A Note from Mr. Tyrell

I am grateful to MCPS and Dr. Cohen for allowing me to serve as the acting assistant principal at Seneca Valley High School. I started my career in 1990 as a physical educator at Francis Scott Key Middle School. I began teaching physical education at James Hubert Blake in 2001 and was promoted to assistant principal within Blake High School in 2007. I transferred to Gaithersburg High School in 2015 and I retired in 2020 after serving in MCPS for 30 years. I did NOT get bored in retirement, but realized I still have a passion to serve students, staff, and families. In the last 3 years I have worked as a second observer for elementary educators, a summer school coordinator for CTE, and have substituted as an assistant principal at Wheaton HS, Whitman HS, Westland MS, Briggs Chaney MS, Banneker MS, New Hampshire Estates ES and Sargent Shriver ES. I even subbed as a teacher at the elementary and middle school level between assistant principal jobs. The most important part of retirement though is spending more time with my wife of 25 years as well as my 19-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter. Between family, friends, and volunteering at church I never ever get bored. I have learned a great deal personally and professionally during my time substituting and am very thankful to continue my growth at Seneca Valley. I look forward to meeting everyone and sincerely hope I add value to the community. 

PSAT Testing

Dear Parents/Guardians of 11th graders:

PSAT will be held on Wednesday Oct 11.  If you would like your student to participate in the PSAT, please submit a payment of $19 to the SchoolCash Online system.  Instruction on registering for SchoolCash Online.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Dr. Michael Kim (Michael_T_Kim@mcpsmd.org).

Thank you.

How to order photos without a QR code:

• Go to Legacystudios.com and scroll down to the FAQ's section at the bottom of the page

• Select What do I do if I don't have my gallery code

• You'll then see: Follow this link: FIND MY CODE 

• Click on the FIND MY CODE link - or simply click here: Legacy Studios Find My Code

• Enter the required information for your student, (name and student id number) to access your images

• If you do not know your child's student id number, please contact our Customer Care team for assistance at:

• • customercare@legacystudios.com

  • 716-512-6336

A Message from the Boosters

SAVE THE DATES: 

• September 21st- Boosters Meeting- Open to the public.  Zoom Link to follow.

• November 4th- SVHS Boosters Community Yard Sale.  Details to follow.

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 fall 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

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

Library Media News: 9th Grade and ESOL LMC Orientation Underway!

Library Media Center Orientation

From August 31th - September 13th, LMC staff are welcoming 9th grade and ESOL students to the library media center (LMC) for orientation.  During this session, students learn about our physical and online spaces, and services and opportunities presented in the LMC.  In addition, staff review basic Chromebook care and troubleshooting tips.  If you would like to see the orientation slides, please click HERE.

Encourage Students to Explore the Virtual SVLMC!

The Library Media Center (LMC) has a virtual presence through which students may access research resources, information on citing sources, tools for reading online, opportunities to participate in reading programs, and more.  Last week, students who are not already enrolled in the Virtual SVLMC should have received an invite in their myMCPS Classroom/Canvas accounts.  If they did not, they simply need to click on this link to enroll.  By clicking on the LMC Information tab, students can access LMC orientation slides.  The last 10 slides provide a self-directed tour through our virtual space.  If you have questions about this, or any other aspect of the library media program at SVHS, please contact our school librarian, Ms. Little.

Save the Date!  Book Club Interest Meeting 9/12

The SVHS Book Club participates in three reading programs: the Black-Eyed Susan Book Club is a year-long reading club through which students read three of ten nominated books by April, and then vote to help select the best book for Maryland’s high school readers, Project LIT Community is a grassroots, nationwide literacy movement that aims to promote reading by providing access to books that help students feel seen and heard, and One Maryland One Book is a statewide reading program that takes place each fall.  To learn more about each of these clubs, students may:

• visit the Book Clubs flag in the Virtual SVLMC

• plan to attend an interest meeting in the LMC on Tuesday, September 12th, at the beginning of lunch

• or contact Ms. Little, our Library Media Specialist 🌻 

ACTION: Complete the Google, YouTube, and Online Digital Tools Consent Form

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. 

Notes From the SVHS College and Career Center

SVHS Required Senior Post-Secondary Interest Form

If you have yet to do so, please fill out the SVHS Required Senior Post-Secondary Interest Form.

All SVHS Seniors are required to complete this form to indicate their post-high school plans.  This is an important part of the SV college application process in order to help ensure all high school documents are submitted in a timely fashion.  This information will also help us support you as you plan for life after high school.

Applying to College

Any Seniors interested in applying to college should start familiarizing themselves with the SVHS College Application Packet document.  This document is a step-by-step guide to applying to colleges.  It has information and instructions on how to apply to college, including Montgomery College.  If you plan on applying to any four-year schools, you should start working on this process ASAP!  Feel free to reach out to your counselor or Mr. Nalda if you have any questions.

College Representative Visits in the College & Career Center

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

Advantages of participating in college visits:

• Meeting the contact from a college or university.  Many times, these are the same people reviewing your application.

• Learning in-depth information about the school, their program offerings, and financial aid.

• In some cases, colleges may offer insight on how to receive a fee waiver.

To attend a college visit, students must have permission from their teacher in order to attend.  It is the responsibility of each student to make-up any work they may miss.  Click here to learn more and see who is scheduled to visit SVHS this Fall!

Next Week’s College & Career Center Visits:

• New York University - Wed September 6 @ 12:15 PM

• *U.S. Army Recruiter, Lunch Visit - Thu September 7 @ 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. Army.

