Good evening Seneca Valley!!

I hope everyone had a good weekend.  We have a few busy week ahead before the break.  Thursday and friday we will have adjusted bell schedules as we will have a winter extravagance on thursday and in school winter concert on friday  Please find the adjusted bell schedules below. 

Thursday night, December 19th from 6pm-8pm we will also host our first Winter Fest in collaboration with the wellness center.  Come out and celebrate the winter season with us.

As a follow up to the passing of Mr. Rudy Tyrell I wanted to provide information regarding his funeral services and location.

December 19, 2024

9:30   AM   Wake for family members

10:00 AM   Funeral Services 

Bridgeway Community Church

9189 Red Branch Rd.

Columbia, MD 21045

We continue to emphasis the use of ID's, students make sure you are displaying your ID when you enter the building and have it with you as we will electronically check you in the office, counseling, wellness center, health room and other places.  If you are in need of a hard ID, see Ms. Boone in the security office on Tuesdays or Thursdays during Eagle time. 

Please make sure you read updates from our PTSA, Boosters, and Athletics.

I wish you all a great evening.  

Have a great Monday and week on purpose!

Ricardo Hernandez, Principal

Begin the Career Journey in High School! 

Seneca Valley High School offers ten career-related programs and fifteen pathways!  These high-demand career and technical programs are open to all Seneca Valley High School students.  These exciting and innovative four-year career-related experiences extend beyond the classroom to enrichment opportunities during and outside of the school day. Most of the programs culminate in opportunities for college credit or industry certifications. Please take some time to visit our website and discuss the possibilities with your child during the upcoming holiday breaks!  You can also dance along to the career and technical education video created by Mr. Anthony George!! 

EXPLORE CAREER POSSIBILITIES!

For more information contact Adrian Charley at Adrian_V_Charley@mcpsmd.org

New video by Anthony George

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4q72MycLRZLPM9Eu6

Adrian Charley

CTE Coordinator

Seneca Valley High School

240-740-6400

@SenecaVHSCTE

The Maryland Seal of Biliteracy 2024-2025

Registration is open for the Seal of Biliteracy!  We welcome all juniors and seniors who speak a language other than English at home and/or are enrolled in an upper-level Language Acquisition class to register.  Please direct all questions to Ms. Rebecca Hanford at rebecca_s_hanford@mcpsmd.org.  Thank you!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1FvvnfVc3xF56SRo42G2P6zyebyhFcNC2or88n1fLUwI/edit#slide=id.g307bad1f747_0_307

Attention Seniors, Parents and Guardians

The Graduation Package has been set for the Class of 2025 at $55.  This is the lowest Graduation Package in recent years.  The price includes the cap and gown, senior t-shirt, senior picnic, venue, rehearsal breakfast and other costs related to graduation such as programs and tickets.  It has been posted to SCO and should be paid as soon as possible. 

Cap and gown orders will be taken soon. Keep up to date on the Senior Page of the SVHS website.

Lee Ann Wolfe

Class of 2025 Co-Sponsor

Seneca Valley High School

Leeann_wolfe@mcpsmd.org

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 

Hello SVHS families, 

Visit Chipotle on Wednesday, December 11th. 

Support the PTSA while treating yourself and/or your family with some Chipotle from 5:00pm-9:00pm. Location: 19881 Century Blvd. Germantown. 

There is no PTSA meeting this month. 

The PTSA wishes the SVHS community a wonderful holiday season.  

Have questions or concerns. Email us at svhsptsapres@gmail.com. 

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

Chantal 

SVHS, PTSA President (2024-2025) 

 💚🦅💛

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

The Holiday Giving Project

The Holiday Giving Project has provided Thanksgiving and December holiday assistance to qualifying households for over 30 years. If you and your family are in need and would like to be referred for possible assistance for the holiday season, please complete this referral form provide the required information. Resources are limited: please apply only if you and your family are truly in need. Families can only be referred once; please do not complete a referral if you have already been referred from another school or agency. While a referral is not a guarantee of assistance, the Project helps as many families in need as donations allow. If you need help completing the form please contact Ms. Ruiz Miller at 240-447-8963.

El Holiday Giving Project ha brindado asistencia para el Día de Acción de Gracias y los días festivos de diciembre a los hogares que califican durante más de 30 años. Si usted y su familia están en necesidad y les gustaría ser referidos para una posible asistencia durante la temporada de festividades, complete este formulario de referencia para proporcionar la información requerida. Los recursos son limitados: solicite solo si usted y su familia realmente lo necesitan. Las familias solo pueden ser referidas una vez. Por favor no complete este referido si ya le han referido de otra escuela o agencia.  Si bien una referencia no es una garantía de asistencia, el Proyecto ayuda a tantas familias necesitadas como lo permitan las donaciones. Si necesita ayuda para completar el formulario, comuníquese con la Sra. Ruiz Miller al 240-447-8963.

Dual Enrollment

Registration for the Spring semester of Dual Enrollment/Jump Start to College begins at the end of this month! The three classes offered at SVHS will be Introduction to Nutrition, Introduction to the Study of Ethics, and Introduction to Business. Students may also take classes at Montgomery College or virtually. Qualifying students may take up to 2 approved MC courses in the Fall and Spring semesters with MCPS/MC covering tuition, fees, and required textbooks and materials. Please contact Stacey Blaine at Stacey_J_Blaine@mcpsmd.org if you have any questions.

