Good Evening Seneca Valley Community,

Hope you had a great weekend and had the chance to catch a great Super Bowl.

Please see messages from the Boosters regarding upcoming meetings.

Have a great day and week, on purpose!

Ricardo Hernandez, Acting Principal

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

Attention Students and Caregivers!!

Summer RISE registration is open!  Summer RISE (Reimagining an Innovative Student Experience) is an initiative led by the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Department of Partnerships to provide rising high school juniors and seniors with enriching summer career-based learning experiences.

Click the link below for more information about Summer RISE:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/partnerships/summer-rise/for-students

Click here to register

Message from the PTSA

Join us on Tuesday, February 20th from 6:30pm-to-8:00pm in the SVHS media center or via zoom. We value your voice and hope to see you there! Come meet the Principal Mr. Ricardo Hernandez. 

The Wellness Center will be presenting at the PTSA meeting. Come learn more about the great resources they offer the SVHS community. 

**We are still in need of a couple volunteers to help with the SVHS After-PROM committee. Please reach out to us at svhsptsapres@gmail.com if you are interested. We thank you in advance! We hope to have a committee formed by mid February**

SAVE THE DATE

The PTSA will be having a fundraiser at Chick- Fil-A on Wednesday, March 13th from 5:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m. Funds raised will support the SVHS After-Prom and other PTSA sponsored events. 

Staff Appreciation 

The PTSA is working on putting together a staff appreciation event for our wonderful teachers. Be on the lookout for ways you can support this event. 

The PTSA is on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/954316351262170/

Have a great week 💚💛

SVHS PTSA 

#SVPROUD 

Thanks,

Chantal

Sustainability Contests

Students, please consider entering these exciting sustainability contests!

2024 Sustainability Poster Contest:   

All MCPS students and staff are invited to participate in the Division of Sustainability and Compliance's Sustainability Poster Contest.  The focus of this annual contest is to increase awareness and demonstrate your school's commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable actions related to energy conservation, waste reduction, and responsible recycling. Posters must be submitted to DSC by Friday, April 5, 2024.  For more information, visit:  poster contest | Montgomery County Public Schools | Rockville, MD (montgomeryschoolsmd.org)Links to an external site.

DUAL ENROLLMENT!!

There is still time to register for the Spring Semester of Dual Enrollment! The classes offered in the building for Spring 2024 will be AOSC 100 (Weather & Climate) and BSAD 101 (Introduction to Business). These classes will be offered during 7th & 8th periods and are open to qualified students in all grades. Students are also able to take classes on campus at Montgomery College as well as virtually.  Tuition and books are at NO COST to students and families. This is a fantastic opportunity to start earning free college credit! Please email Stacey Blaine with any questions at stacey_j_blaine@mcpsmd.org

Stacey Blaine

Part-time Dual Enrollment Program Assistant

Seneca Valley High School

Room 2107B

IB Projects

We are in the final stretch of our IB Projects! At this stage in the process, students should be working toward completing their final products and achieving their final learning goal. For more information, please see this handout! 

• Successful Project completion: Students must submit their product google slide and passing (grade of 3 or above) final report in order to earn the SSL and course credit (10th graders only) benefits. Additionally, students must adhere to our SVHS Academic Honesty policy on all components. 

  • All assignments for the project and supporting materials are posted in the Canvas classrooms. All assignments will remain open for the duration of the semester, and can be turned in at any time with no penalty for late work. 

• Timeline:

  • February 14: Next SEL Lesson for the IB Project

  • February 20: Due date for students to complete their products and create a Google Slide highlighting their projects.

  • February 28, February 29, March 5, & March 6: 10th grade students will be assigned to one of the workshop dates during periods 6-8 in the Library Media Center with Mrs. Becraft to complete their final report. 

  • March 8: Due date for their Final Report.

