Good Evening Seneca Valley Community,

I hope everyone had a good weekend!  

Tomorrow Monday April 22nd is an Asynchronous learning day.  Students do not come to school.  Teachers have provided assignments that are no more than 30 minutes each per class and should be posted on canvas.  Combined for all classes, it should not consist of more than 4 hours total.  These assignments will be counted towards attendance for the day and should be completed by the Monday April 29th. 

Please see messages from the Boosters regarding officers, and the PTSA regarding Prom and after Prom.

Have a great day and week, on purpose!

Ricardo Hernandez, Principal

Summer School Information

Registration for Session 1 of MCPS Summer School is going on now! Students have multiple options for taking summer classes this year, including in-person classes at Seneca Valley (Regional Summer School) and virtual/online classes (Central Summer School). Students may take up to 2 classes per session (either one in-person and one online class, or two online classes). Session 1 runs from June 26-July 16.

Who is eligible? Any MCPS high school student in need of replacing or taking original credit for graduation required courses. Course requests will be approved by each student’s counselor to ensure proper course enrollment.

How do I register? Parent & guardians will register their student through ParentVUE.

When is the deadline to register? The registration deadline for Session 1 is May 31. 

Where can I find more information? Comprehensive information can be found here:https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/extendedhours/summerschool/

If you have any questions, please reach out to your student's Counselor. 

Ian Yarmus

Resource Counselor

Seneca Valley High School

240-740-6428

Calling All Student Eagles!

We want to hear from you! Please share your experiences and thoughts on academics, communication, and overall satisfaction with Seneca Valley High School. We want to improve our teaching and make our school a more welcoming place for all students, staff and families. Please complete the student survey below as soon as possible!

https://stud.mcpsmd.org/

Drew Hensley

Assistant Principal

Seneca Valley High School

Seneca Valley Caregivers of Seniors:

Your Senior is less than two months away from graduating from Seneca Valley High School. There are important items in this message;

• Your student's graduation package - the payment for the ceremony, venue, cap and gown, t-shirt, stole, picnic, and sundry other items - has been attached to your student's School Cash Online (SCO) account as an obligation.  

• The grad package is $80 this year - lowered from last year because of good fundraising efforts! Your student must pay their grad package fee or will be in jeopardy of not participating in the graduation ceremony and not attending prom. 

• If you have questions about how to pay the fee, please contact the finance office as soon as possible. All seniors should have provided the cap and gown size to Josten's by now. If not, please contact one of the senior sponsors. 

Thank you for your time and efforts in getting your student to walk across that stage!

How to pay on School Cash Online:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JU4Yo3vIhK2hiPasss8VmnTIFkTnf06k9gspCaXo0lo/edit?usp=sharing

Monique Riddick

School Business Administrator

Seneca Valley High School

Senior Graduation Status Letters

Over the last few weeks all families of seniors should have received a letter from Seneca Valley Counseling Services with a detailed description of your student's graduation status. The status update includes their remaining course credits needed (including the classes in which they are enrolled to earn those credits), remaining SSL hours needed, and any remaining state (MCAP) testing required.

If you have any questions about your senior's graduation status, or if you haven't received your letter, please reach out to their School Counselor and they will be happy to review with you. You can find Counselor caseloads and contact info here: SVHS Counseling Website

Ian Yarmus

Resource Counselor

Seneca Valley High School

240-740-6428

2nd Semester Student Parking Applications are now available!

SVHS STUDENT PARKING INFORMATION

Students interested in applying for a parking permit must read and review the following document carefully: 

• Student Parking Information

Please note that as part of the parking permit application process, the following forms must be completed and submitted for approval:

• Student Parking Application Form (online form)

• Parent/Guardian Request for Student Use of Private Vehicle Form (must be signed and uploaded into the online form above)

Monique Riddick

School Business Administrator

Seneca Valley High School

19401 Crystal Rock Drive

Germantown, MD 20874

240-740-6413

Dual Enrollment/Jump Start to College

If your child is interested in taking Dual Enrollment/ Jump Start to College classes next year and has not filled out an application yet, now is the time! Please email Stacey Blaine at stacey_j_blaine@mcpsmd.org or see Mrs. Blaine in Room 2107B. Dual enrollment is open to students in all grades and is completely free! There are more than 500 classes to choose from.  Registration for Fall 2024 will begin on April 29th.

