Thunderblast Weekly
September 18, 2022
Community
We all know I have a tendency to go on and on about how amazing Seneca is. I thought a few pictures could better encapsulate what I am trying to share. So many students, staff, and families- including parents, younger siblings, and high schoolers- came out on Friday to have a great time. Thank you all, especially our dedicated PTO, for making our first event of the school year a huge success!
Clubs & Parent Help
Clubs began last week and they were very successful. I am keeping this at the forefront because over the past 6 years, we have had parent support for Science Olympiad and Math Counts. Seneca needs your help. In my first year, we were the first middle school ever from Loudoun to win first place in the World Competition for Odyssey of the Mind. After COVID, we no longer have a team. These three teams are integral in helping to challenge our students at some of the highest levels. We have been successful when parents volunteer in teams, so the responsibility seems less daunting. Please email me if you are interested in being part of one of the teams to help get these groups going- nick.cottone@lcps.org.
Thursday Morning Incident
Battle of Route 7 Tryouts This Week!
We will be holding tryouts on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week for our grade-level squads for the Battle of Route 7, our annual soccer match against Sterling Middle School. Students interested in participating should attend as many of the tryouts as possible. The high school coaches will select the squads, which will be announced on Friday. If your child wants to try out, please have them fill out the Route 7 Tryouts Signup form. Go Seneca!
Fundraiser To Support Pakistan Flood Relief!
Student Government (SGA) is selling Airheads to raise money for flood relief in Pakistan. SGA is holding the fundraiser from 8:00am-8:25am from Thursday, September 15 through Tuesday, September 20. Students can buy Airheads for 50 cents by the auditorium! We are donating our profits to The Citizen Foundation, USA.
Dominion High School Homecoming Parade- Sept 30, 2022
Come out on Friday, September 30th to see our cluster student groups parade through the neighborhood! See the walking route below.
Clubs, teams, and community participants are encouraged to join in the fun with their own floats, themed parade balloons, banners, costumes (no masks), music, dancing….Coordinate your club, team, or class Titan spirit with the HOCO theme. Get Creative!
If you want to participate, please fill out these parade forms to the DHS Front Office by 9/23.
MAP Reading and Math Assessments Reminder
We completed Reading on Friday, and will complete the Fall Math MAP test on Monday, September 19. 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.
Reminders:
- Charge Chromebooks immediately after reading this Thunderblast (tonight).
- MAP is an adaptive assessments that adjusts in difficulty throughout the test. Students may see material that is unfamiliar - and it's ok to guess!
- We use these results to make impactful decisions including scheduling changes, so taking the tests seriously is extremely important.
Unified Mental Health Team (UMHT)
Seneca’s 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.
Attention 8th Grade Families: On October 12th and October 13th our 8th grade students will be participating in the Signs of Suicide Presentation. If you do NOT wish for your student to attend, please complete the following form by October 3rd.
Are you interested in learning more about internet safety, scams, understanding law enforcement, driving laws, school safety, drugs, traffic laws, and more? If yes, please join Loudoun County’s Sherriff’s Office at the Sterling Community Center on September 29th from 5:00-8:00pm. Please click here/Spanish for more details.
!Fiesta Sterling!
Is a free community festival to celebrate Latino Heritage Month and showcase Latino Culture. The event will feature live music, entertainment, food, free raffles/giveaways, and children’s activities. The event will be held at the Sterling Community Center on September 24th from 1:00-5:00pm. If interested, click here for more details.
Free 3D Digital Design Program: for more information, please click here.
Youth After School Program (YAS)
Hello Seneca Ridge Families! If you are looking for an after-school program for middle schoolers (grades 6-8) that provides a safe and inclusive recreation-based environment for your children, then YAS is the answer! YAS is offered through Loudoun County’s Park Recreation and Community Services. Participants meet after-school in the cafeteria from dismissal bell until 6:15 PM. The activities are designed to develop confidence by building leadership, decision making, fitness and collaborative skills. For more information about the program and how to register, please click on the link: PRCS YAS or call 703-777-0343 and ask about the YAS program.
Students of the Week
6th grade: Kathryn Burns & Ezel Demirer
7th grade: Yezen Alkarmi & Imron Mamarajabov
8th grade: Justin Hernandez & Rodela Saplad
Staff of the Week
PTO Corner
JOIN SRMS PTO!!
Please support our school and join the PTO. It’s a great way to get involved with the happenings here at Seneca Ridge. JOIN HERE
Next PTO Meeting October 12 @6PM
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!
Twitter- https://twitter.com/@SRMS_PTO
SRMS Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/senecaridgemiddleschool
Seneca Ridge Home of the Thunderbolts- https://www.facebook.com/groups/4426489354061734
Important Reminders
Academies of Loudoun Parent Information Sessions - 2022 Fall Admissions Cycle
(All sessions will be in the school auditorium)
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Farmwell Station Middle School
6:30 – 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.
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