SVHS Green and Gold
Dr. Cohen/Mr. Smith's Newsletter to the SVHS Community
March 28, 2021- Edition
Update Video from Dr. Cohen
SVHS BUS ROUTES
Click below to view SVHS Bus Routes for students returning March 15 and beyond:
REPEAT: COVID-19 Pool Testing at SVHS
Dear Parents and Guardians:
This letter is to inform you that COVID-19 testing will begin at our school on Friday, March 26, 2021.
We must all do our part to prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus in our schools. This includes participating in school-provided COVID-19 testing to identify cases where the student or staff member may not be showing symptoms. MCPS families were notified about this new effort in February and March. Tests will be provided for all students and staff on a weekly basis. Each swab will be placed in a common tube for that classroom or group and sent off to a central testing laboratory. The test detects whether the virus that causes COVID-19 is present in that pooled sample. Schools will receive results within 2-3 days. A consent form is linked below. If you do not complete the consent form, your child will not be able to participate in testing.
Consent forms can be emailed to Dr. Cohen at marc_j_cohen@mcpsmd.org, or your student can return them to the building when they return for in-person instruction. We will collect them as students check in.
NEW: This Week's Notes from the College & Career Center
Senior Planning
Unsure about your plans for after high school? Need some assistance? Reach out to Mr. Nalda. We can discuss college options, career options, apprenticeships, job options, and more!
College Acceptances & Scholarship Awards - Seniors
Have you applied and been accepted to a college or university? Have you been offered any scholarships? Please keep track of this information and update in your Naviance account. At some point soon, we will be distributing a Senior Survey asking for this and other information. All seniors in MCPS will be asked to complete this survey.
Keeping track of this as you go along will make it easier to fill out when it is time to fill out this survey. If possible, please share you acceptance(s) and scholarship award letter(s) with Mr. Nalda. You can forward, take a picture of, or scan your letter(s) of acceptance and add as an attachment. Thank you!!
FAFSA & MSFAA - Seniors
If you have created an MDCAPS account to apply for financial aid and need to upload your transcript, send Mr. Nalda an email with your MHEC ID Number. He will be able to upload your GPA information directly to MHEC.
FAFSA - If you plan on attending college after graduation and have yet to fill out the FAFSA, you should still complete this form. Although you may not qualify for Maryland aid and at this point, you may still be eligible for federal aid in the form of a Pell Grant. Click here for more information.
Feel free to reach out to Mr. Nalda if you have any questions.
Upcoming Scholarships
If you find yourself with some extra time during spring break, take this opportunity to search for and work on scholarships!!!
- March 29 - Boule' Foundation Scholarship - $4,000 awards; senior; African American/Black; be of African descent; U.S. Citizen, U.S. national or permanent resident, a resident of London, England, or a citizen of the Bahamas; min 3.0 GPA (unweighted); enter a four-year school full-time in the fall; one letter of recommendation; participation in extra-curricular activities, academic/civic honors and awards, community service, and work experience; 2 essays.
- March 31 - Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. - Eta Pi Zeta Chapter Scholarship - Book and regular scholarships of up to $1,000; senior; min. 2.5 GPA (unweighted); accepted at a (2) or (4) year Not for Profit College or University; provide proof of community service hours; essay; 2 letters of recommendation; official copy of transcript; copy of acceptance letter; must participate in an interview by the Eta Pi Zeta Scholarship Committee.
- March 31 - The National Society of Black Engineers Future Innovators Scholarship Award - multiple $1,000 awards; senior; African-American; must have applied for admission to a college/university for a degree program in engineering, computer science, mathematics, technology, or an applied science; extracurricular activities; two essays; official transcript; letter of rec.; copy of acceptance letter (if available).
- March 31 - Legacy of Life Scholarship - 2-$5,000, 2-$3,000, and 6-$1,000 awards; senior; write an essay or produce a video convincing others to register to be organ, eye and tissue donors; winners must attend a "Donation 101" training and participate in one WRTC-approved event in the community.
