SVHS Green and Gold
Dr. Cohen/Mr. Smith's Newsletter to the SVHS Community
February 14, 2021 Edition
REMINDER: No School Monday, February 15 in Observance of Presidents Day
NEW: SVHS Equity Twitter Chats
In our efforts to support SVHS’ goals to create a schoolwide antiracist culture of thinking, SVHS Equity Committee is producing a twitter chat series! Our February 17th chat is on intersectionality in educational settings.
- Here's a 2min video that explains our discussion format. https://youtu.be/5mSchUjslAo
NEW: Seal of Biliteracy Exam (12th Graders ONLY)
The Maryland Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by participating school systems that recognizes a student’s high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing in English and one or more other languages. Click HERE for more information about eligibility for the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy.
This year seniors have the opportunity to test for the Seal of Biliteracy. A Google survey has been created in order to gauge interest, begin planning, and secure testing seats for interested seniors. The survey will be open from 02/09/2021 until 02/26/2021.
Contact the Acting World Languages Resource Teacher Elizabeth Maxey at elizabeth_maxey@mcpsmd.org for more information. Families and students can also send a message to the following email address: SealofBiliteracy@mcpsmd.org.
REMINDER: Counselor LIVE Chat
Counselors are now available for live chat sessions EVERYDAY via Zoom. Please use your student's sign in credentials to access the session. Click HERE to access counselor's availability. *Please note that you may be required to wait briefly in the waiting room while the counselor is meeting with another parent and/or student."
REMINDER: Where do I go for help?
We are here to support you in any way that we can. for more information about who to go to for the most commonly asked questions, please visit this link. There you will find resources for the topics listed below. We will continue to add to this list as needs evolve.
- Community Resources
- Wellness Resources
- Student Support
- Counselors
- Class Sponsors
- Technology Reminders
- Ask Your Librarian
Looking for a great class to round out your schedule for next year? See below to learn more about our amazing electives.
NEW: Black Youth Minds Matter
- In celebration of Black History Month, we have developed a Black Youth Minds Matter (BYMM) campaign to include:
- promoting the work of organizations that work to support Black youth mental health
- a club guide with suggested activities and materials for students
- Our BYMM campaign will culminate in a Solomon Speakers panel on Tuesday, February 23rd at 7pm EST in remembrance of Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller, the first African American psychiatrist. We invite you to attend and share with anyone who may be interested in attending, I have attached a flier below. Please register via bit.ly/solomonspanel.
NEW: Black History Month Events Hosted by Montgomery County Public Libraries
Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) has planned a series of events to commemorate Black History Month, including presentations on local history, author visits, and trivia contests. Click on the links below to learn more about upcoming learning opportunities geared toward teens and adults:
- Historical Perspectives on Slavery in Maryland and Washington, D.C.
- Social Justice Author Talk Featuring Michelle C. Hall
- Separate But Unequal History of School Segregation in Montgomery County
- The Reported Lynchings in Montgomery County
- Trivia Night in Celebration of Black History Month
- Black History Month Trivia
- From Slave Ship to Harvard Featuring Author Jim Johnston
NEW: Update from Athletics
Good afternoon SV Community, please see important update from MCPS regarding our return to in person athletics.
Highlights:
- We will begin Saturday February 27th
- what sports will be offered in person or virtual will be announced offered the week of the 22nd.
- Registration deadline is fast approaching- February 22nd.
- Please review links for how things will work.
Please reach out to Athletic Director Jesse Irvin -if you have any questions or concerns.
Thanks- Go Screaming Eagles!
Athletics Fall Season Update
The fall sports season will begin on Saturday, Feb. 27. As a reminder, all in-person programming will be optional for coaches and student-athletes. Program offerings will be school- and team-specific, depending on the selection of coaches and the interest of student-athletes.
Registration—February 22 Deadline
All students must be registered through ParentVue by Feb. 22. Once registration is complete, coaches will confirm program offerings and begin grouping students, All students are eligible to participate in athletics regardless of their mode of school instruction (virtual or in-person). Resources for securing sports physicals are available on the COVID-19 Athletics Information Webpage.
Program Offerings
More information regarding program offerings and the status of games and competition will be provided later this month. Games and contests will occur with the approved recommendations of MCPS, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, and the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
MCPS Athletics Resources
Parents/guardians and student-athletes should review the following information and resources prior to registering. All documents, information and guidance are subject to change.
