Lewis HS: Is it really that bad?

[Anonymous]

On the part in bold: NO! If FCPS is not going to populate Lewis, then it needs to offer in-person classes for every class that is at neighboring schools, even if there is a teacher for just 1-2 students. Think that’s wasteful? Then change the boundaries to ensure Lewis is as populated as the nearby schools. If people don’t want Lewis kids in their schools, then they need to offer EVERY opportunity at Lewis because the kids who are at Lewis shouldn’t get screwed in the meantime.

I am the PP you are answering - who thinks languages should be online. I should have clarified. I think every school should only offer 2 language options, and if you want something else you take it online. Not just Lewis/WSHS/Etc. But level the playing field. Have a class period during the day to complete the online class in school during school hours with a teacher/monitor. But don't have students all of a sudden have an interest in a different language at another school and use that to switch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So, would you be in favor of offering all of the same classes at Lewis that are offered at WSHS, even if the classes are very small, even if it’s only 5 students in a class? Or would you complain that FCPS was “wasting” money on Lewis, “especially when you pay more taxes”?




This is the answer!! Offer the same classes. Offer online versions of any languages instead of pupil placement as a language loop hole. Keep the UMC homes in Lewis and add more!! Focus on Lewis thriving in the next 8 years instead of putting all the odds against them. Start the buy in in elem. feeder schools, have the arts and sports teams go into the middle school and elem. school to get the kids excited. Sports teams can host camps on teacher work days where kids can play with the student athletes. Theater and Music can offer a sing a long. Simple low lift/low cost ways to build community. Someone mentioned they have a great Little League community in the lower grades - get a top ranked baseball coach and turn the team around. It won't happen in one year, but the bones are there if FCPS could just out a little effort into the school instead of turning the other cheek.

I work in an elementary school with a traditionally "poorly received" high school. The HS got a new principal 3 years ago and he immediately started coming to all of the feeder schools several times a year with students. The HS principal comes to almost all of our PTA meetings and community nights so that parents can get to know him YEARS before their kids will be there. There have been some growing pains and it has not always been smooth, but in only 3 years the HS stats are SO different.

On the part in bold: NO! If FCPS is not going to populate Lewis, then it needs to offer in-person classes for every class that is at neighboring schools, even if there is a teacher for just 1-2 students. Think that’s wasteful? Then change the boundaries to ensure Lewis is as populated as the nearby schools. If people don’t want Lewis kids in their schools, then they need to offer EVERY opportunity at Lewis because the kids who are at Lewis shouldn’t get screwed in the meantime.

It must be odd to feel like you’re the center of everyone’s universe.

What’s odd about wanting to give kids equal opportunities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So, would you be in favor of offering all of the same classes at Lewis that are offered at WSHS, even if the classes are very small, even if it’s only 5 students in a class? Or would you complain that FCPS was “wasting” money on Lewis, “especially when you pay more taxes”?




This is the answer!! Offer the same classes. Offer online versions of any languages instead of pupil placement as a language loop hole. Keep the UMC homes in Lewis and add more!! Focus on Lewis thriving in the next 8 years instead of putting all the odds against them. Start the buy in in elem. feeder schools, have the arts and sports teams go into the middle school and elem. school to get the kids excited. Sports teams can host camps on teacher work days where kids can play with the student athletes. Theater and Music can offer a sing a long. Simple low lift/low cost ways to build community. Someone mentioned they have a great Little League community in the lower grades - get a top ranked baseball coach and turn the team around. It won't happen in one year, but the bones are there if FCPS could just out a little effort into the school instead of turning the other cheek.

I work in an elementary school with a traditionally "poorly received" high school. The HS got a new principal 3 years ago and he immediately started coming to all of the feeder schools several times a year with students. The HS principal comes to almost all of our PTA meetings and community nights so that parents can get to know him YEARS before their kids will be there. There have been some growing pains and it has not always been smooth, but in only 3 years the HS stats are SO different.

On the part in bold: NO! If FCPS is not going to populate Lewis, then it needs to offer in-person classes for every class that is at neighboring schools, even if there is a teacher for just 1-2 students. Think that’s wasteful? Then change the boundaries to ensure Lewis is as populated as the nearby schools. If people don’t want Lewis kids in their schools, then they need to offer EVERY opportunity at Lewis because the kids who are at Lewis shouldn’t get screwed in the meantime.

It must be odd to feel like you’re the center of everyone’s universe.

Sorry I wasn’t clear - I’m not a Lewis parent and I don’t live in the Lewis zone. I’m just a taxpayer who is upset at how the Lewis community has been shortchanged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it might be helpful for people to understand how things work in regards to education in a high-poverty high school environment.

Teachers teach their lesson. That lesson is not altered based on a student's understanding or poverty level. There is no special geometry class for low-income individuals where the kids learn only half of what high-income students learn. Teachers teach. If a student needs extra help, there are after-school sessions and advisory sessions.

