Argyle Weekly Newsletter

• SGA Spirit Week; Monday January 13, 2025 - Friday January 17, 2025
• Wellness Wednesday; Wednesday January 15, 2025
• AMS Basketball Game vs. Loiederman MS; Thursday January 16, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm
• MLK/ Inauguration Day; Schools & Offices Closed; Monday January 20, 2025
• SGA Meeting; Wednesday January 22, 2025 3pm - 4:20pm
• AMS Basketball Game vs Parkland MS; Thursday January 23, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm

• Grading and Planning; No School for Students; Wednesday January 29, 2025

• AMS Basketball Game vs Rosa Parks MS; Thursday January 30, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm

The SGA Spirit Week is around the corner! Let's show our school spirit by having outfits ready for our themed days during Spirit week.

The SPIRIT days are:

• Monday- Twin Day
• Tuesday- Anything BUT a backpack Day
• Wednesday- Teacher-student Swap Day
• Thursday- Age Day
• Friday- Argyle school colors of purple and teal and/or Argyle gear

Be sure to share your "Spirit" participation by posting your pictures on the SGA Spirit Week padlet using the QR code/link.

During advisory (January 7-9) current 6th and 7th graders will review their elective choices for the upcoming school year in preparation for course registration. All 6th and 7th grade students should come prepared to complete the registration Google form at school on January 14, with a registration deadline of January 31.

For more information, visit our scheduling website at schedule.argylems.org

Students in Excel Beyond the Bell (EBB) get expanded access afterschool. Students can power up with an after-school meal before heading off to an activity of their choice. Membership includes access to the 5:30 p.m. EBB bus. You might come for the extracurricular activities, but you’ll probably stay for the people you meet. Space is limited.

The EBB registration window will be Jan. 6 - 17. Students will be registered on a first come, first served basis. The spring session starts Monday January 27 through Thursday May 15, 2025. You can complete the registration form online by clicking here: Argyle Spring Session

Return the completed form to the school's main office or email it to EBB.Argyle@montgomerycountymd.gov. If a registration packet is incomplete, it will be returned to the parent.

For additional questions, contact your EBB site coordinator at: EBB.Argyle@montgomerycountymd.gov

We are excited to invite you to a virtual information meeting where we will share important details about the Excel Beyond the Bell after-school program, as well as other exciting Montgomery County Recreation Department programs and special events.

During this meeting, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Learn about the enriching opportunities offered through Excel Beyond the Bell.
• Explore a variety of programs and events designed for all ages and interests.
• Ask questions about what’s coming up in Montgomery County Recreation for you and your families.

We look forward to connecting with you to provide information on how we can continue to foster growth, engagement, and fun for everyone within Montgomery County.

Join us on January 14th, at 6:15 PM by clicking the link below or by copying and pasting the link into your web browser or zoom app:

Topic: EBB Middle Parent information Session

Time: Jan 14, 2025 06:15 PM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85664578962

Meeting ID: 856 6457 8962

GapBuster is seeking host families to support 1-3 exchange middle school students from Ghana, West Africa who will be at Argyle for 4-weeks program during January 13th – February 7th. 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. The stay time could be for a day or up to the entire length of the program.

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, ybutler@gapbusterinc.org or Mrs. Edith Lee, principal intern at edith_u_lee@mcpsmd.org

Come out and cheer on our Argyle Eagles at our basketball game Thursday, January 16. The Girl's team will be home and Boy's team will be away at Loiederman 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.

MLK Week of Service is Jan 20th - 24th. We are offering several opportunities for our students to earn SSL hours. Information will be shared during advisory on 1/16-see the visual. Students can help organize, sort, clean, prep, decorate, hang work, etc. Students who are interested will be able to sign-up during lunch on Thursday 1/16 and Friday 1/17. If you have any questions please reach out to Mrs.Rivas at michelle_c_rivashernandez@mcpsmd.org or Mr. Lilja at matthew_j_lilja@mcpsmd.org

Please take a moment to read the letter below from Mr. Allrich regarding the Principal Intern transition at Argyle MS. Thank you for your continued support.

