SVHS Green and Gold
Community Edition - October 16, 2022
How to Translate this Newsletter - Cómo traducir este boletín
PTSA Meeting - Tuesday, Oct.18
Topic: PTSA
Time: Oct 18, 2022 06:30 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/85157750899?pwd=ZHk4VWszVzRsejk2dElhd2tWandJUT09
Meeting ID: 851 5775 0899
Passcode: Eagles
Please Support the PTSA AfterProm Fundraiser
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AWARDS - Nomination Season
The Washington Post Principal of the Year Award recognizes those principals who go beyond the day-to-day demands of their position to create an exceptional educational environment. In presenting these awards, The Washington Post Educational Foundation hopes to encourage excellence in school leadership and to contribute in a substantive way to the improvement of education in the Washington metropolitan area. Principals may not nominate themselves, but nominations may be submitted by teachers, students, former students, parents/guardians, administrators, or the general public.
Superintendent’s Annual Mark Mann Excellence and Harmony Award
The Mark Mann Award, established in 1991, honors Montgomery County Public Schools principals who excel in promoting academic excellence, positive human relations, and community outreach. These qualities were exemplified by Mark Mann, a former principal of Parkland Junior High School, who died in 1988.
Montgomery County Public Schools Teacher of the Year Award
The Montgomery County Public Schools Teacher of the Year Award honors a full-time pre- kindergarten through Grade 12 teacher who has a demonstrated record of high academic expectations for all students, engaging students of all backgrounds and abilities, contributing to a positive school culture, and connecting with the school community. The Montgomery County Teacher of the Year goes on to represent Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) as the MCPS nominee for the Maryland State Teacher of the Year award.
Montgomery County Public Schools Rising Star Teacher Award
The Montgomery County Public Schools Rising Star Teacher Award honors a full-time pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 teacher who is in their first, second, or third year of teaching. The Rising Star award winner is a teacher who demonstrates a passion for the success of all students, creatively engages students in learning, and contributes to a strong, positive partnership among students, staff, parents, and the community. The winner will be recognized at a celebration in the spring and will receive a monetary award.
The Washington Post Teacher of the Year Award
The Washington Post Teacher of the Year Award recognizes a full-time teacher in pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 who instills in students a desire to learn and achieve. Each nominee must have a minimum of five years teaching experience, three of which must be in MCPS. This teacher also must understand the individual needs of students, encourage their talents, and foster their self-esteem. He or she demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the subject matter and possesses the ability to share it effectively with students. Additionally, the nominee fosters cooperative relationships with his/her colleagues and the community and demonstrates outstanding leadership qualities.
Shirley J. Lowrie “Thank You for Teaching” Award
The Shirley J. Lowrie “Thank You for Teaching” Award honors extraordinary elementary school teachers who have a deep dedication to the teaching profession. These elementary school teachers, pre-kindergarten through Grade 5, must work directly with students in the classroom on a daily basis, demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the subject matter, and effectively communicate that subject matter to students. The nominee should be a teacher who goes the extra mile to ensure that students receive the support they need to succeed.\
Montgomery County Public Schools Supporting Services Employee of the Year Award
The Montgomery County Public Schools Supporting Services Employee of the Year Award honors an active Montgomery County Public Schools support professional in a permanent position, who contributes to the students, staff and the community, and displays professionalism in their job performance. The winner will receive a cash prize and will be recognized in a celebration held in the spring.
Holiday Giving Project
The Holiday Giving Project has provided Thanksgiving and December holiday assistance to qualifying households for over 30 years. If you and your family are in need and would like to be referred for possible assistance for the holiday season, please complete this referral form to provide the required information. Resources are limited: please apply only if you and your family are truly in need. While a referral is not a guarantee of assistance, the Project helps as many families in need as donations allow. If you need help completing the form please contact Ms. Ruiz Miller at 240-447-8963.