Stacey Blaine

Part-time Dual Enrollment Program Assistant

Seneca Valley High School

Room 2107B

Message from the PTSA

After Prom: We are delighted to announce that this year's After Prom will take place at Seneca Valley High School on May 3, 2024 from 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM. We have planned an array of exciting activities, including a moon bounce, video game truck, laser tag, live DJ, airbrush tattoo booth, and professional photographer to capture all the special moments. It promises to be an evening of old Hollywood elegance and enjoyment that you and your child won't want to miss.

If your child is interested in attending this event, please ensure that the After Prom Waiver is completed. This allows us to prioritize safety, and accurately budget for food, games, and prizes.  Tickets for After Prom are priced at $10.00 per student and can be conveniently purchased using the following link. Proceeds from ticket sales will directly contribute towards covering the costs of food and activities for the After Prom event.

In addition to ticket sales, we are organizing a fundraiser to enhance the After Prom experience for this year's attendees and to lay the groundwork for future events. We kindly request donations from our supportive community to help offset expenses such as decorations, entertainment, and other essential elements of this year's event. To contribute to the class of 2024 or participate in our raffle, please visit the fundraising link provided here.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and commitment to our students' well-being. Together, we can ensure that this year's After Prom is the best one yet!

Warm regards, Seneca Valley High School PTSA and the SVHS After Prom Committee

Connect with the SVHS community by joining the PTSA’s  Facebook page. 

Got Questions for the PTSA? Please feel free to email us at svhsptsapres@gmail.com 

Have a great week! 

SVHS PTSA 💚💛

We’re #SVPROUD!

Thanks,

Chantal

Dear Seneca Valley High School Community,

Are you passionate about supporting our school's athletic and extracurricular programs? Do you have leadership skills and a desire to make a positive impact? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

The Seneca Valley High School Boosters is currently seeking individuals to fill the roles of President and Secretary on our Board. As key members of our organization, the President and Secretary play vital roles in shaping the direction of our efforts to support our student athletes and school community.

As President, you will have the opportunity to lead the Boosters in strategic planning, fundraising initiatives, and community outreach efforts. You will work closely with fellow board members, athletic directors, coaches, and volunteers to ensure the success of our programs.

As Secretary, you will be responsible for maintaining accurate records of meetings, managing communications, and assisting with administrative tasks. Your attention to detail and organizational skills will be invaluable in helping the Boosters achieve our goals.

No prior experience is necessary for these positions, as training will be provided to support you in your role. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to our school and support our students in their extracurricular endeavors.

The deadline to apply for these positions is May 15, 2024. To express your interest or learn more about the responsibilities and expectations associated with these roles, please contact boosterssenecavalley@gmail.com

We look forward to welcoming individuals who are eager to join us in our mission to enhance the Seneca Valley High School experience for all students. Together, we can make a difference!

Message from the Boosters

WE NEED YOUR HELP  

The Boosters have two board positions open.  Our secretary position will be elected by our membership in May and our president position will be appointed by our board members in June. Please consider serving on our board - email boosterssenecavalley@gmail  or robduda@verizon.net

The entire Boosters organization thanks you for supporting our mulch sale. It was a tremendous success, and we look forward to next year.

