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8/20 - Lancer Launch 12-3PM (12-1 New Students)
8/24 - First Day of School (Blue Day)
8/27 - Activities Fair -(During Advisory Students Only)
9/4 & 9/7 - Holidays | Labor Day Break
9/11 - Religious and Cultural Observance
9/21 - Holiday | Yom Kippur
Welcome to the 2026–2027 School Year!
Dear Lewis Lancer Families,
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! I hope you and your family had a wonderful summer filled with rest, joy, and time together. It is truly an honor to welcome you back to John R. Lewis High School, and I am especially excited to begin my first year serving as your principal.
Over the summer, our staff has been hard at work preparing for an incredible year of learning, growth, and connection. We are committed to creating a school where every student feels welcomed, challenged, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential. At Lewis, we believe strong partnerships between home and school are essential to student success, and we look forward to working alongside you throughout the year.
Whether your student is joining us for the first time or returning as a Lancer, we are excited to welcome them back. This newsletter includes important information to help your family prepare for a smooth start to the school year, including key dates, back-to-school information, and introductions to the staff members who will support your student throughout the year.
We can't wait to welcome our students back into the building and begin another outstanding year together. Here's to a fantastic 2026–2027 school year!
With Lancer Pride,
The information below contains a lot of relevant beginning of year information.
Serena Giron | Principal | John R. Lewis High School
Please see chart below for administrative roles and supervision for the 2026-2027 school year. Caseloads for Assistant Principals are by student’s last name as listed in SIS. We are having to make a shift in caseload assignments schoolwide. While there are some unique exceptions, please see below for the new alpha shift.
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Administrator
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Supervises
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Student Alpha
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Email
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Serena Giron, Principal
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Administrative Assistants, Safety & Security
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Schoolwide
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sagiron@fcps.edu
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Chris Cashman, Assistant Principal
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Special Education, Junior Class Rep
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A-FE
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chcashman@fcps.edu
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Dr. Lukisha Gibbs, Assistant Principal
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Mathematics, Multilingual Learners, Advanced Academics, Freshman Class Admin
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Fi-J
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lbgibbs@fcps.edu
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| TBD |
Science, Career & Technical Education, Library, Sophomore Class Admin
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K-Qua |
TBD
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Matthew Johnson, Assistant Principal
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English, Fine & Performing Arts, World Languages, Senior Class Admin
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Qub-Z
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majohnson4@fcps.edu
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Erik Giblin, Assistant Principal
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Social Studies, AVID, Lewis Leadership Program
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AVID Students
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emgiblin@fcps.edu
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Our team of professional school counselors, school social workers and school psychologists will be working with your students throughout the year in the areas of academics, college and career, and social-emotional support. Our team also consists of a College and Career Specialist, who can support students with postsecondary planning.
Caseloads for School Counselors and Clinical Team are by student last name as listed in SIS. We are having to make a shift in caseload assignments schoolwide. While there are some unique exceptions, please see below for the new alpha shift.
Here is a link to the FCPS school calendar which lists all school holidays. We begin school on Monday, August 24. Classes begin at 8:10 am and school dismisses at 2:55 pm.
Bell Schedule
Beginning this school year, FCPS has updated its policy regarding the use of personal electronic communication and computing devices during the instructional day. To support student learning and minimize distractions, students may not use personal electronic devices during the instructional day (8:10 a.m.–2:55 p.m.). This includes cell phones, headphones/earbuds, smartwatches, smart glasses, personal laptops, tablets, and other similar personal devices. All personal devices should be off and away throughout the academic day.
Students are expected to use their FCPS-issued laptop during the school day. Limited exceptions are permitted only when:
- A personal device is required as an accommodation explicitly stated in a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan; or
- The principal or designee has approved a course-specific exception because specialized technology is required that is not available on an FCPS-issued device.
If your child struggles with phone use during the school day, we strongly encourage you to have them leave their phone at home whenever possible. Virginia law and FCPS policy require schools to enforce these expectations, and personal devices that are used in violation of the policy may be confiscated. Your partnership in reinforcing these expectations at home is essential to helping us create a focused learning environment for all students.
Lewis High School is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal electronic devices brought to school. Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain a learning environment where students can fully engage in their education free from unnecessary distractions.
Graduation
Presently, FCPS is finalizing graduation dates for all schools. As soon as that information is shared with schools, we will share it with the community.
Senior Pictures
Book your senior picture session today!
Senior Portrait sign-up times are available at this link. Lewis High School is using Legacy Studios again this year. Click HERE for detailed instructions on how to sign up.
The required attire for the school’s yearbook pose is traditional tuxedos and drapes; these are provided by Legacy Studios. In addition to the free yearbook session, Legacy Studios also offers sessions that include cap-and-gown portraits. If you have any questions, please email customercare@legacystudios.com. Include your Senior’s First and Last Name and “Lewis High School Class of 2027” in the subject line of the email, for faster assistance.
