Welcome Back Seneca Valley!!

I hope everyone had a great summer.  This summer administration and staff have worked hard for the year ahead.  We look forward to welcoming nearly 2600 students to the Valley.  I want to make sure everyone has the welcome back letter and is ready for the upcoming year. 

New year, new beginnings.  As I told my own high school senior, It's time to lock in.  The goal is to get on track and stay on track for a successful year.  

I am sure you have all seen your schedules.  Counselors worked hard this summer to ensure that everyone's scheduling needs were met.  The priority has been to complete schedules and that students do not have missing classes or are in the incorrect classes.  If you have an error, follow your schedule.  For any errors or questions please make sure to contact your counselor and make an appointment.  

Student pictures will be taken this week during English classes.  Once students receive their new ID they will be given a ID pouch and lanyard so that they can wear their ID as prescribed in our ID policy.  ID's will be required at all MCPS sponsored events, whether it is at Seneca Valley or another school.  Again this measure is to continue our efforts  on the safety and well being of students and staff, not just during our instructional day but at school events as well.

I also want to remind everyone that we are a closed campus.  Students are not permitted to leave campus during lunch unless they are leaving for the day.  Students who do leave and return to school will meet with an administrator.  Again this is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and staff throughout the day.

This year marks Seneca Valley's 50th anniversary, 50 year years of Soaring to Excellence.  Throughout the year we will have various events and celebrations acknowledging this great milestone for Seneca Valley and the Germantown community.  More information will be provided.

I wish you all a great evening and have a great year.  

Have a great Monday and week on purpose!

Ricardo Hernandez, Principal

FIRST DAY REMINDERS FOR STUDENTS

Before Monday:

• Charge your Chromebook for the entire weekend leading up to the first day of school.

• Pack up other school supplies: All you need on Monday is a binder or folder with some lined paper and a pen/pencil. Your teachers in each class will let you know what other materials you will need.

• Highly Recommended: Pack a water bottle to bring to school- there are water filling stations throughout the building.

• Set your alarm clock, get a good night’s sleep...school starts early on Monday!

Monday Morning:

• Don’t forget your MCPS chromebook and charger! Incoming 9th graders and new students to SVHS will receive their chromebook and charger in Science class.

• Bus Route Schedules are available on our website: www.senecavalleyhighschool.com

• Students may enter either through the Cafeteria/Stadium entrance (on Wisteria Drive) or the front lobby entrance (on Crystal Rock Drive) starting at 7:20am. On Monday, August 26, 2024, everyone will report to their Homeroom locations before first period.

  • All students should be in Homeroom by 7:40 AM.  Homeroom will begin promptly at 7:45 a.m.  Start the school year strong by showing up, on-time, ready to learn.

  • There will be signs posted throughout the first floor with homeroom assignments and room numbers.

  • You also have a copy of the school map in your packet, but HERE it is again if you need it.

  • There will be staff members posted in all the hallways to help you find your way.

• Students will receive their class schedule, bell schedule, and another copy of the map in homeroom.

  • IF YOU HAVE AN MCPS ISSUED CHROMEBOOK, PLEASE BRING IT WITH YOU ON MONDAY.

• After Homeroom, students will attend periods 1-8 (lunch is period 5).

Bus Routes

2024-25 school bus routes are now available on the MCPS website and on the Seneca Valley High School website under School Information on the left side of the main page. 

Visit the MCPS Department of Transportation website for transportation news and the latest updates!

Students and families should also review the important Ride by the Rules safety guidelines provided by the Department of Transportation.

Ride by the Rules - Bus Safety and Guidelines for Students & Parents

BTSN was a great event!  Please make sure you provide us feedback, links are below:

Library Media News: We are Open!
But First, Chromebooks.

Chromebook Distribution: During the first two days of school, the library media center (LMC) will only be open after school as LMC staff will be facilitating Chromebook distribution during school hours.  