Current 9th Grade Course Registration

CLARIFICATION from last week: The MYP Personal Project (Course #NSS2309 - MYP Research Seminar) does NOT replace a class within the student's 8-period schedule (such as a student's elective class)  The course is an additional 9th period class added to their schedule for 2nd semester. 

NEW FOR THE CLASS OF 2027: All 10th graders will be registered for the MYP Personal Project (Course #NSS2309 - MYP Research Seminar) for the second semester of sophomore year. This is a Credit/No Grade course. Marking period grades for this course are based on completion only. Students should bring home a flyer with additional information distributed during Tuesday's homeroom. The flyer is also linked here. 

• Students who successfully complete the requirements of the MYP PP will earn credit (grade CR) added to their transcript for the .5 elective course, as well as 15 SSL hours.

• Students who do not successfully complete the requirements or do not abide by the SVHS academic honesty policy will earn a no grade (NG). This does not negatively impact GPA, but it will result in the student not earning credit for the course. 

Notes From the SVHS College and Career Center

Mid-Year Transcripts/Reports - Seniors

If the college(s) you have applied to require a mid-year transcript, please reach out to your counselor and/or Mr. Nalda for assistance.  Schools will typically reach out to students via email or provide this information as a checklist within their portal.  If you are unsure if you need to send a mid-year transcript, double-check your email and college portals.  Feel free to reach out to Mr. Nalda if you have any questions.

Tracking College Admissions & Merit Scholarship Offers in Naviance - Seniors

Many seniors have already received college admissions decisions.  This is a reminder to keep track of ALL admissions results and merit scholarships for ALL colleges you applied to in Naviance.  Once you hear back from colleges via email or letter, please record your results in Naviance:

• How to update admission decisions/results in Naviance:  video instructions

• If you were accepted and offered a merit scholarship, congratulations!  Here is how to add your offered scholarship in Naviance (video instructions)

  • Note:  Under $ Awarded, enter the amount.  If you see that your award is renewable, please multiply the amount by four (for four years of college).

  • If you have been offered multiple academic scholarships, you may title them by using the name of the college or the name of the scholarship.

    • For example:  “University of Florida - Merit Scholarship” OR “Trustee Scholarship - Purdue U.”  (etc.)

If you need assistance, feel free to reach out to Mr. Nalda or your counselor.

2024–25 FAFSA Info & Updates

2024-25 FAFSA Student Aid Index Update and Timeline (Updated Feb. 6, 2024) 

A few important things to note:

• Institutions, state higher ed agencies, and designated scholarship organizations will begin receiving batches of FAFSA information (ISIRs) starting in the first half of March. The information transmitted to schools will include updated SAI tables.  Colleges and universities are aware of this new timeline.

• Students will receive an email informing them that their FAFSA form has been fully processed and their FAFSA information has been sent to the schools they listed on their form.

• Students who applied using the online FAFSA form will receive an email that they can access their FAFSA Submission Summary by logging in to StudentAid.gov using their account username and password.

• Students will be able to make corrections to their FAFSA once their eligibility has been calculated and ISIR generated. Students may view their eligibility calculation by logging back into their Studentaid.gov account.

Reminder that students and families can visit StudentAid.gov/fillingout for resources about completing the 2024–25 FAFSA Form—including information about creating a StudentAid.gov account without a Social Security number (parents), how to complete the new 2024–25 FAFSA form, and what to do before and after completing the FAFSA form.

• Click here to learn more

• 2024–25 FAFSA Issue Alerts

2023-24 SV Financial Aid Guide for Seniors

Upcoming Scholarships 

• February 12 - Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation - Student Scholarships & Awards Opportunities from $250 - $40,000; all MCPS graduating seniors who plan to pursue higher education are eligible to apply; primary goal is to fund students who are passionate about pursuing educational goals, and face opportunity gaps in achieving those goals; personal essay (can use essay from another application); list of top 3 – 5 activities; demonstrated financial need via FARMS, FAFSA, or MSFAA. 

