SVHS Green and Gold
Community Edition - December 4, 2022
How to Translate this Newsletter - Cómo traducir este boletín
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.
Upcoming Events
- MCAP Assessment – Math - Dec. 6 with Make Ups on Dec. 9
- Your Story Matters - Dec. 6 - see article below for more information
- Early Release Day - Dec. 7
- Winter Art Show - Dec. 8
- Instrumental Winter Concert - Dec. 8
- Winter Choral Concert - Dec. 15
- Wellness Center Family Fun Night - Dec. 20
- PTSA Meeting - Dec. 20
- Winter Concert Assembly - Dec. 22
- Winter Break – Dec. 23 - Return to school on Jan. 3
Registration Information Night – Jan. 5
- MCAP Government Assessment – Jan. 5 with Make Ups on January 6
- MCAP LS-MISA Assessment – Jan. 9 with Make Ups on Jan. 10
- MCAP ELA Assessment – Jan. 17 and 18 with Make Ups on Jan. 19 and 20
Marking Period 1 Honor Roll
Click here for a comprehensive listing of our first marking period honor roll scholars.
Your Story Matters!
MCPS is hosting Your Story Matters, a mental health forum for parents and caregivers that will include panel discussions and workshops. The event will be held in person from 6–8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Richard Montgomery High School. Doors open at 6 p.m. with information tables and welcome activities; the program begins at 6:30 p.m. High school students are also welcome to attend.
The four panel discussions for Your Story Matters will be focused on the African American, Asian and Hispanic communities. For the Hispanic community, there will be a panel presented in English and a separate panel presented in Spanish. Topics will focus on anxiety and depression, grief during the holidays and academic stress. Panels will also examine the stigma around mental health in those specific communities.
Mental health professionals and community partners will also facilitate interactive workshops for parents. Parents will choose from four workshops. More information on each is below:
- Anxiety: The Impact and Effects on Students: This session will include the showing of “Angst,” a documentary film on anxiety.
- How Community Schools Can Support Mental Health in Communities of Color
- Mental Health and Wellness for Young Children
- Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Communities of Color
RSVP to attend. For more information, call the Office of Well-Being, Learning and Achievement at 240-740-5630.
Richard Montgomery is located at 250 Richard Montgomery Drive in Rockville.
Testing
Dear Seneca Valley High School Community,
The Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) provides information to educators, parents and the public on student progress towards proficiency on the Maryland state content standards. Through a strong assessment system, stakeholders gain an understanding of how schools are performing and where assistance can be directed to support student growth and achievement.
For high school students, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that states administer annual statewide assessments to all students in Math (Algebra 1), English Languages Arts (Grade 10), Science (Biology - MISA) and Social Studies (Government). Maryland also provides Alternate Assessments written to the Alternate Standards for those students who require this accommodation. Most assessments are a combination of Selected Response (multiple choice), Constructed Response (written response) and Technology Enhanced (drag and drop) test items.
Seniors who need to complete MCAP testing will be assigned during the Fall/Winter testing administration. We will test for the following:
- MCAP-Math - December 6, 2022 with Make Ups on December 9.
- MCAP Government – January 5, 2023 with Make Ups on January 6.
- MCAP LS-MISA – January 9, 2023 with Make Ups on January 10.
- MCAP ELA – January 17 and 18, 2023 with Make Ups on January 19 and 20.
Students testing will be excused from classes on those specific day(s) and attendance will be reported to the attendance secretary daily.
Students testing will receive emails to their mcpsmd.net accounts with their testing locations prior to the testing day. Students testing should bring a charged Chromebook, charger, and pencils (not mechanical).
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Kisheena Wanzer or Dr. Michael Kim. Thank you!
Kisheena Wanzer
Assistant Principal
Seneca Valley High School
SAVE-THE-DATE! Registration Information Night
SAVE-THE-DATE! Registration Information Night
Thursday, January 5, 2023 In the Seneca Valley High School auditorium
Please join the Seneca Valley Counseling Services Department and select Seneca Valley staff for an important informational evening about the upcoming registration process for the 2023-2024 school year. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the amazingly diverse course offerings available at Seneca Valley!
