Thunderblast Weekly
September 11, 2022
Patriot Day
I was in my final year as an elementary school teacher, 4th grade in Alexandria's Matthew Maury School. I remember someone coming to my classroom door and instructing me to cancel recess for the day and not to let my students watch TV or listen to a radio. It wasn't until lunch time that I was able to learn what had happened just over Alexandria's North Ridge at the Pentagon and in New York City. I soon realized just how close my school was to the Pentagon, just 10 seconds by air over the Ridge.
I was also teaching at that time in Philadelphia and I remember clearly working to connect with families and keep our students calm while dismissing early so we could all be together and check-in on those we hold dear. As a community, we will always take this day to mourn lost loved ones and show deep appreciation for those first responders and service members who were committed to ensuring the safety of the civilians in peril on this day.
SRMS Tailgate- Are You Ready for Some Football?!!!
*Brief aside, if you didn't figure out from this afternoon that the roller coaster known as Carson Wentz is not your guy, call me so I can share. Way too much Potential Energy, and not enough Kinesthetic. Good luck, home team :)
Click HERE to sign up for our tailgate on Sept 16 from 5-6:30pm! Don't wait to sign-up. No time like the present! As a parent, I just signed my student up and it was easy peasy!
SRMS Picture Day- During PE Classes
School Picture Day is coming Tuesday September 13th & Wednesday September 14th 2022 . Pictures will be available approximately two weeks following our school's photo day. Save time and Pre-order online here: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1000947944
For questions about ordering please email underclass@vosphoto.com
Please direct all questions about your school's upcoming event to eventconfirm@vosphoto.com
Clubs & Activities Beginning this Week!
We are going to start our full compliment of clubs on Monday, September 12, 2022. Of our offerings, only Drama and Basketball Clubs will not be meeting this week.
Activity buses will leave Seneca at 5:00 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Because clubs end at 4:25, we will be supporting students in the library if they are on the activity buses. We are still waiting to hear from transportation about alternative options.
Students, please click here to register yourselves. Please talk to your parents about your choices.
Please email me nick.cottone@lcps.org if you are a parent and are interested in sponsoring/ supporting Gardening Club, Math Counts, Science Olympiad, Odyssey of the Mind, or any new ideas.
MAP Reading and Math Assessments
Students will be taking their Fall Reading MAP test on Friday, September 16 and their Fall Math MAP test on Monday, September 19. While these tests are designed to take 60-75 minutes, we have typically had students who need more time. On testing days, we will run a Testing Bell Schedule. Testing will run from 8:30-11:00 and then we will have a modified schedule that allows teachers to still see all of their classes.
There is nothing to do to prepare for these tests except to remind students that these are adaptive assessments that adjust in difficulty throughout the test. They may see material that is unfamiliar - and it's ok to guess! Because these tests are created to test skills from 2nd grade to post-high school, the results give teachers powerful data about each student's strengths and areas for growth. We use these results to make impactful decisions including scheduling changes, so taking the tests seriously is extremely important.
Author Gareth Hinds
Seneca is excited that we will be visited by author/illustrator Gareth Hinds on 10/13. He's adapted many classics into graphic novels, making them more accessible for students. Want to see his work before the visit? Take a look at his books in MackinVia, or check out his website -https://garethhinds.com/wp/
Tutor.com
Message from PE Dept
We still have a pretty good inventory of PE uniforms to sell. The shorts cost $5 each and the shirts cost $3 each . Uniforms can be purchased online or can be purchased in class with check or cash. It is imperative that all students dress appropriately for PE. Proper attire creates a better learning environment and a safer environment. Students must wear closed-toed shoes and socks for safety. Sandals, flip flops, slides, Crocs, slippers, etc. are not safe or allowed.
Unified Mental Health Team (UMHT)
One of our goals is to provide families with information on community resources, access to basic needs, mental health and crisis counseling, reducing stress and anxiety, substance abuse resources, and resources to support learning. If interested, check out our resource page.
Upcoming Events
This week during Advisory, students will start to participate in Second Step Lessons. This letter will provide you with an overview of Second Step, a research based social-emotional program.
River Bend Middle School will be holding a Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Information Night on Thursday, September 15th at 6:00 pm in the Auditorium. If your student maybe interested in applying during their 8th grade year, we encourage you to attend.
LCPS will be holding a kickoff event for their Parent Seminar Series on Tuesday, September 20th at Briar Woods High School from 6:30 pm β 8:00 pm. Please click here (Spanish) for more details.
LCPS will be holding a parent seminar focused on Suicide Prevention: What Every Parent Needs to Know. The seminar will be held on Thursday, September 29th at Independence High School from 6:30 pm β 8:00 pm. Please click here/Spanish for more information and to register.
Academies of Loudoun Parent Information Sessions - 2022 Fall Admissions Cycle
(All sessions will be in the school auditorium)
Saturday, September 17, 2022
Independence High School
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Farmwell Station Middle School
6:30 β 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Seneca Ridge Middle School
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 13, 2022
Harper Park Middle School
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
*Interpretation Request - Please email AcademiesAdmissions@lcps.org if you require interpretation services to attend an information session. Please include preferred date(s) and language(s). NOTE: All requests must be received no later than five (5) business days prior to your selected information session.
Students of the Week
6th grade: Sam Thacker & Baraka Samba
7th grade: Ainoa Benavides Robles & Kaleb Nichols
8th grade: Giselle Cardoza & Sean Malone
Staff of the Week
PTO Corner
JOIN SRMS PTO!!
Please support our school and join the PTO. Itβs a great way to get involved with the happenings here at Seneca Ridge. JOIN HERE
1st PTO Meeting:
Our 1st PTO meeting will be held on Sept 14th @6PM in the Library. We hope to see as many of you as possible, so please plan to join us for this informational meeting.
SRMS Tailgate Event (Reminder from above):
Please join us at Seneca for a tailgate ahead of the Dominion football game on Friday, 9/16 from 5pm-6:30pm. To register/buy tickets, click here: 9/16 Tailgate Registration . This event is open to all Seneca students. Parents are also welcome to purchase tickets and attend. Food, Drinks, and entertainment will be provided. If you have any questions around the event, please reach out to Liz Entsminger (elizabeth.entsminger@gmail.com)
Interested in helping with the Tailgate, we are still looking for some volunteers/donations. Sign Up to Volunteer Here!
Spirit Night/Restaurant Night at Choolaah! (see attached flyer)
Our first restaurant night is coming up. It will be held on Sept 12th from 11am - 8pm. Stop by Choolaah at any time during that window and mention SRMS. For each sale, 30% of the proceeds will go directly to Seneca Ridge PTO. What a delicious way to support our school. See you there!
Join our Retailer Rewards Programs!
This is an easy way to support our school. Please refer to this link with directions on how to sign up for Amazon Smile and Harris Teeter retail rewards: Retailer Rewards Sign-Up
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SRMS Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/senecaridgemiddleschool
Seneca Ridge Home of the Thunderbolts
Important Reminders
Check us out!
Email: nick.cottone@lcps.org
Website: https://www.lcps.org/Page/30563
Location: 98 Seneca Ridge Drive, Sterling, VA, USA
Phone: 571-434-4420
Twitter: @SRMS_Official