Good evening Seneca Valley Community,

I want to again introduce myself.  I am honored and privileged to be the acting principal of Seneca Valley High School.  I look forward to working with you to help our students achieve their fullest potential.  In the upcoming weeks I will be having meet and greets at school to provide you with an opportunity for us to gather and get to know each other.  As I attend athletic events, concerts, and other school functions please do not hesitate to come up and say hello.  We have an exciting year ahead.

Have a good Monday, on purpose!

Ricardo Hernandez

Acting Principal

#SVPROUD

A Message About Course Registration for 2024-2025

SAVE-THE-DATE! Registration Information Night

Wednesday, December 13th, 2023  6:00-8:00 p.m.

In the Seneca Valley High School auditorium

Please join the Seneca Valley Counseling Services Department and select Seneca Valley staff for an important informational evening about the upcoming registration process for the 2024-2025 school year. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the amazingly diverse course offerings available at Seneca Valley, including our wonderful IB and Career Readiness programs. We're looking forward to seeing you there! 

Save the date: Course Information Days!

This year's Course Information Days are Monday, Dec., 11 through Friday, Dec. 15.  

SVHS, along with other select MCPS high schools, partner with Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) to ensure underrepresented students have access to and the support needed in higher level classes. Each year, we give an EOS-developed survey to staff and students. Utilizing this survey data, Course Information days provide structures to help SVHS leverage important relationships by having multiple adults guide students through the registration process and help students connect their choices for next year with their future college & career goals.  

More information is coming soon! 

Notes From the SVHS College and Career Center

In-Class Financial Aid Presentations for Seniors

Attention Seniors!  Mr. Nalda will be visiting all 12th grade English classes within the next few weeks* to share information about financial aid for college.  On the day of your presentation, he also will guide students through the process of creating an FSA ID (required for the FAFSA).  Students will need a valid email address, cell phone number, and Social Security Number in order to create this account.  For students that are not eligible to complete the FAFSA, he will share the process of creating an MHEC account in order to fill out the MSFAA once that application opens.

*See your English teacher to find out which date in December Mr. Nalda will be visiting your class.

Applying to Colleges - A Few Reminders

As you continue working on college applications, a few reminders:

• Students should refer to the SVHS College Application Packet as a guide to applying to colleges and for specific instructions.  It is important to follow all of the instructions and steps provided.

• Once you have completed any applications, please submit!  You SHOULD NOT wait for staff to complete their portion of the application (letters of recommendation, etc).

• Whenever you add any new colleges to your list of applications, you will need to do the following:

  • Go into Naviance and re-request teachers for letters of recommendation for these new schools. 

  • Verify the deadlines listed in Naviance for each of these new schools under the ‘Colleges I’m Applying To’ section.  Make sure they match the deadline you intend to meet and/or the deadline you have in Common App (if they are Common Schools).

  • Last, but not least, inform your counselor if you add any new schools!  We want to make sure we are reviewing everything and submitting on time.   

Staff Alma Maters

Curious or want to learn more about a particular college?  Click this link to see where some of our SVHS staff members attended college.  They have volunteered to speak with students about their school and college experience!

More About the 2024-25 FAFSA

Earlier this week, the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced that the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), also known as the Better FAFSA, will open by December 31, 2023.

• Click here to see the announcement

We also received information about a new FSA ID process.  For those students, parents, or spouses who have SSNs, they should use the current system and get their FSA IDs established now so they are ready when the new FAFSA opens by December 31, 2023. For those who do not have SSNs, the new FSA ID process will launch on the same day as the 2024-25 FAFSA (December 31, 2023). 

• Click here for more information

Upcoming Scholarships

• December 04 - National Space Club and Foundation Keynote Scholar Application - invitation to speak at the Goddard Memorial Dinner and a $15,000 scholarship; senior; U.S. Citizen; must have the intention of pursuing a career in the STEM fields and plan to attend an accredited U.S. college or university to follow a course of study to pursue a career in the STEM field, with a preference for those with space related interests; unofficial transcript; at least 2 letters of recommendation; statement of Intent: A brief statement of 150 words or less on your study/career plans with an emphasis on STEM; video audition; see link for full guidelines and details. 

• December 05 - PixelPlex Bi-Annual STEM Scholarship - 1-$2,000 award; U.S. citizen or a permanent resident; accepted with plans to attend in a college or university in the United States; your field of study must be related to science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), economics, or business; submit a min 1200-word essay on one of four technology prompts; see link for prompts and full guidelines. 

• December 05 - Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger Scholarships - $7,500 awards; kindergarten - college age students welcome to apply; U.S. Citizen or permanent resident; have demonstrated on-going commitment to their community by performing unpaid volunteer services impacting hunger in the United States within the last 12 months; this scholarship award is designed to recognize and reward the great steps students are taking to fight hunger in our communities across the United States.

• December 06 - APIA (Asian and Pacific Islander Americans) Scholars - Deadline for Optional Letter of Recommendation - (Optional Letter of Recommendation Due @ 5pm; application due on January 9 @ 5pm); $2,500 one-year awards to $20,000 multi-year awards; senior; U.S. citizen, national, or legal permanent resident; min 2.7 GPA (unweighted); able to describe your ethnicity, heritage, or ancestry in relation to the countries, territories, or lands in Asia or the Pacific Islands; enroll as a degree-seeking undergraduate student in a U.S. accredited college or university in Fall 2024; must apply for FASFA by early April 2024; essay questions.

