ARGYLE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

• Report Cards Distribution & Available in Synergy - Monday February 5, 2024
  
• AMS Basketball game vs. William Farquhar MS- Wednesday, February 7, 2024
• SGA Winter Dance- Friday, February 9, 2024
  
• AMS Talent Show- Friday, February 16, 2024
• Presidents Day, Schools & Offices Closed- Monday, February 19, 2024
• 7th Grade Junior Achievement Field Trip- Monday, February 26- Wednesday, February 28, 2024
  

Our EBB Program's Spring Session Registration is now!! Space is limited, register today!

Applications for Excel Beyond the Bell (EBB), an after-school program at Argyle Middle School are now available in the main office and linked below:

EBB Application

Students in EBB get expanded access to after-school. Students can power up with an after-school meal before heading off to an activity of their choice. You might come for the extracurricular activities, but you’ll probably stay for the people you meet. This session, we are asking the students to rank their choices, 1, 2, 3. We haven't done this before, so please encourage students to fill out the document this way.

Students may either turn in a completed brochure to the main office or scan it to the EBB.Argyle@montgomerycountymd.gov mailbox.

For any 7th and 8th graders interested in joining our soccer team, registration OPENS Monday, January 29 at 12pm on PARENTVUE. All parents and/or guardian must be registered to PARENTVUE, if you are not registered please do so here. For all other question feel free to send an email to our Athletics Coordinators, Mrs. Penland at kristina_a_penland@mcpsmd.org or Mrs. Harrison at rebekah_r_harrison@mcpsmd.org.

https://md-mcps-psv.edupoint.com/PXP2_Activate_Account_Privacy_Parent.aspx

Come out and cheer on our Argyle Eagles at our basketball game Wednesday, February 7, 2024 versus William Farquhar MS. Boys will be playing home and the girls team will be away at William Farquhar MS.

Time: 3:15pm - 4:30pm

Location: Argyle MS Gym

Please take the moment to read our guidelines:

• Students will use their PBIS points (75 points) to purchase tickets on the day of a basketball game during Advisory class.
• AMS Basketball Games are free for all parents and/ or guardians. All non Argyle students should be accompanied by an adult at all times.
• Students and spectators must sit in the stands during the course of the game. While there will be potential gatherings at halftime and postgame, gatherings will not be allowed during the game.
• Separate entrances, staggered exits, and additional support and security coverage in high traffic areas will be utilized, as gymnasiums allow.
• There is no re-entry to events. Spectators will not be admitted after halftime. Parents of participating student-athletes may be admitted after halftime.
• Spectators are allowed - home and visiting members. Students are NOT allowed to attend AWAY games. That goes for opponents as well, with the exception that if a sibling is playing on the team and they are accompanied by a parent/guardian, then they are able to attend the game.
  
• Backpacks are not allowed.

All 7th grade students received a permission slip for their upcoming Junior Achievement field trip to Finance Park. This is a required part of our 7th grade World Studies curriculum and completely free for all students! Students can get permission slips from their World Studies teachers.

Please sign the form as soon as possible and have your student return it to school this week.

Additionally, we are looking for many parent chaperones to help assist with our field trip. If you are interested in joining us, or if you have any questions, please reach out to their World Studies teacher for more details.

GapBuster is seeking host families to support 8 -10 exchange middle school students from Ghana, West Africa who will be at Argyle for 4-weeks program during April – May (exact dates to be determined). As a host family, you would be responsible for providing a welcoming and supportive environment for the visiting student, including accommodation, meals, and the opportunity to engage in everyday family life. We encourage host families to treat their guests as an integral part of their family.

GapBuster is seeking families who are open-minded, welcoming, and willing to embrace cultural diversity. No specific qualifications are required, other than a genuine desire to open your home and heart to an international student. Additionally, all members over 18 in the household MUST complete a background check including fingerprinting. GapBuster will cover the cost.

