SVHS Green and Gold
Dr. Cohen/Mr. Smith's Newsletter to the SVHS Community
April 25, 2021- Edition
Update Video from Dr. Cohen
COVID Pool Positive Notification
Dear Seneca Valley High School community,
This letter is to inform you that an individual at Seneca Valley High School has tested positive for COVID-19. We identified this case through our pooled testing program, where individuals who elect to participate are screened for COVID-19, even if they do not have symptoms.
All students and staff in the pool group will enter quarantine for 14 days, or until they test negative for COVID-19, whichever comes first. Right now, there are no known additional cases of COVID-19 at Seneca Valley High School, and those who did not have direct contact to the positive pool do not need to get tested for COVID-19 or quarantine at this time. Per the CDC, Direct contact is defined as:
being within 6 feet or less for 15 or more minutes (within a 24 hour period) of an individual with COVID-19, or
having direct contact with the infectious secretions from an individual with COVID-19 (e.g., being coughed on).
Note: The definition of “close contact” does not include all other individuals on the same floor or in the same building as a positive individual, unless they also meet criteria (1) or (2).
As a reminder, here are the steps that we can all take to keep ourselves, families and school community safe:
Wear a mask, or appropriate face covering, at all times when in school and other public spaces.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially before and after eating.
Cover your cough and/or sneeze and immediately wash your hands for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.
Practice physical distancing and keep 6 feet away from others when possible.
Stay home if you are sick.
Visit https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/coronavirus and montgomerycountymd.gov/COVID19 for additional information.
We appreciate your cooperation as we work to maintain a safe and healthy school environment.
NEW: A Note to Students Returning for In-Person Instruction
The following information is important for you to read as you prepare to come into the building for in-person instruction.
Before you leave your house: Pack up and bring with you, your Chromebook, charger, a cloth mask, and earphones if you have them. If you do not have a mask or earphones, one will be provided for you. Breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack will be provided for you free of charge, but you are welcome to bring a packed lunch and drink with you if you wish. You are only permitted to drink water in the classrooms. Any other drink and food must be consumed in the cafeteria.
Everyone should arrive for entry/check-in through the cafeteria doors. These doors are located off the Wisteria Drive entrance to the school. (see image below for a map!)
Cafeteria doors will open at 7:45 a.m. for check-in. The doors will be locked at 9:00 a.m.
If you are a bus-rider, please click on this link to review your bus route and pick-up time: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/senecavalleyhs/news-index/2021/march/svhs-bus-routes/
When you arrive, you will remain in the cafeteria during the Student Support hour (7:45 a.m.- 8:45 a.m.) and then report to your period 1 class between 8:45 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
If you are a walker/car-rider, please be sure to arrive NO LATER THAN 8:45 a.m. so that you have enough time to check-in and report to period 1.
Cafeteria doors will be locked at 9:00 a.m. If you arrive after 9:00 a.m., please enter through the main office entrance located off of Crystal Rock Drive (see image below for a map!) NOTE: if you are arriving late to school, you must have an official excuse (doctor's appointment, family emergency, etc.) to be marked EXCUSED late.
When you arrive…
You will check-in at one of the tables that are set up by the entrance doors through the cafeteria.
You will receive a copy of your schedule with room numbers along with a map of the building.
At that time, if you need to borrow any equipment, you will have an opportunity to check them out for the day.
We will gather in the cafeteria until 8:45 a.m.
Attending Classes...
You have signed up for In-Person return which means that you will be attending all of your classes with your teachers and other classmates who have been assigned to your week in the Green/Gold Rotation.
You will still use your Chromebook to log into each class because your teacher will be teaching you AND the students who are attending class from home.
You will have 15 minutes in between each period to log off, pack up and head to your next classroom. Just like every new year, it will take you a few days to get to know your classroom locations, but you’ll find your way in no time!
For the most part (with a few exceptions) your classes are located in the following areas:
Ground Floor: Auto Tech, PE, Music
1st Floor: Health Professions, Construction, LFI/SCB, Film, CREA, Carpentry, Main Office, IB Office
2nd Floor: Art, Social Studies, Counseling Suites, ESOL
3rd Floor: World Languages, English, Math
4th Floor: Science, Tech.
Lunchtime, Restrooms, and Water Fountains...
At lunch, everyone will eat in the cafeteria at socially distanced tables. One person per table.