• • 9th grade students will visit the LMC with their Biology classes on Monday, August 26th to pick up their Chromebooks.  These new Chromebooks may not have a full charge and should be charged overnight at home.  

  • 10th-12th grade students should bring their Chromebooks, fully charged, to school.  If the battery in a Chromebook is dead, the device needs to be charged for at least 30 minutes before it will power back on.

  • 10th-12th grade students new to Seneca Valley* or students with Chromebooks that are are not working properly or otherwise in need of repair should report to the library media center during lunch on Monday, August 26th or at any point of the day on Tuesday, August 27th, for assistance.

  • *If a student received a Chromebook over the summer, or if they retained their Chromebook from their previous school, they should bring their Chromebook to school as they will not be issued another device.

  • Regular LMC accessibility (shared below) will resume on Wednesday, August 28th.  In the meantime, please know:  

The library media center is a safe space.  First and foremost, please know that library media staff are committed to making the library media center a warm, welcoming, and safe space where students feel seen, heard, affirmed, and valued.  We hope this is reflected in our daily interactions and in our relationships with students and staff, and also in the resources we provide to support learning and personal interests.

The library media center is accessible.  Our hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 am - 4:30 pm, and Friday, 7:00 am - 3:30 pm.  In addition, students may eat lunch in the library media center with rare exceptions.  These exceptions include closings for monthly book club meetings and the first two days of school, when we will be open for tech support only.

Library media staff provide technical support.  Whereas this is not our primary directive, the LMC is where students should come to report issues with their Chromebooks and school accounts.  In fact, the LMC will be open exclusively for tech support during lunch on Monday and Tuesday this week.

Library media staff would like you to join our book group!  The SVHS Book Club participates in three reading programs: the Black-Eyed Susan Book Club is a year-long reading club through which students read three of ten nominated books by April, and then vote to help select the best book for Maryland’s high school readers, Project LIT Community is a grassroots, nationwide literacy movement that aims to promote reading by providing access to books that help students feel seen and heard, and One Maryland One Book is a statewide reading program that takes place each fall.  To learn more about each of these clubs, students may:

• visit the Book Clubs flag in the Virtual SVLMC

• plan to attend an interest meeting in the LMC during lunch, date TBD

• or contact Ms. Little, our Library Media Specialist 🌻

Parents and guardians - if your student is in grade 9, new to MCPS, or if you have not previously submitted the G-Suite for Education: Additional Services form, please give your student(s) permission to access and use technology resources as part of their learning experience.  Access to the form is via ParentVUE, as part of the Annual Verification process.

From Technology Information and Support for Parents:
What is Annual Verification and how do I do this in ParentVue?

In the past, yellow emergency cards and a variety of other forms were sent home with students on the first day of school so that families could communicate updates about contact information, health, directory withholdings, emergency contacts, and more. This process will now take place in ParentVUE using Online Registration.

Failure to provide consent to Additional Services and Supplemental Online Digital Tools will not result in loss of access to the G-Suite Core Services, but will limit access to other technology resources used to facilitate teaching and learning. Consent remains valid for the entire time the student is enrolled in an MCPS high school and may be rescinded at any time. 

PARENT VOLUNTEER TRAINING

The MCPS Volunteer webpage has been updated.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/student-leadership/volunteer.aspx

On that webpage, you will find updates for SY24-25 and a chart for “who needs what.” There is also a resource on the far right called: School Guidance for Volunteers. If there are any volunteers who did this process last year, then they are good for this year. Any new volunteers would need to complete the compliance measures listed below.

One-time volunteers who will ALWAYS be accompanied by MCPS staff

• One-time volunteers who will never be alone with students at the MCPS school do NOT need to complete the compliance measures.

• They WILL need to check-in and check-out of the main office and scan their driver's license/identification cards through the Visitor Management System (VMS). Once the volunteer clears the VMS, they must be badged (the VMS creates a sticker badge) and remain under supervision of an MCPS professional while with students.