• February 13 - McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship - different tiers of awards ranging from $5,000 - $100,000; senior; legal U.S. resident or a DREAMer/DACA recipient; have at least one parent of Hispanic heritage; younger than 21 years old; minimum 2.8 GPA; attend a two- or four-year college or university with a full-time course of study in the fall; transcript; personal statement; letter of recommendation to be submitted online; list of community service projects; FAFSA report and/or 1040s.

• February 15 - Hispanic Scholarship Fund - many awards ranging from $500-$5,000; senior; must be of Hispanic heritage; U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA; minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for high school students; plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university, or graduate school, in the US, for the 2023-2024 academic year; submit the FAFSA or state-based financial aid forms (if applicable). 

• February 18 - Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Issie Jenkins Scholarship - $2,000 award; senior; min 3.0 GPA (unweighted); three letters of recommendation from teachers,counselors, employers, and community or church leaders that address academic achievement, leadership, and community service; 200-word essay explaining how he/she has demonstrated effective leadership abilities in and outside the school setting; resume; transcript.

• February 20 - The Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship - one award of $10,000 and four awards of $5,000; senior; open to vegetarian and vegan students; write an essay addressing different points on vegetarianism, including how you promoted vegetarianism in your high school and/or community and why it is important to you; copy of transcript; three or more recommendations (at least one teacher); any documentation related to your promotion of vegetarianism in high school and/or community including photographs, newspaper stories, etc.

• February 20 - Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation - (deadline extended to 2/20!) Student Scholarships & Awards Opportunities from $250 - $40,000; all MCPS graduating seniors who plan to pursue higher education are eligible to apply; primary goal is to fund students who are passionate about pursuing educational goals, and face opportunity gaps in achieving those goals; personal essay (can use essay from another application); list of top 3 – 5 activities; demonstrated financial need via FARMS, FAFSA, or MSFAA; flyer.

• February 29 - TheDream.US National Scholarship - up to a maximum of $16,500 for an associate degree and $33,000 for a bachelor’s degree at one of our Partner Colleges (see list); senior; min 2.5 GPA; have DACA, TPS, or came to the country before November 1, 2018, and otherwise meet the DACA criteria, or came to the U.S. before age 16; significant financial need; family's financial info; essays; responsibilities. 

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

Other Info & Opportunities

Upcoming College/Career Rep Visits to SVHS

U.S. Navy Recruiter, Lunch Visit - Tue February 13 @ 11:12 AM - 11:54 AM

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

U.S. Army Recruiter, Lunch Visit - Wed February 14 @ 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.

Montgomery Village Foundation, Lunch Visit - Thu February 15 @ 11:12 AM - 11:54 AM

*No registration in Naviance needed. Stop by the cafeteria anytime during lunch to learn more about summer jobs at Montgomery Village Foundation (Lifeguards, Camp Counselors, and Youth Corp).

16TH Annual MCPS Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) College Fair 

February 16, 2024, 6:00pm – 8:30pm   |  Universities at Shady Grove

This free in-person event at The Universities at Shady Grove will provide students in Grades 8–12 an opportunity to meet representatives from more than 50 HBCUs. Representatives will share information and answer questions from students and parents about admissions, financial aid, testing, majors and much more. The event will also feature a college preparation workshop for middle school students and parents, a discussion on college life, FAFSA completion assistance, scholarship information and more. 

This event is co-sponsored by Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and the Montgomery County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Click here to learn more and to register  |  Click here for the Workshops Flyer

MC Educational Opportunity Center FAFSA Fest

February 19-23, 9:30am - 6:00pm  

The Gudelsky Institute for Technical Education, GU 233 

51 Mannakee Street, Rockville, MD 20850

The Montgomery College Educational Opportunity Center invites you to join us at the 2024-2025 FAFSA Fest!  Attend to receive assistance with completing the 2024-2025 FAFSA application.