Second Semester Plan—Provides an overview of second semester operations
Return to R.A.I.S.E. Strategic Plan—Provides operating procedures and safety protocol that will be used during the fall seasonReturn to R.A.I.S.E. Video—Provides an overview of the protocol and procedures in the Return to R.A.I.S.E. Strategic Plan. The video was filmed in October; guidelines and procedures may have changed since then
COVID-19 Athletics Information Webpage—All information regarding the return of in-person programming is available here
ParentVue Registration Information—Provides resources when completing the registration process
We look forward to welcoming our student-athletes and coaches back on campuses for the fall season. We are committed to providing the best and safest experience for student-athletes, coaches and stakeholders in the second semester and beyond. Specific questions should be directed to your school’s athletics specialist (AD) or coach.
Montgomery County Public Schools
NEW: This Week's Notes from the College & Career Center
College Acceptances - Seniors
Have you applied and been accepted to a college or university? Please update this information in Naviance and, if possible, share via email with Mr. Nalda as we need to keep track of this data. Take a picture of or scan your letter(s) of acceptance and add as an attachment. Thank you!!
Mid-Year Transcripts - Seniors
Mid-Year Transcripts are now available! If you need one as part of your college application or a college has requested one from you, please request in Naviance. You can also reach out to your counselor as a follow-up.
FAFSA & MSFAA - Seniors
The FAFSA & MSFAA are financial aid forms to request financial aid to help pay for college. Those students not eligible to apply for the FAFSA should consider applying for the MSFAA. Please see the SVHS College & Career Financial Aid Page (linked below) for more information about both forms. If you haven’t done so already, I strongly recommend that you begin working on these forms ASAP they are due by March 1!!!
IMPORTANT UPDATE - If you have created an MDCAPS account to apply for financial aid and need to upload your transcript, send Mr. Nalda an email with your MHEC ID Number. He will be able to upload your GPA information directly to MHEC.
Feel free to reach out to Mr. Nalda if you have any questions.
- SVHS Financial Aid Information
- MC FAFSA & MSFAA Days - Sign up if you need assistance filling out the FAFSA or MSFAA!
SAT Reimbursements for Class of 2021 - Seniors
MCPS offers SAT School Day to all Grade 11 students each year, in order to remove barriers associated with college entrance examinations. Because this opportunity for a “free” SAT was cancelled in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, MCPS is offering reimbursement to any Class of 2021 graduate who paid for an SAT on their own and took the test on September 26, October 3, November 7, or December 5, 2020. A google form will be used to request reimbursement.
Montgomery College Board of Trustees (BOT) Scholarship, Due March 1st! - Seniors
The Board of Trustees Academic Specialty Scholarship is for talented Montgomery County high school graduates who plan to enroll at any Montgomery College campus. This is a one-year scholarship that covers the full-time cost of tuition and fees at the county resident tuition rate, up to a maximum of 15 credits per semester.
Upcoming Scholarships
- February 15 - The Long Nguyen & Kimmy Duong Scholarship Program - multiple $2,000 & $1,000 awards for Vietnamese American and Non Vietnamese American students; senior; U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Residents (except for gold awards); min 3.0 GPA; Vietnamese heritage (preferred); must enroll in the University of Maryland, George Mason University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, University of Virginia, Northern Virginia Community College, or Montgomery College; strong leadership potential; demonstrated active service to the Vietnamese-American community; strong knowledge of Vietnamese History and Culture (including Vietnamese language); strong desire to support Vietnam for a better future; passion to protect the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights world-wide; in need of financial aid.
- February 15 - AFA’s 2021 Teens for Alzheimer's Awareness College Scholarship Essay Contest - multiple awards up to $5,000 (grand prize); senior; U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident; enter a four-year school in the fall; write a 1,200 to 1,500-word essay that describes the impact of Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia-related illness on themselves, their families or their communities, and what they have learned in light of coping with the brain disorder; transcript.
- February 18 - Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship Program - up to 100 awards of $10,000 (renewable for up to 3 years) and a paid summer internship at Amazon after their freshman year of college; senior; min 3.0 (unweighted); U.S. citizen or permanent residents; currently enrolled in or completed a high school or college dual degree course where computer science is the subject; plan to attain a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering or other computer science related field of study; transcript; copy of the first two pages of the most recently filed IRS Form 1040.