Below are the following dates;
Oct 5, 2026 - 3 pm - 8 pm
Oct 6, 2026 - 3 pm - 8 pm
Nov 20, 2026 - 3 pm - 8 pm
Dec 10, 2026 - 3 pm - 8 pm
Dec 11, 2026 - 3 pm - 8 pm
The Fall Sports season is here! If your Lancer is interested in playing a sport, please take a look at the schedule below and have them come out for tryouts. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Director of Student Activities, Mr. John James, at JFJames@fcps.edu.
We will have our annual Lancer Launch on Thursday, August 20, from 1 pm - 3 pm. Come out and learn more to get you ready for the upcoming school year. We will have a new student welcome for our 9th graders and any new student to Lewis HS from 12 pm - 1 pm in the auditorium. We look forward to seeing you there!
Traffic
Student Parking
Street Parking
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) will continue to utilize a weapons detection system at all secondary schools this fall. Lewis will begin on the first day of school and continue throughout the 2026-2027 school year.
Items to be removed include:
- Three-ring binders
- Laptops
- Collapsible umbrellas
- Metal lunch boxes
- Metal pencil cases
- Metal glass cases
These items can remain in a student’s bags:
- Non-metal lunch boxes
- Books
- Planners
- Spiral notebooks and folders
- Cell phones
- Keys
- Non-metal pencil cases
Once the items are removed, students should walk to the shortest line and proceed. If the light turns red, they will be directed to a secondary screening to determine what may have alerted the system. Experience shows that the process becomes easier and more efficient every day. You can learn more about the system by watching this video and reading the Frequently Asked Questions on FCPS’ website. If you have additional questions, you can submit them online to the FCPS Chief of Safety and Security Office.
We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and support in our shared commitment to maintaining a safe learning environment for us all.
Applications are now open for rising seniors interested in becoming Fellows in the Global Leaders of Fairfax County program for the 2026–2027 school year!
About the Program
Running from September 2026 through May 2027, this hybrid program (in-person and virtual) requires a commitment of a few hours per month. As a Fellow, you will:
- Design and lead a project addressing a UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) in Fairfax County.
- Connect with national and international leaders.
- Participate in field trips exploring global issues and international affairs.
- Earn a Certificate of Completion upon finishing the program.
Student Application Process
- Applilcation Form: Complete the Global Leaders Fellowship
- Deadline: Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
- Important: You must use a personal Gmail account to apply. The form is blocked from student @fcpsschools.net accounts.
For full program details, please visit the Global Leaders of Fairfax County Website.
Principals, please share this Global Leaders Fellowship opportunity for rising seniors with your school community and in your upcoming newsletter by August 21, 2026.
Contacts
Ryan McElveen, Founder and Managing Director fairfaxgloballeaders@gmail.com
Joann Hardy, Project Liaison, Learning Innovations
jkhardy@fcps.edu
Students will NOT be permitted to receive deliveries during the school day. All food will be confiscated and held until the end of the school day or disposed of if the student who ordered the items is unknown. If you wish to drop any items off for your student during the school day, please drop them off inside the main office at Door 1. We ask that all family drop-offs be brought into the main office for security purposes and to ensure students do not get stopped with items a parent brought to them.
Please mark your calendars for Back-to-School Night on Wednesday, September 2, from 6:00–8:00 p.m.
This is a wonderful opportunity to meet your student's teachers, learn about their classes, and discover ways to support your Lancer's success throughout the 2026–2027 school year.
We'll share additional details in the coming weeks, but for now, be sure to save the date. We look forward to welcoming you to Lewis High School and seeing you there!
School begins promptly at 8:10 am and ends at 2:55 pm. Doors to the building will open at 7:40AM. Please use ParentVue or the 24/7 Attendance Line - 703-924-8312. The automated system that contacts parents for absences goes out at 10:30am and 4:15pm. If you believe you were notified incorrectly, contact your child’s assistant principal for clarification. FCPS Academies have their own attendance system and it’s best when you call in an absence that you contact both the base school and Academy.
We're excited to share that our Late Bus Wednesdays will be returning this school year! Beginning in late September, students will have the opportunity to stay after school each Wednesday to receive additional academic support from their teachers or participate in after-school clubs and activities.
The Late Bus program runs from 2:55 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with buses departing Lewis High School at 4:45 p.m. each Wednesday.
We look forward to providing our students with these additional opportunities to learn, connect, and get involved. Please keep an eye out for more information, including the official start date and additional details, coming soon!
New ParentVUE Mobile App Launching July 28On Tuesday, July 28, a new ParentVUE mobile app will become available in the Apple and Google app stores. This new app provides parents and caregivers with a more secure sign-in. The current “classic” app will remain active for about six months. Families must download the new app by December 2026 to ensure they have continued mobile access to their child’s school data.
