SVHS Green and Gold
Community Edition - February 5, 2023
Newsletter Summary from Dr. Cohen
Black History Month 2023
Information provided by the History Channel.
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.
WATCH: Black History Documentaries on HISTORY Vault
Origins of Black History Month
The story of Black History Month begins in 1915, half a century after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States.
That September, the Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and the prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent.
The Man Behind Black History Month
Known today as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the group sponsored a national Negro History week in 1926, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The event inspired schools and communities nationwide to organize local celebrations, establish history clubs and host performances and lectures.
Did you know? The NAACP was founded on February 12, 1909, the centennial anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.
In the decades that followed, mayors of cities across the country began issuing yearly proclamations recognizing "Negro History Week." By the late 1960s, thanks in part to the civil rights movement and a growing awareness of Black identity, "Negro History Week" had evolved into Black History Month on many college campuses.
President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Today, Black History Month is a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans across U.S. history and society—from activists and civil rights pioneers such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Rosa Parks to leaders in industry, politics, science, culture and more. Since 1976, every American president has designated
February as Black History Month
The Black History Month 2023 theme, “Black Resistance,” explores how "African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial pogroms and police killings," since the nation's earliest days.
Celebrating Our Seniors
Today, we celebrate senior, Sena Forson, who has received a scholarship to Swarthmore College. Way to go Sena!!!
Career Programs in Action
On February 2, Seneca Valley and Sherwood High School Students and Teachers Partnered with Restaurant Industry Leaders to Create an Elegant Pop Up Restaurant in Potomac for One Night Only. The event was the culmination of months of planning between MCPS students, hospitality program teachers Melissa North and Lisa Gilbert, and the Foundation for Hospitality & Restaurant Managements' (FHRM) Student Professional Development Committee.
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.
A message about pedestrian Safety from our MCCPTA Parent Representative
January had 8 high school students hit by drivers. This includes a Seneca Valley student who was struck on January 26th. In the first three school days in February, 2 additional MCPS students were hit by drivers.
Pedestrians, please take the following measures when crossing the street to lessen the chances that you will be hit by a car:
- Watch for drivers turning that don't stop at the intersection
- Stay in the crosswalk
- Stick your phone in your pocket
- Cross with the white walking man signal
- Cross with others
- Walk up to the crosswalk intersection and avoid midblock run across
These easy steps can get you across the street as safely as possible.
The Booster 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. Position available include: President, Vice President, Treasurer, .Secretary Please contact Kathy Fusto if you are interested: boosterssenecavalley@gmail.com.
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!
Attention Seniors! HBCU College Fair - Virtual On-The-Spot Admissions
Interested in applying to an HBCU?
As part of the HBCU College Fair, many schools will hold virtual interviews with 12th grade students. During the interviews, students can potentially receive application fee waivers, scholarship awards and on-site admission. Qualified seniors (min 2.0 cumulative GPA) will be able to interview with HBCU admissions representatives on February 13-16, 2023, from 8:30am to 4:00pm via Zoom. Interested Seniors should click the link below for more information.
How to Register for Virtual On-the-Spot Admissions Interviews
School Counselors and College & Career Information Coordinators will work with students to ensure they have the necessary digital documents for their virtual interviews and will help students prepare for their interview(s). Students can prepare for interviews by reviewing common interview questions and what questions they should ask the HBCU representatives to help maximize their chances of acceptance.
Next Week’s College/Career Visits to SVHS
Montgomery College - Wed February 8 @ 11:00 AM
MD Army National Guard, Lunch Visit - Wed February 8 @ 11:34 AM
*No registration in Naviance needed. Stop by the cafeteria anytime during lunch to learn more about the military or the MD Army National Guard.
