COUNSELING &SUPPORT SERVICES
The Academy School Counselor, Jackie Thomas, is available during the school day to meet individually with any Academy student.  Specifically, she works with students to:

• • promote their personal, social and emotional growth;

• • facilitate academic planning that is appropriate for their abilities, interests and life goals;

• • implement appropriate intervention strategies as needed; and

• • provide a sequential program for college/postsecondary decision-making. 

Students with special needs may work with a team of academic support teachers who provide individual assistance appropriate for their learning or language needs. 

COLLEGE PLANNING
Through a variety of activities and services, Fairfax Academy staff members assist students with their postsecondary plans.

• • Class presentations and individual help sessions are provided to assist students with all aspects of the    college search process, including scholarship applications.

• • Academy teachers regularly encourage their students to investigate post high school training and college    options and often assist them with preparing for required college auditions and portfolio reviews.

• • Tracy Hartley, Academy School Counselor, coordinates visits and presentations each year from a number    of selected colleges and universities that specialize in visual and performing arts programs.

Visits in 2006-07 included: Emerson College, VCU School of the Arts,
Columbia College of Chicago, Drexel University, Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), Boston Museum of Fine Arts, University of the Arts and the Art Institute of Washington.


Preparing students for life beyond high school is a team effort involving the Academy’s school counselor, career experience specialist, and teachers, in collaboration with base school counseling staff and resources. In addition to the services provided by the Academy, students are encouraged to use the resources of their base school as their primary source of college planning information and support.

HELPFUL COLLEGE LINKS

NOTE:  The following website links are provided as an additional resource for Fairfax Academy students and parents.  Students are encouraged to use the resources of their base school Career Centers, as well as the web resources provided by the FCPS Career Connections website: 
www.fcps.k12.va.ue/DSSSE/CareerConnections.

College Planning Resources

Financial Aid

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Career Services at the Academy [To The Top]

Fairfax Academy students are encouraged to take advantage of a variety of career experiences offered each year.  To provide students with an introduction to expectations of the professional workplace, several courses are taught in classrooms that simulate professional work environments. Teachers organize relevant speakers and field trips for their students and three classes offer ‘in-house internship’ experiences through their own entrepreneurial businesses.
The Career Experience Specialist, Gwen Plummer, also collaborates with teachers to provide experiential career opportunities including:

Academy-Wide Career Events:  There are two major annual career events open to all classes: Alumni Career Day and Academy Day in New York City.
Alumni Career Day features 40-50 Academy alumni who are invited by their teachers to share college and career advice, as well as examples of their current creative work.  On Academy Day in New York City, students visit with creative professionals at their workplace; take Master Classes; tour relevant museums venues, and stores; and take in a Broadway Show.

Career Advising:  Students may meet with the Career Experience Specialist to discuss a wide variety of career issues including: career planning, summer jobs, critiques of resume and scholarship essays, job interviews, and internship or job shadow preparation.

Career Speakers:  Fairfax Academy teachers often invite professionals to speak to their classes or teach master classes.  These speakers are able to provide first-hand career advice and/or supplement curriculum with specific skills training.

DIGS & Digital Wave:  Three Fairfax Academy courses have established entrepreneurial businesses that provide advanced students an opportunity to complete projects for external clients – essentially an ‘in-house’ internship experience.  Digital Wave Productions is a video production business, with numerous community clients. Students from the Professional TV Production classes work for Digital Wave as paid interns, under the supervision of Dave Ruby, the course instructor. Profits from Digital Wave are used to purchase updated equipment and ensure the latest technology is available for instruction in the Professional TV Production classes.   The Digital Imaging and Graphics Studio (DIGS) is a joint venture of the Professional Photography Studio and Professional Graphic Studio classes.  Each class accepts contracted work in their specialty service areas of photography, web design, CD production and graphic design.  Highly skilled first and second year students complete DIGS projects under the guidance of their teachers: Roxanne Kaylor, Professional Graphic Studio and Randy Jacobson, Professional Photography Studio. Profits are used to update technology and provide student scholarships.

Field Trips:  Teachers plan periodic field trips as an experiential component of their curriculum.  Trips are typically taken during the school day, with pre-arranged absence approval from the base school teachers and attendance staff.   Students attend dance programs and plays; visit local businesses and meet with working professionals; tour relevant museums, college programs, and studios; and participate in community outreach activities.

Internships:  Seniors and highly skilled juniors may apply for the limited number of internship opportunities that become available during the school year.  Positions are listed through the Career Experience Specialist and/or individual teachers. Students may also seek internship opportunities on their own to build career skills.  In most cases, the internship experience is completed outside of school hours during the 3rd or 4th quarters, or during summer months. In some cases, internship work completed during the school year may be factored into a student’s course grade, at the discretion of the teacher. The Career Experience Specialist is available to discuss internship options, prepare students for internship interviews and on-the-job success, and assist students with their own internship search strategies. 

Job Shadows: Job Shadows are one day visits with area professionals in fields related to student career interests.  The shadowing experience typically includes an opportunity for an information-gathering career interview, as well as on-site tours, discussions, and/or mini-assignments.  The Career Experience Specialist, in consultation with teachers, may arrange job shadow experiences for interested students.   A large number of Academy students participate in a county-wide Job Shadow Day program in early February, while other students complete job shadowing experiences later in the spring.   

Master Classes:  In the performing arts courses, teachers may arrange for a Master Class to be taught by a visiting performer in music, dance or theatre.
These Master Classes introduce students to the professional teaching methods of successful performers and challenge students to rise to their highest level of performance.  Students also are encouraged to participate in Master Classes at local area arts venues when offered. 

EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS

Fairfax Academy has a number of informal partnerships with area businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations to support and supplement its
academic and career programs.  Employer partners provide career speakers, job shadow hosts, field trip sites, specialized training, equipment and supplies, and/or student internships.  To find out more about becoming an employer partner, contact Gwen Plummer, Career Experience Specialist, (703) 219-2385.

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