In the new app, families can enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) for FCPS Single Sign-On. While enrollment is optional, we strongly recommend that everyone enable this security feature.
Learn more about installing the new ParentVUE app. Parents needing assistance should submit a Parent Support Request.
Required Immunizations
Back-to-School Immunization RequirementsMake sure your child has all of their required immunizations before the first day of school. Check their immunization records to see what they might be missing. You can:
- Request immunization records online through the Virginia Immunization Information System (a free service).
- If your child was immunized outside of Virginia, get records from those states’ systems.
- Request records from your health care provider. Some may charge for copies.
Review school-required immunizations to verify that your child is up to date.
Required Immunizations for Rising 12th Graders. Several immunizations are required for students entering 12th grades.
- All students entering 12th grade are to receive two doses of Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) prior to the beginning of school.
- To meet the MenACWY 12th grade requirement, one dose must be administered at age 16 or older.
You may drop the records with Lourdes Salas.
Back to School Medication Drop-off
Emergency Care Form, Health Information Form and Medications
The goal of the health room is to ensure your student experiences a healthy and safe school year. To proactively plan, we ask that parents/guardians complete the Online/Verification Update packet in SIS ParentVUE to include emergency contact information, Health Information Forms, and Emergency Care Forms. The Online Verification Update (OVU) packet allows parents to review and update phone numbers, emergency contacts, and health information (such as health conditions and immunizations) for students in grades PS/HS and kindergarten through 12th grade. The enrolling parent will be able to access OVU through their SIS ParentVUE account. To assist you, follow this link to the site.
If your student will have a medication at school, please complete the appropriate authorization form: medication, inhaler and/or epinephrine. A new authorization form is required annually for medications kept in the health room, and for students who self-carry emergency medications such as inhalers or epinephrine. Please note that an authorization form is also required for medications needed during any FCPS-sponsored activity occurring outside of regular school hours (ex: field trips, sports, band, drama, chorus, etc.) in accordance with FCPS Medication Administration Regulation 2102.
Parents may drop off unexpired medications and appropriate forms in the health room during Lancer Launch, August 20, 2026, 12:00-3:00pm. Once school begins, medication may be dropped off any school day from 8:00am- 3:00pm. Students who are self-carrying emergency medication must bring the medication by the health room with authorization forms for review. Please contact our Public Health Nurse, Laura Lux, RN or our School Health Aide, Kathy Piper-Somerville at 703-924-8310 for any questions regarding medications for your student.
Medication Guidelines
FCPS continues to follow medication protocols to help ensure the safety of medication administration at school. Important requirements include:
- Any time you drop off or pick up a controlled medication in the health room, both the parent/guardian and School Health Aide/FCPS staff member will complete and sign a Medication Delivery/Pick Up Form documenting, among other things, the type and quantity of medications dropped off/picked up. A copy of the completed form will be provided to the parent/guardian and school administrator.
- Medications will be reviewed to ensure the medication description on the container/packaging matches the medication in the container.
- All prescription medications must have a pharmacy label on the original pharmacy container. Over the counter (OTC) medications must be in an unopened original container. It is not acceptable for parents/guardians to bring in refills and transfer those medications into the container in the health room throughout the school year.
- Only a 30-day supply of prescription medications should be brought to school. No more than 100 tablets or pills of OTC medication should be brought to school.
Asthma and Epinephrine Authorization Forms
The Asthma Authorization form SS/SE-65 and Epinephrine Authorization SS/SE-64 forms were recently updated for the 26-27 school year. Please use these new forms.
FCPS Authorization for Seizure Action Plan
There is a new FCPS Authorization for Seizure Action Plan (SS/SE 385) for the 2026-2027 school year. If your child has a seizure disorder that requires management at school, it is important that your child's healthcare provider complete this updated form. This form is also required for any prescribed emergency seizure medication that will be administered at school. Please submit completed forms to our PHN at kpipersomerv@fcps.edu.
Join the Lewis HS Pyramid for a special night at Audi Field!
📅 September 19 ⏰ 7:30 PM ⚽ D.C. United vs. Charlotte FC
Discounted tickets are available, and proceeds will support Lewis Choir members who will be performing at Carnegie Hall in January!
🎟️ Purchase Discounted Tickets: https://www.gofevo.com/event/Johnlewis7
This request is sponsored by the Lewis Lancer Singer Boosters, which operates independently of the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, and John R. Lewis High School.
The following weekly letters are sent to all members who have signed up for News You Choose. If you are not receiving these messages, please go to this link to sign-up. Below you will find which day messages are sent out to the community.
- Monday - Lewis HS News & Announcements
- Friday- Activities information
Social Media
- Follow us on Instagram
- School - @johnrlewishigh_lancers
- Activities - @lewisactivities
- Follow us on Facebook
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