The 2026 Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival (Chunjie), Tết (Vietnam), or Seollal (Korea), officially begins on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
This year marks the transition into the Year of the Fire Horse. In the Chinese Zodiac, the Horse represents energy, independence, and rapid progress. Because the 12-year animal cycle pairs with a 5-element cycle (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), a "Fire Horse" year only occurs once every 60 years (the last was in 1966). It is considered a year of high intensity, bold transitions, and "double fire" energy.
Lunar New Year celebrations typically last 15 days, culminating in the Lantern Festival on March 3, 2026. Key cultural practices include:
Celebrating Black History Month!
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) has designated the 2026 theme as: "A Century of Black History Commemorations,"
This theme is specifically chosen to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the very first "Negro History Week," which was established in February 1926. It serves as a centennial reflection on how the intentional study and public recognition of Black history has transformed American society and the global status of Black people over the last 100 years.
As we celebrate the centennial in 2026, the national discourse is focused on the permanence and protection of Black history.
Introducing our new Dean of Career Technical Education (CTE)!
Dr. Jeremiah J. Sims is a proud California Community College product who transferred from Berkeley City College to the University of California, Berkeley, earning a B.A. in Rhetoric with honors and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Culture. He previously served as the inaugural Director of Equity at the College of San Mateo and later worked as a consultant supporting community colleges nationwide in building justice-advancing, antiracist ecosystems of belonging. A former faculty member, lecturer, trainer, and coach, Dr. Sims is a scholar-practitioner who has written or co-written four peer-reviewed books on educational equity and justice. His leadership centers radically humanizing pedagogy, dignified workforce pathways, and the integration of equity, innovation, and belonging across institutional systems. He lives in Redding, California with his partner, Rachel, and their six sons. Dr. Jeremiah Sims joined the Siskiyous community on February 1, 2026.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to interim Dean of CTE, Veronica Coots, for her dedicated leadership during this period of transition. Her contributions have been instrumental to the College's CTE initiatives, and we deeply value the stability she provided.
Stay Connected
Signs of winter are here. Be prepared and 'stay in the know.' Sign up today for COS Connect. This is a free system used to notify students and staff of emergency-situations, campus closures, or general information. To sign up click on the COS Connect button located on the COS homepage in the footer and follow the directions to sign up. Need help, send an email, call the office, or stop by for a chat.
2026-2027 Foundation Scholarship Applications Now Available
Scholarship applications for academic year 2026-2027 are now available for Siskiyou County high school seniors (graduating spring 2026) and current Siskiyous students who plan to attend College of the Siskiyous during the 2026-2027 year. The application is due March 31 and can be found online.
Come Join Our Team
We are always looking for new volunteers to join the Eagle's Nest team. Volunteers work as cashiers, screening items as they come in, price merchandise, repair items, research antiques, etc. There is never a dull moment at the Eagles Nest. We are also looking for student workers. If you know of anyone who may be interested in volunteering or working as a paid student worker, have them call (530) 938-4663 or stop by the Eagle’s Nest Shop to speak with Angel Keen, Shop Supervisor.
Upcoming Activities & Events:
Event dates, times, and locations based on information available at the time of publication and are subject to change.
February 2026
March 2026
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The 2024–25 audit is complete! The Auditors will present their report at the February Board meeting, and we are pleased to share that all audit findings from the prior year have been successfully resolved. One new finding related to financial aid was identified and is already in the process of being addressed. This outcome reflects strong district-wide collaboration and commitment to continuous improvement. Thank you to everyone who supported and adapted to the necessary changes throughout this process.
As we all know, audit work is ongoing. The Audit team will begin the 2025–26 audit cycle with an interim visit scheduled for mid-March. While it may feel like we are always in audit season, these early efforts help us stay ahead of schedule.
Budget development is also underway. A budget timeline will be presented to the Integrated Planning and Budget (IPB) Committee at its next meeting and to the Board of Trustees in March. Training sessions for budget managers are currently being developed and will be scheduled soon. A zero-based budgeting model will be used for all Fund 11 budgets this year, and small group meetings will be offered to provide additional guidance and support during this transition.
Recruitment for a new Account Clerk II/Cashier is currently underway. We are hoping to have a new employee on board by the beginning of April.
Student Housing Complex: Information and updates regarding the project will be posted on the new Construction Projects webpage as it becomes available. The Student Housing project is officially underway. Perimeter fencing has been installed, and mobilization of the trades and materials will begin to arrive within the fence line.
Theater Arts & McCloud Hall: The Theater Arts McCloud Hall project is in final state review before the project goes to pre-qualified contractor bidding.
Other Projects:
Safety Spotlight: At the beginning of each semester, we like to remind all on campus of when to use extension 5911 versus calling 911. Extension 5911 is monitored by Facilities and Lodge personnel while campus is open. It can also be used on the Weed and Yreka campus. Normal Maintenance and Custodial requests should be routed through FMX work request process.
Examples of 5911 Use:
For immediate assistance (Emergency) from the Police, Fire Department, or Ambulance (Medical assistance is needed) call - 911.
