cards have also been mailed out. Students and families are encouraged to carefully consider the option for Pass - No Mark status. Additional information including considerations for postsecondary opportunities and frequently asked questions are available at the following link: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/grading-and-reporting/secondary
Summer School Options
FCPS has expanded summer school learning opportunities for our students.
John Lewis HS will host credit recovery which will be in-person and the two summer school sessions will be three weeks each in length. Credit recovery is free. As families begin to think about summer plans, please keep in mind that any student who has not earned credit (a passing grade/mark) may be able to attend summer school at Lewis HS. We are currently setting up our program, beginning with hiring staff. Once we have more details, such as which courses will be offered and when, we will share more information.
FCPS Online campus is also available to our students; students can take a course to accelerate their learning (a new course). There is a fee to participate in Online Campus. As a start, please see the website for course offerings, program dates, and other information:
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/online-campus
Class of 2021 Information
Seniors: We need Your Senior Survey!
All Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) 12th grade students are asked to complete a brief senior survey at the end of their 12th grade year. Postsecondary plan information gathered in the Senior Survey provides valuable information for our school division as we work to support each student’s academic and career plan, and information from the survey is also annually reported to the Virginia Department of Education. The Lewis High School Senior Survey will be administered the week of May 1.
The survey has eight questions that ask students about their postsecondary plans, college admission decisions, financial aid (if applicable), and work-based learning experiences during school. Additionally, the survey asks an optional question where students may provide a non-FCPS email address to be used for official FCPS alumni communication purposes.
Look for more information from your student’s counselor regarding the senior survey.
Deadline: Students Recording Community Service Hours in x2vol
With 25 hours of community service, a B or higher in Social studies classes, and with a positive personal record in attendance and discipline, seniors are eligible to earn a Civics Seal on their diploma. Similarly, with 40 hours of community service, seniors may be eligible to wear the FCPS black service learning cord with their cap and gown at graduation. All hours must be put into x2vol by eligible students by May 3rd to be considered for these two distinctions.
NOVA Community College JumpStart
Northern Virginia Community College will offer a selection of online, tuition free courses to our graduating seniors. After meeting placement requirements, students can take up to two courses. Students will need a computer, internet access, and may be required to pay for textbooks or materials fees. If you are interested, talk with your counselor for guidance.
- Students may apply until April 30th.
- Classes will run from June 1st until August 9th.
For more information: https://www.nvcc.edu/jumpstart/index.html?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=
Senior Awards Program at LHS
LHS will proudly recognize our senior class students who have excelled scholastically, who have been selected for department medals, or who have earned external scholarships. Students receiving an award will be contacted, as well as their parents, in the coming weeks. Our awards program will be on Thursday, May 27th. This event will be in person, and also live streamed. Once we have an accurate count of how many students and parents/friends (2 per senior) plan to attend in person, we will provide more details. We anticipate the ceremony will begin at 4:00. Stay tuned for more information!
How to Request your TRANSCRIPT from Lewis
The Senior Survey will officially begin at Lewis on May 1, 2021. Students cannot request a final transcript to be sent to the college they plan to attend in the Senior Survey if the Parent Consent and Transcript Request Forms have not been received. If you have not made a request for an official transcript this school year you will need to turn in these signed forms prior to taking the survey.
Please follow these steps to request transcripts:
- Take the Senior Survey and make sure the Parent Consent and Transcript Request Forms are complete.
- Specifically, go to the Lewis High School Web Site for the Transcript Request Forms for Current Students found here: https://lewishs.fcps.edu/student-services/transcript-information
- Fill out Parent Consent Forms 1 & 2
- Scan them or take a picture of them, and send them via email to dawink@fcps.edu
Student Testing
4th Quarter Standardized Testing Flexibility
While the Virginia Department of Education requires that SOLs must be offered, they have also announced that a virtual testing option is being developed (no published timeline for availability), and that families are being provided with expanded SOL refusal options for COVID-related concerns.
Over the next couple weeks, much more information about SOL administration at JLHS will be shared.
SOL Testing
SOL Testing Communication- The students and their families are getting the emails from the assessment coach, Mrs. Kj Sachdeva, about the SOL testing options. Please be on the look out for the testing emails and fill the form linked in the emails. Your timely response will help us plan the testing properly.
General Information
Teacher Appreciation Week 2021
Teacher Appreciation Week is quickly approaching-first week of May! Our Student Services Team values, applauds, and admires the work of all teachers and we know you do too. We encourage all students, parents, and even alum to reach out to our teachers with a video message, email, or e-Card! It will only take a minute but it will truly make someone’s day! For a list of staff email addresses, click on this link: https://leehs.fcps.edu/contact.
Updated Immunization Requirement for Rising FCPS 12th Grade Students
The Code of Virginia requires all students to be immunized against certain communicable diseases prior to entrance into Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Effective July 1, 2021 all students entering twelfth grade will be required to receive one dose of Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) administered at age 16 or older, and prior to the beginning of school. Twelfth grade students cannot begin school in August without proper Meningococcal documentation. Please provide one of the following documents to Lewis High School as soon as possible:
- An updated immunization record showing that the student has received the Meningococcal vaccine.
- A note on a healthcare provider’s letterhead stating the date the Meningococcal vaccine was given.
- A healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
- A notarized Religious Exemption Form which is available online at:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/certificate_religious_exemption.pdf
Immunizations are available from your student's healthcare provider or the Fairfax County Health Department. The Health Department clinic locations and hours are available online at: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/immunization/school or by calling 703-246-2411.
Academy Bus Schedule
Many of our students take advantage of FCPS Academy courses. On May 28th, academy bus shuttle service ends. Students can attend their academies if they drive/have a ride, or should remote in to their courses from our library or home.
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