If you are interested in participating as a host family or would like more information, please feel free to contact Yvette Butler-Yeboah, MD, 240-678-5470 and ybutler@gapbusterinc.org. We will be hosting an informational session date and time to be determined where you can learn more about the program and ask any questions you may have. To learn more about GapBuster, Inc., please visit our website at www.gapbuster.org.

Mark your calendars 8th graders and families, John F. Kennedy High School will be hosting a parent meeting for all incoming 9th grade students on Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 7pm. If you have any questions please reach out to their main office at (240) 740- 0100.

The 16th Annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) College Fair will be held on Friday, February 16, 2024, from 6:00–8:30 p.m. This in-person event will take place at The Universities at Shady Grove for students in Grades 8–12 and their families to meet with representatives from over 50 historically black colleges and universities

During the fair, students and parents can interact with college admission representatives and attend workshops, including a separate workshop and activities for middle school students. Registration for the college fair will open on Friday, January 19, 2024 and can be found at the HBCU Fair website.

Please view the slides linked below for after-school clubs and organization offerings at Argyle MS:

Argyle Extra Curricular Activities

There are a range of assessments that your student will participate in this year beyond those that teachers administer during individual classes. Please review those assessments here as well as the resources that are linked and reach out if you would like to learn more!

There are many amazing things happening during the school day to support the learning of our students! At times, some students need some extra support to master new learning. MCPS has gathered resources that are free or low cost to families. These resources directly align with our curriculum used to teach our students each day. For more information, visit the site below.

Family Resources

This is an excellent opportunity for our current 4th and 5th grader students to participate and earn SSL hours! We are looking for students leaders to apply to be workshop creators or workshop presenters.

Date: Saturday April 6th, 2024

Time: 9am-3pm

Location: Wheaton High School

As we move into the winter weather season. MCPS aims to ensure you are kept up-to-date with timely and accurate information about weather-related delays, early dismissals, and school closures. The Inclement Weather and Other Emergencies Management Plan has been updated into an MCPS Operating Status Options Google Site for ease of use and access.

We will send any weather related message through our REMIND app and our WHATSAPP groups. Please make sure you are signed up for both to be alerted of any school communication for families.

We're pleased to announce that we have partnered with the Capitol Area Food Bank again this year to provide our families and staff access to a Food Pantry here at Argyle MS. The food pantry will open Thursdays from 3:30 – 4:30 pm. This service is only for families who have students that attend Argyle MS. Please ONLY allow ONE person from each household to come to get food.

Parents and caregivers - Please send your students with a refillable, reusable water bottle every day. Hydration is an important part of learning and staying healthy. There are refilling stations throughout the school to ensure your student has access to water all day. Please ensure your student is eating breakfast and lunch whether it is a meal from our school cafeteria or a meal packed from home. Take a look at MCPS January's breakfast and lunch menu by visiting the websites below:

English | español | français |中文| Portuguese |한국어 | tiếng Việt |አማርኛ

Parents or guardians should handwrite or email student excuse notes to Mrs. Patricia Hernandez, Argyle's attendance secretary. Phone calls will not excuse any absences until a note has been turned in to the main office.

If you have any questions or need to email an excuse note, please contact Argyle's attendance secretary Ms. Patricia Hernandez at patricia_v_hernandez@mcpsmd.org

We want to inform you of an important change in our dismissal policy that will go into effect starting Monday, October 30, 2023. Effective immediately, any requests for early dismissal or dismissal changes for your child cannot be accommodated after 2:45 PM. This new cut-off time is necessary to ensure the safety and efficient operation of our school dismissal process.

We understand that there may be occasions when you need to make changes to your child's dismissal plan, but after 2:45 PM, it becomes increasingly challenging to implement these changes without causing disruptions. Please make sure to communicate any changes or early dismissal requests to the school's office well in advance of this time to allow us to make the necessary arrangements.

