SVHS Green and Gold
Community Edition - February 12, 2023
Celebrating our Students
Congratulations to our NJROTC cadets who did a great job Saturday competing against 7 other schools in the Easton NJROTC drill meet.
In the 8 events cadets competed, they earned 7 trophies:
- 3-third place
- 3-second place
- 1-first place
The cadets worked very hard practicing many hours to not only compete but win their first trophies since 2019.
Way to go Cadets! You make us #SVPROUD!
Attention Seniors and Parents of Seniors
Seniors
Now that the second semester has started, it's time to take care of a few things. All caps and gowns need to be ordered by Feb. 28. You will need to create an account, but the cost is covered in the graduation package, so there is no cost at the time of ordering. Use this link or the QR code below to order. Your Graduation Package is $90. It includes the cap and gown, senior t-shirt, senior picnic and other graduation items. It can be paid at SchoolCash Online. You can purchase the panoramic picture and yearbook online as well. If you would prefer to purchase the Graduation Package or panoramic with cash or check, students should bring their payments to Mrs. Wolfe in room 3522.
8th Annual ACT-SO Poetry & Arts Showcase
Wellness Center Students on the Move
The following teams participated in the Legacy Classic:
- Morgan State (MEAC)
- Delaware State (MEAC)
- Norfolk State (MEAC)
- Hampton (CAA)
There was also an HBCU Band Showcase in between games.
Want more information about the SVHS Wellness Center? Click Here!
MCPS STRONGER STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS APP NOW AVAILABLE
The free MCPS Stronger Student mobile app is now available via the Apple and Google Play stores. The project was led by students who performed all aspects of design, building and focus grouping for the app. For secondary students, the app provides access to crisis support resources or other mental and physical health/wellness needs, including reporting incidents of discrimination. It is anonymous and confidential.
Users can access:
- Emergency and crisis contact information.
- Mental and physical health resources.
- Tools to file confidential reports about bullying, harassment and/or hate bias with MCPS.
- Information concerning student rights within MCPS.
The app, at its launch, is available in English and Spanish, but other languages will soon be available.Download via mobile device:
LIBRARY MEDIA NEWS: CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH!
Black History Month Celebrations
✊🏾 Come check out our new Black History Month Reading Promotion: Honoring the Past and Inspiring the Future, which showcases books that acknowledge and celebrate Black history and culture. Three additional promotions - Black in Love, Black Boy Joy, and Black Girl Magic, celebrate teens being teens.
🌻 The next Book Club meeting will take place in the LMC during lunch on Monday, February 13th. In celebration of Black History Month and in alignment with Valentine’s Day, we’ll discuss Blackout, a collection of intertwined romantic stories by a team of critically-acclaimed young adult authors. On Tuesday, February 28th, we’ll end the month with a conversation about the book Kindred by Octavia Butler, a sci-fi classic. It’s never too late to join the club and participate -- simply access books in ebook and audiobook format in Sora, our online reading app/platform. Directions for accessing Sora are available in the myMCPS Classroom Virtual LMC. A few print copies are also available to borrow.
🛸 On February 23rd, at 7:00 pm, in celebration of Black History Month, Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) is hosting a Contemporary Conversation with Sheree Renée Thomas, a New York Times bestselling, two-time World Fantasy Award-winning author and editor who will talk about Afrofuturism & Diversity in Sci-Fi. To register for the in-person event at Rockville Memorial Library OR the live stream, click HERE.
Valentine’s Day Dates!
❤️ No plans for Valentine’s Day? No worries! Snuggle up with a great book after finding your perfect match through our Blind Date with a Book reading promotion! Read and review your “date” for the opportunity to win a cup of Kisses (Hershey’s).
Creativity Contests & Reading Challenges
- High school students from across the Washington Metropolitan Area are invited to submit poems to the Gaithersburg Book Festival Poetry Contest. Poems should be on one of two topics: diversity or inclusion. Entries must be no longer than one page, single spaced, 12-point Times New Roman and are due by February 23, 2023. Download contest rules HERE.
- The Keeping It Safe (KIS) Coalition invites teams of two or more students to create and submit 30-second videos on one of three topics related to the risks and dangers of underage drinking. Entries are due by March 31, 2023. Click HERE for more information and contest rules.
- Montgomery County Public Library (MCPL) and the Washington Wizards have partnered to promote reading! Through March 31st, students can participate in a winter reading challenge for the chance to win 2 tickets to the April 9, 2023 Wizards game. To participate, sign up HERE and track your reading, or print and complete THIS GAME BOARD and turn it into any of the MCPL branches.
Celebrating our Students
Click here for information on our upcoming celebration.
The Boosters Need You
If you have a student who has benefitted from the boosters because they are in a club, perform on our stage, or compete as a Screaming Eagle, this message is for you.
