What is Academic Advising?

Each winter-spring, all of our school counselors and teachers work together with students and families to craft student schedules for the following school year.  Students will hear from our staff on courses recommended to them, courses they need to meet graduation requirements, and how to build a schedule that meets all of their needs, interests, and college/career preparation.  There is a wide variety of courses available to our students at John Lewis and we want to see each student achieve their unique goals!  The following outlines the opportunities available, as well as gives logistical information for the Academic Advising season.  Our team is at the ready to help our students and families throughout this process!

FCPS Graduation Requirements

When planning for student schedules, meeting all graduation requirements is paramount.  School counselors are our helpful experts and will guide all students through scheduling to make sure students graduate with their Class.  If a student or family would like to review graduation requirements, click on this link:

https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning

Upcoming Programs

Electives Fair – Students will attend Advisory on January 13^th from 9:49-11:17 as usual.  We will have a “No Switch” day so that students can  explore courses they want to take next year.  Students will attend brief presentations hosted by our electives teachers to learn more about courses and begin making decisions.  Students will select four sessions to attend.  Teachers will also make FlipGrid videos that students can watch if they miss the Electives Fair or are curious about several courses. 

• Electives Fair Student and Staff Schedule

Electives Fair Videos 

• Lewis HS FlipGrids: https://flip.com/3db61f2f

Rising 9^th Grade and New Family Curriculum Night – January 5 at 6:00pm.  Families (students with their parent/guardian) are invited to LHS to meet counselors, learn about our classes and programs, meet some teachers, and begin making decisions about class schedules for next year.  The purpose of this presentation is to introduce our families, particularly rising freshmen and new students, to the courses we offer so that students can begin planning out their courses and sequencing to meet graduation requirements, as well as to prepare for post-secondary goals.

All students can access the Curriculum Night presentation through their fcpsschools accounts:  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Q0NFjyOMwUS3VyDC2Sr8Bqjrg2EMshdG/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104735056036170218090&rtpof=true&sd=true

Pre-Academic Advising – All students in grades 9-11 will hear video presentations from their school counselors on course offerings, graduation requirements, and more.  This will be during Advisory the week of January 9^th.

Academic Advising – Our school counselors will be working individually with students from January to March, ensuring that students are selecting the courses that best meet their diploma requirements, interests, and college/career goals.  Students will meet one-on-one with their school counselors through their English classes (mid-Jan), Social Studies 11 classes (end of Jan-beg of Feb), HPE 9 classes (mid-end of Feb), and ELD 1-2 classes for our ESOL 1-2 students (Jan-Feb).  Students should have a completed course selection sheet, signed by a parent/guardian, prior to meeting with their school counselor.  During this one-on-one, students are encouraged to ask questions and discuss their proposed 2023-2024 class schedule.

Academic Advising Presentations

• 23-24 9th Grade Course Selection Presentation
• 23-24 Course Selection Presentation 
• Academic Advising Presentation on YouTube

Course Selection Sheets

Our course selection sheets represent all courses we offer at John Lewis HS.  Students should use this sheet to help them investigate courses they are interested in.  Once a student has selected a course, they should register for it in SIS StudentVue. 

• 23-24 9th Grade Course Selection Sheet
• 23-24 ESOL Levels 1 2 and New Student Sheet
• 23-24 Course Selection Sheet

Course Catalogues

Students may want to read the FCPS Course Catalogue description to better understand the class content, learning outcomes, and pre/co-requisite classes.  The catalogues are below.

Other Exciting Opportunities for Students 

FCPS Academy Programs

Many of our students take advantage of learning career/trades skills while still in high school by taking academy courses.  Based on proximity, the most popular destinations for Lewis students are Edison and West Potomac, where school bus transportation is provided.  Students take most of their courses at Lewis and also apply to an academy course; if accepted, students have the advantage of attending both school programs, often better preparing them to begin the work force after high school.  To see FCPS Academy programs, see the following links:

Edison                   https://edisonacademy.fcps.edu/

Edison FlipGrids:  https://flipgrid.com/a897fadf

West Potomac      https://westpotomacacademy.fcps.edu/

West Po  FGrid:   https://flipgrid.com/9dd46a15

Google Site for Students (including Flip Grids):  https://sites.google.com/fcpsschools.net/wpamagic/home

Instagram: @WestPotomacAcademy

Fairfax                  https://fairfaxacademy.fcps.edu/

Falls Church        https://fallschurchacademy.fcps.edu/

Marshall               https://marshallacademy.fcps.edu/

Chantilly               https://chantillyacademy.fcps.edu/

FCPS Online Campus

An online campus exists in FCPS and students may see courses they are interested in that we do not offer at Lewis.  The online campus also has courses students can take over the summer, which can help students advance or catch up on academic credits earned towards graduation requirements.  For more information, see the link below:

https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/online-campus

Opportunities to Earn College Credit Through Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)

Lewis High School offers four Dual Enrollment NOVA classes at our school, taught by our teachers during the school day.  By successfully passing these classes, students earn both high school credit and college credit, and courses are free.  Our DE offerings include Human Anatomy, Entrepreneurship 1, Entrepreneurship 2, and English 12.  Talk with  your counselor during registration to see if you qualify.

Another option is Concurrent Enrollment at NOVA.  With this option, students typically take 5-7 classes at Lewis HS and 1-2 classes at NOVA with NOVA professors.  Some of these courses count towards college credit and high school credit, and some are for college credit only.  Concurrent classes are either taken at NOVA or online from home.  To see more information, click this link: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/college-credit-high-school/concurrent

NOVA’s Early Online College (EOC) offers current high school juniors or seniors the opportunity to take up to two tuition free college courses. Courses are asynchronous, 12 weeks in length, and for college credit only. A variety of courses are available in Fall and Spring semesters and are highly transferable as general education requirements for most colleges and universities. For more information on Early Online College, check out: https://www.nvcc.edu/online-early-college/

Also available through NOVA, JumpStart2NOVA gives graduating seniors an opportunity to take tuition-free summer courses. Qualified students can take one 3-credit course as well as NOVA’s 1-credit Student Development course (SDV 100). Courses are asynchronous, 10 weeks in length, and for college credit only. Over ten courses are available and are highly transferable as general education requirements for most colleges and universities. This program is pending approval for Summer 2023. For more information on JumpStart2NOVA, check out: https://www.nvcc.edu/jumpstart/

Genesys Works Internship Program for Seniors (Paid!)

Lewis High School has partnered with Genesys Works to provide eligible seniors a paid internship opportunity in our Region.  Participants earn between $10,000 and $15,000 through their paid internship during senior year.  In order to be considered, rising seniors must have a strong academic record, a desire to work in an office or business setting, be available for a summer long training program, and have enough credits to graduate considering a senior year modified schedule (typically 4 courses).  Transportation to internship sites is not provided by the school or business so students should drive or take public transportation.  For more information, students may talk with their school counselor or attend an information session.  Information sessions are held in the January-March timeframe annually and will be advertised in advance to our students and families through News You Choose.  Interested rising seniors would then begin the application process which includes an interview.  Genesys Works also provides job training, mentoring, career counseling, and scholarship support to our students.

Interested students (current juniors) should follow these steps:

Step 1:  Watch this video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq3_F-t496Y

Step 2:  Attend the information session at school on January 30^th at 9:30am in the cafeteria

Step 3:  Fill out the Interest Form to receive the formal application once the window opens:  Genesys Works Class of 2024 - Interest Form (tfaforms.net).