August 25, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Aguilar School District has once again been directed by the Las Animas-Huerfano Health Department to practice quarantining. As per our health department (a letter went home with your child) many classes are under quarantine until September 6th. Because so many of our children are affected by the quarantine order, we have made a decision to conduct virtual learning from tomorrow, August 26th until we return to school on Tuesday, September 7. Students will begin virtual/packet learning on Thursday August 25th. Students will be returning to in person learning on Tuesday September 7th.

Administration and staff had hoped to avoid a virtual learning environment for our students, but this will only be for four days. They will be required to log on for their work on the following days. Thursday August 25, Monday August 29, Tuesday August 30, and Wednesday September 1st. WE WILL RETURN TO IN PERSON LEARNING IN THE REGULAR CLASSROOM ON TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 7th.

If you have any questions, please contact me at school 719-941-4188.

Elizabeth Jameson

Principal - Aguilar High School

719-941-4188

August 24, 2021:

Dear Parents and Guardians:

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 in Las Animas county has not left Aguilar School District unaffected. A few students in the high school and elementary school have tested positive on the Rapid Test administered by the school office staff. Those students have quarantined themselves until they tested negative on the Rapid Test.

If your student is demonstrating any of the Covid symptoms (the cold, allergies, flu symptoms are also Covid symptoms) and you would like Ms. Nat to perform the Rapid test on your child, please bring your student to the school office for testing.

Beginning Wednesday, August 25, 2021, masks will again be mandatory in all classrooms. The same practices that we followed last year will be implemented for now. I do not anticipate this being an "all year" practice, but until the county's infection rate lowers, we will practice masking. If your child has been vaccinated and you do not wish for him/her to wear a mask, please bring the vaccination card to the office for verification. Please send your children to school with appropriate masks

I deeply regret this action being necessary, but assure you we will monitor the county health situation to keep your children and our staff safe.

Sincerely,

Dr. Stacy Houser Superintendent

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August 1, 2021:

Staff and Administration of Aguilar School District are excited to begin this school year. Before we begin, we have several announcements.

We are asking all parents to help keep our students healthy and safe throughout this school year. Although the CDC is recommending that students wear masks at school, we are not mandating that students and staff wear face coverings. We will support your decision for your child to wear or not wear masks at school. We will continue practicing hand washing and sanitizing, sanitizing school facilities, practicing personal distancing, and ask that sick students stay home from school.

Middle school and high school students will now be using the front door for entrance. Students are reminded not to report to school before 7:30. Students are to get breakfast and then report to the high school library.

CLC Afterschool programs will NOT begin this week. Start day for the after school program is Monday August 9th. Karate and Orchestra will be the only CLC classes the first week as scheduled for Tuesday August 3rd. Only registered students may attend karate and orchestra. Contact Mrs. Sanchez at 719-289-5285 for information on registering for karate and orchestra.

Preschool students will continue to enter through their classroom door in the morning. Please do not arrive before 7:30.

Buses will not run the route on the first day either before school or after school. Parents please make arrangements to both bring your children to school and pick them up at 4:00pm. If you have not signed up for bus transportation, please contact the school office at 719-941-4188 and speak to Ms. Natalie.

--Dr Stacy Houser Superintendent

February 24, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians: I want to begin by thanking you for your cooperation and patience throughout this school year, and for working with your children’s teachers in so many ways. All of us are eager to return to a sense of normalcy, whatever that might look like.

VIRTUAL LEARNING DAYS: A number of our school staff received their first COVID vaccination last month and are due to receive their second dose on Tuesday, March 2nd. Several of our teachers did not feel well subsequent to taking the first round of vaccinations, and based on reports I’ve received it is probable that teachers will not feel well following the second dose. I attempted to change the vaccination date to next Thursday, March 4, but the County Health Department would not change the vaccination schedule. In anticipation of teachers not feeling well and being unable to report to their classrooms, I have made the decision that next Wednesday and Thursday, March 3rd and 4th will be Virtual Learning Days.

We are grateful to be working in the Aguilar schools, and we love our students!

--Dr. Stacy Houser Superintendent

January 5th, 2021

: In its last regularly scheduled board meeting, the Aguilar School Board agreed to make two modifications to this year's calendar. The board voted to add weekend breaks for January and April. There will be no school on January 21 and 25 and no school on April 22 and 26. Staff and students have expressed the benefit and the need for these long weekends to maintain mental and physical health amidst the stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. School has advanced exceedingly well this year and we want to continue the positive work all are doing. Teachers have expressed their gratitude to me for the work you as parents and guardians are doing with your children. While other schools and districts in the state have experienced a general decline in their students' academic performances,our students are overall demonstrating positive academic growth and performance. This progress in student performance is indicative of your support of your children; students focusing on their work; and teachers' commitment to the learning cycles of school. Thank you for your support of Aguilar Schools!

Sincerely, Dr. Stacy Houser Superintendent

DECEMBER 3, 2020

Dear Parents and Guardians:

We have made the decision to transition to Virtual Learning for the rest of the semester, beginning Monday, December 7 until Thursday, December 17. One of our secondary students was exposed to the virus on an out of state trip over Thanksgiving. This student was tested and the test result came back today with a positive result. I also have reason to believe that a staff member who is being tested today could very possibly test positive for the virus. Both of these individuals have been quarantined and out of school since Thursday, November 19. Your children to the best of my knowledge have not been exposed to the virus through these individuals. We are making the decision to go to virtual learning out of an abundance of caution. Our primary consideration in these moments is for the safety of our students and staff.
Similar to what we did back in the summer, we will provide sack meals for students during this Virtual Learning period of December 7 – December 17. We’ll serve meals on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:00 to 2:00. Please drive through the bus loading area, stay in your cars and the meals will be brought to you. When you come to pick up the meals, please wear masks for the meal handoff procedure. Teachers and students (3rd grade through 12th grade) have been practicing how to access virtual classrooms and virtual assignments on their Chromebooks. They’ll need your encouragement to get their lessons completed, but they should know and understand the procedures for virtual learning. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to call me – 719-941-4188, Ext#239.