Volunteers who will be attending field trips or supporting the school as a regular volunteer (This includes, but is not limited to Dads on Duty participants)

• These volunteers must complete BOTH the online child abuse and neglect training and the COVID attestation process.

• Volunteers can pull their grade sheet showing a total of 183.3%. This grade shows completion of both processes.

• They WILL need to check-in and check-out of the main office and scan their driver's license/identification cards through the Visitor Management System (VMS).

• Once the volunteer clears the VMS, they must be badged (the VMS creates a sticker badge) and remain under supervision of an MCPS professional while with students.

Volunteers who will be attending field trips or supporting the school as a frequent volunteer AND will be alone with students.

• In addition to the online child abuse and neglect training and the COVID attestation compliance measures, the volunteer must have completed the finger printing process.

• Fingerprinting/Background check (only if they are working alone with students without supervision of an MCPS staff member or other type of volunteer service, per the Volunteers regulation and FAQ )

• Fingerprinting Webpage

SVHS PTSA 

Dear Seneca Valley HS (SVHS) Families,

We hope everyone had an enjoyable summer. The PTSA is so excited to welcome back our current SVHS families and meet our new families. We also want to welcome back our SVHS staff, current and new. 

Save the Date: We hope you can join us on Tuesday, September 17th at 6:30pm for our first in person PTSA member’s meeting in the school’s media center. The PTSA needs your vote so we can officially begin our operating budget. Active PTSA members will vote on the 2024-2025 PTSA operating budget.

Come share your feedback about what you would like to see from the PTSA this year. This is your opportunity to have your voices heard and ask questions. Students can earn SSL hours for attending and participating in the meeting. 

Join the PTSA and show your support and help us continue showing we are a strong community. You can Join Here.  

Stay connected with what’s going on in the SVHS community. Join the PTSA Facebook page: Facebook

Chantal Falade

SVHS, PTSA President (2024-2025)

SVHS Boosters

SAVE THE DATES:  

2024-2025 Booster Membership is now open to join!

Please use this QR code or link to sign up and send your $15 membership fee

https://square.link/u/7qiWt8kq

Membership gives you voting rights for decisions in Boosters, changes, and how to disperse money to clubs and athletics. You will also receive a Seneca Valley bumper sticker.

Sign up genius is LIVE for our fall season:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4fadaf2ca1fc1-svhs#/

Please know that Boosters needs a ton of volunteerism and in turn, this allows our clubs and teams to achieve requested grants.

Visit us on social media!

IG: #seneca_boosters and #stormtheeagle

Facebook: Seneca Valley HS Boosters

Twitter: @svhsbooster

Annual Notice for Directory Information and Student Privacy

Schools provide directory information for public listings such as honor roll, awards, and other notices in the newspaper or on the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) website. A student’s name, address, and telephone number may also be released to organizations of any combination of parents, teachers, and students of a school. Unless you tell them not to, schools can release the information without your prior consent.

Directory Information includes the following items: student’s and/or parent’s name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number; student’s date of birth; major field of study; grade level; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; degrees and awards received (including honor roll); most recent school attended; dates of attendance; photograph, or other likeness; the weight and height of members of athletic teams; and other similar information.  If you do not want your school to release your directory information, complete the form linked below and return this notice to your school by September 10, 2024.

FORM: Annual Notice for Directory Information and Student Privacy

Additional copies of this notice can be found on the MCPS website, and are available in Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Amharic, and Portuguese. This form must be completed every year.

Your school will assume you agree to the release of the directory information, unless this form is returned by September 10, 2024. If you need to change your decision at a later date, just contact your school directly.

If you enroll after September 10, 2024, you can complete this form at the time of enrollment.

Student Emergency Information and Military Recruiting 

Student Emergency Information

Student Emergency Information should be updated through ParentVUE. Each year parents/guardians are required to complete the Annual Verification of Information through the Online Registration portal (in the right corner of your ParentVUE home screen). We highly recommend that you complete this as soon as possible. It is critically important that we have accurate parent contact information on file with the school and system as soon as possible.

