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Dear Lewis families,
What a Week to Be a Lancer!
WOW! What an incredible Spirit Week at Lewis! The energy, excitement, and school pride were on full display all week long, and our Lancers did not disappoint!
We kicked off the week on Monday with a trip to Twin Lakes Golf Course, where I had the opportunity to cheer on Tyler as he competed in regionals. He did a fantastic job, and we are so proud of him!
Tuesday brought some delicious competition with our Chili Cook-Off! There was no shortage of amazing food, and our winners walked away with some well-earned bragging rights! The Powder Puff game was another highlight, bringing plenty of excitement and school spirit.
Thursday was an especially busy evening at Lewis! We celebrated our field hockey seniors during Senior Night, cheered on our girls' volleyball team, and enjoyed a wonderful Fall Chorus Concert. From our talented athletes to our incredible singers, there was so much to celebrate!
I also learned about a special Lewis tradition this week -our football players ask staff members to wear their jerseys on homecoming game day! I was so honored when Nick, #44, asked me to wear his jersey! Of course, I had to represent! (See the picture below!)
And through it ALL, the spirit just kept growing! Every grade level showed up and showed OUT this week, making it incredibly difficult to determine who had the most school spirit.
Today's pep rally was something else! Between the games, chants, celebrating our fall athletic teams, and introducing our Homecoming Court, the energy in that gym was ELECTRIC! I had the very difficult job of naming our pep rally winner, and while the sophomores came VERY close, the SENIORS took the win! Congratulations, Class of 2027!
Weeks like this remind me of what makes Lewis so special - our students, staff, talents, traditions, and the pride we share as a school community.
And we're not done yet! I can't wait to see everyone bring that same energy to tonight's Homecoming football game!
GO 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
10/9 - Varsity Football V. Falls Church 7:00 PM *Homecoming Game*
10/10 -
- XC @ Millbrook HS
- Homecoming Dance 7:00 PM
10/12 - No Events Scheduled!
10/13 -
- JV/V Boys Volleyball V. Edison 5:00/6:30
- F/JV/V Girls Volleyball @ Edison 4:30/5:30/7:00
- Field Hockey @ Justice 6:30
10/14 -
- XC @ Burke Lake 5:00
- Cheer Districts @ Hayfield
- Girls Flag Football @ Edison 6:00 / 7:00
10/15 -
- F/JV Boys Volleyball V. TJ 5:00/6:00
- JV Football V. Justice 6:00
- F/JV/V Girls Volleyball @ TJ 4:30/5:30/7:00
10/16 - Varsity Football @ Justice 7:00 PM
10/17 - No Events Scheduled
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 Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for a Community Conversation. Students, families, staff, and community members are invited to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss what matters most to them. Everyone is welcome! Click on the date to register for any of the following events:
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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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Tuesday, December 1, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School (note date change)
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
🌯 HOCO recovery dinner! Skip cooking Oct. 12, 5–9 p.m., and grab Chipotle at 7108 Old Keene Mill Rd. Show the flyer or use 9XRBKDD for online pickup; 25% of qualifying sales support PTSA! No delivery or gift card purchases.
🎃 Halloween helpers needed! Donate candy, mini water bottles, or your time for the Saratoga Halloween Bash. Sign up here!
🗳️ Join us Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. for our PTSA meeting with the League of Women Voters, including voter registration help for eligible attendees.
👕 Flash sale! Your Lancer wardrobe called. Shop PTSA tees and hoodies!
🎓 Class of 2027, don’t wait! Get your All Night Grad Party ticket before the price increases. Future-you will thank you! Grab your ticket here.
We are thrilled to announce that Joan Kelleher has been named the Virginia School Psychologist of the Year!
Joan is a distinguished bilingual school psychologist and leader within FCPS, who is a dedicated advocate for students, families, and staff. Since joining FCPS in 2014, Joan has served both the elementary and secondary levels, consistently balancing direct service and advocacy.
Joan’s commitment to equity and safety for all students is evident throughout her career. She spearheads a team focused on supporting culturally and linguistically responsive practices and assessments. She is also a strong advocate for enhancing physical and psychological safety for her school community. Joan’s dedication to doing what is best for students is at the forefront of everything she does as a school psychologist.
Ms. Cashman, AP, shared, “What sets Joan apart, though, is how our students respond to her. They seek her out, not because they have to, but because they know she will listen and help them see their situation from a new perspective. She has a gift for reframing a student’s challenges in a way that restores their confidence and gives them a workable next step, and that combination of clinical skill and genuine warmth is rare. Joan is an indispensable resource to her clinical colleagues and the special education team at Lewis.”
Please join us in congratulating Joan Kelleher on this well-deserved recognition and thanking her for her unwavering commitment to equity, safety, and student success!