This week's events:   

4/22/2024 MONDAY - Varsity Baseball Northwest at Seneca Valley 3:45 pm

4/23/2024 TUESDAY - Boys Tennis Rockville at Seneca Valley 3:30 pm

      JV/V Boys Lacrosse Northwood at Seneca Valley 5:30 pm/7:15 pm

4/24/2024 WEDNESDAY - Varsity Softball Springbrook at Seneca Valley 3:45 pm

   Girls Tennis Northwest at Seneca Valley 3:30 pm

4/25/2024 THURSDAY - JV/V Boys Lacrosse Poolesville at Seneca Valley 5:30 pm/ 7:15 pm

Varsity Baseball Wheaton at Seneca Valley 3:45 pm- possible senior night

Girls Tennis Watkins Mill at Seneca Valley 3:30 pm SR NIGHT

4/26/2024 FRIDAY - Boys Tennis Einstein at Seneca Valley 3:30 pm SR NIGHT

4/27/2024 SATURDAY - Girls Lacrosse JV - Wheaton at SVHS 10:00 AM- V-Paint Branch at Seneca Valley 12 pm

          Varsity Softball Watkins Mill at Seneca Valley 2 pm 

JOIN THE BOOSTERS:

2023-2024 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 winter 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

Thank you,

Rob Duda SVHS Booster President 2023-2024

Visit us on our social media sites: 

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10c0e4fadaf2ca1fc1-svhs

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/senecavalleyhs/activities/boosterclub/ 

Notes From the SVHS College and Career Center

2024–25 FAFSA/MHEC Info & Updates

FAFSA:  At this point, students should be able to log in to see FAFSA results and/or make any corrections.  This includes adding or removing colleges.

MHEC:  The MDCAPS portal will be down for the awarding of our largest financial aid programs (Educational Assistance Grant and Guaranteed Access Grant) for 2024-2025, beginning sometime during the week of April 22nd. MHEC will provide the exact dates the system is expected to be down as soon as possible.

The portal will be temporarily unavailable for MDCAPS users to prevent external changes to student accounts as we complete our initial awarding processes for 2024-2025.

Even though the deadline has been extended, I would still encourage students to submit their FAFSA or MSFAA (MHEC One) as soon as possible if they have yet to do so.  This includes students planning to attend Montgomery College.  Review the 2023-24 SV Financial Aid Guide for Seniors for more information and instructions. 

Financial Aid - Next Steps

Many students are asking what the next steps may be for financial aid or what they should be doing as they prepare to commit to a college or weigh their college options.

• Federal Aid - Monitor your FAFSA account, and check on any potential aid you have been awarded (Pell Grant) via the FAFSA Submission Summary.

• State Aid - Monitor your MDCAPS account if you are considering any schools in Maryland, including Montgomery College.

  • See if your FAFSA has been received by MHEC, which happens automatically via your social security number.  You will know this by looking at the bottom of the main menu in your MDCAPS account.  It will turn green and say received for 2024-25.  

  • If you are given an award from the state, you will receive an email from MHEC, and be able to follow-up on additional steps via your MDCAPS account if required.

• School-based forms - Once you have committed to a college or university, fill out any necessary forms for that school.  Monitor your email or online portal/account to check what may need to be completed and what the deadline(s) may be.

• Scholarships - Continue to look for and apply to scholarships!  

College Admissions & Merit Scholarship Offers - Please Update in Naviance!

Many seniors have already received college admissions decisions.  If you plan to attend a college or university in the fall, this is a reminder to keep track of ALL admissions results and merit scholarships for ALL colleges you applied to in Naviance.  

Once you have decided what your plans are and which school you plan to attend, please also indicate that in Naviance!  This is important as we use this information to know where to send your final transcript!

Adding/updating admission decisions in Naviance  |  Adding scholarships to Naviance 

Upcoming Scholarships 

• April 24 - Washington, DC Metro HBCU Alumni Alliance (DCHBCUAA) Scholarship - five (5) scholarship awards at $2,000 each; senior; attend/plan to attend an HBCU; reside in/be a permanent resident of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area; have exemplary leadership in school and/or community; two references; upload a 2-3 minute video clip (see link for prompt).

• April 25 - Seneca Valley High School Boosters Scholarship (deadline is 12pm on 4/25!) - five (5) $1,000.00 scholarships; qualifying senior student athletes or club members who have demonstrated superior academic performance and athleticism or club participation in their senior year; min 3.0 GPA (unweighted) at the end of their first semester during senior year; must pursue post high school education; SVHS Booster Eligibility Criteria Page; transcript; 250-500 word essay; submit application to Mr. Nalda in the College & Career Center.

