SVHS Green and Gold
Community Edition - September 11, 2022
How to Translate this Newsletter/Cómo traducir este boletín
The Spanish Honor Society is hosting a Spirit Week in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month for the week of Sept. 19-23. All staff and students are encouraged to participate!
A Note from the Attendance Office
Parents who need to pick up their students early during a school day, please fill out the attendance note that is posted on our school website.
Your student will need to bring it to the attendance office prior to the student’s dismissal time.
Students will not be called to the office for early dismissal after 2:15 p.m.
Back to School Night - Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Dear Parents/Guardians:
We cordially invite you to attend our Back to School Night on Tuesday, September 13, 2022. This activity is a time-honored tradition where parents and guardians meet with their children’s teachers, counselors, and administrators. It is also an opportunity for parents to see first-hand the exciting changes that are taking place at Seneca Valley High School (SVHS). You will learn about the expectations of the school and the ways you can help your children improve their academic achievement. By participating in this evening, you will make a powerful statement that you support your child, the school, and education.
Subject-specific pre-meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m. All parents are asked to be in their student's Homeroom by 6:00 p.m. Because we will have limited parking available, shuttle buses will be running back and forth between SVHS and Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School and Roberto Clemente Middle School starting at 5:30 p.m.
Please plan to arrive early so that you can peruse the information tables that will be set up in the cafeteria. You will have the opportunity to attend the extracurricular activity fair, purchase spirit wear, talk to PTSA, Boosters, and school officials. Parents who need to activate their myMCPS Parent Portal accounts are welcome to stop by the Library Media Center for assistance from 5:30 until 8:00 pm. This is a special evening for the Seneca Valley High School family, and we sincerely hope you will join us for all the activities.
Your child has been asked to share their schedule with you. Please bring the schedule with you. There will be maps and student ambassadors available to assist with locating your child’s classes. We look forward to meeting you on September 13th.
Sincerely,
Marc J. Cohen, Ed. D.
Principal
MJC:mpr
You are invited...Coffee/Tea Break with Dr. Cohen and Guests - September 23 (Note the Date Change)
You are invited to attend a virtual coffee/tea break. Each month, Dr. Cohen and members of his administrative team will be joined by special guests to answer any questions you may have about topics of interest to students and families.
This month's special guests are Ian Yarmus - Resource Counselor, and Carlos Nalda - College and Career Information Coordinator. This is a great chance to hear from and speak to the experts about the college visit, application, and scholarship process, which we know is hot on the minds of our junior and senior parents. Time will also be provided for Q and A on any other topic related to your child's SVHS experience so far this year.
Whether you have a pressing question or just want to join us to listen or chat, we would love to have you. Please RSVP so we have an idea of how many to expect. These coffee/tea breaks are being held via Zoom to facilitate your participation.
Reminder about the SVHS Cell Phone Policy
We have shared the school cell phone policy in previous editions of this newsletter and also reviewed this information with all students during the first week of school.
Please note the following highlights of the policy:
- Cell phones must be off and put away during instructional periods, unless directed otherwise by the classroom teacher.
- Cell phones may be used before school, between classes, during lunch, and after school.
- Students found to be photographing or videotaping other students or staff unknowingly will face serious and immediate disciplinary action.
Any student who needs to phone home in an emergency situation should go to his/her administrator or counselor to seek help rather than use a cell phone during the instructional periods.
We understand and acknowledge that cell phones have become a regular and significant part of our students' communication and entertainment choices. We also know that these devices, left unchecked, create significant distraction to our students during school and often serve as a tool for limiting person-to-person interactions.
As we come out of the pandemic, we must be vigilant in our efforts to help our students re-socialize and in some cases, relearn healthy social interactions.
Mindfulness Room available to students during lunch!
Students looking for a peaceful and calming place to enjoy their lunches are invited to visit the Mindfulness Room, located in Room 3312.
The Mindfulness Room is open and available to all students looking for a mindful pause from the hustle and bustle of lunchtime...stop by!
IB Spotlight
Come join us to learn more about the SVHS IB Programs before Back to School Night!