Message from Mr. Allrich: Click here

With winter weather just around the corner, updates to school schedules and operations may sometimes need to be made. To receive the latest information on delays, closures and operational changes, Stay Connected, subscribe to Alert MCPS, and monitor our color-coded status system.

Keep Your Contact Information Current

To ensure you receive timely notifications, please update your contact details via the ParentVUE link on the MCPS Community Tech Support website.

Learn more about the color codes.
MCPS Operating Status Inclement Weather, 2024-2025

Parents or guardians should handwrite or email student excuse notes to Ms. 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 get in touch with Argyle's attendance secretary Mrs. Patricia Hernandez at patricia_v_hernandez@mcpsmd.org

For more information on the attendance policy, please click here

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.

MealViewer, the new interactive menu platform for Montgomery County Public Schools breakfast and lunch menus. Students, caregivers, school staff, nurses, and community members will have digital access to menus and meal information. MealViewer will launch on Sunday, December 8, 2024. MealViewer can be accessed via a browser or the MealViewer app on Android or iPhone. No signin or passwords are required to view menus. Portable document format (PDF) menus will remain available through December 2024. Starting January 1, 2025, PDF menus will no longer be available.

Please use this link to view Argyle MS: https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/ArgyleMS

Any requests for early dismissal or dismissal changes for your child cannot be accommodated after 2:45 PM. This 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.

We expect that families dropping off and picking up students will adhere to the same expectations. These expectations are:

• Follow directions from Argyle staff, including stopping when indicated
• Pull as far forward as possible so that cars can fill in along the drop off and pick up line next to the school grounds; do not stop in the middle of this space near the handicap parking spaces
• Be prepared to drop off and pick up so that cars can move quickly
• Do not use parking spaces for drop off or pick up at any time
• Stay in your vehicle at all times
• Students should only exit and enter their car from the side of the parking lot next to the school building; students should not cross through the parking lot

Drivers who consistently disregard these expectations may be asked not to use the drop off and pick up areas. We appreciate your support in keeping our parking lot safe at all times.

Montgomery County Public Schools has transitioned to a new 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!

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

Below are emails and phone numbers for the following departments:

Administration (240) 740-6370

School Principal - Ms. Lee | Edith_U_Lee@mcpsmd.org

8th Grade Administrator - Mr. Brown | Mark_Brown@mcpsmd.org

7th Grade Administrator - Ms. Turner | Hannah_D_Turner@mcpsmd.org

6th Grade Administrator/ Magnet Coordinator: Ms. Chao | Cortney_E_Chao@mcpsmd.org

Main Office (240) 740-6370

Administrative Secretary - Ms. Chavarria | Johana_M_Chavarria@mcpsmd.org

Front Office Secretary - Ms. Molina | Karin_G_Molina@mcpsmd.org

Attendance Secretary - Ms. Hernandez | Patricia_V_Hernandez@mcpsmd.org

School Financial Specialist - Mr. Magruder | Timothy_W_Magruder@mcpsmd.org

Counseling Office (240) 740-6380

Resource Counselor/ SSL Coordinator - Mr. Lilja | Email: Matthew_J_Lilja@mcpsmd.org

Counseling Secretary/Registrar - Ms. Ramirez | Email: Araceli_P_Ramirez@mcpsmd.org

8th Grade Counselor - Ms. Andich | Email: Kristen_M_Brinker@mcpsmd.org

7th Grade Counselor - Ms. DeWItt | Email: Genevieve_A_Dewitt@mcpsmd.org

6th Grade Counselor - Ms. Ford | Email: Miyah_M_Ford@mcpsmd.org

Website: www.argylems.org
Location: 2400 Bel Pre Road, Aspen Hill, MD, USA
Phone: (240) 740-6370
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Argyle-Magnet-Middle-School-102726228178724/
Twitter: @ArgyleMagnetMS