• April 26 - Senator Nancy J. King Senatorial Scholarship - $2,000 awards; senior; must be a resident of District 39 (check http://www.mdelect.net to verify that you live in District 39); must be planning to attend a Maryland college or university or an approved private career school to be eligible; must have completed and filed the FAFSA, or if applicable, the Maryland Higher Education Commission One-App*; first page of your FAFSA Submission Summary or One App confirmation email; MHEC ID Number (from MDCAPS); submit your application and supporting documentation to Mr. Nalda in SVHS College/Career Center. 

  • • *PLEASE NOTE: The application indicates a March 1 deadline to have submitted your FAFSA or MHEC One App. Due to delays and issues with this year's FAFSA, students who have had their forms submitted and processed by the submission deadline of April 26 are still eligible to apply if they meet all other requirements. Reach out to Mr. Nalda in the SVHS College & Career Center if you have any questions.

• April 26 - Police Officer Noah Leotta Act Responsibly Scholarship - senior; committed to pursuing a career that serves a community and the public; extracurricular activities; community service; transcript; two letters of recommendation.

• April 28 - D`ymond Shantyl Dantzler (DSD) Legacy Scholarship - senior; female; from a single-parent household; resident of the State of Maryland; min 3.0 GPA; at least one hundred hours of Community Service; accepted into a two- or four-year accredited institution in the U.S. as a full-time student; transcript; two letters of recommendation; resume; intro video; essay; click to see full rules and guidelines. 

• April 30 - High Bridge Foundation Scholarship - two (2) $4,000 Impact Awards, five (5) $2,000 Scholarship Awards and seven (7) $1,000 Book Awards; senior; for students who are facing and overcoming personal & family hardship conditions (including financial); min 3.0 GPA (those under may apply if they demonstrate academic progress given hardship conditions); attend a trade school, community college, four-year college and/or university full time in the fall; community service; leadership. 

• April 30 - Delegate Lily Qi Scholarship - senior; must be a resident of District 15- Montgomery County (check http://www.mdelect.net to verify that you live in District 15); see application for all scholarship requirements.

• April 30 - Laytonsville Lions Club Scholarship 2024 Program - one or more scholarships of $2,000, payable in two yearly installments of $1,000, the program also provides for reimbursement to the student for $500 for books and supplies; senior; min 2.5 GPA (unweighted); demonstrated service to the community (school, faith based, community at large); financial need; three letters of recommendation; recipients of the scholarships are recognized at the club’s Scholarship Night Dinner Meeting in June of each year.

• April 30 - The Pink Rocki Advocacy Foundation (PRAF) Scholarship - three awards of up to $5,000; senior; legal resident of Maryland, VA, or DC; min 3.0 unweighted GPA ; enter full-time into an accredited two (2) or four (4) year college or university in the fall; essay of 500-1,000 (see link for prompt); copy of transcript; letter of recommendation.

• April 30 - The Michael Watson Music Scholarship - one award of $1,000; senior; legal resident of Maryland, VA, or DC; min 3.0 unweighted GPA ; enter full-time into an accredited two (2) or four (4) year college or university in the fall; essay of 500-1,000 (see link for prompt); copy of transcript; letter of recommendation.

• April 30 - Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund (SCSF) - senior; plan to enter a 2-year college, 4-year college/university, or vocational/trade school; US Citizen or Permanent Resident; minimum 2.0 GPA; compelling desire to pursue higher education in spite of personal or socio-economic setbacks; demonstrated financial need (on average, adjusted gross income (AGI) of $75,000 or less); extra curricular activities; essay.

• April 30 - AFFIRM Annual Scholarship - award dollar amount of scholarships based on financial contributions received by the organization; senior; must attend an accredited college or university in the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia; must major in computer sciences, information sciences, or any STEM-related field; essay; copy of transcript; extra-curricular activities; community service. 