Poverty or language barriers do not change the lesson being taught, be they regular or advanced classes. Poverty and language barriers CAN change the outcomes of the classes, as those students are more likely to struggle. But that does not mean that YOUR kid will struggle.

Maybe there should be. Years ago Justice (then Stuart) had success breaking down Algebra into a two-year sequence. Then Gatehouse types intervened because maybe they worried about a special sequence for mostly struggling low-income kids. Now, of course, we've got Reid trying to pretend lots of sixth graders should be taking Algebra.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/how-administrators-killed-fairfax-schools-math-success/2014/05/25/26632d46-e0a1-11e3-8dcc-d6b7fede081a_story.html

You can still take advanced classes at a Lewis or Justice. [b]But if the number of kids interested in those classes is much smaller, there's a greater likelihood of scheduling conflicts[b].

So, would you be in favor of offering all of the same classes at Lewis that are offered at WSHS, even if the classes are very small, even if it’s only 5 students in a class? Or would you complain that FCPS was “wasting” money on Lewis, “especially when you pay more taxes”?

I get that parents want what is best for their kids. Lewis parents want that as well. There may not be a way for FCPS to ensure a robust extracurricular experience in all activities at Lewis because of its small size and the makeup of the student body, but it can ensure that every Lewis student has access to the exact same classes as at nearby schools. The taxpayers just have to pay for it.

And, no, I’m not a Lewis parent, just someone who is disgusted at the lack of attention it has gotten.

You could certainly make the argument that to provide an experience similar to the other FCPS high schools Lewis should absolutely offer the same classes even if they are much smaller. It is not the fault of the attending students that FCPS shrank the Lewis boundaries too much or has set up incentives for many students to flee via the pupil placement policy. That is not the fault of the Lewis students who attend it as their zoned school, so why should they be punished?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

On the part in bold: NO! If FCPS is not going to populate Lewis, then it needs to offer in-person classes for every class that is at neighboring schools, even if there is a teacher for just 1-2 students. Think that’s wasteful? Then change the boundaries to ensure Lewis is as populated as the nearby schools. If people don’t want Lewis kids in their schools, then they need to offer EVERY opportunity at Lewis because the kids who are at Lewis shouldn’t get screwed in the meantime.

I am the PP you are answering - who thinks languages should be online. I should have clarified. I think every school should only offer 2 language options, and if you want something else you take it online. Not just Lewis/WSHS/Etc. But level the playing field. Have a class period during the day to complete the online class in school during school hours with a teacher/monitor. But don't have students all of a sudden have an interest in a different language at another school and use that to switch.




That is ridiculous to only have the same 2 languages at every high school. Languages shouldn’t be on line, they need in person instruction. This seems to be the most mind numbing, backwards thing to come out of the boundary review. Go live on the planet from A Wrinkle in TIme where everything is exactly the same and all the people have to do the same thing at the same time if this is your life goal, but I really hope your don’t spread your ideology and make the rest of us follow it. Yes, you have touched a nerve. The diversity of language programs in FCPS is a strength and a reason people move here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So, would you be in favor of offering all of the same classes at Lewis that are offered at WSHS, even if the classes are very small, even if it’s only 5 students in a class? Or would you complain that FCPS was “wasting” money on Lewis, “especially when you pay more taxes”?




This is the answer!! Offer the same classes. Offer online versions of any languages instead of pupil placement as a language loop hole. Keep the UMC homes in Lewis and add more!! Focus on Lewis thriving in the next 8 years instead of putting all the odds against them. Start the buy in in elem. feeder schools, have the arts and sports teams go into the middle school and elem. school to get the kids excited. Sports teams can host camps on teacher work days where kids can play with the student athletes. Theater and Music can offer a sing a long. Simple low lift/low cost ways to build community. Someone mentioned they have a great Little League community in the lower grades - get a top ranked baseball coach and turn the team around. It won't happen in one year, but the bones are there if FCPS could just out a little effort into the school instead of turning the other cheek.

I work in an elementary school with a traditionally "poorly received" high school. The HS got a new principal 3 years ago and he immediately started coming to all of the feeder schools several times a year with students. The HS principal comes to almost all of our PTA meetings and community nights so that parents can get to know him YEARS before their kids will be there. There have been some growing pains and it has not always been smooth, but in only 3 years the HS stats are SO different.

I agree with all of this.

I posted similar suggestions in a different thread and got slammed as tone deaf.

Fcps needs to start working with the parents, sports, arts and activities to get those elementary kids seeing themselves as "Little Lancers"

It will improve the high school and the buy in to Lewis.

[Anonymous]

That is ridiculous to only have the same 2 languages at every high school. Languages shouldn’t be on line, they need in person instruction. This seems to be the most mind numbing, backwards thing to come out of the boundary review. Go live on the planet from A Wrinkle in TIme where everything is exactly the same and all the people have to do the same thing at the same time if this is your life goal, but I really hope your don’t spread your ideology and make the rest of us follow it. Yes, you have touched a nerve. The diversity of language programs in FCPS is a strength and a reason people move here.

Exactly this