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Dear Lewis Families,
This was a busy and exciting week at Lewis! We welcomed our International Baccalaureate (IB) evaluation team as part of our IB re-evaluation process. Throughout the visit, the team met with school and division leaders, a School Board Member, IB coordinators, teachers, counselors, students, and other members of our Lewis and Key communities. They also visited classrooms and learned more about how our programs support rigorous, engaging learning experiences for our students.
The visit gave us an important opportunity to highlight the great work happening across Lewis, reflect on our continued growth, and receive feedback that will help us strengthen our IB programming and opportunities for students. A huge thank you to our students, staff, families, and community partners who participated and helped showcase our Lancer community!
Members of our team also met with representatives from Fairfax County Government’s Public Health Youth Ambassador Program as we plan on bringing this incredible opportunity back to Lewis. The program provides students with opportunities to learn about public health, develop leadership skills, and make an impact in their community. Be on the lookout for more information about a potential winter cohort!
Last Saturday, our La Liguita students had an exciting opportunity to serve as ball boys during the D.C. United game! This experience was made possible through fundraising by the Lewis Lancer Singer Boosters. A huge thank you to our Boosters and Ms. Tomas for making this memorable experience possible for our students!
See a picture from the experience below!
And to close out the week, I had the lucky opportunity to visit the U.S. Capitol with two of our Lewis students today thanks to an amazing community member! It was a special experience, and I look forward to sharing more about our visit—and some pictures—in next week’s newsletter.
It was a full week that reflected so much of what we want for our Lancers: rigorous learning, leadership, real-world experiences, and meaningful connections beyond the classroom.
Have a wonderful weekend, Lancers!
10/12 - No School
10/30 - End of Quarter/Two Hour Release
11/2 - No School
11/3 - No School
11/26 - Holiday | Thanksgiving Day
12/25 - Holiday | Christmas Day
9/25 - Cross Country @ Pole Green Invitational
9/28 -
- Varsity Girls Volleyball @ Unity Reed 6:00
- District Golf @ Twin Lakes (Oaks Course) 10 AM
9/28 -
- JV/V Boys Volleyball V. Annandale 5:00/6:30
- F/JV/V Girls Volleyball @ Annandale 430/530/7:00
9/30 -
- Lancer Cheer Competition 6:00 PM
- Girls Flag Football 6:00 / 8:00 PM V. Edison and West Potomac
- Varsity Field Hockey @ Falls Church 6:30
- XC @ Mason District 5:00 PM
10/1 - No Events Scheduled!
10/2 - Varsity Football @ Thomas Jefferson 7:00 PM
10/3 - No Events Scheduled!
10/3 – Marching Band Competition at Woodbridge Viking Invitational
10/8 – 7:00pm – Fall Chorus Concert
10/17 – Marching Band Competition at Stafford Invitational
10/22 – 7:00pm – Fall Orchestra Concert
10/24 – VBODA State Marching Assessment at Patriot High School
10/28 – 7:00pm – Fall Band Concert
Fall Play – THE CRUCIBLE
- Thursday November 12th at 7:00pm
- Friday November 13th at 7:00pm
- Saturday November 14th at 7:00pm
- Sunday November 15th at 2:00pm
TINY TOTS
- Tuesday December 1st at 10:00am
- Tuesday December 1st at 7:00pm
- Wednesday December 2nd at 10:00am
Winter Concerts
- Thursday December 10th at 7:00pm – Winter Chorus Concert
- Monday December 14th at 7:00pm – Winter Band Concert
- Tuesday December 15th – Pyramid Concert at Key MS during the school day
- Thursday December 17th at 7:00pm – Winter Orchestra Concert
Join us for a series of Community Conversations that will be held across the school division. Share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Click on the date to register for any of the following events:
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Monday, September 28, at 6:30 p.m., at Riverside Elementary School
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Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m., at Spring Hill Elementary School
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Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m., at Beech Tree Elementary School
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Thursday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m., at North Springfield Elementary School
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Friday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
The Lewis High School Band and Orchestra Programs earned the Program of Honor Award from the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA) for the 2025-26 school year.
VBODA presents this award to secondary band and orchestra programs that demonstrate consistent excellence. To qualify, the top performing ensemble in the school program must achieve a superior rating at VBODA District Concert Performance Assessment. In addition, band and orchestra programs must meet other benchmarks for outstanding performances throughout the school year. These include Marching Assessment, Solo & Ensemble Festival, and District, Regional and State ensembles. This achievement reflects the daily dedication, rigorous instruction, and collaborative effort of our student musicians and directors.
