August 3, 2026

Dear Argyle Middle School Community,

It is a true honor to step into the role of principal at Argyle Middle School. As I begin this journey alongside you, my highest priority is to build strong, authentic relationships with our students, families, staff, and partners.

To lay the foundation for a successful year ahead, I view this upcoming school year as a dedicated time for transition and trust-building. Our work together will be guided by three core principles: Trust, Reflection, and Intention. By taking time to reflect on what makes Argyle exceptional, acting with clear intention in our daily work, and cultivating deep trust across our school family, we honor the incredible achievements that have come before us. Grounded in that strong foundation, we will "invent the future" of middle school—ensuring we serve every single child and family academically, socially, and emotionally.

That commitment to holistic support is precisely why I am so proud to lead Argyle into its third year as a Community School. This model reflects our belief that a school should serve as a vibrant hub for the neighborhood it calls home. Beyond delivering high-quality academic instruction, being a Community School means we actively collaborate with families and community partners to offer integrated student supports, expanded learning opportunities, and resources that help our entire community thrive.

Executing this vision requires a strong, compassionate leadership team, which is why I am so thrilled to introduce our newest addition. Dr. Francisco Valverde-Daniels—warmly known as "Dr. Val-Dan"—will be joining us as our new Assistant Principal and 6th Grade Administrator. Dr. Val-Dan brings a rich background in school counseling and has served as an assistant principal at Watkins Mill High School since 2022. His expertise in student support and social-emotional wellness makes him uniquely suited to guide our rising 6th graders through their transition into middle school. Please see his introductory letter here.

Below you will find the names of some key staff members who can help support students this year.

Building a strong community starts with open communication and shared experiences. I am eager to meet you, listen to your hopes for Argyle, and partner with you for a remarkable year ahead. The first of these opportunities is at our annual Back to School Celebration on Thursday, August 20 from 5-7 PM at Argyle! I look forward to meeting all of our students and families. I am looking forward to a great start and to the success we will achieve this year together.  

Sincerely,

Nadia Kline-Taylor “Principal KT”

Important Upcoming Events

Thursday, August 20 - 5pm-7pm - Welcome Back Family Celebration

During this time, parents and students will be able to meet some of their teachers and participate in several activities. It will be an exciting evening filled with information and experiences for both parents and students. This event will be outdoors.

Monday, August 24 - 7:50am-3pm - Student Transition Day & Picture Day

All rising 6th graders, and students in grades 7 & 8 that are new to Argyle MS are invited to attend the MCPS wide Transition Day. This is a full-day for students that will assist newcomers in learning about Argyle, meet their teachers, and learn about important Argyle initiatives and expectations.

Students should arrive and depart using their regular school-day transportation. This will also be how they are dismissed. All MCPS buses will be running for those students assigned a bus. Parent drop off is located in the lower parking lot. Buses will drop off on the lower level. When students arrive at Argyle, they will gather in the cafeteria (6th graders) or the media center (7th & 8th graders).

Caregivers are invited to attend our informational sessions at 8:45am in Room 201.

Tuesday, August 25 - 7:50am-3pm - First Day of School for ALL students

The building will be open daily at 7:50 am. The school day will begin at 8:10am and ends at 3pm.

Monday, September 7 - Labor Day Holiday - No School

Wednesday, September 9 - 5:30pm- 8pm - Back to School Night

Important To Dos

Online Application for Free and Reduced-Price Meals: Families must complete and submit the online application for free or reduced meals through www.MySchoolApps.com. All households must apply every school year.

How to Apply for FARMS: English Video Tutorial or FARMS Step-By-Step Instructions 

Student meal eligibility from the previous school year will carry over into the 2026 – 2027 school year through October 7, 2026 or until new eligibility is determined. After that, if a student has not newly qualified for free or reduced-price meals, meals will be charged at the regular meal prices. For more information please visit the website, FARMS.

Student Logins: Messages will be sent to all families in late August with student login and password information. This information will be used to log in to Synergy (StudentVUE), myMCPS Classroom, and other core MCPS platforms. Passwords will NOT be changed for the start of the year. Students and parents can continue to use their passwords from last year.

PTSA: We look forward to continuing our work with the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA).  We want to encourage you to become actively engaged in our school.  We have several opportunities for parents and guardians to be engaged and informed.

• Website: Visit us at www.ArgyleMS.org to stay informed of school events. This is a quick and easy way to get to our website directly.
• X (Twitter): Twitter is a great way to receive quick reminders about school events, hear of exciting classroom experiences and see pictures of key events. Twitter handle to follow: @ArgyleMagnetMS
• PTSA WhatsApp Discussion Boards: This year the PTSA will continue to use a few parent-maintained discussion boards through WhatsApp in multiple languages.  

Join by clicking below:

English (ArgylePTSA.en) - What's App Link

Spanish (ArgylePTSA.sp) - What's App Link

Portuguese (ArgylePTSA.pt) - What's App Link

For more information or to join the PTSA please contact: PTSA@argylems.org

Student Schedules: Students’ schedules will be live in Synergy and available for your review in ParentVUE on August 19. If you or your student have any questions or concerns about next year’s schedule, please reach out to your grade level counselor as soon as possible. You are also welcome to call our Counseling Office at (240) 740-6380.

• 6th Grade Counselor: Ms. DeWitt at Genevieve_A_Dewitt@mcpsmd.org
• 7th Grade Counselor: Ms. Andich at Kristen_M_Andich@mcpsmd.org 
• 8th Grade Counselor: Ms. Ford at Miyah_M_Ford@mcpsmd.org
• Resource Counselor: Mr. Matt Lilja at Matthew_J_Lilja@mcpsmd.org 

ParentVUE Portal: For the school year 2026-2027, MCPS will continue to use ParentVUE to access student and classroom information, update emergency contacts, register or apply for school athletics and special programs, and stay connected with teachers and activities happening in school and classrooms. If parents are having difficulty with activating accounts, or if they do not receive a communication, they should contact our school counseling secretary, Ms. Ramirez at Araceli_P_Ramirez@mcpsmd.org  or 240-740-6380 for assistance.

Getting Started with ParentVUE video: English / Spanish.

For more Back to School information, including the school calendar, bus routes, and school supplies, please visit our website at Back to School | Argyle MS.