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 7 - Narrow Down Your College List
Tuesday, February 14 - Military Recruitment Information 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 06 - McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship - 30 awards, amounts of $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, and $100,000; senior; legal U.S. resident or a DREAMer/DACA recipient; have at least one parent of Hispanic heritage; younger than 21 years old; minimum 2.8 GPA; eligible and plan to attend a two- or four-year college or university with a full-time course of study; transcript; personal statement; letter of recommendation; list of community service projects; FAFSA report and/or 1040s.
February 07 - The Links, Inc. (Silver Spring, MD) High School Scholarships - senior; Montgomery County resident; min. 3.5 GPA by the end of Junior year; accepted into a four-year college or university as a full-time student; transcript; signed letter of recommendation from a counselor or teacher; personal essay; color photograph; resume.
February 07 - The Links, Inc. (Silver Spring, MD) Vocational/Technical School/Community College Scholarship - senior; accepted/enrolled in a vocational/technical school or two-year
February 08 - Kaiser Permanente Health Equity Scholars Program Application - $2,500 awards; senior; min 2.5 GPA (unweighted); plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university, or community college, in the US, for the 2023-2024 academic year; demonstrated interest in pursuing a clinical (e.g., pharmacist, physician, practitioner, nurse) or non-clinical (e.g., accounting, business administration, human resources, marketing, public policy) career in the healthcare industry; preference will be given to students with demonstrated financial need and from underrepresented communities.
February 09 - 2023 Federal Judges Association and Federal Bar Association Civics Essay Contest - First place-$1,500, Second place, $1,000, Third place, $500, and Honorable Mention (2), $250 awards each for video and essay categories; 9-12 grade; submit an essay (1,000 words max) considering the following question: “Should applicants’ race continue to be a factor in evaluating college admissions applications?”
February 10 - League of Educators for Asian American Progress (LEAAP) of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) - $2,000 awards; seniors of Asian decent who plan to major in the field of education; must be interested in pursuing a career in the field of education and show experience supporting the community and/or an organization; min. 3.0 GPA; max. one page essay related to education; official transcript with a 3.0 GPA minimum; list of awards, extracurricular and community service activities; two letters of recommendation from an administrator, teacher, or counselor.
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).
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
College Financing 101 - Webinar for Parents & Students
College-bound high schoolers and their parents are invited to join us for “College Financing 101” on Wednesday, February 8th at 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT. This virtual discussion panel will bring together experts to help families navigate their financial aid options, maximize their merit aid awards, and make savvy decisions to lower their tuition bills. A recording of the webinar will be sent to all registrants, so families who cannot attend live should still sign up.
To learn more and register for the webinar, click here.
MCPS HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) College Fair - Registration Open!
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
IB’ in the Classroom: IB Analysis HL Year 1 and AP Calculus AB classes, taught by Ms. Fass, completed an activity around the building to investigate whether their class pet is dead or alive. They calculated numerical derivatives to figure out the next location and solve the mystery!
IB CP/DP: Is your student a rising junior taking one IB class next year and part of a career program? They would be perfect for the IB Career-related Program! Is your student a rising junior that is taking several IB classes next year? Encourage them to be part of the IB Diploma Program! Please email Ms. Ezerski or have the students stop by her office (room 3510). The SVHS website also provides lots of great info!
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 Monday, 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 first session of CARES tutoring will end on January 26th, 2023. Our second session will start on February 6th, 2023. Tutoring schedules will be sent by January 31st.
All returning and new students should click HERE to sign up for tutoring for second semester. Space is limited.
Virtual Tutoring Opportunities
All MCPS students have access to free, virtual tutoring services through FEV Tutor and Tutor Me Education.
FEV Tutor
No camera for tutor or student
FEV Tutor Flyer (English)
FEV Tutor Flyer (Spanish)
To set up tutoring sessions:
Contact mcps@fevtutor.com
Tutor Me
Camera for tutor and student
Tutor Me Education Flyer (English)
Tutor Me Education Flyer (Spanish)
To set up tutoring sessions:
Fill out this request form.
You can also contact mcps@tutormeeducation.com or
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