From December 14, 2020 to January 28, 2021, Ms. Lisa Shorts will begin her Principal Internship Practicum at Argyle Middle School. Over the last few months, we have been working side by side co-leading activities and ensuring that our students receive a quality education every day. On the 14th, you will begin to see Argyle weekly messages and principal emails from Ms. Shorts. In order to make this experience more authentic and beneficial, Mr. Allrich ask that parents, students and staff direct all school-related communications to Ms. Shorts during that time.

In this virtual school setting, Mr. Allrich will be preparing and planning for our student’s potential return to the school building. During the intern practicum, Mr. Allrich will also support the principal intern not only during times of reflection, but also when the principal intern may need a sounding board to address a specific situation in the school. As a principal developer, Mr. Allrich is committed to ensuring Ms. Lisa Shorts an opportunity to develop into a highly effective school leader.

Starting today, Nov. 11, parents will be asked to complete this short survey to indicate whether their child(ren) will remain exclusively in a virtual learning environment or engage in a combination of in-person and virtual instruction during the second semester. Both options would allow students to participate in in-person athletics and extracurricular activities. Parents will also be asked to indicate if their child needs MCPS-provided transportation. We want to reiterate that families do have the choice to remain in a fully virtual model if they are uncomfortable with sending their child(ren) back to a school building. Please note that once you’ve made your selection, changes may be made only under unique circumstances. Additionally, any family that does not make a selection will automatically default to the virtual-only experience in order to ensure we consider and plan for maximum staffing and space use. The survey closes on Dec. 3. Families will receive details on next steps and school-specific information in January.

MCPS hosted a virtual conversation on Thursday, November 12 on the plan for students to return to in-person learning beginning January 2021. If you missed the conversation, you can watch it here. MCPS leaders answered questions about the plan and the parent preference survey.

The Parent Preference Survey launched Wednesday, November 11 and the responses will play a critical part in our planning for the return of students

For more information please visit the MCPS Website

Beginning next week on Wednesday, December 9, and during all upcoming Wednesday lunches, Mrs. Suzich will be reading aloud the book "Patient Zero" by Marilee Peters from 11:30 - 12 noon.

If you would like the read along or read it on your own, the e-book is available free through the Hoopla app and website with a public library card from Montgomery County Public Libraries, or through Sora as a book that Mrs. Suzich can assign to students. If you would like a copy of the ebook added to your Sora account, or if you have any questions, please email Mrs. Suzich at jacqueline_h_suzich@mcpsmd.org.

The read-aloud will take place on the Virtual Media Center Zoom link:

Meeting ID: 946 0269 9139

Passcode: ams

Here is a description of the book:

Engrossing true stories of the pioneers of epidemiology who risked their lives to find the source of deadly diseases. Throughout history, more people have died in disease epidemics than in wars or other disasters. The courageous, trail-blazing defenders against these diseases faced a terrifying personal gamble. Often they were ignored, laughed at, or even fired from their jobs. But they kept hunting for answers, putting the pieces of the epidemic puzzle together. As they looked for clues to the origin of a disease, scientists searched for the unknown “patient zero”—the first person to have contracted it. Patient Zero brilliantly brings to life the main characters and events to tell the gripping tale of how each of seven diseases spread. The result is spine-chilling as Peters follows the scientists who solved the intricate mystery of the killer epidemics. Patient Zero reminds us that millions of people owe their lives to the work of these pioneer epidemiologists, work that continues to this day.

All students can access thousands of ebooks and audiobooks for free using the Sora app on their iPads, or the website: soraapp.com.

Students login with their 6 digit mcps ID@mcpsmd.ORG (not .NET) - example: 123456@mcpsmd.org. They use their MCPS password, not their Google password.

They should add the Montgomery County Public Libraries to their account to access even more books, they don't need a public library card to do so.

Argyle Middle School is currently #1 in MCPS for the number of students using Sora! We'd like to see all students check out at least 1 book of their choice before winter break. Mrs. Suzich and Mrs. Paull, our media specialist and media assistant, have been adding hundreds of books that students have requested including many graphic novels and popular series such as My Hero Academia, Dog Man, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Odd 1's Out, Stranger Things graphic novels, Big Nate, Baby-Sitter Club series, Cleopatra in Space, books about sports figures such as Lionel Messi and Kobe Bryant, and lots, lots more.

If your student says they can't find a book they like, please contact Mrs. Suzich at jacqueline_h_suzich@mcpsmd.org or have them join one of the media center lunch Zooms for personalized book recommendations based on their interests, or to have us add their book requests. We are happy to add the books that Argyle students want to read! We also have a Padlet and a Google form for book requests on the Virtual Media Center page. (Link to Google form)

There are instructions on the use of Sora as well as other resources, including videos, on both the Virtual Media Center Page in the Argyle MS myMCPS Classroom - Link

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!

For P-EBT assistance please contact the Maryland Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Hotline at 1-833-330-7328.

Please click the link below for more information:

Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program

Counselors are available to meet with students during their virtual office hours. Just click on the zoom during office hours and they'll be there to chat. If you can't make it to their office hour, but need help you can always email them.

All Counselors are available:

Monday: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Wednesday: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Thursday: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Friday: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

ESOL: Ms. Green

Email: Chelsea_R_Green@mcpsmd.org

Virtual Link: Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 876 7442 3083

Password: ams

6th Grade Counselor: Ms. Hardy

Email: Nichole_Hardy@mcpsmd.org

Virtual Link: Zoom Link Meeting ID: 98859484418 Password: ams (case sensitive)

7th Grade Counselor: Mr. Lilja

Email: Matthew_J_Lilja@mcpsmd.org

Virtual Link: Zoom Link Meeting ID: 3109498714 Password: ams (case sensitive)

8th Grade Counselor: Ms. Tran

Email: Lisa_L_Tran@mcpsmd.org

Virtual Link: Zoom Link Meeting ID: 94470598938 Password: ams (case sensitive)