Rising 9th Grade Students: 6-7 PM
Rising 10th, 11th & 12th Grade Students: 7-8 PM
This Week's Notes from the SVHS College & Career Center
Seniors - Colleges Admissions Results
Remember to keep track of college admissions results and scholarship offers in Naviance! Once you hear back from colleges via email or letter, please record your results. You can also share this info with me and I can help with input. Thank you!
How to update admission decisions/results in Naviance (video instructions)
If you were accepted and offered a merit scholarship, congratulations! Here is how to add your offered scholarship in Naviance (video instructions)
Note: Under $ Awarded, enter the amount. If you see that your award is renewable, please multiply the amount by four (for four years of college).
Attention Seniors - Applying to Colleges!
Please review the SVHS College Application Process document and use this as a guide for applying to colleges. If you add any colleges to your list of applications, please reach out to your counselor to let them know. We want to make sure all information is submitted correctly and on time.
If you plan on applying to or have applied to Montgomery College, please also add MC to your list of schools in Naviance. This helps me and counselors keep track of where students are applying in case they need assistance. Thank you!
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 or MSFAA
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
- ALL Eligible Seniors planning to attend college or trade school should complete the 2023-24 FAFSA, regardless of income.
MDCAPS (Maryland College Aid Processing System)
- If you plan on attending a college or university in the state of Maryland, you should fill out this application.
- Once you have created a login, send Mr. Nalda your MHEC ID in order for him to upload your transcript/GPA Information
MSFAA (Maryland State Financial Aid Application)
- For students not eligible to complete the FAFSA, you may be able to complete the MSFAA if you plan on attending a college or university in the state of Maryland.
Click here for more information and instructions
Upcoming Scholarships
December 05 - PixelPlex Bi-Annual STEM Scholarship - 1-$2,000 award; U.S. citizen or a permanent resident; accepted with plans to attend in a college or university in the United States; your field of study must be related to science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), economics, or business; submit a min 1200-word essay on one of four technology prompts; see link for prompts and full guidelines.
December 05 - Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger Scholarships - $7,500 awards; kindergarten - college; U.S. Citizen or permanent resident; have demonstrated on-going commitment to their community by performing unpaid volunteer services impacting hunger in the United States within the last 12 months; this scholarship award is designed to recognize and reward the great steps students are taking to fight hunger in our communities across the United States.
December 10 - Blaze Your Own Trail Scholarship - $1,000 award; senior; 17 years of age or older; accepted to and will attend a college or university in the Fall; submit a 600-800 word essay that describes a challenge you faced, how you overcame it, and how the experience affected you.
December 15* - BURGER KING Scholars Program - multiple awards ranging from $1,000-$50,000; senior; min 2.5 GPA; must enroll at a school full-time next Fall; recipients are selected based on their grade point average, work experience, extracurricular activities and/or community service.
*Scholarship closes on December 15 or when 50,000 applications are submitted, whichever occurs first.
December 16* - Equitable Excellence Scholarship - (or until 10,000 applications are submitted) 100-$5,000 annual awards (renewable up to for four years) & 100 one-time $2,500 awards; senior; U.S. citizen or legal resident living or claiming residency in one of the 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia or Puerto Rico; enroll full-time in an accredited two- or four-year college or university in the U.S.; essay; demonstrate ambition and self-drive to be a force for good in school, community or work activities; willing to provide a release to publicize their identities and other information.
*Deadline to apply is December 16 or until 10,000 applications are submitted, whichever occurs first.
December 16 - Damascus Post 171 High School Oratorical Contest - awards ranging from $300 - $1,000 (local contest) to $30,500 at the National contest; U.S. citizen or a permanent resident; 9-12 grade; registration form for the Post 171 contest needs to be completed by December 16th, 2022; the contest will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, January 14th, 2023, at the Damascus American Legion Post 171 (10201 Lewis Drive in Damascus, Maryland); see link for details; click here for rules.
Click here to see the SVHS Scholarships Page for more opportunities.
College & Career Representative Visits
Next week’s visits:
Montgomery College - Tue December 6 @ 10:30 AM (College & Career Center, 2408)
U.S. Army Recruiter, Lunch Visit* - Thu December 8 @ 11:12 AM - 11:54 AM (Cafeteria)
*No registration in Naviance needed. Stop by the cafeteria anytime during lunch to learn more about the military or the U.S. Army.