Please continue practicing healthy habits and let’s stay safe!

Sincerely, ​Dr. Stacy Houser

December 2, 2020

Aguilar School District will be practicing conducting virtual learning tomorrow, Wednesday, December 2. There will be no in person classes for Elementary, Junior High or High School.

July 30, 2020

Dear Parents, Guardians and Students:

School is starting Monday morning! We had a conversation with the Las Animas County Health Department, and Aguilar School District has been approved to open in-person instruction beginning Monday at 8:00 a.m. Here are some important pieces of information:

• NO buses will run Monday morning. Bus routes will begin Tuesday, August 4th. If you have questions, please contact Ms. Nat at 719-941-4188.
• Parents please perform health checks on your children each morning. If your children’s temperatures are 100 degrees or higher, KEEP them home. If anyone in the home is ill, children should stay home until fevers have been gone for 24 hours.
• Send your children with face coverings!
• Monday we’ll be helping students become accustomed to social distancing, hand washing, and wearing masks. We will discuss the new procedures we’re doing at school.
• The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends that adults should not enter the school building past the office. We’ll be enforcing that recommendation. If you as a parent or guardian come to school, we are restricting admittance to the office only.

Despite all the new “rules” and ways of doing things at school, we are excited to be opening school once again! We believe this is going to be a very good year for Aguilar schools, and we can’t wait to get started. If you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to call and talk with me – 719-941-4188.

Sincerely, Dr. Stacy Houser Superintendent

May 13, 2020

Hello Parents and Guardians,

First of all, we would like to thank you all for doing such an amazing job in a very unique and difficult time. We are so appreciative that you are willing to help your children with their school work at home! We do however want to share some information for the safety of our community and each other.

First of all, PLEASE STAY HOME!

We all know Aguilar is a small community and if only one person were to get sick, it would quickly affect everyone else. COVID-19 is extremely contagious and you cannot be sure where everyone has been at all times. With one grocery store and many outside visitors from possible hot spots, the possibility of exposure is very much a real concern. Once a person is infected and hospitalized, they cannot be visited. Please think of how scary a situation that would be for a young adult or child.

AS ADULTS, WE NEED TO BE AN EXAMPLE!

This is such a pivotal time that is a matter of life and death. If the adults make it a joke, fail to follow instructions, or mock the situation out loud; then the children will feel the same way. This is confusing enough and while we want children to feel safe, we don’t want them to be in danger. This is a great time to teach students about good hygiene, ways to help our community from home, and how germs work. If you need more information on how to communicate with your child without frightening them, we have many resources.

NO VISITORS OR SLEEPOVERS! There should not be parties, celebrations o,r gatherings. All of these things can be postponed. If you need ideas for crafts, games, or outside activities please contact the school or a teacher for lots of suggestions. We are here to help.

We are aware that at times childcare for essential workers is difficult, but please try to maintain the same caregivers so that no additional people are exposed.

THE QUICKER WE FOLLOW THE RULES, THE QUICKER THIS ENDS!

This is extremely difficult for everyone. We will try to help as much as we can with any information you may need. Please reach out for help.

Let’s all stay apart so when it is safe we can ALL be together!

Respectfully, Aguilar Administration

April 9, 2020

*Food distribution for the week of 4/6/2020 will be Monday 4/6 and Wed 4/8 at the school bus parking lot from from 9-11 am. Please enter the bus turn around parking lot at the school and enter from the north and exit to the south.

There will be a drop box at the front door from 9-noon on 4/6 for students to drop off any work packets they have.

April 5, 2020

*Aguilar schools will distribute meals this week on two days: Monday, March 30 and Wednesday, April 1 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. There will be two distribution points. The first will be in the bus turn around parking lot at the school. Please enter from the north and exit to the south. The second will be at the lower mail boxes by the old store at C.R. 42.5. Meals will be brought to your car. Please do not get out of your car. Two days of meals will be given out on Monday and two days of meals will be given on Wednesday. Both days the meals will be given out from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Teachers will meet on Monday, April 6 and additional assignments will be given to students that week. More information will be sent to you in the evening of April 6.

March 29, 2020

*Students and parents are encouraged to come pick up personal belongings Thursday, March 19th from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Student work packets will be available for pickup on Thursday, March 19 or Monday, March 30. Breakfast/lunch meals will be available beginning the week of March 30th. More details will be released later next week, toward the end of the scheduled spring break.

*The Aguilar School Board of Education voted on 3/16/2020 to close the school effective March 17 through April 3. We encourage all families to stay home during this time. All staff is to report to school March 17 at 9:00 a.m.

March 18, 2020

*The Aguilar School Board of Education voted on 3/16/2020 to close the school effective March 17 through April 3. We encourage all families to stay home during this time. All staff is to report to school March 17 at 9:00 a.m.

March 15, 2020

*School is cancelled for tomorrow, Monday, March 16th. Tomorrow evening is the regular school board meeting and on the agenda is the COVID-19 situation. Parents are invited to attend the meeting which begins at 5:30.

March 12, 2020

*District administration is in daily contact with representatives from the Las Animas County Health Department and the state department. We are making plans for the possibility of closing school should it become necessary. The school staff and the school board will discuss the COVID-19 situation next week. We want to act in a responsible manner to maintain the health and safety of our students, staff, families and community. Please remind your children to wash their hands often, not to drink after each other and to get in the habit of disinfecting their work space. If your children are not feeling well, please keep them home.