El Holiday Giving Project ha brindado asistencia para el Día de Acción de Gracias y los días festivos de diciembre a los hogares que califican durante más de 30 años. Si usted y su familia están en necesidad y les gustaría ser referidos para una posible asistencia durante la temporada de festividades, complete este formulario de referencia para proporcionar la información requerida. Los recursos son limitados: solicite solo si usted y su familia realmente lo necesitan. Si bien una referencia no es una garantía de asistencia, el Proyecto ayuda a tantas familias necesitadas como lo permitan las donaciones. Si necesita ayuda para completar el formulario, comuníquese con la Sra. Ruiz Miller al 240-447-8963.
Free Tutoring Available
FREE Tutoring Opportunity through our CARES Program
Our CARES Tutoring program will be starting on September 26th. Our program provides high dosage tutoring designed to:
- accelerate learning at a student's grade level or above
- support students who are performing below grade level
- provide additional support beyond classroom instruction to support student success
Program Highlights
- FREE Tutoring by SV Teachers and Support Staff
- Flexible Scheduling - After School, Evening and Weekend hours
- In Person and Virtual Times available
- English, Math, Science, Social Studies, World Languages and More!
- Organization and General Support
Click HERE to sign up!
Contact Elizabeth_Maxey@mcpsmd.org for additional information.
Additional Free Tutoring Available
All MCPS students have access to free, virtual tutoring services through FEV Tutor and Tutor Me Education.
Both companies offer two services:
Free on-demand tutoring for homework help, no scheduling needed
Free, scheduled tutoring for on-going support, scheduling required
Both companies record sessions, take session notes, and communicate directly with families
The difference between the two companies:
FEV Tutor - no camera for tutor or student - ideal for grades 3-12 students for whom the camera is a barrier to learning
Tutor Me Education - camera for tutor and student
Students access tutoring through using their MCPS Clever account.
For families who would like to set up scheduled, on-going sessions, please share:
To set up tutoring sessions with FEV Tutor:
To set up tutoring sessions with Tutor Me Education:
MCPS@tutormeeducation.com or 240-618-2549 OR
Fill out their request form ** best way
Here are flyers that can be shared:
Project GRAD (Credit Recovery)
Project G.R.A.D. (Graduation Requirements Achieved through Determination) is our credit recovery program. Our program provides students with an opportunity to recover credits for a course needed for graduation. Students are enrolled by their counselor and will see their courses listed as period 10 on their schedule. Our first session starts Monday, October 17th.
Students with a period 10 listed should check their email for course details. Additional information can also be found on our Academic Support Website, which can be found on ourSeneca Valley High School website under Quick Links: Academic Support.
Contact Elizabeth_Maxey@mcpsmd.org or your counselor for additional information.
This Week's Notes from the SVHS College & Career Center
Attention Seniors - Applying to Colleges
Are you planning on applying to a four-year college or university? If the answer is yes, you should be working on the process now! The November 1 application deadline is quickly approaching! Please review the SVHS College Application Process document and use this as a guide.
Please reach out to Mr. Nalda or your counselor if you have any questions.
NEW - Curious or want to learn more about a particular college? Click this link to see where some of our SVHS staff members attended. They have volunteered to speak with students about their school and experience!
Financial Aid - FAFSA Window Opened October 1!
The window for seniors to begin filling out and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application opened on October 1. This is the application for financial aid from the Federal Government. Based on your family's financial situation, you may qualify for aid in the form of a Pell Grant. All eligible seniors should fill out and submit this form, regardless of family income.
Students applying to schools in the state of Maryland should also create an account on the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) to see if they qualify for any aid from the state of Maryland.
Those students ineligible to apply for the FAFSA are encouraged to fill out the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA) to receive financial aid to attend colleges or universities in the state of Maryland.