- March 31 - Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships - 4-$20,000 awards over 4 years ($5,000 per year, renewable), 8-$10,000 awards over 2 years ($5,000 per year, renewable), & 15-$1,000 one-time awards; senior; min 3.3 GPA; must be of African descent (African American or African); attend four-year school in the fall; major in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, or select business programs (see link for majors); passion for technology; leadership; financial need; 2 letters of rec.; resume; transcript; two essays; color picture.
- March 31 - Cirkled In "No Sweat" Scholarship - $2,500 award; grades 8 - 12; must be at least 13 years old; legal U.S. or DC resident; create a free Cirkled In account; complete your portfolio; no essay or min. GPA requirement!
- April 01 - Esperanza Education Fund Scholarship - awards ranging from $5,000-$20,000, depending on financial need; senior; must be born outside the U.S. or have two parents born outside the U.S.; must enroll full-time in the fall; in 2020, your family's total income (before taxes) was less than $100,000; recipients selected based on hard work, resourcefulness, perseverance in the face of adversity, academic achievement, and commitment to one's community.
- April 01 - Navy Family Scholarships by NOSCDC - senior; applicant must be a dependent child of an active duty, activated reservist, retired from active duty, or deceased United States Navy (USN) service member; attend a two- or four- year undergraduate college, a visual or performing arts school, or a vocational/technical school; awarded on the basis of scholastic achievement, school involvement, and community engagement; 2 essays; letter of recommendation; official transcript.
- April 02 - Cathay Bank Foundation Scholarship Program - 20-$1,000 awards; senior; min 3.0 GPA (unweighted); plan to attend a U.S. Accredited 4-Year College/University or Community College in the state of California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Texas, or Washington; household income at or below the Low Income Level (if selected, must provide 2019 or 2020 tax return for verification); Recommender Form from a Community Service Advisor; official transcript.
- April 02 - Miss Utility/District One Call Scholarship Program - 1-$1,008.11 award for our area; senior; U.S. Citizen or resident; enroll in a two-year or four-year college, university or technical school; essay (500 words max); copy of transcript.
- April 02 - Kao Kalia Yang Scholarship - 5-$5,000 Renewable awards; senior; blood descendants of Hmong race or ethnically identified as Hmong American (with a citizenship or as a permanent resident); min 2.0 GPA; attend a four-year college or university full-time in the fall; household income at or below the Federal/State/County Low Income Level (Must be able to show 2019 or 2020 tax return should applicant be selected for award); Recommender Form from a Community Service Advisor; official transcript; online interview (if selected as a finalist).
- April 02 - Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund - 10-$5,000 awards; senior; United States citizen or US Permanent Resident (holders of a Permanent Resident Card) AND direct blood descendant of a Taiwanese citizen; min 3.0 GPA (unweighted); household income at or below the Federal/State/County Low Income Level (Must be able to show 2019 or 2020 tax return should applicant be selected for award); 3 References; official transcript; all awardees must submit a short YouTube video; see link for details.
- April 09 - Paul Robeson Need-Based Scholarship - multiple awards; senior; min 3.0 GPA; attend a 2 or 4 year school in the U.S.; official transcript; 2 letters of rec.; essay (max one page); recent photo; must submit pages 6-8 of the FAFSA; parent/guardian signatures.
- April 09 - Paul Robeson Merit-Based Scholarship - multiple awards, renewable based on college GPA; senior; min 3.4 GPA; attend 4 year school in the U.S.; official transcript; 2 letters of rec.; essay (max one page); recent photo; parent/guardian signatures.
- April 09 - Allstate Minds in Motion Scholarship (Athletes) - 12 to 14-$1,000 awards; senior; min. 3.25 unweighted GPA; participated in athletics (see details); ACT/SAT scores; transcript.
- April 10 - DC Area Phi Beta Kappa Association High School Merit Award - 4-$1,000 awards; senior; min 3.5 GPA (unweighted); academic achievement, community involvement, and a dedication to the liberal arts and sciences; letter of acceptance from their chosen college or university.