Here are links to the ParentVUE Support Guide and directions for completing the annual verification of information.

A Note on Military Recruiting 

If a parent does not wish to have his/her child’s name made available to military recruiters and/or does not wish to have their child’s directory information included in the student directory, they should complete the “Directory Information Withholding” portion of the ParentVUE annual verification of information online registration. You may also complete MCPS form 281-13 - Annual Notice for Directory Information and Student Privacy. The form must be returned to the school by September 10, 2024.

Extracurricular Activities Information

We welcome you to engage with Seneca Valley in a new way this school year!  

Check out our non-athletic Extra Curricular Clubs and Activities!  From study groups to competitive dance to cultural celebrations to Dungeons and Dragons and beyond - there's something here for everyone!  

Reach out to sponsors of clubs you're interested in or fill out the interest form to be included in back-to-school messages about clubs. Check out our current offerings. SVHS ECA OFFERINGS

Notes From the SVHS College & Career Center

We are very excited to welcome students back for the 2024-25 School Year!  This section of the newsletter will contain important information from the SVHS College & Career Center including college visits, upcoming events, scholarships, and more!  Looking forward to working with you all and wishing everyone a great start to the new school year!

• Mr. Nalda, SVHS College & Career Information Coordinator  |  *The College & Career Center is located on the 2nd floor in Room 2408.

Applying to Four-Year Colleges (Seniors)

College applications are now open!  The SVHS College Application Packet is the go-to document for applying to colleges at SVHS.  It is a step-by-step guide on how to apply and includes everything that you need to complete.  Please use this document to get started on college applications and follow all of the steps!  You should bookmark or save the link to this document.  

Depending on the college or university, you may apply via the Common Application for some and directly on college websites for others.  See college application sites below for more information.  I would strongly suggest that as you make a list of institutions you would like to apply to, organize them by application deadline.  Complete the earlier deadlines first! 

• SVHS College Application Packet - Seniors Click Here!!!

• 2024-25 Financial Aid Guide for Seniors - Seniors Click Here!!!

College & Career Representative Visits in the College & Career Center

College Representative Visits

Juniors & Seniors are invited to participate in college rep visits to SVHS to learn more about colleges and universities.  Representatives come to SVHS to talk about their schools and answer questions.  Advantages of participating in college visits:

• Meeting the contact from a college or university.  Many times, these are the same people reviewing your application!

• Learning in-depth information about the school, their program offerings, and financial aid.

• In some cases, colleges may offer insight on how to receive a fee waiver.

To attend a college visit, students must register in Naviance (click to learn how) and have permission from their teacher in order to attend.  It is the responsibility of each student to make-up any work they may miss.  Unless noted, visits will take place in the College & Career Center, Room #2408.

Before signing up, think about the following:  Does the college have your major?  Can you afford to miss class that day to attend?  How many visits have you already made this week?

Career Visits

Mr. Nalda also schedules local organizations, employers, and military branches who are looking to hire or offer opportunities to Seneca Valley students.  Many times, these visits will take place in the SVHS Cafeteria during lunch and students can stop by anytime to learn more. 

Click here to learn more and see who is scheduled to visit SVHS this Fall!

Next Week’s College & Career Center Visits:

• Germantown Boys & Girls Club - Thu August 29 @ 11:24AM - 12:06PM (lunch)

No registration in Naviance needed. Stop by the SVHS Cafeteria during lunch to learn more about the Germantown Boys & Girls Club.

Upcoming Scholarships 

• September 15 - The Gates Scholarship - top 300 students receive funding for full cost of attendance; senior; US citizen, national, or permanent resident; African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American; min 3.3 GPA; for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households; financial need; pell-eligible; must enroll full-time in a four-year degree program; outstanding academic record; demonstrated leadership; personal success skills.