- Elections are once again upon us and this year, our Boosters need you to consider stepping up and helping to lead. Available positions include: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary Please contact Kathy Fusto if you are interested: boosterssenecavalley@gmail.com.
- Also for Boosters, please click the link below for information on our new scholarships that are ready for applications: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mumSYaWQpnEry_Y3fxXWYg6npDnn7eUv/view
- Jersey Mike’s giveback is Feb 21st (flyer to come).
- Silent Auction donations are being accepted now through April 19th, email: BoostersSenecaValley@gmail.com to let us know about your donation.
This Week's Notes from the SVHS College & Career Center
Financial Aid
If you plan to attend college or are thinking about it, please fill out your financial aid forms! The deadline for the state of Maryland is March 1. It is better to have financial aid and decide not to use it, rather than not apply. There is nothing that can be done if you miss these important deadlines! This includes financial aid to attend Montgomery College!
If you have not already completed, students should fill out the FAFSA (Federal Aid) and MDCAPS (Maryland State Aid). The MDCAPS form should also be filled out if you have applied to schools in the state of Maryland, including Montgomery College.
Students who are not eligible to fill out the FAFSA may be able to fill out the MSFAA (more information in the link below).
More information and instructions
Maryland State Delegate Scholarships
The Maryland Delegate Scholarship is offered to Maryland residents who plan to attend (full-time or part-time) a two-year or four-year Maryland college, university or private career school. Eligible students must complete the FAFSA or the MSFAA in order to apply. They must also create an account on MDCAPS. See 'Financial Aid' note above for how to apply for financial aid.
Students should contact their local delegates for instructions on how to apply. To find your delegate and their contact information, please visit http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/District or mdelect.net.
Montgomery College - Need Money Sessions
Get help with all things related to financial aid & scholarships at MC! Need help with the FAFSA & MSFAA completion? MSFAA (for undocumented students)? Have you turned in your 23-24 financial aid requirements on your MY MC account? We can even assist in applying for MC's Foundation Scholarships, the Herb Block scholarship, & DC Scholarships. Let us help you get the most grant money available for college.
Virtual sessions are held every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the month of February.
Register here for your one-on-one virtual session so you can be prepared financially for next year!
Next Week’s College/Career Visits to SVHS
Military Recruiter information Session - Tue February 14 @ 11:25am*
*No registration in Naviance needed. Juniors & Seniors are welcome to login or bring their lunch to the College & Career Center (Room 2408) to hear this virtual presentation from various military branches. Click the link above to register and receive the zoom link if you choose to watch on your own.
U.S. Air Force Recruiter, Lunch Visit - Wed February 15 @ 11:34 AM
*No registration in Naviance needed. Stop by the cafeteria anytime during lunch to learn more about the military or the U.S. Air Force.
Moving Forward College & Career Readiness Series for Juniors
Juniors, let's start planning! We enthusiastically invite you all to participate in the following workshops to get a head start in planning for life after high school!
All virtual workshops are during lunch, from 11:25 am - 11:50 am. Feel free to bring your lunch to the College & Career Center (Room 2408) to watch these presentations! Get tips and information that can help you prepare for Senior Year and beyond!
Tuesday, February 14 - Military Recruitment Information Session (Seniors interested in the military are welcome to register for this session!)
Tuesday, February 28 - Explore Application Types and Deadlines
Tuesday, March 14 - Resume/Interview Skills
Tuesday, March 21 - Tips on Common Application
Thursday, March 28 - College Essay Writing
Tuesday, April 25 - Introduction to Financial Aid
Once registered, a zoom to link will be sent to you before the workshop.
Click to register: bit.ly/4forward2023 | Click here for the flyer
Upcoming Scholarships
February 15 - Hispanic Scholarship Fund - many awards ranging from $500-$5,000; senior; must be of Hispanic heritage; U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA ; minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for high school students; plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university, or graduate school, in the US, for the 2023-2024 academic year; submit the FAFSA or state-based financial aid forms (if applicable).
February 15 - Frontline Families Scholarship Program* - (*4pm deadline on 2/15) awards of $2,500 & $1,000; all eligible applicants will receive awards; senior; child of a deceased frontline health care worker who died from Covid-19 while employed at a medical facility; attend a two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school in the fall; students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements and funds are available; applicants can receive the award a maximum of four times; see link for full eligibility and guidelines.
February 20 - Gamma Alpha Eta Zeta's DreamerZ Scholarship - 1-$3,000 and 1-$500 book award; senior; identify as female; min 3.0 GPA (unweighted); accepted at a (2) or (4) year College or University; Currently living in or attending school in one of Gamma Alpha Eta Zeta Chapters service areas: Bethesda, Poolesville, Potomac, Montgomery Village, or Germantown; essay; two letters of recommendation; official transcript.