Who: Any 9th through 12th grade parent interested in our IB Programs at SVHS
What: IB Information Session
- We will share general information about our three IB programs - Middle Years Program (MYP), IB Career-related Programs (CP), and IB Diploma Program (DP).
Where: Auditorium
When: Tuesday, September 13th from 5:30-5:54pm
We look forward to meeting you!
Calling all 10th graders! Please complete THIS form if your student is interested in a unique opportunity, our Think Big Program, which supports them with the MYP personal project through experiences with the Strathmore Concert hall, Glenstone Museum, and Watkins Mills HS. The Think Big program includes free field trips, opportunities to engage and receive feedback from professional artists, as well as see live performances.
- Students do not need to be artistic! Students will use the artistic process and professional artists to inspire their work on their own MYP Personal Project.
- The program is not additional work! At SVHS, we expect all 10th graders at SVHS to complete a personal project. This program provides extra support!
This Week's Notes from the SVHS College & Career Center
This Week's Notes from the SVHS College & Career Center:
Applying to Colleges (Seniors)
Planning on applying to a four-year college or university? Have you started the process? Have you completed your brag sheet and sent it to your counselor and recommending teacher(s)? If not, we strongly suggest you get started ASAP!
You should start familiarizing yourself with Naviance and the SVHS College Application Packet document. This document is a step-by-step guide to applying to colleges.
SVHS College Information Night Recording - Presentation by SVHS Staff Explaining the college application process at SVHS.
Please reach out to Mr. Nalda or your counselor if you have any questions.
College Representative Visits in the College & Career Center (Room 2408)
College Rep visits to campus begin next week! Juniors & Seniors are encouraged to participate in visits to learn more about colleges and universities. Students interested in participating in visits are asked to register in Naviance.
Next week’s visits:
Frostburg State University - Mon September 12, 2022 @ 12:05 PM
McDaniel College - Tue September 13, 2022 @ 8:45 AM
Hofstra University - Thu September 15, 2022 @ 10:30 AM
U.S. Army - Thu September 15, 2022 @ 12:05 PM
American University - Fri September 16, 2022 @ 8:45 AM
University of Maryland-Baltimore County - Fri September 16, 2022 @ 10:30 AM
Click here to learn more about rep visits to campus and see the full list of schools scheduled to visit SVHS this Fall!
Upcoming Scholarships
15 - The Gates Scholarship - top 300 students receive funding for full cost of attendance; senior; US citizen, national, or permanent resident; African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American; min 3.3 GPA; financial need; Pell-eligible; must enroll full-time in a four-year degree program; outstanding academic record; demonstrated leadership ability; personal success skills.
15 - Health & Wellness Scholarship - $500 award; open to High school seniors, undergraduate students, or graduate students; U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident; believes in and lives a healthy lifestyle; submit a short essay (400-600 words) answering the following prompt: Why do you believe it’s important to live a healthy life? How do you maintain a healthy lifestyle?
15 - Ensō Superfood Lover Scholarship - $500 award; open to High school seniors, undergraduate students, or graduate students; U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident; loves superfoods; submit a short essay (400-600 words) answering the following prompt: Why do you love superfoods? What are your favorite superfoods, and how do you incorporate them into your diet?
17 - We The Future Contest - 1-$1,000 award for each project categories; grades 9-12; ages 14-19 at time of entry; U.S. Citizen or legal resident; submit an original work one of the following about the First Amendment or the Constitution: essay, song, STEM, short film, or PSA; see link for full rules and guidelines.
20 - Pepsi Stronger Together Scholarship Contest - 4-$25,000 grand prizes and 4-$500 gift card prizes; senior; open to legal U.S. residents; interested in pursuing a career in the arts; submit a 100 - word essay or a two - minute video on the following topic: "Why you deserve $25,000 to help further your education in the arts and music?"
27 - QuestBridge National College Match - recipients are granted early admission to one of QuestBridge's college partners with a full four-year scholarship, worth over $200,000; any high school senior, regardless of citizenship, currently attending high school in the U.S. is eligible for the National College Match (should review the Additional Citizenship Requirements); have earned primarily A's in the most challenging courses available (usually including Honors, AP, and/or IB level courses); financial need as finalists typically come from households earning less than $65,000 annually for a typical household of four and have minimal assets; click link for more information.