Congratulations to all the band and orchestra students, and their directors, Kelly May, Band Director, and Rachael Altekruse, Orchestra Director.
We’re excited to share information about Twice-Exceptional (2e) Programming available throughout our school system. Twice-exceptional students demonstrate advanced abilities while also experiencing learning, attention, or other challenges that may require additional support.
Please view the attached flyer to learn more about 2e programming, available resources, and opportunities to support the unique strengths and needs of twice-exceptional learners. You can also visit the FCPS 2e webpage for additional information and resources.
Families can also learn more about 2e learners, ways to support them, and how to partner with schools. The webpage also includes a link to the Special Education Handbook.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Lewis IB Diploma Coordinator and 2e Representative, Allison Patterson at alpatterson1@fcps.edu.
Prepare for your child’s future at College Fair and Postsecondary Night. The annual FCPS College Fair will be held Sunday, October 18, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the George Mason University Eagle Bank Arena. Approximately 200 colleges and universities will be represented, including two- and four-year schools and U.S. Service Academies.
The virtual postsecondary night event will be held on Monday, October 19, from 5 to 8 p.m. Both events will help students prepare for the next chapter of their educational journey. Learn more about the College Fair and postsecondary virtual event.
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Since 2023, FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to offer virtual mental health services to FCPS high school students. These services became available to students enrolled in all FCPS middle schools on July 1.
Parents are encouraged to contact Hazel Health directly if they are seeking mental health support for their child, have noticed changes in their child’s mood or behavior, or are having difficulty connecting with a therapist in the community.
To make it easier for families to access services, FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to streamline the referral process. Parents can visit the Hazel Health in FCPS website to enroll their child in services or visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information.
FCPS is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for people of all races, national origins, and ethnicities. Individuals experiencing harassment or discrimination should report the incident as soon as possible.
FCPS high schools are administering the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT School Day on October 7, 2026.
Most Grade 10-11 students will be participating in PSAT/NMSQT testing. Grade 12 students who registered by the deadline will be participating in SAT testing. Grade 9 students, along with grade 12 students who did not register for the SAT, should not be attending school on October 7.
High school academy courses will not be held on October 7 and shuttles are canceled. Note that students with disabilities taught on an adapted curriculum (students receiving low incidence special education services) will receive in-person instruction with a 2-hour early release.
If you have questions about the SAT School Day administration or alternative activities, please contact us at sldawley@fcps.edu.
Class of 2027, don’t wait!
Get your All Night Grad Party ticket now before the price increases. Future-you will be very glad present-you handled this.
Grab your ticket and get ready to celebrate graduation with your classmates!
https://lancernationptsa.givebacks.com/shop
The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 1: Strong Start, Pre-K-12
The FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts.
The first goal of the strategic plan focuses on each and every student having a strong start in FCPS. Whether they’re joining us in preschool or in high school, we want our students to be set up for success.See how Goal 1 is being put into practice.
Safety Drills During the School Year
Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for FCPS. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and extreme weather. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Schools are also required to notify parents and guardians at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools are not required to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance.
The first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Preschool and kindergarten students are exempt from practicing the first lockdown drill.
Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your child before and after school lockdown drills.
⚠️ Know Our Security Terms
FCPS uses specific terminology to describe the actions school staff and students should take to ensure safety in a variety of situations. It is important for staff, families, and students to understand what the di
Help Keep Our School Distraction-Free
Please remind your student that personal electronic communication or computing devices should be off and personally stored (i.e. backpacks) for the duration of the school day — bell to bell. This includes:
- Personal laptops and tablets.
- Smartphones and smartwatches.
- Other personal electronic communication or computing devices.
If you need to reach your student during the school day, please call our main office at [703-924-8300. Learn more about the FCPS Cellphone Policy and Device Policy.
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
SAVE THE DATE! Our graduation date has been set for Tuesday, June 8, 2027 9 a.m. at Eagle Bank Arena
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
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.
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 have returned! Students 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!
Weekly Newsletters
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.
Social Media
- Follow us on Instagram
- School - @johnrlewishigh_lancers
- Activities - @lewisactivities
- Follow us on Facebook
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