Click here for more information and instructions
University of Alabama FREE App Week, Oct 17-21
We are excited to announce The University of Alabama Free App Week, running
October 17-21, 2022. From October 17 - 21, UA Undergraduate Admissions offers an application fee waiver to those applying to enter as freshmen or transfer students in the Spring, Summer or Fall 2023 Semesters. You must submit your application by 11:59 p.m. CDT onFriday, October 21 to apply for free.
College Representative Visits in the College & Career Center (Room 2408)
Juniors & Seniors are encouraged to participate in visits to learn more about colleges and universities that may be of interest to them. Students interested in participating in visits are asked to register in Naviance (instructions).
Next week’s visits:
Lynn University - Mon October 17 @ 8:45 AM
Montgomery College - Mon October 17 @ 10:30 AM
Muhlenberg College - Mon October 17 @ 12:55 PM
Frostburg State University - Tue October 18 @ 10:30 AM
U.S. Navy Recruiter - Lunch Visit* - Tue October 18 @ 11:12 AM - 11:54 AM
*No registration in Naviance needed. Stop by the cafeteria anytime during lunch to learn more about the U.S. Navy & ROTC Program.
Click here to learn more about rep visits to campus and see the full list of schools scheduled to visit SVHS this school year!
Upcoming Scholarships
October 17 - College JumpStart Scholarship - 1-$1,000 award; grades 10-12; U.S. cit. or legal res.; attend 2-year, 4-year or trade school; answer 1 of 3 questions in 250 words or less.
October 18 - Heisman High School Scholarship - (deadline is 6pm on 10/18) $1,000, $2,000, and $10,000 awards; senior; min 3.0 GPA; participate or have participated in grades 9, 10, or 11 in at least one of the sports listed on the site (click here to see list); proven leader and role model within their school and community.
October 21 - Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Achievement Week Scholarship - 4-5 students who have the highest GPAs and leadership experiences will receive a minimum $3,000 scholarship; senior; African American; male; min. of 3.5 (weighted) or 3.0 (unweighted) GPA; leadership roles (in or out of school); community service experience (in or out of school); the top 50 students will be notified and invited to attend its 2022 Achievement Week celebration on November 16, 2022 at the Silver Spring Civic Center at 7 pm.
October 21 - Omega Psi Phi Fraternity International High School Essay Contest - awards of $500, $1,000, $2,000, $3,000, and $5000; open to college bound seniors of any race; submit an essay between 700-750 words addressing the following theme: A world crisis has caused a paradigm shift for health disparities and social justice; what are your suggestions for positive change?
October 23 - Golden Door Scholarship - recipients will receive funding for a four-year degree at Golden Door partner schools and access to mentors, fellowship, and career support; applicants must have DACA, TPS or be undocumented (if you are a current US citizen or permanent resident, you are not eligible to apply); applicants must have high financial need; transcript; information about leadership and extracurricular activities; essay - you can use one written from one of your college applications or use one of the prompts from The Common Application.
October 31 - Voice of Democracy Scholarship - 1-$30,000 top prize, other awards ranging from $1,000-$16,000; grades 9-12; although U.S. citizenship is not required, must be lawful U.S. permanent resident or have applied for permanent residency (the application for which has not been denied) and intend to become a U.S. cit. at the earliest opportunity allowed by law; write & record a 3-5 min. essay on the theme: Why is the Veteran Important?
October 31 - Coca-Cola Scholars Program - (deadline is 5pm on 10/31) 150-$20,000 awards; senior; U.S. Citizen, legal resident, refugee (see link for full eligibility list); min 3.0 GPA; achievement-based scholarship; involved in school and community activities; transcript.
Click here to see the SVHS Scholarships Page for more opportunities.
Upcoming Events
Virtual UMD Coffee & College Event for High School Women
The University of Maryland’s chapter of Society of Women Engineers is holding a “Coffee & College” event for high school women interested in engineering on October 17th at 7pm via zoom!