- April 16 - Ida F. Haimovicz Visual Arts Award - 1-$3,000 award; junior; resides in Montgomery County, MD; for students who intend to pursue the study of, and/or career in, the visual arts; able to provide Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN); high school transcript; 1-10 samples of original work created within the past two years; samples should include at least 5 pieces that the applicant would feel comfortable exhibiting publicly.
- April 16 - Fran Abrams Creative Writing Award - 1-$3,000 award; junior; resides in Montgomery County, MD; for students who intend to pursue the study of, and/or career in, creative writing; able to provide Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN); high school transcript; Upload 1-10 samples of original work created within the past two years; samples should include pieces that the applicant would feel comfortable reading out loud.
Click here to see the SVHS Scholarships Page for more opportunities.
Upcoming Events
Moving Forward College and Career Readiness - 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 workshops are from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. Click here to see the flyer. Click Here to Register.
§ Wednesday, April 7 - Apprenticeship/Trades
§ Monday, April 19 - College Essay Writing
§ Wednesday, April 21 - Tips on Common Application
§ Wednesday, April 28 - Intro to Financial Aid and Scholarships
Pre-College / Summer Program Opportunities
A pre-college summer program offers high school students the opportunity to take classes at a college and experience college life during the summer. Many programs offer a residential and commuter option. Students can stay in dorms with their peers, or they can commute from home if they live close to the college.
§ Summer Programs & Internships - List of summer programs and internships created by MCPS College & Career Information Coordinators.
NEW: IB Update
The IB Learner Profile BALANCE aims to develop learners who are balanced. Our goal is to help students to discover and understand the importance of balancing different aspects of their lives, while also helping them build the time management skills needed to do so.
With spring break upon us, it is important to find a BALANCE as an essential component to achieving intellectual, physical, and emotional well-being for yourself and others. Be sure to take some time to unwind by taking a walk, try a new workout, watch a movie, read a book, or perhaps simply enjoy a beautiful sunset. Also, take find time to expand you mind and smartly manage your time by exploring scholarships or colleges, catching up on work, or watching an educational documentary.
Payment for IB Exams - DUE APRIL 9th
Although the May component of your IB exam is cancelled this year, IB will grade Internal Assessments and issue exam scores (1-7). To obtain an IB score, you must submit your Internal Assessment for each IB course for which you are registered to “test.”
As IB is still grading student assessments and issuing scores, students must still pay for their exams by April 9th. All students who do not pay for their exams by April 9th will be withdrawn and will not receive an IB exam score. IB Exam scores can be used for potential college credit, depending on your score and the college you are attending, as usual.
To pay your exam fees - please follow the following steps:
· Go to https://osp.osmsinc.com/montgomerymd
· Once there click on “High” and scroll down to “Seneca Valley High School”
· Scroll down to “IB Exam Fee Approved Payment”
· Please enter the name of your exams and the amount you are paying. Each exam is $119.
Remember if you qualify for a fee waiver, each exam is $20.
We understand the past year has been extremely challenging, so please do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. Ezerski with any concerns you have regarding IB exam fees at Natasha_L_Ezerski@mcpsmd.org. Remember to do your absolute best on your IB Internal Assessments - YOU CAN DO THIS!!
May Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month Poster Art Contest
The month of May is designated by law as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month to recall the history of AAPl since their arrival in the United States in the mid-1800s, their challenges and their contributions to American society.
This year, once again all K-12 Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students are invited to submit artwork for a poster that demonstrates the courage of AAPI. The entries will be judged by community art/art performance professionals.
First place ($100), second place ($75) and third place ($50) winners will be selected for each of the elementary, middle and high school categories.
The submission deadline is April 18, 2021.
UPDATED: Book Club and Library/Media Center Updates
- Black-Eyed Susan readers must complete book surveys for at least three of the ten nominees by April 15th in order to be eligible to vote for the best book this year. Ms. Little will reach out to all eligible voters with further instruction for voting in mid-April.
- The next Project LIT book discussion will take place on Wednesday, April 21st, at 2:00 pm (a virtual check-in day). We decided to read and discuss the book Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson, a story about a teenager who won’t give up on investigating the disappearance of her best friend. Borrow this book in eBook or audiobook format in Sora. ALL ARE WELCOME!