A bagged lunch (also breakfast and afternoon snack) will be provided for everyone free of charge, but you may choose to bring your own lunch if you wish.
All restrooms will be open for student use. Only two students permitted at one time to ensure safe social distancing.
Water Fountains will be closed but there are several water-filling stations available throughout the building if you would like to bring a water bottle with you.
Dismissal...
Students who are scheduled to attend IN-PERSON are expected to attend all 4 periods of each day and remain the building from morning check-in until afternoon dismissal. Students are NOT permitted to partially attend school, leave early, or arrive late without a valid excuse (doctor’s appointment, family emergency, etc.) Students who have to leave early must check out at the attendance office window by the main entrance on the first floor.
Regular dismissal will occur at 2:30 p.m. through the cafeteria doors.
If you forget something at home...
If you forget your headphones, charger, or Chromebook, or mask, we will have extra supplies here in the building for you.
If you have questions or concerns over...
Please feel free to email me: Ms. Rahmati: kataneh_k_rahmati@mcpsmd.org
Or call the school on Monday morning after 7:30 a.m.: 240-740-6400
If you would like to change your Educational Model Preference from IN-PERSON to VIRTUAL, at any time, please have your parent/guardian send me a note: kataneh_k_rahmati@mcpsmd.org Please know that once you switch to virtual, you may NOT switch back to In-Person until further notice.
Here is a video introduction/orientation for more information about our reopening plans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFTdVTJoJTg&feature=youtu.be
We are so glad you're coming back to the building and look forward to seeing you!
NEW: PARTICIPATE IN AN MCPS VIRTUAL LEARNING ACADEMY INTEREST SURVEY
MCPS is planning to offer a virtual academy for students in grades PreK-12 for the 2021-2022 school year in addition to a traditional in-person, five-day-a-week learning option. Your responses to this interest survey will help MCPS in planning for virtual learning. This is not a commitment to attend the virtual academy and does not guarantee admission, it is intended to gauge family interest. More information on how to apply for the virtual academy will be shared with the community soon.
Related
NEW: WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
NEW: Important Information about AP Testing
Hello Seneca Valley High School Community,
This message is for all students taking AP exams. The time has come to prepare for AP exams. Only students taking the AP Spanish Language and Culture exam will take their exams IN-PERSON at Seneca Valley High School on May 21, 2021 at 8:00 am in room 1601. All other AP exams will be administered At-Home Digitally. Here is some information to guide you through the AP Student Application - Digital Exam Process. This information provides information and instructions to:
- Login for the AP exams
- Access the Digital Audio Capture
- Provides a digital practice and resources for the Digital Exam
- Download and install the digital testing application
Additionally, here is information for the AP Digital Testing Application for Chromebooks
AP teachers will share this information with students to guide them through the steps for the Digital Testing Process.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you have not submitted your payment for AP exams, the deadline has been extended to Monday, April 26, 2021 by 7:00 p.m. Teachers have sent emails to students reminding them of the payments with the deadline included.
If you have any questions, please contact Kisheena Wanzer, assistant principal at Kisheena_J_Wanzer@mcpsmd.org
NEW: This Week's Notes from the College & Career Center
This Week's Notes from the SVHS College & Career Center:
Senior Planning
Unsure about your plans for after high school? Need some assistance? Reach out to Mr. Nalda. We can discuss college options, career options, apprenticeships, job options, and more!
College Acceptances & Scholarship Awards - Seniors
Have you applied and been accepted to a college or university? Have you been offered any scholarships? Please keep track of this information and update in your Naviance account. At some point soon, we will be distributing a Senior Survey asking for this and other information. All seniors in MCPS will be asked to complete this survey.
Keeping track of this as you go along will make it easier to fill out when it is time to fill out this survey.
Upcoming Scholarships
April 29 - Sander Jennings Spread the Love Scholarship - 1-$1,000; grades 9-12; write a short essay (250-500 words) about how their journey with self-love and acceptance has impacted their beliefs, relationships, and aspirations
April 30 - Tzu Chi USA Scholars - $1,000 awards; senior; min 3.0 GPA; based on (proven) financial need, academic achievement, and community involvement; family tax returns; 2-5 page autobiography; 2 page essay about Tzu Chi; 2 letters of recommendation; official transcript.
April 30 - E-Waste Scholarship - $1,000 award; 9-12 grade; U.S. Citizen or Legal Resident; submit a 140-character message about e-waste; top 10 applications will be selected as finalists; finalists will be asked to write a full length 500- to 1,000-word essay about e-waste.