The event will consist of a Q&A session where those in attendance can ask questions to a panel of current women in the various engineering disciplines at UMD. Along with the panel, we will share a presentation on UMD, the application process, the A. James Clark School of Engineering, and various other college related topics. SWE UMD’s executive board has also created an interactive “Prospective Student Workbook” with activities and reflection questions for students to answer throughout their journey to college; this will automatically be shared with attendees, as well as the zoom link, after they sign up.
Click here to register | Click here for the flyer
SAT Information & Updates
Click here for the latest information regarding the SAT.
IB’ in the Classroom:
IB Registration: IB Registration runs from Friday, October 7th - Friday, November 4th. On Friday, October 7th, all IB student attended an IB Registration Presentation with Natasha Ezerski where they learned about SVHS expectation that students to take their IB Exams, the benefits of doing so, and the registration process. If they have any questions, please tell them to see Natasha Ezerski, the IB CP/DP Coordinator, in Room 3510.
The following links have been shared with students and will guide students, parents/guardians through the process:
- IB Exam Slide Show
- IB Registration Form - May 2023
- IB Exam Packet
- 5 Things You Should Know About IB Testing
- School Cash Instructions
- School Cash Login
Introduction to the MYP Personal Project & IB Learner Projects: During our SVHS Engagement Day after the PSAT, the 10th grade students were introduced to the MYP Personal Project. For more information on the MYP Personal Project, please click here!
Last year, our MYP Personal Projects were so amazing and impactful that this year, as a school, we decided to extend this opportunity to all of our students. While our 10th graders work on their MYP Personal Projects, our 9th, 11th, and 12th graders will complete an IB Learner Project that mirrors the process and goals of the personal project. We are excited to see what amazing projects they come up with this year!
IB’ in the Classroom: The IB Diploma seniors shared their Extended Essay (EE) topics and tips for writing the EE with the IB Diploma juniors. The seniors provided wonderful guidance that will help the juniors as they embark on their EE journey. During the monthly IB teacher meeting, Mrs. Shipley, IB History teacher, IB examiner, and a contributor to IB curriculum, shared IA tips with the other SVHS IB teachers. She shared suggestions to address common student challenges and methods to support their students' research.
LIBRARY MEDIA NEWS: DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP WEEK 2022
Digital Citizenship Week, October 17-21, 2022
Seneca Valley High School first earned recognition as a Common Sense Education Digital Citizenship School in 2018 and has since continued to partner with Common Sense Education to deliver digital citizenship lessons that empower students to think critically, behave safely, and participate responsibly online.
In acknowledgement of Digital Citizenship Week, the morning announcements will include digital citizenship tips for students. In addition, during Wednesday’s SEL lesson, students will have the opportunity to examine a MYP Personal Project in which one of our students launched a mental health awareness social media campaign. Students will be encouraged to reflect about the impact of such a project and how online advocacy could impact a person’s digital footprint.
We hope you will join us in the opportunity to engage your children in conversations about the ways we interact with technology and the impact these interactions may have on our lives. Ideas for family discussion topics may be accessed through articles on the Common Sense Media Blog for Parents and Caregivers, which is linked here for your convenience and also on the SVHS website homepage. In addition, Your Characters Count, an MCPS website dedicated to digital citizenship, offers resources and ideas for families, students, and staff.
Reading Promotions & Book Club Updates
Take a look at THIS TWEET about our first Book Club discussion of the year -- the author of the book we read replied to our tweet <swoon>! We are so proud of our students who participated in the statewide One Maryland One Book reading program, and we are inspired by their interpretations and insight!
Our next Book Club discussion will take place during lunch on Monday, October 31st. We are reading the horror story White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson. It’s never too late to join the club and participate -- simply access the book in ebook or audiobook format in Sora, our online reading app/platform. Directions for accessing Sora are available in themyMCPS Classroom Virtual LMC. A few print copies are also available to borrow.
Finally, please stop by to check out our “Spooktacular” and supernatural reading promotions and book displays celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month and Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Month.
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