Register to attend and receive: 

• An in-person session with an EOC staff member or Financial Aid Officer

• 2024-2025 FAFSA application assistance

Please have your 2022 federal income tax forms on hand to ensure our staff can assist you. 

Click here to register  |  Click here for the flyer 

Service Year Maryland Virtual Information Session

Wednesday, February 21st at 7:00 p.m.

Service Year Maryland is a new program recently signed into law by Maryland Governor Wes Moore. The Service Year Option is an opportunity for those who recently completed high school, received their high school completion certificate or earned their GED in Maryland. A service year is an opportunity to develop real-world skills through hands-on service. Members will serve across the state of Maryland in organizations that will provide job training, mentorship and other resources to be successful all while earning $15 an hour plus focused professional development time each week. 

This session will provide information on how the program works and what opportunities are available.

Click here to register

Summer RISE Application is Now Open - Deadline is Feb 27 @ 5pm!

Summer RISE (Reimagining an Innovative Student Experience) is an initiative led by the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Department of Partnerships to provide rising high school juniors and seniors with enriching summer career-based learning experiences.

Click here for the flyer with more information

Click here for the link to register for the Summer RISE program - Application Now Open! 

U.S. Service Academies - Summer Programs for Juniors

Click here for a letter from Senator Van Hollen’s office with more information, program dates, and application deadlines

SVHS College & Career Monthly Newsletter - February, 2023-24

Library Media News: Happy Lunar New Year! 🧧

• Lunar New Year kicked off on February 10th and is celebrated through February 24th this year.  Library media staff are excited to celebrate by hosting the ASIA Club’s Lunar New Celebration on Monday, February 12th, during lunch.  Come help us usher in the Year of the Dragon with games, crafts, and good company! 🐉

• No plans for Valentine’s Day?  No worries!  Snuggle up with a great book after finding your perfect match through our Blind Date with a Book reading promotion!  Read and review your “date” for the opportunity to win a heart-shaped box of chocolates! ❤️ 

• In recognition of Black History Month, Book Club leaders decided to read and discuss The Weight of Blood by Tiffany Jackson.  Set in the South, and inspired by Stephen King’s Carrie and a high school in Georgia that hosted its first integrated prom in 2014, this book explores racism in small-town America.  Readers will meet to discuss this book during lunch on Wednesday, February 28th.  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).  🌻

• Last week during SEL, teachers delivered the first of four digital well-being lessons that were developed by Common Sense Education in collaboration with Harvard University’s Center for Digital Thriving.  These lessons are designed to help students develop agency, reduce anxiety, and increase mindfulness around media and the use of technology, and are part of MCPS’s commitment to teaching digital citizenship.  We hope you will join us in the opportunity to engage children in conversations about the ways we interact with technology and the impact these interactions may have on our lives.  Ideas for family discussion topics may be accessed through articles on the Common Sense Media Blog for Parents and Caregivers.  In addition, Your Characters Count, an MCPS website dedicated to digital citizenship, offers resources and ideas for families, students, and staff.

Creativity Contests 🎥

• High school students from across the Washington Metropolitan Area are invited to submit poems to the Gaithersburg Book Festival Poetry Contest. This year’s theme is Envision a Better Future.  Entries must be no longer than one page, single spaced, 12-point Times New Roman, and are due by February 22, 2024. 

• NEW! The MCPS Division of Sustainability and Compliance is sponsoring an art contest to find designs to use as wraps for new electric-powered cargo vans. All MCPS staff and students from MCPS middle and high schools are invited to participate. The deadline is Friday, March 1. To learn more, click HERE.

• 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 31, 2024.  Click HERE for more information and contest rules.

• NEW! The Division of Sustainability and Compliance Poster Contest, open to all MCPS students and staff, presents a chance to help raise awareness about the importance of environmental sustainability, energy conservation, waste reduction and responsible recycling, and showcase your creativity! Entries are due by Friday, April 5.