On Saturday, October 3, Lewis High School students, along with Mr. Scott Saunders and Ms. Margaret Rembisz, participated in a community Highway Cleanup event. Despite the rainy Saturday morning, a large number of students came out to volunteer and help keep our community clean. Their willingness to participate, even in less-than-ideal weather, demonstrated their commitment to service and making a positive difference in the community.
Huge thanks go out to the VFW Springfield Post 7327, under the leadership of Commander Williams, that allows our Lewis students to participate in the biannual highway clean up event.
Supervisor Rodney L. Lusk, Fairfax County Franconia District Supervisor, was present at the event, as he is every year, along with our own SRO Castellon to brief students on safety measures.
Big thanks to all the students, Mr. Saunders, and Ms. Rembisz for their hard work and dedication!
Evaluation System for Virginia Schools
We want to help you to understand how Virginia schools, including yours, are evaluated by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) for student success. This system went into effect in the 2025-26 school year. This system is called the School Performance and Support Framework and it established these school performance categories:
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Distinguished: Exceeds state standards.
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Meets Expectations: Meets state standards.
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Approaching Expectations: Below state standards.
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Needs Intensive Support: Significantly below state standards.
How Virginia Measures School Performance
Accreditation is separate from the school performance category. In Virginia’s current model, schools are accredited by meeting basic requirements such as having qualified teachers and certain safety requirements. Schools may be rated as Fully Accredited, Conditionally Accredited, or Accreditation Denied. Accreditation no longer directly reflects a school’s academic performance.
Emphasis on standardized test scores: Standards of Learning (SOL) performance and outcomes on exams tied to college, career, and military readiness play a bigger role in school ratings. While standardized tests are important, they don’t tell the whole story of how well a child is learning. The framework provides less focus on student engagement and growth. These changes do not fully reflect the success of schools with diverse student populations, including students working to acquire academic English skills.
Test refusals may impact your school’s rating. If families choose not to have their students take the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, it may reduce the school’s overall score if the school has a participation rate below 95 percent.
The framework allows a short time period before multilingual learners are expected to show mastery of state standards. Multilingual learners' SOL scores are included in school evaluations after only three semesters. Previously this was 11 semesters, which was in line with research on how long it takes students to acquire academic language skills. Our school division provides support for multilingual learners to ensure they are developing the language skills needed for success in school and beyond. If your child is a multilingual learner, you can work closely with their teachers to support their language and academic development.
The graduation component excludes many students earning diplomas. The accountability system focuses on a four-year graduation rate for schools. It also prioritizes recognition of Standard and Advanced Studies Diplomas. On the other hand, it excludes Applied Students Diplomas and does not count students who take more than four years to graduate. This approach has the potential to indirectly disadvantage students with disabilities and multilingual learners who are legally entitled to extended time to complete their education.
The 3E Readiness: This indicator measures a student's preparedness for Enrollment (college), Employment (workforce), or Enlistment (military). Students can earn points for achievements like college-ready outcomes on AP/IB exams, completing CTE (Career and Technical Education) preparation programs while earning industry credentials, or qualifying scores on the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery).
How Virginia Measures School Performance
In this framework, individual student achievements contribute to a school's overall performance score using a points system. Points are only relevant to a school’s performance and have no bearing on student-level opportunities.
The formula to calculate the overall performance category is different for elementary, middle, high, secondary, and K-12 special education center schools (also called special education public day schools).
Visit our webpage to see a detailed breakdown of the new performance components and indicators for each school level as well as frequently asked questions. www.fcps.edu/new-evaluation-system-virginia-schools
Your school remains a place of strong learning, dedicated teachers, and student growth. The performance categories assigned under this system are not the only way to define the quality of learning happening every day.
Fairfax County Public Schools: Future Ready, Driven by Excellence
Guided by a strategic plan focused on excellence, equity, and opportunity, we are making sure that every student has the unique support that they need to succeed.
We are committed to:
✅ Transparency – Keeping families informed about how schools are measured.
✅ Support – Ensuring students get the resources they need to thrive.
✅ Recognition – Honoring the hard work of our students and staff happening every day in our classrooms.
Our schools remain strong, our educators are dedicated, and our students are learning and growing.
The FCPS Future Ready Index highlights our commitment to preparing every learner for future opportunity and long-term success. FCPS will continue to share information about the School Performance and Support Framework. www.fcps.edu/fcps-future-ready-index
You will hear more about what specifically is being measured for your school. If your school is federally identified for support and improvement or is rated as Approaching Expectations or Needs Intensive Support, our school community will come together to create an action plan to address areas of concern.
Share Your Feedback on Traveling to and From School
The FCPS Office of Safety and Security and Safe Routes to School program are asking families to share their experiences traveling to and from their child’s school. The feedback will help inform the Fairfax County School Board’s annual assessment of traffic and pedestrian safety near schools.
The Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Survey asks about walking and biking routes, traffic near schools, kiss-and-ride experiences, accessibility, and other safety concerns.
Your feedback will help FCPS identify common issues. Your responses will be kept confidential and shared with school administrators and the Office of Safety and Security. The five-minute survey is open through Thursday, October 15.