- February 24 - The Coolidge Scholarship - multiple full ride! scholarship awards; juniors; U.S. Citizen or Permanent Legal resident; must enroll full time at a college or university in the fall of 2022; distinguished academic record; competitive candidates will have pursued and succeeded in the most rigorous course of study available to them; also exhibit an interest in policy; see link for full rules and guidelines.
- February 25 - AFCEA STEM Scholarship Program - senior; U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident; Acceptance to a U.S. accredited college or university in a four-year full time STEM curriculum (see link for specific majors); Two (2) letters of recommendation; list of extra curricular activities and awards; experience or work history; list of expected college expenses; Copy of EFC from FAFSA; guidance counselor form.
- February 28 - MLB Black History Month Challenge - 1st Place: $10,000, 2nd Place: $6,000, & 3rd Place: $4,000; grades 9-12, ages 13-18; U.S. or Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident; after completing a 30-minute course, submit a short essay based on what you’ve learned.
College Board Scholarships - opportunity to win up to $40,000! For Juniors & Seniors. Available to Seniors through February 28, 2021.
Click here to see the SVHS Scholarships Page for more opportunities.
Next Week's College Visits - Juniors & Seniors
West Liberty University 2/16/2021 11:30 AM
Montgomery College 2/17/2021 11:30 AM
Lynn University 2/18/2021 11:30 AM
Rutgers University-New Brunswick 2/19/2021 11:30 AM
*Register in Naviance to access zoom links to meetings.
To see a full list of College Visits, see click the link: List of College Visits
NEW: IB/MYP Spotlight
ATL Skill Category Quote for RESEARCH:
“Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with purpose.” -Zora Nesle Hurston
We strive to help our students develop research skills that involve finding reliable information, organizing it, and understanding its applicability in different situations. It also involves the intensive search of information from various sources and its interpretation (media literacy). This information is then evaluated by the researcher/student and presented in different forms depending on its uses in different situations (information literacy)
ATL Skill Cluster Quote for INFORMATION LITERACY:
“Acquiring literacy is an empowering process, enabling millions to enjoy access to knowledge and information which broadens horizons, increases opportunities and creates alternatives for building a better life.” -Kofi Annan
Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when information is needed, and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively, the needed information. When our students have information literacy, it empowers them to seek, evaluate, use, and create information effectively to achieve their personal, social, occupational and educational goals.
Learner Profile Quote for PRINCIPLED:
“The principles you live by create the world you live in; if you change the principles you live by, you will change your world.” - Blaine Lee Pardoe
Being principled, means being someone who will act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. Acting with integrity means that even when no one is watching, you do the right thing.
Interested in IB? Rising 11th grade SVHS students can choose between the IB Career-Related program and the IB Diploma program. Both rising 11th and 12th graders can also take individual IB courses. The IB Program is the premiere college preparatory programs combining rigorous content with skill development and critical thinking.
IB Career-related Program: Combine your career pathway, like Health Professions or Cybersecurity, with the IB Career-related Program!
This is an impressive combination to add to your college application and future career success.
You will learn the practical skills of your career field, plus get the academic rigor of IB courses.
IB Diploma Program: Completing the IB Diploma Program means you will undertake a particular kind of high school education that is meant to teach you not only history, math, science, and other subjects...
It will teach you to better analyze and understand the information you’ll encounter in school and beyond.
It is the best way to be prepared for college and your career.
Ms. Natasha Ezerski, the IB Coordinator will have office hours 3:00-3:30pm, Mon-Thurs, and lunch Mon and Weds from 11:15-12:00, Zoom link, Password: SVHSIB
REPEAT: Student Transfer Application Season Has Begun
Montgomery County parents/guardians who wish to request a Change of School Assignment (COSA) for their children from their home school may begin the process during the transfer season that began on February 1. All COSA requests must be submitted no later than April 1, 2021.
For more information on the COSA process, please click here.
REPEAT: BOOKMOBILE: Pick up Print Books at NWHS on Wednesday through February
In December, MCPS expanded its Bookmobile pilot program to include Seneca Valley. Seneca students may now borrow physical copies of print books from the collection at Northwest High School. Here is the process:
- Browse/search the Northwest High School Library Media collection to find a book you’d like to read. Directions with screenshots are provided HERE.
- Complete THIS GOOGLE FORM to reserve your book.
- Go to the UPPER PARKING LOT AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF NORTHWEST HS on Wednesdays in February (2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24), between 3:30-5:00 pm, to pick up your books.
Questions? Please contact Ms. Little at SVHS or Ms. Myers at NWHS.