Upcoming Scholarships 

• September 08 - Cameron Impact Scholarship* - (*deadline is 3pm EST) 10-15 four-year, full-tuition awards for exceptional high school students who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, community service, extracurricular activities, and academics; senior; maintain a minimum, cumulative, unweighted GPA of 3.7; full citizen of the United States of America; planning to enroll in a full-time course of study towards a degree at an accredited four-year U.S. college or university for the full academic year following high school graduation; two Letters of Recommendation; transcript; 75-100 Finalists to receive face-to-face interviews (typically at the Applicant’s high school).

• September 15 - The Gates Scholarship - top 300 students receive funding for full cost of attendance; senior; US citizen, national, or permanent resident; African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American; min 3.3 GPA; financial need; Pell-eligible; must enroll full-time in a four-year degree program; outstanding academic record; demonstrated leadership; personal success skills.

• September 15 - Notorious RBG Women Of Tomorrow Scholarship - 10-$1,000 awards; grades 9-12 and recently graduated 2023 seniors (female-identified applicants are strongly encouraged to apply, however applicants of any gender are eligible!); 500-800 word essay; pictures/videos/ media showing your leadership in action; color headshot; academic resume; current transcript (can be official or  unofficial); educator recommendation.

• September 17 - We The Future Contest - 1-$1,000 award for each project categories; grades 9-12; ages 14-19 at time of entry; U.S. Cit. or legal res.; submit an original work one of the following about the First Amendment: essay, song, STEM, short film, or PSA; see link for full rules and guidelines.

• September 26 - QuestBridge National College Match - recipients are granted early admission to one of QuestBridge's college partners with a full four-year scholarship, worth over $200,000; any high school senior, regardless of citizenship, currently attending high school in the U.S. is eligible for the National College Match (should review the Additional Citizenship Requirements); have earned primarily A's in the most challenging courses available (usually including Honors, AP, and/or IB level courses); financial need as finalists typically come from households earning less than $65,000 annually for a typical household of four and have minimal assets.

• September 30 - Don't Text and Drive Scholarship - $1,000 award; 9-12 grade; U.S. Citizen; submit a 140-character personal statement that completes this sentence: "I pledge to not text and drive because...."

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

Other Info & Opportunities

Keystone Club Interest Meeting

Keystone is the Boys & Girls Club Movement’s most dynamic teen program. It affords teens an opportunity to gain valuable leadership and service experience. It is TEEN LED and TEEN FOCUSED! Teens conduct activities in four areas: academic success, career exploration, community service, and teen outreach. All while having a great time and forming friendships with other members! 

If teens are looking to gain SSL hours and/or leadership experience, the Keystone is the place for them! This club is open to all teens ages 13-18 (8th-12th grade)! Click here for the flyer

Interested? Click here to register and attend our virtual interest meeting on Thursday, September 7th @ 6pm. If you are unable to attend, please reach out to the contact listed below to get more information on how you can still participate.  

Questions or want more information? Reach out to Ashley Miller (Program Director - Germantown Boys & Girls Club) at amiller@bgcgw.org.

Bowie Baysox College Fair

The Bowie Baysox, Double-A Affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, are pleased to put together our 5th Annual College Fair on Thursday, September 7th starting at 5:30pm. It is a unique setting to talk to colleges and also enjoy a baseball game! The event will go from 5:30 – 8:30pm with first pitch set for 6:35pm.

Students can get one (1) free general admission ticket by showing their school ID at a table we will have setup near our front entrance. If parents attend with students they can purchase a ticket from our box office.

From there they can go in, meet and talk to school representatives and enjoy our game against the Blue Jays affiliate, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

This year, we will have 15 colleges and universities present. There is still a chance a few more could be added.  (Click here to see the list)

Questions? Please reach out to Adam Pohl at apohl@baysox.com or call 301-805-6000. 

How to Make your Common App Less Common - Webinar

Most students applying to college will come face-to-face with the Common App. Knowing the ins and outs of the application process can give students the competitive edge they need to navigate the platform successfully. Find out how to use your application to make yourself stand out. Jordan Kanarek from CollegeWise will be presenting to students on Zoom on Tuesday, September 12th at 7pm. Students and parents are welcome to join.

In this webinar, you’ll leave feeling more confident about:

• Academic transcript requirements

• Extracurricular planning

• Essay writing and school selection

• Incorporating personality in the application

• And recent changes that will impact applicants

Interested? Click here to register and for more information.

Post High School: Planning for Accommodations in College - Webinar for Families

This webinar will be a session on planning for post secondary accommodations for your student with disabilities. Tuesday, September 19, at 7:00 pm. The session will cover:

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protections and definitions

• The American with Disabilities Act of 1990 protections and definitions

• How to prepare before your student leaves high school

• When to disclose and how to disclose a student’s disability and needs

• Evaluations that may be needed

• Parents role once a student enrolls in college

• What types of accommodations are reasonable

Please complete this form to register for the event. The Zoom link for the webinar will be sent upon form submission.  (Flyer) 

SVHS College & Career Monthly Newsletter

• September, 2023-24

News from the Business and Finance Offices 

Business Office: Monique Riddick, Business Administrator, 240-740-6413

Finance Office:  Tara Owens, Financial Specialist, 240-740-6414

Important Dates to Remember:

• Senior Portraits - September 11-12, 2023; January 8-9, 2024

• Senior Panoramic Portrait - October 15, 2023

• Picture Make-up Day - October 11

• Last Day Seniors may pay with check - May 1, 2024

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. The Seneca Valley High School student parking information and regulations can be found here.