Click here to see the SVHS Scholarships Page for more opportunities.
Upcoming Events
National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Virtual College Fair - September 11
Featuring college advisors from hundreds of colleges and universities from the US and worldwide. Sign up now for free!
For more information and to register:
https://www.nacacattend.org/22VirtualSep11
Virtual Financial Aid Night - Sep 15
Join us for this virtual presentation to hear information about financial aid, FAFSA, and paying for college. Presentation by Rob Maddox, Director of Financial Aid, St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
- Thursday, September 15th @ 6:30pm
- Click here for the flyer and zoom meeting information
SVHS College & Career Monthly Newsletter - September, 2022-23
Scholarship Opportunity
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc, Mu Nu Chapter, is proud to honor Black male achievement in Montgomery County at its 2022 Achievement Week celebration on November 16, 2022 at the Silver Spring Civic Center at 7 pm.
The Chapter also invites any student to submit an essay to compete in the fraternity's national essay contest. Here are details for each opportunity:
Achievement Week Honorees:
- The fraternity will provide 50 Black male students who have a minimum 3.0 unweighted or 3.5 weighted GPA a certificate of achievement and honor them if they complete the application and send a transcript. The top 50 students will be notified and invited to attend.
- 4 to 5 students who have the highest GPAs and leadership experiences will receive a minimum $3,000 scholarship funded by the Rudolph Snowden Scholarship Foundation.
- Students must send their application and a copy of their transcript to Shawn.Joseph@Howard.edu by Friday, October 21, 2022.
Essay Contest:
- Students must address the theme of the essay contest: A world crisis has caused a paradigm shift for health disparities and social justice; what are your suggestions for positive change?
- The student must be a college bound senior of any gender or race.
- A minimum $500 award will be given to the local winner on November 16, 2022, and we will submit the essay to be considered for the national $5,000 award.
Students should reach out to Dr. Shawn Joseph, Assistant Professor, Howard University, at Shawn.Joseph@Howard.edu if they have questions.
Please see link below for important Athletics update.
https://svhsathletics.org/2022/09/09/svhs-athletics-weekly-update-9-9-2022/
Includes
- volunteers needed-booster club
- Fall season operation plans
- Digital ticket information
- much much more.
Service Opportunity: Gibbs Elementary School is looking for a student DJ for an upcoming event
Let's help Gibbs find a student DJ!
When: October 14th, 5:30pm-8:00pm
Where: Gibbs Elementary school in the Milestone neighborhood
Contact Mr. Chai 240-351-5462 text/call or pta.president.gibbs@gmail.com
Is Your Child Looking for a Career Completer? Consider Navy JROTC at Seneca Valley
NJROTC is a jointly sponsored Navy and secondary school citizenship and leadership program for students in grades 9 through 12, which teaches self-discipline, self-confidence and leadership skills to help students successfully meet life's challenges.
A very unique program, NJROTC enrolls students from 4 local high schools in addition to Seneca Valley. In addition to daily classes (academic, drill/marching, physical fitness) NJROTC offers many after school co-curricular activities such as many community service events and the following teams; Drill, Color Guard, Academic, Athletic, Marksmanship and Orienteering. Teams compete with other NJROTC units from Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.
NJROTC is now a Careers Program completer course within the CTE Department. Cadets earn 10 Student Service Learning hours each year of NJROTC (40 SSL hours for 4 years).
Cadets are provided uniforms, books, training aids and other types of equipment paid for by the Navy.
There is no requirement for students who participate in NJROTC to join the military.
Taught by retired Navy officer & enlisted, instructors provide helpful information to cadets interested in military enlisted or officer accession programs.
Please contact your counselor to enroll in NJROTC. If you have any questions about NJROTC call 240-740-6434 (LCDR Hernandez or CSCS Hill).
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
Seneca Valley High School
Twitter: @SenecaValleyHS
Instagram: @SenecaValleyHSWebsite: www.senecavalleyhighschool.com
Location: 19401 Crystal Rock Drive, Germantown, MD, USA
Phone: 240-740-6400