• December 15* - BURGER KING Scholars Program* - multiple awards ranging from $1,000-$50,000; senior; min 2.0 GPA (unweighted); must enroll at a two- or four-year school full-time next Fall; recipients are selected based on their grade point average, work experience, extracurricular activities and/or community service. 

  1. • *Apply early as scholarship closes on December 15 or when 50,000 applications are submitted, whichever occurs first!

• December 18* - Equitable Excellence Scholarship (*due at 4pm on 12/18) - 100-$5,000 annual awards (renewable up to for four years) & 100 one-time $2,500 awards; senior; U.S. citizen or legal resident living or claiming residency in one of the 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia or Puerto Rico; min 2.5 GPA (unweighted) enroll full-time in an accredited two- or four-year college or university in the U.S.; essay; demonstrate ambition and self-drive to be a force for good in school, community or work activities; willing to provide a release to publicize their identities and other information. 

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

College Representative Visits in the College & Career Center

Juniors & Seniors are encouraged to participate in college rep visits to SVHS to learn more about colleges and universities.  Students interested in participating in rep visits must register in Naviance.  

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

Next Week’s College & Career Center Visits:

• U.S. Army Recruiter, Lunch Visit - Wed December 6 @ 11:24 AM - 12:06 PM

  • *No registration in Naviance needed. Stop by the cafeteria anytime during lunch to learn more about the U.S. Army.

Other Info & Opportunities

MCPS Athletics - NCAA Eligibility Center Coach, Student, and Parent/Caregiver Information Night (Virtual)

Ms. Ivorye Long, Assistant Director, Outreach and Strategic Partnerships

Monday, December 4, 2023  |  6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Click here for more information and the zoom information to join the meeting

Get Set to Complete the FAFSA - Virtual Meeting

The 24-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid isn’t open yet, but you can prepare to complete it now. Students and their parents are invited to join us on Zoom so you can:

• Create a Federal Student Aid account

• Gather documents needed for the FAFSA

• Learn more about the completing the FAFSA

• Hear answers to frequently asked questions

Tuesday, December 5, at 6PM

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

MCPS Regional On-The-Spot Admissions Events

Attention Seniors!  Still looking to apply to college?  Want to receive an immediate admissions decision without having to wait weeks or months?  Participate in these regional on-the-spot admissions events!  Students interview with college representatives and receive an on-the-spot admissions decision!  Students may also find out if they are eligible for scholarships.

Seniors from all MCPS high schools are welcome to attend any of these events.  For planning purposes, please register ahead of time if you plan to participate.

Northwood High School  |  December 5th and 6th  

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

Richard Montgomery High School |  December 13th |  6pm - 8pm 

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

Seneca Valley High School  |  January 11th  |  6pm - 8pm

Click here for the save-the-date (registration information and link to be released soon)

Amazon AHEAD Program

AHEAD (Amazon, Hardware, Embedded, Artificial Intelligence, Design) is a fully-funded STEM opportunity for students ages 11-18 to participate in a six-month enrichment program bringing the magic of STEM to life. The AHEAD program is designed to increase diverse representation in STEM. Selected applicants will attend this innovative program delivered by iD Tech, the world’s top STEM educator, and will be immersed in hands-on learning through a custom curriculum enhanced by Amazon.

AHEAD program dates: January -June, 2024  |  Deadline to Apply:  December 6, 2023

Click here for more information and to apply

Questions? Contact: 408-871-3700, 1-888-709-8324, or hello@iDTech.com

Paying for College and Trade School - Money Smart Decision Making

Tuesday, December 19  |  6:30-7:30 PM

Education is expensive-plan wisely for your future.

Live, Virtual, Interactive Session |  Space is limited, register today! 

Click here for the flyer  |  Click here to register

Questions? dnuckols@umd.edu

Library Media News: Give the Gift of Reading! 

The Key Club and Minority Scholars Program are sponsoring a winter gift drive, assisting approximately 24 SVHS families this holiday season.  Book Club members are planning to participate by contributing gifts of books and magazines.  We welcome additional donations of new children’s books (for children ages 0-12) and new magazines for teens (car, fashion, celebrity, cooking, puzzles/games, etc.).  If you would like to participate, please drop off unwrapped book and magazine donations to the library media center by Friday, December 8th. 📚 

Updated Book Club schedule:  Last week, student reader leaders met to select new titles and schedule new meeting dates.  As always, ALL ARE WELCOME!  Membership in the book club is fluid and students are welcome to participate based on interest and availability.  Please note the upcoming titles and discussion dates:

• Monday, December 18th: 2nd half of There There by Tommy Orange

• Monday, January 8th: Eat Your Heart Out by Kate DeVos

• Monday, February 5th: Mamo by Sas Milledge

We have print copies of each book available, but students may also read these books in audiobook and/or eBook format.  For information about accessing books in Sora, our online reading app, please click on the READ Online! flag in the Virtual SVLMC or stop by the LMC for assistance. 🌻

New reading promotion: We kicked off our winter book promotion with a collection of cookbooks!  The cold front last week inspired us to “warm up with comfort food” and share traditional recipes reflecting a range of cultures and traditions.  Because the “holidays are what you BAKE them,” we also included a number of cookbooks featuring sweet treats.  Stop by for menu ideas that may spice up your life! 🧁