Sign up now for Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent/caregiver teacher conferences will be held on 11/20 and 11/21 for SVHS families. Conferences will be held via Zoom. All parents will use the ParentVUE app/website to sign up for parent-teacher conferences. Here is a step by step support guide and video tutorial to assist with conferences. 

Click the links below for help signing up:

• Step by Step Support Guide     

• Video Tutorial

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! 

A Message from the PTSA

Announcement: There will be no General Membership PTSA meeting this month.

Let’s show our gratitude and appreciation to our amazing SVHS staff

The SVHS PTSA is thrilled to announce a heartwarming fundraising event that's all about giving back to the amazing staff who work tirelessly to shape the future of our students. Our dedicated teachers, administrators, and support staff at Seneca Valley High School go above and beyond every day to ensure our students receive the best education and support. They are the unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes to nurture and inspire the next generation. 

Our goal is to show our gratitude and appreciation by raising funds to organize special Staff Appreciation events that will leave a lasting impact.

Your generous donations will enable us to organize a memorable Staff Appreciation event, where our teachers and staff will be celebrated for their hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment to our students' success. Please click HERE and make a donation or scan the QR code below. 

If you have not done so yet, please join our Facebook - Seneca Valley High School PTSA | Facebook

Have questions, comments, feedback for the PTSA? Email us at svhsptsapres@gmail.com 

Need to join the PTSA click here - Join Now

Have a great week 💚💛

SVHS PTSA 

#SVPROUD

A Message from the Boosters

THANK YOU.  The Boosters wants to THANK our community for a great turnout at the YARD SALE.  Next Year will be bigger and better.

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.

VOLUNTEER WITH THE BOOSTERS:

VOLUNTEER. We are currently trying to fill volunteer positions for the 27-winter sports home activities.  Parents and kids (SSL hours given) are encouraged to volunteer.  With a little help we will have concession and spirit wear sales open at each event.  As you know, the money we make goes back to the kids.

PLEASE contact Rob Duda at 301-523-2781, robduda@verizon.net, boosterssenecavalley@gmail,com or use the sign up link below.

Use sign up genius link below or contact Rob Duda-  boosterssenecavalley@gmail.com or robduda@verizon.net

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

Rob Duda  

SVHS Boosters

Notes From the SVHS College and Career Center

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 & Upcoming Changes

Many changes are coming to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2024-2025 financial aid year. A Few Changes You Will See...

The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be replaced with the Student Aid Index (SAI).

Greater Pell Eligibility - The FAFSA Simplification Act expands the Federal Pell Grant to more students and will link eligibility to family size and state poverty levels. The FAFSA will use Federal Tax Information (FTI) data received directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to calculate Federal Pell Grant eligibility and the SAI.

Changes to the FAFSA Application

• Fewer questions will be asked of applicants.

• A New Direct Data Exchange (DDX) system to transfer Federal Tax Information (FTI) directly from the IRS.

• Elimination of questions about Selective Service and drug convictions.

• New wording terminology will appear on the form

  • Contributor - a parent or student spouse who is asked to provide information on the FAFSA.

  • Consent - each contributor will need to give consent to their information being included on the FAFSA.

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:

• Montgomery College - Mon November 13 @ 10:30 AM

  • *Montgomery Scholars Info Session - students considering applying to the Montgomery Scholars Program are encouraged to attend to learn more.

• U.S. Air Force Recruiter, Lunch Visit - Wed November 15 @ 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. Air Force.

• Salisbury University - Thu November 16 @ 10:30 AM

Upcoming Scholarships 

• November 13 - Elks Most Valuable Student Award - 500 awards ranging from $1,000-$30,000 per year for four years; senior; U.S. Citizen; judged on scholarship, leadership, and financial need; top 20 national finalists traditionally win a leadership trip to interview for up to $30,000. 

• November 13 - Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards - awards of up to $1,000 to use for college education or to fund a community service effort; senior; be of Hispanic heritage (includes Spain, Brazil, Philippines); min 3.0 GPA (unweighted); essay questions; letter of recommendation; transcript; if selected, attendance to virtual regional awards ceremony is mandatory. 

• November 16 - Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship - over 100 awards of up to $55,000/year to attend a four-year school; senior; min. 3.5 GPA (un-weighted); judged on persistence, service to others, and leadership; essays, letters of recommendation; financial need (will consider applicants with family income up to $95,000); students can apply via Common App. 