April 30 - Upakar Foundation – the Indian American Scholarship - awards ranging from $1,000 - $8,000; senior; either you or one parent was born in India; min. cumulative GPA of 3.6 (unweigthed); U.S. citizen or a U.S. ‘Green Card’ holder (Permanent Resident) with Proof of Citizenship (United States and Indian); enter a two- or four-year college or university in the fall; have a 2020 Family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) on the IRS form 1040 (line 7) of less than $90,000; 2 well written on-point essays (topics prompt in Scholarship Application Form); transcript; copy of the official SAT or ACT report; letter of recommendation; copy of student aid report (SAR) from FAFSA.
April 30 - Shawn Carter Foundation Scholarship - senior; U.S. Cit. or perm. res.; min 2.0 GPA; leadership; community service; compelling desire to pursue higher education in spite of personal, socio-economic setbacks; essay.
April 30 - Alfred Street Baptist Church Foundation Scholarship - Approximately 120 scholarships ranging from $1,000 for one year to $7,500 annually for up to four years; senior; U.S. Citizen; min 2.5 GPA; attend a four-year school in the fall; financial need; demonstrated community service; essay; letter of recommendation; mid-year transcript; proof of financial need (SAR from FAFSA and/or other documentation); SAT/ACT scores (if available, not required); click for scholarship guidelines.
April 30 - SVHS Jane Sowers PTSA Scholarship - 1-$600 award; senior; unweighted GPA of 3.2 or higher for each year of high school; copy of your transcript; one-sided resume; one page essay discussing one of three prompts; award is based upon GPA, course rigor, activities, and essay; read ALL instructions carefully and submit to Mr. Nalda by noon (12pm) on April 30.
May 01 - Ira Dorsey Scholarship Endowment Fund - awards of up to $2,000; male senior; res. of VA/MD/DC; min 2.5 GPA; attend a four-year school; unofficial transcript; EFC worksheet (from FAFSA); 2 letters of recommendation; 800 word essay (counselor/teacher recommendation form, community member recommendation form).
May 01 - Rudolph W. Snowden Memorial Scholarship Fund - one or more awards ranging from $1,000-$5,000; senior; African American male; min 3.0 GPA (unweighted); seeking/pursuing a bachelor's degree from an HBCU; color photograph; signed photo release; official transcript; copy of SAT and/or ACT score; at least 2 academic recommendations; at least 1 community recommendation; typed, signed, and dated narrative of 1-2 pages in length.
May 01 - Alex Popeck Never Back Down Foundation Scholarship - $2,500 awards; senior; 2 letters of recommendation; participate in extra-curricular activities; submit a personal statement of 1,500 words or fewer (see link for prompt).
May 01 - Rover Scholarship - 1-$2,500 awards; senior; resident of the United States; min 3.0 GPA; in 400 - 500 words, answer the following question: How has technology impacted the person you are today?
May 01 - American College Foundation Visionary Scholarship Program - multiple awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000; 9-12 grade; U.S. Citizens or Eligible Non-Citizen; 500 word essay; copy mid-year transcript; may be asked to participate in a qualification interview as part of the application process to assist the ACF in ultimately determining the winners.
May 01 - RushOrderTees Young Entrepreneurs Scholarship - 1-$5,000 award; senior; US citizen or legal permanent resident; planning to attend a higher education institution next year; passion for entrepreneurship; submit a short essay on why you're interested in entrepreneurship and how you believe you can contribute to our society through your entrepreneurial vision.
Click here to see the SVHS Scholarships Page for more opportunities.
Next Week's College Visits - Juniors & Seniors
University of Connecticut Seeyashree Sodani Virtual 4/28/21 1:00 PM
*Register in Naviance to access zoom links to meetings.
Upcoming Events
MCPS Let's Talk Careers - Healthcare and Community Health
Let’s Talk Careers is a speaker series for experts to share their career path stories and industry expertise. Each session will be moderated by MCPS students.
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, April 28, 10:00-11:30 AM
INDUSTRY: Healthcare and Community Health
Moving Forward College and Career Readiness - 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 workshops are from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. Click here to see the flyer. Click Here to Register.
Wednesday, April 28 - Intro to Financial Aid and Scholarships
Summer Rise 2021 - 10th & 11th Graders
Summer RISE is an initiative led by the Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) Partnerships Unit 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.