Notes From the SVHS College & Career Center

Mr. Nalda, SVHS College & Career Information Coordinator (email)  

Continue Working on College Applications! (Seniors)

Reminder that 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!  

2025–26 FAFSA® Form is Now Available! (Seniors)

The 2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is now available. You can complete the form to apply for financial aid for attendance at college or career school between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.

FAFSA forms submitted online will typically be processed in one to three days. Once your form is processed, you’ll be able to review your FAFSA Submission Summary and your FAFSA information will be made available to your selected schools.  You also can make updates or corrections (such as adding a school or a missing signature) to your FAFSA form.

Click to learn more  |  SVHS Financial Aid Guide for Seniors 

Juniors, Are You Interested in an Internship??

Attention Current Juniors - Are you interested in learning more about internships for this summer or next school year? If so, please follow the steps below:

• Complete the Internship Interest Google Form

• Check your school Gmail for an email with a link to a slideshow all about internships and a link to apply

• Check out the SVHS Internship website at: https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/svhs-internship/home 

• Attend an Internship Information Meeting during lunch in room 1410 on one of the following dates:

  • Wednesday, December 18

  • Friday, January 10

Please stop by and see Mrs. Skufca, Internship & Apprenticeship Teacher, in room 1410 with any questions. 

College & Career Representative Visits

Next Week’s College & Career Center Visits:

• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania - Wed December 18 @ 9:40 AM

• U.S. Air Force Recruiter, Lunch Visit - Wed December 18 @ Lunch (11:12-11:54am)

  • Stop by the cafeteria anytime during lunch to learn more about the U.S. Air Force.

• U.S. Army Recruiter, Lunch Visit - Wed December 18 @ Lunch (11:12-11:54am)

  • Stop by the cafeteria anytime during lunch to learn more about the U.S. Army.

Upcoming Scholarships 

• December 16* - BURGER KING Scholars Program - multiple awards ranging from $1,000-$60,000; senior; min 2.0 GPA (unweighted); must enroll at a school full-time next Fall; recipients are selected based on their grade point average, work experience, extracurricular activities and/or community service. 

  • *Scholarship closes on December 16 or when 50,000 applications are submitted, whichever occurs first

• December 18* - Equitable Excellence Scholarship - up tp 100-$5,000 awards (renewable up to for four years); seniors in one of the 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia or Puerto Rico who plan to enroll full-time in an accredited two-or four-year college or university in the United States for the entire upcoming academic year; min 2.5 GPA (unweighted); financial need; demonstrate ambition and self-drive to be a force for good in your community by encouraging others to pursue higher education; willing to provide a release to publicize their identities and information about their achievements along with photographs for use in program promotion and information; essay; transcript. 

  • *Scholarship application closes at 4pm EST on December 18.

• December 19 - Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship - (deadline is at 4pm EST on 1/19) up to $40,000 in college funding and internship opportunities at Amazon; senior; min 2.3 GPA (unweighted); U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, or Employment Authorized to work in the United States; have taken computer science or hardware engineering classes in high school or at a college dual program, or currently be enrolled in one (see link for details); plan to pursue a computer science or engineering degree in college (see link for list of eligible majors); can attend a two-year college and transfer; demonstrate financial need. 

• December 31 - Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship - $1,000; 9-12 grade; legal U.S. resident; submit a 250 word essay; feel free to use something you have already written! Easy!!! 

• December 31 - Going Merry Scholarship - seniors; must have a Going Merry account linked to your current high school and be a part of the Class of 2025; should only take a couple of minutes to complete; make sure your Going Merry profile is complete and accurate!

• December 31 - Around the Corner from College Scholarship - 1-$1,000 award; open to current high school students (9-12 grade); US citizen, permanent resident, or with DACA status; must be planning to attend a college or university in the US;  create a personalized checklist that you can use (max 10 items) to help you best prepare for college. 

• January 03* - GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program - numerous awards of $10,000 with a possibility of up to $40,000 total (renewable, based on eligibility); senior; U.S. Citizen; min 3.0 GPA (unweighted); enroll full time at a four-year school in the fall; demonstrate at school, the workplace, and within the community the attributes of leadership, integrity, drive, and citizenship.

  • *Scholarship application closes at 3pm EST on January 3.

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

Other Opportunities

In-Person FAFSA Completion Event (English y Espanol)

December 17, 6pm - 8pm

Attention seniors and families!  Do you need assistance completing the FAFSA??

The Educational Opportunity Center will be at Watkins Mill High School to assist students and their families with completing the 2025 - 2026 FAFSA Form. Students and families from Seneca Valley are welcome to attend. BEFORE you attend you should get your FSA ID, this should be done a few days before. Students must have a SSN in order to complete the FAFSA. We will provide Chromebooks or you are welcome to bring your own laptop. Check out the FAFSA Completion Checklist for documentation needs.  

All participants will be required to fill out and submit an MC-EOC Intake Form (click link to access). 

All About Scholarships - Using Financial Aid to Help Pay for College

December 18, 6:30pm

Students and their parents are invited to join us on Zoom so you can:

• Understand financial aid terminology

• Learn how to complete applications

• Identify scholarship sources

• Hear answers to frequently asked questions

Click here to register  |  Click here for the flyer

Questions? Please contact Jill Semmens at jsemmens@collegiatedirections.org.

College & Career Center Newsletter

2024-25 SVHS College & Career Newsletter - Issue 4, December/January

News from the Business and Finance Office 

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/