Be sure to identify the school related to your feedback and include specific locations where you have observed a safety issue. If you have students at different schools in FCPS, please complete a different survey for each school.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact SafeRoutestoSchool@fcps.edu.
The standard bag policy for weapons screening at varsity football games has been updated.
Fanny packs are no longer on the list of prohibited bags, provided that they fit within the measurements of a “small clutch bag.” Please be sure you update any messaging you are using, and that you are printing the latest flyer (below) regarding weapons screening at football games.
Congratulations to the Marching Lancers on their performance at the Woodbridge Viking Invitational yesterday! The band won second place in music and second place overall in Class A.
Below are the Drum Majors and Captains after the awards ceremony.
🏈 Homecoming Football Game Expectations: Oct. 9
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Game Time: Varsity Football kickoff is Lewis HS Stadium at 7:00 PM. Ticket gates open at 6:00 PM.
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Tickets: $5.00 for students | $7.00 for adults.
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Security: All spectators will pass through the Open Gate screening prior to entering.
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Bag & Item Policy: Only small purses are allowed. Totes must be clear. NO large bags, purses, backpacks allowed. No outside food or drinks allowed.
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No Re-Entry: If you leave the stadium for any reason, you must purchase a new ticket to return.
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Conduct & Sportsmanship: Lewis HS is a safe zone (drug, alcohol, and tobacco-free zone). Please respect game officials; violators will be removed without a refund.
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Dismissal: Exit campus immediately after the game ends. Please ensure your ride is waiting!
💃 Homecoming Dance Details & Rules
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Date & Time: Saturday, October 10 from 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
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Location: Main Gym.
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Doors & Entry: Doors open at 6:45 PM. All students MUST enter through Door 14.
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Attendance: Only students in good standing will be allowed to attend the dance.
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Strict Cut-Off: Doors lock and admission closes promptly at 8:30 PM. No one is admitted after 8:30PM
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Exits: All attendees must exit through Door 13 only.
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No Readmittance: Once you exit the dance, you will not be allowed back in
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Tickets: No more ticket sales
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Student ID & Guest Forms: You MUST present your Student ID to enter the dance.
- If you do not have a Student ID, you will be required to verify SIS on your phone
- Guest forms for non-Lewis guests must be submitted and approved in advance
- Guest forms are available at the ticket sales table in the cafeteria
- Tickets sale end on October 9; guests must be approved before the end of D lunch on October 9
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Attire: We want everyone to feel comfortable and enjoy the dance. Please make sure your attire provides appropriate coverage and does not include vulgar language or images.
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Bag & Item Policy: Only small clutches are permitted (no large bags or personal items allowed). No outside food or drinks allowed.
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Dismissal: The building closes immediately at 10:00 PM. Please arrange for prompt transportation home at 10:00 PM.
Let's make this an incredible Homecoming Game and Dance, Lancers!
Go Lancers! 💙💛
Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form allows you to be considered for federal student aid. In addition, states and colleges use FAFSA information to award their own grants, scholarships, and loans.
The 2027-28 FAFSA is now open.
Free Financial Aid and Scholarship Information Sessions
College Access Fairfax, in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools, will present virtual information sessions on the financial aid process for post-secondary education and scholarship information.
Sessions include:
Would you like to help students in our area receive the healthy food they need to succeed in school? We’re partnering with Food For Neighbors to create a food pantry in our school and supply supplemental weekend food to our students. It only takes a few minutes to sign up. Visit their website at www.foodforneighbors.org/get-involved to donate food and volunteer.
For ten years, Food For Neighbors has had the privilege of working alongside school leaders like you. Every Red Bag our community fills becomes food on a pantry shelf at your school, and it's you and your staff who know which students need it and make sure they get it. That partnership now reaches 60 schools and about 12,000 students, and it simply would not be possible without you.
Join us on Saturday, October 24, at 9:15 a.m. at Irving Middle School for our 10th anniversary Red Bag event. It's a chance to celebrate together, sort food for school pantries like yours, and recognize the people who have made this decade possible, including our school partners. Thanks for your support!
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.
🌯 HOCO recovery dinner! Skip cooking Oct. 12, 5–9 p.m., and grab Chipotle at 7108 Old Keene Mill Rd. Show the flyer or use 9XRBKDD for online pickup; 25% of qualifying sales support PTSA! No delivery or gift card purchases.
🎃 Halloween helpers needed! Donate candy, mini water bottles, or your time for the Saratoga Halloween Bash. Sign up here!
🗳️ Join us Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. for our PTSA meeting with the League of Women Voters, including voter registration help for eligible attendees.
👕 Flash sale! Your Lancer wardrobe called. Shop PTSA tees and hoodies!
🎓 Class of 2027, don’t wait! Get your All Night Grad Party ticket before the price increases. Future-you will thank you! Grab your ticket here.
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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