REPEAT: Book Club Updates: Project Lit & Black-Eyed Susan Book Club
- The next meeting of the Black-Eyed Susan Book Club has been rescheduled to Wednesday, February 24th, at 2:00 pm. We plan to discuss the book A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi, which is available in Sora, our online reading platform. To learn more about how to access this book in eBook or audiobook format, please visit the “Read Online” flag in the Virtual Library Media Center.
- Project LIT met last week to discuss the book The Poet X. We are in the process of selecting our next book and setting a date for the discussion; please reach out to Nicole Little-Cook, our school librarian, if you have suggestions!
REPEAT: Updated: Creativity Contests
- High school students from across the Washington Metropolitan Area are invited to submit poems to the Gaithersburg Book Festival Poetry Contest. Entries must be no longer than one page, single spaced, 12-point Times New Roman and are due by February 18, 2021. Download contest rules HERE.
- The 12th Annual Choose Respect Montgomery video contest is accepting entries of original, 60-second public service announcements (PSA) that promote awareness of dating abuse and domestic violence among teens. Submissions are due by March 1, 2021. Click HERE for entry rules and to see past winners.
- NEW: Gandhi Brigade Youth Media (GBYM), an organization of students who use digital media to advance social justice, are inviting artists and filmmakers to submit work for an upcoming “Empathy to Solidarity” exhibit that will run through April. Submissions are due by March 8, 2021. For more information and to submit work for consideration, click HERE.
- The Montgomery County Youth Media Festival invites all middle and high school students, plus young adults ages 18-25, in the DMV to submit original works of video and art for consideration. Selected entries will be shown at the festival in April, when winners will be announced. Submissions are due by March 20, 2021. Click HERE for contest rules and the submission form.
REPEAT: Announcement from the Literary Magazine: "Depths of the Valley"
Do You Want Your Voice to be Heard??? Make a Submission to our Literary Magazine!
If you love POETRY and like to express yourself through influential strong words then submit YOUR TALENT to have a chance of showcasing it in this year’s 2021 LITMAG!
Do you live to write but don't have anywhere to display your work? Submit your stories to Lit Mag and have your work placed alongside the works of other up and coming writers.
Do you like creating art? Do you want it to be shown to your schoolmates? Tired of all these questions? Then submit your art to the Lit Mag to be showcased!
Use this link to submit your art, poetry, or prose to Volume V of our Literary Magazine: Depths of the Valley!
REPEAT: TENTATIVE Graduation Date and Location
REPEAT: Gradebook Symbols and their Meaning
It is important to remind parents/families of what some symbols in ParentVue and StudentVue represent. Please see below some important examples of these symbols.
- A "0" means:
- That assignment can no longer be made up.
- That assignment does NOT show up as a missing assignment.
- There has been two-way communication regarding the fact that the assignment was never completed.
- The letter "z" or "Missing" in the comments menu means:
- That assignment CAN still be made up.
- That assignment calculates in the final grade as a zero until it is made up.
- That assignment shows up as a RED MISSING in parent and student Vues.
- An assignment left BLANK means:
- The assignment does NOT get reported as missing.
- The assignment does NOT show up in the student or parent Vues at all.
- The assignment is not weighted in the student's grade at all.
For spirit wear purchases:
Seneca Valley Online SPIRIT WEAR!!!
Seneca Valley is excited to offer online sales of the spirit wear we used to sell on-site (and more!) through our local vendor, VerTee Shirts. Check it out!
VerTee Shirts: https://svhs.spiritsale.com (T-shirts, sweatshirts, lounge pants, fleece jackets, and masks)
SVHS Spirit Wear can also be purchased at the following sites.
Squad Locker: https://teamlocker.squadlocker.com/#/lockers/eagles-287838
BSN: https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/maryland/germantown/seneca-valley-high-school
Want a SVHS License Plate? Please visit the School website for details. https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools//senecavalleyhs/about/ptsa/spiritsales/
Are you #SVPROUD?
- Tweet, Snap, IB, FB, etc., a pic of you repping "The Valley" by wearing your Seneca gear.
- And don't forget to use #svproud. Go Eagles!
Seneca Valley High School
Email: marc_j_cohen@mcpsmd.org
Website: www.senecavalleyhighschool.com
Location: 19401 Crystal Rock Drive, Germantown, MD, USA
Phone: 301-353-8000
Twitter: @SenecaValleyHS