HBCU Pathways Program (2022 - 2023)
Developed for current high school students, the HBCU Pathways Program is designed to inform decisions related to career paths BEFORE students select a major or college. The HBCU Pathways Program also works to connect participants to early work experiences. The HBCU Pathways Program invites graduates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) - as well as representatives from Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs), online colleges and universities, and community colleges – to speak to Program participants. Speakers address a variety of educational and career paths.
Students in grades 9 -12 are invited to participate in the 2022 - 2023 HBCU Pathways Program to learn more about post-secondary educational choices, prepare for college transition and explore career options.
Applications are currently being accepted through December 31, 2022.
Interested? Click here to apply. Contact director@pathways2x.org with questions.
IB’ in the Classroom:
IB Registration has ended. Please encourage students to pay for their IB exam fees at https://www.schoolcashonline.com/ At this time fee waiver and fee reduction requests have been applied to student accounts. If students/parents have any questions, please email the IB DP/CP Coordinator at Natasha_L_Ezerski@mcpsmd.org or visit her in Room 3510.
Join us on Tuesday, December 6th from 6:00 -7:30pm for our IB Info Night in the cafeteria to learn more about our IB programs - MYP, CP, and DP.
Our incredible staff and students have been engaged in an assortment of amazing projects and events this month!!
IB Science students completed the Group 4 project, where they collaborated to research and present on the question, "How has scientific advancement changed sports?" Through this project, students worked in interdisciplinary groups to build research, communication, and presentation skills. A BIG thank you to Amy Connor Axline, Errol Rose, Sharon Saku, Meaghan Stuckey, and Victoria Yu for their hard work in making this project a success for all students!
Our IB Diploma seniors presented their Extended Essays (EEs) to the current junior IB Diploma juniors, their supervisors and other staff members during the Viva Voce event. We are incredibly proud of them for completing their EEs and the amazing assortment of topics they explored in the process.
SVHS staff engaged in Professional Development that focused on the importance of back mapping when planning instruction and implementing Approaches to Learning (ATL) Skills in their daily instruction, so students are equipped with an academic tool kit that can be used in the classroom and in all aspects of their lives.
Shawn Sawko and Daniel Loukota form MCPS Division of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS) came to speak with Mrs. North's first- and second-year Hospitality and Tourism classes about the school lunch program partnering with local restaurants, like Silver Diner, to bring new menu items to our schools. Afterward, the students created marketing campaigns to help improve student engagement with the MCPS school lunch program which they will be presenting to DFNS. As a result of this relationship, our Hospitality and Tourism students were asked to taste and provide feedback for potential new menu items being considered from all MCPS schools!
LIBRARY MEDIA NEWS
LIBRARY MEDIA NEWS: Spotlight on Digital Citizenship
On November 16th, students attended a gun safety assembly presented by State’s Attorney John McCarthy and his staff. While the primary aim of this assembly was to promote safety in our communities, it simultaneously addressed the importance of digital citizenship, including:
- Being able to recognize warning signs such as cyberbullying
- Noticing differences in the online behaviors of friends, including withdrawal on social media
- Advocating for safe schools on social media, using the Parkland activists as examples
- Reporting concerns and suspicions online at safeschoolsmd.org (or by phone at 1-800-MD-B-SAFE) — “if you see something, say something”
In addition, Dr. Cohen emphasized the importance of using social media responsibly, reminding students to be mindful of their digital footprints (a record of online activity) and the impact that online activity may have on future college and career opportunities.
For additional resources regarding digital citizenship, please visit Common Sense Media.
A Message from the Boosters
SVHS Boosters Meeting- Thursday, December 8th 7PM EST
Following the Winter Meet the Coaches event, please join us to further discuss Booster updates, opportunities for families/community members and important information regarding Boosters Club board member vacancies.
Free Tutoring is Available
FREE Tutoring Opportunity through our CARES Program
Our CARES Tutoring 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 is 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 by using their MCPS Clever account.
For families who would like to set up scheduled, ongoing 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:
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