To help us maintain a smooth and organized dismissal process, we kindly ask for your cooperation in adhering to this new policy. Safety is our top priority, and this change will help us ensure a secure and orderly dismissal for all students.

Thank you for your understanding and support in this matter. We greatly appreciate your partnership in keeping our school community safe and well-coordinated. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy change, please feel free to reach out to our main office at (240)740- 6370

Register and Verify Your ParentVue Information

The Annual Verification process allows families to update contact information, collect important information about you and your student, including any medical, immunization, language preferences, and emergency information that school staff need to know. MCPS uses ParentVUE to collect this information electronically.

We have online registration quick guides in several languages available to support you in this process.

English | Español | 中國人 | 한국인 | Français | Português | Tiếng Việt | አማርኛ

Student, Family, and School Services is very excited to provide "Parent Academy TO GO," a series of virtual presentations for families to participate and view at home.

Parent Academy TO GO is designed to inform and empower families as advocates and partners in their children's education. Workshops provide families with useful information and resources to support their children's academic and emotional well-being, as well as help them to be college and career ready. Through a variety of learning opportunities hosted by MCPS staff and community partners, we hope to strengthen our engagement with families and the community. We recognize that behind every successful student are supportive families, teachers, school staff and community members who take an active role in educating our students.

Please visit website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/parentacademy/

www.MySchoolApps.com is NOW OPEN for parents to complete and submit the 2023–2024 Online Application for Free and Reduced-Price Meals!

FAMILIES CAN APPLY NOW & AVOID LONGER PROCESSING TIMES IN THE FALL!

REMINDERS FOR SCHOOLS:

• Please immediately discard all application forms from previous years. As federal government information on the application changes every year, only the 2023–2024 applications may be used.
• The online application should be encouraged as the primary method to apply for FARMS. Households that complete an online application DO NOT need to submit a paper application. A small supply of 2023–2024 paper application forms in English and Spanish will be distributed to all MCPS Schools close to the first day of school. Paper applications should only be distributed to parents/guardians who request a paper application.
• Translations in other languages are available through the online application.
• How-to videos for the online FARMS application in English and Spanish are below and may be shared with families who need assistance

Spanish Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsdCrtCIFJc&t=4s
English Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJUapGLarBo

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Montgomery County Public Schools has transitioned to a online payment system called SchoolCash Online as its preferred method of payment for all school-related fees.

SchoolCash Online helps parents/guardians and community members pay school-related fees safely, quickly, and easily. SchoolCash Online will help increase efficiency and security at schools by making payments directly into schools’ bank accounts and eliminating the need for teachers to handle money. In addition, once registered, you will be immediately informed about school activities!

Powered by KEV Group, SchoolCash Online is the industry leader in the management of school fees. The new system puts all of the school-related fees online for purchase so users can make purchases online using a credit card or e-check. A processing fee will be included on all items available for purchase, regardless of the type of payment used on SchoolCash Online or at the school.

Parents/guardians can register now at - Click here

BUS ROUTES

• Transportation Rules and Safety
• Arrival Routes - 2023 - 2024
  
• Departure Routes - 2023 - 2024

DID YOU KNOW LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND OLDER ADULTS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY CAN GET HOME INTERNET ACCESS FOR A LITTLE AS $9.95 PER MONTH?

Please visit Montgomery County - Low-Cost Internet for more information!

English:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/CUEO8ddcTjcKj4fNyWLvY4

Spanish:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/L09ZMqTqU7QB40yvOauSBl

Portuguese:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/DELA314K2hC0e5wFOSIQrr

Students and parents are advised to review the student handbook linked below:

• Agendabook.argylems.org
  
• A Student’s Guide to Rights and Responsibilities
  
• Student Code of Conduct
  

Magnet Program for Digital Design and Development

Website: www.argylems.org
Location: 2400 Bel Pre Road, Aspen Hill, MD, USA
Phone: (240) 740-6370
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550028159416&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Twitter: @ArgyleMagnetMS