Argyle Weekly Newsletter
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 23rd
VIRTUAL STUDENT LEARNING SCHEDULE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 23rd - NOVEMBER 27th
Families as we prepare to head out for the holiday this week, please encourage your students to take advantage of the academic opportunities afforded by the extra time on the half days. Remind students to use the extra time to complete missed assignments, as it is early in the quarter and making up assignments can have a significant effect on their overall grade.
Parent-Teacher Conferences - November 23rd from 11:45 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Parents, you are able to sign up for parent-teacher conferences for Monday, November 23rd. Please follow the linked directions to sign up through Synergy. If you need help to activate your Synergy account and/or sign up for conferences, please call the main office.
We have included English and Spanish videos modeling the process for parents. The day of the conference, you will be meeting with teachers through Zoom. In order to login, you will need your student’s login and password.
Don’t Forget to Activate Your ParentVue Account!
ParentVue is the brand new, powerful, single location for all information about how your child is doing in school. ParentVUE also is a new tool we use to stay connected with you.
When you are logged into ParentVUE you can:
- See your child’s schedule
- Check your child’s grades (and report card)
- Check your child’s assignments
- Send a message to your child’s teacher
- Update your contact information.
Soon, you will even be able to see a report on Student Service Learning Hours (SSL). If you haven’t yet activated your account, please be on the lookout for an e-mail and/or a notification via U.S. mail because MCPS will send you a new activation letter. Once you’ve received your activation letter, simply visit www.MCPSParentVUE.org to activate your account.
VIRTUAL ATHLETICS
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The middle school interscholastic athletics program is available for students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade and consists of three virtual sport seasons, including fall (cross country and softball), winter (basketball), and spring (soccer). The middle school virtual athletic seasons consists of two student-athlete and coach engagement sessions per week, for a total of six engagement sessions over the course of three to four weeks. The spring virtual season is scheduled to occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays after-school, beginning on Tuesday, December 1, and finishing on Thursday, December 17, 2020.
All students participating in the spring virtual season, as part of the MCPS interscholastic athletics program, must complete the online registration process. Registration is done electronically through the Argyle Athletics Registration: form Spring Registration (English) and Registro de primavea (Spanish) which is also posted on the school’s website. Students and parents/guardians who have difficulty with registration should contact Eric Franklin at Eric_S_Franklin@mcpsmd.org.
We are excited to provide your student with the greatest education-based virtual athletics season during such unprecedented times.
We Can, We Will, We R.A.I.S.E.
Zoom Lunches in the Virtual Media Center
Join us in the Virtual Media Center on your lunch break!
Get personalized book recommendations if you've been having trouble finding books you like, or tell us your book recommendations if books or topics you want are not in Sora.
This week's Media Center Zooms are open for all grades from 11:30 - 12 noon on Monday and Tuesday
Meeting ID: 946 0269 9139
Passcode: ams
Sora - the Reading App and website for students
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
As well as in the Modules section in every Advisory myMCPS course - the Module is 11/11/2020, Virtual Media Center Orientation, and the videos are part of the slide show.
Second Semester Return to School Survey - Due December 3rd
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 studentsFor more information please visit the MCPS Website
Tutoring with JFK National Honor Society
After students fill out this form, members of our NHS will reach out to students and their families via phone/email for more details.
Equity Hubs Open to MCPS Students
The Children’s Opportunity Fund and the Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence are coordinating low-cost child care and distance learning support for MCPS students at facilities across the county. Priority is given to low-income, kindergarten through Grade 5 students, and students needing additional assistance with virtual learning. Learn more at EquityHubs.org or by telephone at 240-200-4999.
low-cost internet access
Please visit Montgomery County - Low-Cost Internet for more information!
Gift Card Campaign to Help Families in Need
The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply impacted many families in Montgomery County. The MCPS Educational Foundation, Inc.; the Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Association, Inc.’s volunteer network; and MCPS are asking the community to support the Families Helping Families campaign. Grocery gift cards will be purchased with funds donated to the MCPS Educational Foundation, Inc.’s Crisis Relief Fund—COVID-19.
Learn more about how to donate here.
P-EBT Cards
Please click the link below for more information:
Argyle Is a Food Distribution Site!
Additional Bus Stop Locations Added to Meal Service Program
MCPS is expanding the number of meal service sites for the community. In addition to the 74 school sites, students and families can pick up meals on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at several bus stop locations throughout the county from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. More information is available at the MEALS SERVICE PROGRAMS LINK
Live Virtual Lesson Absence Form
Parents or guardians should use the live virtual lesson absence form to document excused absences from live virtual lessons. The form must be completed for each day of absence from a live virtual lesson. Please check your email to access the form.
Live Virtual Lesson Absence Form
If you have any questions or need to send the school a doctor's note please email Argyle's attendance secretary at Marisol_Ferreras@mcpsmd.org
PTSA What's App Discussion Boards
Join by clicking below ...
English (ArgylePTSA.en) - What's App Link
Spanish (ArgylePTSA.sp) - What's App Link
Vietnamese (ArgylePTSA.vi) - What's App Link
Portuguese (ArgylePTSA.pt) - What's App Link
COUNSELOR VIRTUAL OFFICE HOUR
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)
Important Dates
- Monday, November 23 - Half Days & Parent Conference
- Tuesday, November 24 - Report cards are posted to ParentVUE and report cards mailed to any student who has not activated their parent portal
- Tuesday, November 24 & Wednesday, November 25 - Half Days for Students
- Thursday, November 26 - Friday, November 27 - Thanksgiving Break
- Thursday, December 24 - Thursday, January 1 - Winter Break
WE ARE STILL HERE TO HELP YOU!
Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Below are emails and phone numbers for the following departments:
Administration (240) 740-6370
School Principal - Mr. Allrich: James_K_Allrich@mcpsmd.org
Principal Intern / 8th Grade Administrator - Ms. Shorts: lisa_n_shorts@mcpsmd.org
7th Grade Administrator - Ms. Sandall: elizabeth_a_sandall@mcpsmd.org
Magnet Coordinator /6th Grade Administrator - Mr. Hwang: jae_hwang@mcpsmd.org
Main Office (240) 740-6370
Attendance Secretary - Ms. Ferreras: Marisol_Ferreras@mcpsmd.org
Front Office Secretary - Ms. Jones: Ashanti_Jones@mcpsmd.org
School Financial Specialist - Mr. Magruder: Timothy_W_Magruder@mcpsmd.org
Administrative Secretary - Ms. Majano: Jennifer_L_Majano@mcpsmd.org
Counseling Office (240) 740-6380
Counseling Secretary/Registrar - Ms. Pineda: Marlene_C_Pineda@mcpsmd.org
For academic support please check the link below:
Change of Telephone Number for AMS - (240) 740-6370
Starting November 9th, Argyle will have new phone numbers. Any calls made to our previous numbers will be transferred to the new phones for the next 2 months.
- Main Office/Administration - (240) 740-6370
- Counseling Office - (240) 740-6380
Argyle Previous Newsletters
Argyle Magnet Middle School
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