Thunderblast Weekly
May 23 , 2021
Communication
With the home team playing their division rivals in the playoffs starting today, I realized many of my light-hearted smack talking blurbs have been left by the wayside during the last year. It was hard to find the balance between being serious and when we all needed to laugh. I still love when parents taunt me in the kiss and ride because the Eagles won 4 games or the Flyers missed the playoffs. Thank you for those much needed hilarious moments.
In certain parts of this newsletter, I have and will continue to bring up some heavier information. If you have been in this community for a few years, you probably know me to be an oversharer. I would always rather have clear communication about everything so we establish trust and to keep our minds from wandering. I find that when I connect the dots myself, it takes me to a darker, less positive place as compared to when I dig in and find out more information.
In closing, I will connect the dots for everyone regarding the NBA playoffs. The number one seeded hometeam is definitely coming out of the East unscathed. No need for any more info on that one.
Home Team?
Advisory Lesson
Home Team?
SOL Testing Information
SOL testing is just around the corner. Students should plan to arrive around 8:15 on testing days and should bring their charged Chromebook, Chromebook charger, water bottle, and mask.
May 24 - Math 6/7/8/Algebra/Geometry/Algebra II
Parents of bus riders should have received an email from Mr. Seipt on Thursday with bus information. Note: SOL Testing bus runs are different from Tuesday-Friday bus runs. If you have questions about transportation, please email Mr. Seipt directly.
No further action is required from families that have already chosen to opt out of SOL testing (parent refusal). If you have changed your mind and would like to choose the parent refusal option for one or more SOL tests, please email Mr. Seipt at mitchell.seipt@lcps.org.
Herff Jones Data Breach
Yearbooks
6th Grade- Jennifer.Ramos@lcps.org
7th Grade- Amanda.Helbig@lcps.org
8th Grade- Mimi.Chung@lcps.org8th Grade Awards
We are excited to share some info about our 8th Grade Awards and Celebration on June 11th from approximately 12:15 to 3:00 PM! Estimated timelines are below. We continue to monitor CDC and LCPS guidelines to have this celebration safely. Please be aware that we may need to shift or pivot if guidelines change.
11:50 8th Grade Students Attend Block 5/6
12:15 Auditorium Presentation Begins
1:15 8th Grade Lunch and Cookout (Cafe and Blacktop)
2:00 8th Grade Celebration
3:00 Students Attend Block 7/8 for Dismissal
During the celebration, 8th grade students will be able to enjoy free time with their peers, a DJ, outdoor activities, and signing yearbooks. We will have goodie bags and students are able to dismiss early prior to 3:00 PM. At that point, we will go back to class and clear the bus loop for dismissal. All pick-ups and drop-offs will occur through the front of our building using the regular traffic flow. Pick-up is best supported by parking adjacent to the softball field.
Concurrent Learning
I mentioned communication earlier. Regarding COVID, this has been key. You have seen reports of any staff member or student who had tested positive. What doesn't come in those reports is that the person may have been in our building during a period where they were not contagious. I couldn't be more proud of this entire community. In 14 months, we have only had one incident with the possibility of passing COVID on from one community member to another.
Unified Mental Health Team (UMHT)
For more information from the UMHT and Counseling Team, please click here.
When I opened about communication, there was so much on my mind. I will lay out a few topics that are on the minds of many throughout the globe and in our community. Since last Spring, our Seneca families and staff have been processing racial division, protests, riots, a presidential election, mass shootings, and most recently violence between Israel and Palestine. All of this is occurring amidst a global pandemic with a worldwide death toll of nearly 3.5 million. On top of that, middle schoolers are facing pressures on social media and with substances like vaping.
I know we need to tackle these challenges together. I believe they are best met head on with conversations. I hear so many things on social media and at times in the national media that truly don't convey what is happening on the ground level.
Our UMHT is here to support you. Know that our counselors and administrators are prepared to work with students on all of these topics. Please reach out and have your voice be heard. Question and Answer Form
Rising 9th Graders
Best Piece of Advice for Successful Transition to High School- Get Involved!
Reminder- We will no longer be having advisory on Mondays.
PBIS Highlights
Staff of the Week
Ms. Durgin
THANK YOU for your dedication to our students during Autism Awareness Month in addition to the day to day. You are an excellent advocate always searching for inclusive opportunities for our kids.
Best Braid Ever!
Ms. Drye
THANK YOU for your tireless energy and commitment to our students. From your upbeat lessons to mentoring, you are always actively listening and giving our students a voice.
Students of the Week
6th Gr: Alexa El Kari
7th Gr: Amna Rizvi
8th Gr: Ada Villeda Portillo
THANK YOU for demonstrating OWNERSHIP and CONFIDENCE! You have earned 71 bolt bucks this school year! Keep up the great work with actively participating in class discussions and competing work on time!
Congratulations, Ms. Rascoe!
Asian Pacific American Heritage Event was a huge success!
PTO Corner
Something to Ponder: Many little people, in little places, doing little things, can change the world. -- Eduardo Galeano
Seneca Ridge Families we THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for your generous donations and giving spirit in support of Staff Appreciation Week! We were positively overwhelmed by the outpouring of your time and donations. Please join us in also thanking our community sponsors: Subway at Great Falls Plaza, Urbano Modern Italian, Trader Joe's, Mission BBQ, Burton's, and Lucia's Ristorante. With all of your help, we were able to provide the staff with a casino-themed week, complete with a breakfast from Anita's, a lunch from Subway, a coffee cart with Urbano breakfast pastries, a dessert bar, stocked lounges with chips, candy, breakfast bars, nuts, K-cups, and coolers of drinks, as well as over $1,000 in gift card giveaways. Pictures will be posted to the PTO's Facebook page soon!
8th Grade Celebration: On Friday, June 11th, we will be celebrating our rising freshman - the Dominion Titans Class of 2025! Our celebrations will begin after lunch in the afternoon (more info above). Please help us give our 8th graders the send off they deserve. We're looking for a few items to help make the celebration a success and need your help! Check out the Sign Up Here.
Join the PTO Next Year! We are looking for someone to take over the Treasurer position next year. If you are interested in the position, please contact treasurer@srmspto.org. We are also looking for someone to represent Seneca at LCPS' monthly Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee (MSAAC) meetings and report back to us at our monthly PTO meetings. If interested, please contact, cosecretary@srmspto.org.
Last PTO Meeting of the Year: June 9 at 6 pm. To attend go to meet.google.com/uek-nfni-inx. Or join by phone at +1 617-675-4444 with PIN: 835 053 291 7550#
PRS & SEAC: Didn't catch May's meeting? Catch up HERE. For information on SEAC visit their website. To sign up for PRS' newsletter visit their website. Questions? Email our SEAC Representative, Jill Pope.
Other ways to get involved:
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
- Make a donation to the SRMS PTO and get your company to match it
- Download the Boxtops for Education app and scan your grocery receipts
- Link your Amazon account to Seneca and earn free money for the school
-Order Seneca gear to show your school spirit. Order online and pick up in the office.
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