• September 26 - QuestBridge National College Match - recipients granted early admission to one of QuestBridge's college partners with a full four-year scholarship (worth over $200,000); any high school senior, regardless of citizenship, is eligible (review Additional Citizenship Requirements); earned primarily A's in the most challenging courses available (Honors, AP, and/or IB); financial need as finalists typically come from households earning less than $65,000/year (household of 4).

• September 30 - Don't Text and Drive Scholarship - $1,000 award; 9-12 grade; U.S. Citizen; submit a 140-character personal statement that completes this sentence: "I pledge to not text and drive because...."

• September 30 - Coca-Cola Scholars Program* - (*deadline is 5pm on 9/30) 150-$20,000 awards; senior; U.S. Citizen, legal resident, refugee (see link for full eligibility list); min 3.0 GPA; achievement based scholarship; planning to pursue a college degree after high school; involved in school and community activities; transcript.

Click here to see the SVHS Scholarships Page for more opportunities.

Other Opportunities

Medical Exploring Program: Information Session (open to grades 9-12)

The Medical Exploring Program is a signature, one-of-a-kind, interactive, educational initiative designed for high school students who are interested in pursuing a career path in health care and want to strengthen their understanding of the medical profession.  

Throughout the academic year, students have the opportunity to learn about key functions of the community hospital system from the region’s top physicians, surgeons, and healthcare professionals. In addition to touring areas of the hospital, students also have the opportunity to become CPR and Stop the Bleed certified.

Sessions are held up to three times a month on Monday evenings or school holidays.

Monday, September 16, 2024  | 6–7 p.m.  |  Virtual

Any interested student may attend this virtual session with a parent/guardian. When registering for this free information session, please list the name of the interested student in the registration form. Attendance does not indicate a commitment to the program. Formal registration will open after this event and remain open until Friday, September 27.

Click here for more information and to register  |  Click here for the flyer  

Please contact mcanava1@jhmi.edu with any questions.

News from the Business and Finance Offices 

Business Office: Mrs. Monique Riddick, School Business Administrator, 240-740-6413

Finance Office:  Ms. Lillian Burgos, School Financial Specialist, 240-740-6414

Finance Office Hours: Monday through Friday 7:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

• The window is closed daily from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

• Students may visit the finance office before school, during lunch, and after school. 

Payments may be made using School Cash Online or in cash, check, and money order at the finance window.   All checks should be made payable to Seneca Valley High School or SVHS.  Please include the student’s name and ID number on all checks.  Returned check fees are $25.00 per check and are obligated toward the student’s account until paid. This includes checks collected as part of fundraisers. 

Obligations: All outstanding obligations must be paid in order for students to participate in extracurricular activities such as athletics, clubs, Homecoming and Prom.  Seniors with outstanding obligations will not be permitted to participate in senior activities including the graduation commencement ceremony.  Outstanding obligations may be viewed and paid at https://mcpsmd.schoolcashonline.com/.

Parking Permits: The Student Parking Application Form must be completed and submitted to the Business Office for approval. Please contact Monique_N_Riddick@mcpsmd.org with any questions or concerns. The Seneca Valley High School student parking information and regulations can be found here. 

SchoolCash Online

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Montgomery County Public Schools has transitioned to a new online payment system called SchoolCash Online as its preferred method of payment for school-related fees such as fundraisers, field trips, obligations, etc. (Please note that the new payment system is NOT related to school cafeteria accounts)

SchoolCash Online helps parents/guardians and community members pay school-related fees safely, quickly, and easily. SchoolCash Online will help increase efficiency and security at schools by making payments directly into schools’ bank accounts and eliminating the need for teachers to handle money. In addition, once registered, you will be immediately informed about school activities!

Powered by KEV Group, SchoolCash Online is the industry leader in the management of school fees. The new system puts all of the school-related fees online for purchase so users can make purchases online using a credit card or e-check. A processing fee will be included on all items available for purchase, regardless of the type of payment used on SchoolCash Online or at the school.

Parents/guardians can register now at - https://mcpsmd.schoolcashonline.com/