Aragon Gator News

Please Welcome Ms. Blanca & Mrs. Jenn, our new office staff! They are looking forward to working with Aragon & the community.

Parents a *REMINDER* For security purposes please bring your driver license for early check out for you child.

January

• No school- 01/20 Martin Luther King Jr, Day

• Club Updates
• 01/21 - After school activities for participants from semester 1 will resume

• Class Pictures- January 30th - See Flyer down below for more information.

February

• FFC8 will be hosting it's first Adult ESL classes starting February 4th. Please see Flyers down below for more information. ( This is for district 8 families only)
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• Parents if you have to make any changes to contact information please come to the office and fill out a form.
• End of Day pick ups by 2:00 pm
• TRANSPORTATION: Parents if there is a transportation change that is different from the regular daily routine, please call the office 719-382-1340 before 1:30 pm.
• Winter Dress: Parents with it being winter, there are days that our students do go outside for recess. If you can please make sure they are dressed in warm clothing and have a warm jacket with them at all times we would greatly appreciate it.

https://cdhs.colorado.gov/summer-ebt

Subject: Summer Electronic Transfer Benefit Program (S-EBT) for FFC8 households participating in the National School Lunch Program

FFC8 Families:

What is Summer-EBT?
Summer-EBT is a new program that provides nutritious food to eligible students in the summer months when they are not in school. ($120 per student/one time EBT payment)

Who is eligible for Summer-EBT?
Students who may be eligible for Summer-EBT include:

• Those who have already been processed and qualified for free or reduced-price meals while attending a school participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP).
• Those who are receiving other assistance benefits, including SNAP and Colorado Works.
• You may qualify through Medicaid if your income is within the National School Lunch guidelines.

If you have not already applied or qualified for free or reduced eligibility for the 2024-25 school year, please fill out the Family Economic Data Survey by February 21, 2025 to see if you may qualify for Summer-EBT benefits.

How do I get Summer-EBT?
Many families will automatically receive Summer-EBT if their student qualified for free or reduced-price school meals or if they participate in SNAP, Medicaid or Colorado Works.

An EBT card will be mailed to each eligible student directly by the state. You should keep any existing Summer-EBT cards, if you already have one. Summer-EBT cards will be issued by a State agency and will not be issued by Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8.

To prepare for this, make sure your student's address is correct and up-to-date in Infinite Campus parent portal, as well as parent/guardian information.

If you are receiving SNAP, Colorado Works or Medicaid, you should ensure your case has a current address on file.

When will Summer-EBT be available?
Summer-EBT payments will be sent out during the summer months.

For more information on student eligibility and common questions, visit the Colorado Department of Human Services Summer-EBT webpage.

District questions please contact Nutrition Services at (719) 382-1334.

This Institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider

Aragon Families,

As we start a new year, it is a suitable time to review your child’s health. Check to make sure your child’s vaccines are up to date. When was the last time your child visited the doctor for an annual physical or an eye exam? Is it time for a dental checkup? Most dentists recommend a checkup every 6 months. Talk to your children about their health and what they can do to stay healthy. Regular hand washing, especially after using the bathroom, drinking plenty of water throughout the day and eating fresh fruits and vegetables are some easy things to do to stay healthy. And please remember if your child is sick, keep them at home to stop the spread of germs.

Happy healthy new year,

Nurse Wendy

If you are unsure of whether to send your student to school please contact the school nurse for guidance.

Thank you for keeping all our Aragon Alligators healthy!

FFC8 Families

Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 provides no-cost Breakfast and Lunch for all students. It is important for households to still provide income information as qualifying households may be eligible for Summer EBT benefits and students may receive discounted technology fees, summer school fees, college testing fees, and more.

Please fill out the Family Economic Data Survey here:

https://linqconnect.com/public/meal-application/new?identifier=6ZG8ZT

"Change Happens... such as loss of housing , homelessness, job and need for resources. If this is you, please reach out to your District Liaison. There are a number of resources including school food pantry, clothing closet, parent resource nights and much more. We are here to support you! Contact Wendy Stevenson, MSW, LCSW at 719-382-1568 or www.wstevnson@ffc8.org."

CALL 211 for essential community services such as food, clothing banks, shelters rental assistance, utility assistance and more.

Do you have questions or need to sign up for food assistance or Medicaid?

You can visit the El Paso County Department of Humas Service office in Fountain located inside the Peak Vista Health Center at 350 Lyckman Dr. You can also use the Colorado PEAK website to check eligibility and apply for benefits at https.//www.colorado.gov/curated/search-peak

Do you need help navigating Health First Colorado ( Colorado's Medicaid Program)?

CCHA care coordinators can help navigate the health care system and connect you with medical and non-medical services, 719-598-1540

Is your child in need of clothes or supplemental food?

We all know kids grow so fast and the cost of groceries is astronomical. If your family needs some support with this and more, please contact Ally West, Aragon's School Counselor for more info at allysonwest@ffc8.org

Are you looking for a Local Food Pantry?

• FFC8 hosts a Community Food Pantry at the Fountain Valley YMCA on Wednesdays at 4pm
• Sunnyside Market is a food pantry where you can simply grab a cart and choose the food you want. Make sure you enroll online first at https://sunnysidemarket.org. Sunnyside Market is located at 501 East Iowa Ave. Check online for shopping days and hours or to volunteer
• Fountain Valley Foundations - Salvation Army. The Fountain Valley Salvations Army Client Choice Food Pantry is where you can shop for groceries one time per week. Located at 208 Cunningham Dr., 80911. Operating hours: M, W, F from 9am-3pm, closed for lunch 12pm-1pm

Do you need Housing Assistance?

• Are you at risk of becoming homeless (pending eviction/unable to make rent) or maybe living with others due to economic purposes, contact Wendy Stevenson with FFC's McKinney Vento Liaison and district supports. wstvenson@ffc8.org
• Partners in Housing, https://partnershousing.org provides one year if transition housing and supportive services to families experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of becoming homeless with the goal of achieving self-sufficiency. Approval can take many months so apply ASAP.

For the most up to date information and more, please visit our School Community Resources at https://www.ffc8.org/programs/special-education/parent-resources

Hey Aragon Elementary School fan!

Heads up! Your NEW 24/7 Aragon Elementary School Sideline Store is officially up and running. You can shop the store by clicking the link below.

http://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/colorado/fountain/aragon-elementary

7:10 Students Arrive

7:20 Tardy Bell

2:25 Student Dismissal

Website: https://aragon.ffc8.org/
Location: 211 South Main Street, Fountain, CO, USA
Phone: 719-382-1340
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AragonElementary/