Pre-College / Summer Program Opportunities
A pre-college summer program offers high school students the opportunity to take classes at a college and experience college life during the summer. Many programs offer a residential and commuter option. Students can stay in dorms with their peers, or they can commute from home if they live close to the college.
Summer Programs & Internships - List of summer programs and internships created by MCPS College & Career Information Coordinators.REPEAT: Principal's Advisory Council Applications Now Open!
All students, regardless of previous leadership experiences or GPA, are invited to apply. In order for the PAC to be successful, we need a wide range of voices represented on the PAC. Most PAC meetings will be held during the school day through Advisory. On some rare occasions, an after-school meeting may be required. If you would like to be considered for membership on the 2021-2022 PAC, please complete this brief application. Applications are due by May 14, 2021. All members will be notified by June 16, 2021.
REPEAT: Dual Enrollment Registration
REPEAT: IB Update
ATL Skill Category Quote for SOCIAL SKILLS:
“Empathy and social skills are social intelligence, the interpersonal part of emotional intelligence. That’s why they look alike.” - Daniel Coleman
As an IB school, our goal is to support the whole student, including their academic and socioemotional development. As we prepare students for college, career, and life, we know that social skills are an essential component for success. We strive to equip students with social skills to develop positive interpersonal relationships and collaboration skills that leads to developing social-emotional intelligence.
ATL Skill Cluster Quote for COLLABORATION:
“Unity is strength...when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” -Mattie Stepanek
Collaboration is a powerful thing- it places emphasis on the crucial role of diversity and honoring different perspectives during group work. As we only have our own perspective and worldview, there is great strength in collective minds and success in sharing tasks. We encourage students to be open-minded risk takers who both share their varied skills, thoughts, and opinions to the table, while also listening to those around them. Collaboration creates remarkable outcomes when students leverage their social skills in a unified approach.
Learner Profile Quote for INQUIRERS:
“We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself. -Lloyd Alexander
Questioning, critical thinking, and the creative development of new knowledge through inquiry is crucial to fostering curiosity and learning in students. We strive to have inquiry-based lessons that allow students to take ownership of their learning and deeply engage with the content to enhance learning for students. When inquiry is combined with collaboration, students develop their own skills but also continue their journey in appreciating other perspectives.
PTSA Fundraiser: Show your Eagle Pride with this Limited Edition, SVHS Blanket!
Please Consider Participating in this Service Project
REPEAT: Chromebook Pick-up Information
If a student does not have an MCPS issued Chromebook and is returning to school, Chromebooks will be issued from SVHS directly and on a daily basis.
For any questions around this change, please reach out to the school directly at 240-740-6400.
REMINDER: Counselor LIVE Chat
Counselors are now available for live chat sessions EVERYDAY via Zoom. Please use your student's sign in credentials to access the session. Click HERE to access counselor's availability. *Please note that you may be required to wait briefly in the waiting room while the counselor is meeting with another parent and/or student."
REMINDER: Where do I go for help?
We are here to support you in any way that we can. for more information about who to go to for the most commonly asked questions, please visit this link. There you will find resources for the topics listed below. We will continue to add to this list as needs evolve.
- Community Resources
- Wellness Resources
- Student Support
- Counselors
- Class Sponsors
- Technology Reminders
- Ask Your Librarian
For spirit wear purchases:
Seneca Valley Online SPIRIT WEAR!!!
Seneca Valley is excited to offer online sales of the spirit wear we used to sell on-site (and more!) through our local vendor, VerTee Shirts. Check it out!
VerTee Shirts: https://svhs.spiritsale.com (T-shirts, sweatshirts, lounge pants, fleece jackets, and masks)
SVHS Spirit Wear can also be purchased at the following sites.
Squad Locker: https://teamlocker.squadlocker.com/#/lockers/eagles-287838
BSN: https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/maryland/germantown/seneca-valley-high-school
Want a SVHS License Plate? Please visit the School website for details. https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools//senecavalleyhs/about/ptsa/spiritsales/
Are you #SVPROUD?
- Tweet, Snap, IB, FB, etc., a pic of you repping "The Valley" by wearing your Seneca gear.
- And don't forget to use #svproud. Go Eagles!
Seneca Valley High School
Email: marc_j_cohen@mcpsmd.org
Website: www.senecavalleyhighschool.com
Location: 19401 Crystal Rock Drive, Germantown, MD, USA
Phone: 240-740-6400
Twitter: @SenecaValleyHS