- Please take a look at our curated Women's History Month books & resources and other collections in Destiny, our online library catalog. The collections include eBooks students are able to read online by logging in to Destiny using their student IDs and passwords. If you have any trouble accessing Seneca’s online resources, please contact Ms. Little.
UPDATED: Creativity Contests
The NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) invites students of African descent to submit projects in the following categories: STEM, Humanities, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, and Business. To learn more about project requirements, click HERE. The deadline for all applications and submissions is March 22, 2021.
NEW: To help celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, all MCPS students are invited to submit artwork for a poster contest that will be judged by community art and art performance professionals. The theme for this year’s contest is courage. For contest rules, click HERE. Submissions are due by April 18, 2021.
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 26, 2021. Click HERE for contest rules.
REPEAT: Community Update on TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS
Dear Parents and Guardians:
Please read this important update that clarifies expectations regarding travel during the pandemic and its impact on participation in in-person learning: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/coronavirus/travel/
REPEAT: Chromebook Pick-up Information
If a student does not have an MCPS issued Chromebook and is returning to school, Chromebooks will be issued from SVHS directly and on a daily basis.
For any questions around this change, please reach out to the school directly at 240-740-6400.
REPEAT: Community Update on A SHARED COMMITMENT TO STUDENT SAFETY
Dear Parents and Guardians:
Montgomery County Public Schools is committed to providing a safe environment for our students and staff as we transition to in-person learning. To ensure schools are safe, we must all do our part to prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. By selecting an in-person learning experience, you are agreeing to take key precautions and actions to keep schools safe.
Please follow this link to learn more about this shared responsibility: Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) (montgomeryschoolsmd.org)
REMINDER: AP Exams Update
This is a reminder to submit your payment for Advanced Placement exams. The deadline to submit payments for AP exams is: MARCH 29, 2021. Payments can be submitted through our Online Student Payment system (OSP). To make payments, please follow the instructions below:
- Go to the SVHS website
- On the left-hand side in the green bar find "School Payments" (CLICK)
- Find "Online School Payment" (CLICK)
- Find "High" in the upper toolbar in Blue with WHITE letters
- Select Seneca Valley High School
- Select the specific AP exam(s) OR
- NOTE: If you are requesting a Payment Plan or Fee Waiver based on income, you will select that option
REMINDER: Counselor LIVE Chat
Counselors are now available for live chat sessions EVERYDAY via Zoom. Please use your student's sign in credentials to access the session. Click HERE to access counselor's availability. *Please note that you may be required to wait briefly in the waiting room while the counselor is meeting with another parent and/or student."
REMINDER: Where do I go for help?
We are here to support you in any way that we can. for more information about who to go to for the most commonly asked questions, please visit this link. There you will find resources for the topics listed below. We will continue to add to this list as needs evolve.
- Community Resources
- Wellness Resources
- Student Support
- Counselors
- Class Sponsors
- Technology Reminders
- Ask Your Librarian
For spirit wear purchases:
Seneca Valley Online SPIRIT WEAR!!!
Seneca Valley is excited to offer online sales of the spirit wear we used to sell on-site (and more!) through our local vendor, VerTee Shirts. Check it out!
VerTee Shirts: https://svhs.spiritsale.com (T-shirts, sweatshirts, lounge pants, fleece jackets, and masks)
SVHS Spirit Wear can also be purchased at the following sites.
Squad Locker: https://teamlocker.squadlocker.com/#/lockers/eagles-287838
BSN: https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/maryland/germantown/seneca-valley-high-school
Want a SVHS License Plate? Please visit the School website for details. https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools//senecavalleyhs/about/ptsa/spiritsales/
Are you #SVPROUD?
- Tweet, Snap, IB, FB, etc., a pic of you repping "The Valley" by wearing your Seneca gear.
- And don't forget to use #svproud. Go Eagles!
Seneca Valley High School
Email: marc_j_cohen@mcpsmd.org
Website: www.senecavalleyhighschool.com
Location: 19401 Crystal Rock Drive, Germantown, MD, USA
Phone: 240-740-6400
Twitter: @SenecaValleyHS