• November 30 - MoreWithUs Spring 2024 Scholarship Competition - 2-$500 awards; grades 9-12; Submit a one-page essay OR a short video (about 2 minutes) about a work or volunteer experience; Create a free MoreWithUs profile.

• November 30 - National Honor Society (NHS) Scholarship* - (*5pm ET deadline on 11/30) awards ranging from $3,200 - $25,000; senior; active NHS member in good standing; currently enrolled at a school with an affiliated NHS chapter; planning to enroll at a postsecondary college or university in fall 2023; student membership must be verified by an active NHS adviser at an affiliated NHS chapter. 

• 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. 

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

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

Other Info & Opportunities

National Apprenticeship Week 2023 - Open House

5000 Forbes Blvd, Lanham, MD 20706  |  Friday, Nov 17, 2023  |  10am to 6pm

A multi-trade event with earn-while-you-learn construction apprenticeships from around our region.  Tours, exhibits, demonstrations, food and drinks.

Click here for more information and the flyer with event registration

2023 Alfred Street Baptist Church Annual HBCU (Historically Black College & University) College Festival

We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the 21st Annual HBCU Festival.  Please note, each attendee must pre-register and have their own ticket (QR code) to enter the festival.

The festival will be held November 17-18, 2023 in a hybrid format.

• Virtual: November 17th from 4-8pm and November 18th from 9am-4pm

• In-person: Saturday, November 18th from 9am-4pm

  • Location:  The St. James Sports Complex (6805 Industrial Road, Springfield, VA 22151)

Festival benefits include:  All accredited HBCUs invited to participate  |  On-the-spot admissions decisions (virtual and onsite)  |  Instrumental and vocal music auditions (virtual and onsite)  |  Seminars on preparing for the college admissions process, financial aid and scholarships, and student life  |  Essay/personal statement writing assistance and interview coaching  |  Student prizes and giveaways

For more information and to register:  https://hbcufest.alfredstreet.org/e/hbcu-fest

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

• On Monday, November 20th, in partnership with Maryland Humanities, the library media center is hosting a One Maryland One Book discussion during lunch.  Please join our conversation about the book There There by Tommy Orange, a book that follows twelve characters from Native communities en route to a powwow in Oakland, California.  Students interested in participating in this program should stop by the LMC or email Ms. Nicole Little for more information.  Free copies of the eBook are available to Maryland residents HERE. 🌻

• In addition to our book promotion celebrating Native American Heritage, we have updated our Rainbow Library promotion to feature books acknowledging Transgender Awareness Week (November 13-19) and set up a new romance display, Books to Fall in Love with This Autumn. 🍂

Creativity Contests 🎥

• The Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office is hosting a contest that challenges students to create an original video to promote awareness of the dangers of opioid abuse or overdose and fentanyl among teens. The Speak Up, Save a Life PSA Contest is open to students in Grades 6-12, who can earn up to 10 SSL hours for participating and cash prizes.  Entries can be in English or Spanish, must be 50-70 seconds in length, and are due by Friday, November 17, 2023.

• MoComCon, a celebration of comics, graphic novels, and fandoms, is coming back to the Germantown Library on January 20, 2024.  Students are invited to enter MoComCon art and essay contests between now and December 1st, and a cosplay contest on the day of the event.  For more information and contest entry forms, click HERE.   

• 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. 

2024 JxJ Teen Film Contest

“CALLING ALL TEENS! Apply to JxJ’s 2024 Teen Film Festival!”

What is the JxJ Teen Film Contest?

Anyone ages 13 to 18 can submit a one-to-three minute film answering the question, “What’s the future?” The winning filmmakers will receive a $375 gift card and their film will have its world premiere at the annual JxJ festival in May.

There will be one winner from the 13-15 age group and one winner from the 16-18 age group.

What’s Your Future?

What’s your future, the future of your community, or the future of the world?

Who can submit a video?

Any teen between the ages of 13 and 18 can submit a short video. You do not need to be Jewish and the film does not need to be about Jewish life.

How to submit your video?

You must submit or email a photo/scan of the signed terms and agreement document available here for your film to be considered. Submit your film by uploading your video file to the dropbox link below! You can also send a private link (Youtube, Vimeo, or Dropbox) to info@jxjdc.org.

Submission Date: March 8, 2024!

When Does the Festival Take Place?

The festival takes place May 9-19, 2024, throughout the DMV area. The schedule will be uploaded in the near future.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to info@jxjdc.org.