May 03 - JD Sowers Scholarship Award (SVHS PTSA) - $800 award from the SVHS PTSA; SVHS senior; unweighted GPA of 2.8 or higher throughout each year of high school; fulfilled all Student Service Learning (SSL) hours; personal statement; transcript; two letters of recommendation; see application link for list of questions and prompts. 

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

SAT Results

Results from SAT Day should be available to students in their College Board account.  Students will need to sign in order to access.  If students are having issues accessing their account, they should reach out to College Board for assistance.   

• View your SAT scores and score report from your College Board account

• College Board Student Account Help

• https://about.collegeboard.org/contact-us

Other Info & Opportunities

Summer Junior Leader Program - Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, Germantown Branch 

Summer SSL opportunity for rising 9th graders-12th graders! We are calling all Junior Leaders to apply for our Summer Junior Leader program! Junior Leaders are volunteer club members (going into the 9th grade - 12th grade) who are interested in learning leadership skills and skills to work with youth. Each Junior Leader will be assigned to a Camp Counselor that they will assist with daily activities. The Junior Leader program allows our teen members to have an amazing summer, gain work experience and training, while earning SSL hours. 

All applicants must submit a completed application packet (application, essay, and 3 letters of recommendation) due by Friday, April 26, 2024. 

Click here for more information and the link to the application

2024 Constellation Youth Energy Summit

July 14-19, 2024  |  UMBC  |  Application Deadline:  April 28th 

The Youth Energy Summit was created to bring together young people who want to be part of the climate change solution and are willing to learn and lead us to a brighter and more sustainable future. If you have an interest in STEM and climate change this is the place for you! Constellation is the nation’s largest producer of clean, carbon-free energy and a leading supplier of energy products and services to businesses, homes, community aggregations and public sector customers across the continental United States. A key element of this effort includes engaging with young people who want to learn about energy, electricity, and climate change in order to be leaders in our local communities today and in the future. 

• The Y.E.S! program is open to Students in 10th or 11th grade and is for students interested in energy and sustainability.  

• This program is free to attend. 

• Y.E.S! participants will receive an iPad, Constellation T-shirts for the week, and learning opportunities with peers and energy professionals.

• Y.E.S! participants will stay on-campus at UMBC for the week.

Click here for more information and the link to register

Internships, Summer Programs, and Pre-College Programs

Internships, summer programs, and pre-college programs are a great way for student to explore post-high school options and gain valuable experience they can add to their resume.  Many summer programs have spring application deadlines, so start searching soon if you may be interested!  Explore the many options and opportunities from the list below:

• Summer Programs & Internships - List of summer programs and internships created by MCPS College & Career Information Coordinators.

Do you have questions about internships or would you like to learn more?  Please reach out to the internship coordinator at SVHS, Ms. Kim Skufca. 

Library Media News: Spotlight on Digital Citizenship

Digital Citizenship: Earlier this month, teachers delivered the last of four digital well-being lessons that are part of MCPS’s commitment to teaching digital citizenship.  The lesson encouraged students to reflect on their tech habits, in part by completing a Mental Health and Social Media Quiz from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and then commit to building a new healthy tech-related habit.  Some of the healthy habits suggested by students included going for a walk, exercising, reading a book, limiting screen time, making an effort to be present in the moment instead of on a phone, and focusing on the positive when on social media.  A related family activity from Common Sense Education is available in both English and Spanish.  Additional ideas for family discussion topics may be accessed through articles on the Common Sense Media Blog for Parents and Caregivers. 📱

Book Club Updates: Readers, be sure to submit Black-Eyed Susan book evaluations -- they are due TODAY!  Access the form through the Book Clubs flag in the virtual SVLMC.   Also, please join us on Monday, May 13th for one more book discussion this year.  Readers chose another thriller, Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis, for our final selection.  Both the eBook and audiobook are also available in sorapp.com (log in using studentID@mcpsmd.net & your password), then search by title to access the book. 🌻