February 23 - The Coolidge Scholarship - multiple full-ride scholarship awards; juniors; U.S. Citizen or Permanent Legal resident; must enroll full time at a college or university in the fall of 2024; distinguished academic record; competitive candidates will have pursued and succeeded in the most rigorous course of study available to them; also exhibit an interest in policy.
SVHS Boosters Scholarship
April 28 - 2022-23 SVHS Booster Scholarships* - (*applications due to Mr. Nalda by noon on this date!) 2-$1,000 awards; senior at SVHS; min 3.0 cumulative unweighted GPA at the end of 1st semester of senior year; plan to pursue post high school education (technical school, community college or four-year university, etc.); completed all Student Service Learning (SSL) hours; earn(ed) a varsity letter on a team in their senior year OR be an active member of an SVHS sponsored club (Club activism will be confirmed by SVHS Club Sponsor); current member of the 2022-2023 season of the Booster Club; transcript; one page essay; resume.
Click here to see the SVHS Scholarships Page for more opportunities.
MCPS Summer RISE 2023
Summer RISE is an initiative led by the Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) Department of Partnerships in collaboration with businesses, government agencies, higher education institutions, and nonprofit organizations. The program is for rising MCPS juniors and seniors to participate in a career-based learning opportunity during the summer. Students will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning opportunities related to their field of interest.
The program will run for 5 weeks, from June 26th through July 28th, with a minimum of 50 hours of either in-person, virtual or a combination of the two experiences. A stipend is available to students who complete the program. Registration is now open! Click below to learn more.
Click here for more information | Click here for the flyer (Español / Français)
Register for Student and Parent/Guardian Information Sessions
City of Gaithersburg - Summer Job & Internship Fair
Looking for a summer job? Stop by the Activity Center at Bohrer Park to learn more about the City of Gaithersburg's summer opportunities.
Feb 15, 3pm - 5:30pm
Click for more information and to register | FlyerMCPS HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) College Fair
This free in-person event at The Universities at Shady Grove will provide students in Grades 8–12 an opportunity to meet representatives from more than 50 HBCUs. Representatives will share information and answer questions from students and parents about admissions, financial aid, testing, majors and much more. The event will also feature a college preparation workshop for middle school students and parents, a discussion on college life, FAFSA completion assistance, scholarship information and more. HBCUs offer all students, regardless of race, an opportunity to develop their skills and talents. This event is co-sponsored by Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and the Montgomery County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Friday, February 17, 2023 • 6:00pm - 8:30pm | Flyer
For more information and to register
SVHS College & Career Monthly Newsletter - February, 2022-23
IB Spotlight
MYP PP & IB LP Project Updates: The MYP Personal Project (PP) serves as the capstone project for the MYP and is a chance for a student to explore a topic of interest with support from SVHS. At SVHS, we are also supporting our 9th, 11th, and 12th graders on the IB Learner Project, a project that mirrors the MYP Personal Project. At this point, all student should have completed the Objective A: Final Planning document. They now have until Friday, March 3rd to create their product. As a remember, students get to choose a topic they are interested in and decide on what product they would like to create, so they are in control of the process and outcomes! This means that even if they are behind, it is still possible to create a fantastic project between today and March 3rd when their product must be completed. We will discuss the details for submitting during our next SEL lesson on Wednesday, February 15th.
Please remember the benefits to completing the IB Projects:
- For the MYP PP, students earn .5 MYP Research Seminar elective credit, which looks great on their transcript!
- For the MYP PP, students earn 15 SSL hours. For the IB Learner Project, students earn 10 SSL hours.
- For all the projects, students gain skills for success in high school, college, career, and life.
How can you support your students through the MYP Personal Project or the IB Learner Project? Ask them about their project. If they are behind, help them adjust their action plan or edit their product goal to still complete the project. Also, please encourage them to see Mrs. Becraft in room 3514 if they are confused or have fallen behind. I am always happy to help!
Questions to ask your student:
• What is your learning goal and product? Why did you choose that learning goal and product?
• How will you determine if your project is successful? What criteria will you use to evaluate your project?
• What is your plan to meet your product deadline of March 3rd? Have you started completing items on your action plan? Can I help in anyway?
IB Fees: Do have a student currently taking an IB course? Please pay their IB exam fees as they are past due and need to be paid as soon as possible. Students should pay via https://www.schoolcashonline.com/. If you have questions, please have contact Natasha Ezerski at Natasha_L_Ezerski@mcpsmd.org or visit her in Room 3510.
Supporting BIRDS OF PLAY
Program Advertisements
The Seneca Valley High School Theatre Program, the Birds of Play, seeks your support and offers you the opportunity to share your brand with the Seneca Valley Community.
Purchasing an advertisement in our program demonstrates your support for the students, staff, and parents of Seneca Valley High School. Over 600 people will see your ad, providing you with a low-cost option to increase your customer base. Revenue from ad sales enables the Birds of Play to produce high-quality educational experiences for our students, such as play production, guest artists, and field trips.
Ad Sales for the Spring Musical, The Addams Family, are open until February 14. The performance will run March 17 - 26. Prices range from $5 to $125 - there is a price point for every business. Check out our Ad Form, email joanna_c_Fellows@mcpsmd.org with any questions!
Summer Rise Program
February 2023
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s) of Current Sophomores and Juniors:
We are pleased to inform you of a unique opportunity for your child this summer. Summer RISE is an initiative led by the Montgomery County Public Schools Department of Partnerships in collaboration with businesses, nonprofits and government agencies to provide school year 2023-2024 rising juniors and seniors with an enriching career-based learning opportunity from June 26 to July 28, 2023.
The program will offer a minimum of 50 hours of either in-person, virtual or a combination of the two experiences over five weeks. Students who apply need to be available Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. during the entirety of the program. The hosting organization will notify your child of their schedule. Through the program, your child will be introduced to different roles people have within businesses and agencies, how the organization functions as a whole, and what technology is used by the company or office. Your child will be coached on developing professional skills that future employers seek in hiring new staff.
This is a FREE program for students. Students accepted into the program will be required to attend a professional skills and financial literacy workshop prior to the start of the program to help prepare your child for his/her opportunity.
Student placement is based on industry availability & student preference. Should your child be selected to participate, acceptance, as well as the host placement, will be confirmed in spring 2023. Students who complete the program will receive a stipend, if funded, and a Certificate of Completion. Students who cannot be offered a slot will also be notified late in the spring.
Student registration will open at 8AM on Wednesday, February 1 and will close at 5PM on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 and can be accessed at www.bit.ly/SummerRISE2023. We ask that parents and guardians review the Parent/Guardian Summer RISE 2023 Student Agreement prior to your child’s submission and to assist while your child completes their registration.
Student and parent/guardian information sessions will be held in-person in Rockville on Thursday, February 16th from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. or virtually on Thursday, February 23rd from 7:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Students and parents/guardians can join the information session by signing up here or on the Summer RISE website. If you are not available on either of those dates, a recording of the presentation will be posted to the website.
All information about this program for those interested in hosting and for students interested in registering can be found at www.MCPS-SummerRISE.org. Attached is a copy of the 2023 Summer RISE Student Flyer.
Your assistance in ensuring your child has access to the program and is aware of this great opportunity is invaluable. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Davida Gurstelle, coordinator, Business and Community Partnerships, at 240-740-5599, or summer-rise@mcpsmd.org.
Academic Support Opportunities
Academic Support Center
The Academic Support Center is open during lunch Monday through Friday in room 2109. Students can receive academic support with their regularly scheduled classes and their Project GRAD (credit recovery) courses. Students can also get support with organization, time management, and planning.
CARES Tutoring
Our CARES Tutoring program is intended to provide students with ongoing high-dosage tutoring in order to provide students with the skills necessary to be successful in their classes. Students that sign up for CARES must commit to attending weekly tutoring sessions.
Our CARES Tutoring program is currently full. Students can submit this form to be added to the waitlist and will be contacted if a spot becomes available.
Virtual Tutoring Opportunities
All MCPS students have access to free, virtual tutoring services through FEV Tutor and Tutor Me Education.
FEV Tutor and Tutor Me both:
- Offer free on-demand tutoring for homework help, no scheduling needed
- Offer free scheduled tutoring for ongoing support, scheduling required
- Record sessions, take session notes, and communicate directly with families.
- Can be accessed by students through Clever
FEV tutor does not use a camera and TutorMe uses a camera for tutor and student.
To set up tutoring sessions with FEVTutor, contact mcps@fevtutor.com.
To set up tutoring sessions with TutorMe, fill out this request form. You can also contact mcps@tutormeeducation.com or call (240)618-2549.
Tutor Me Education Flyer (English)
Tutor Me Education Flyer (Spanish)
Contact Elizabeth_Maxey@mcpsmd.org if you have questions about which opportunity is best for your student.
SVHS Student and Family Resources Page
Click here for a list and links to resources and supports available for students and families in the Seneca Valley Community. SVHS Student and Family Resources Page
SVHS CUSTOMER SERVICE FEEDBACK
WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! We'd love to get feedback from you regarding your experience in our school. We aim to please you 100% of the time. However, if we fall short, we'd like to know so that we can improve. We will use the feedback you provide to celebrate the successes of our staff and/or identify areas of growth. Please consider completing a brief survey to provide us with your valuable feedback.
Click here to complete our brief survey.
Seneca Valley High School
Twitter: @SenecaValleyHS
Instagram: @SenecaValleyHSWebsite: www.senecavalleyhighschool.com
Location: 19401 Crystal Rock Drive, Germantown, MD, USA
Phone: 240-740-6400