Food Services is nearly fully staffed. A new Food Services Cook is in the final stages of the hiring process, and we anticipate announcing the selection next month once the process is complete. Please help us welcome the newest member, Gabriel Mattingly, to the team! Gabe started working for the department at the beginning of February after working through Personnel Preference for the last several months. Shelby Woodard also joined the team in January.
Menu updates for breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be rolling out soon. We appreciate everyone's patience as several new staff members continue training and learning their roles. A sincere thank you to the campus community for the support and understanding shown during this period.
The start of the semester has been a whirlwind. It is great to see students back and involved in the many events and activities across campus. Multiple departments have been involved in hosting many events to start the semester. A big thank you to Outreach & Retention, Student Housing & Student Life, Basecamp, Counseling & Advising and many others who have helped to host events such Superbowl Party, Walking Tacos, Welcome Table, Cracking & Stacking, and more. These events are essential to encouraging student life and building community.
At the beginning of February, all of Student Services and several others across campus engaged in a two-day training centered around the 21 standards of the National Association for Risk Assessment and Behavior Intervention (NABITA). This training helps the campus community to better understand the work that happens with the Behavior Intervention Team (BIT) and with how to assist the team and how to help students who are struggling. The training provided valuable information, collaboration, and helps foster support for preventative support and positive intervention for students who are struggling mentally, emotionally, or any another way that may impact their ability to be successful. In addition, another training was provided for others on campus that focused on working with students in crisis in the classroom and/or at department offices. Both training sessions were fantastic and our trainer, Linda Abbott, was phenomenal. Thank you to all who took the time and training seriously.
As we start this spring semester, I have been reminded that working in higher education isn't always easy. There are many diverse opinions, viewpoints, groups, and people. Sometimes these groups don't mix well and sometimes it can be challenging to listen to others, particularly when their views are difficult for us to understand or accept. I've learned over many years that arguing with someone and telling them they are wrong will seldom produce positive results. It entrenches people more and any opportunity to build bridges is quite often lost. As an educator, I believe in the power of education. I believe in the importance of teaching people to critically think and in all honesty, I don't want a world full of people who all look, think, or feel the same way. I do want to live in a world where people can talk, listen, understand, and even accept that it is perfectly normal that people feel differently. The world is becoming more polarized with each passing year, and I am trying my best to not be part of that. When you walk in my office or talk with me, please know that I am happy to see you and that as a student or an employee, you are welcome at Siskiyous. My job is to serve and help as best as I can, regardless of differences. It is one of the best parts of my job. Thank you for allowing me that space and respecting me to do that as I try to do the same with you.
Student Support Programs (EOPS, CARE, CalWORKs, and NextUP) hosted their first annual "Cookies & Counselor" event on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. The Counseling Department welcomed students with hot cocoa, coffee, and cookies, creating the event to meet counselors and learn more about available services.
What was intended as a casual meet and greeting event for students to get to know our team quickly became a drop-in event, with many students stopping by to ask questions, register for classes, learn about our programs, and make schedule changes. The Advising and Counseling team did an amazing job assisting students throughout the event, making it a great success. Thank you to Josh, Emaly, Kim, and Michelle who jumped right in to support the number of drop-ins we had that day.
The Counseling Department & Student Support Programs look forward to hosting similar events in the future.
The Career Compass Summitt was held in Redding on February 5, 2026. Kim Hertler, Dr. Jeremiah Sims, Dr. Mark Fields, and Jessica Gonzalez (Siskiyou Office of Education) represented COS at the event. Keynote speaker Mike Walsh from Butte County Office of Education, got the day started with a discussion on inspiring action in education. Other sessions included unpacking Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathways, adult education, early career exploration, workforce trends, and regional offerings. The event was attended by over 200 career education stakeholders and provided educational as well as networking opportunities for the Siskiyous team.
In collaboration with Liberty Arts Gallery, the College of the Siskiyous Art Department presents Wildfire: Remnants and Recovery, an exhibition about wildfire and how it affects our communities. The curators, Sharon Swingle and Amanda Thomas, envisioned this show to honor the experiences of wildfire victims, create understanding and empathy, and aid in healing and resilience. The exhibition is in the College of the Siskiyous Art Gallery which is in the Learning Resource Center (LRC - Building 2) and will be open during regular library hours from February 4 to February 27. A closing reception for the exhibition Wildfire: Remnants and Recovery will be held February 27 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Refreshments will be served.
The Art Department is hosting Butteville Elementary Schools’ 7th Grade class on February 17 and 24 as part of Butteville's Artist in Residence program. Amanda Thomas and Sean Julian will be leading the class in an exploration of the pottery wheel and a collaborative project for the schools Art and Wine Auction fundraiser scheduled for March 28. For more information on the auction, contact Nina Crownover at Butteville Elementary at (530)928-2255.
In partnership with Outreach & Retention, the Library held a very successful first Game Night of the semester with about 21 students stopping in for fun and food. Check out our next Game Night to be held Monday, March 9! The library is trying to host more activities this semester and will be offering Book Club meetups to read and discuss the book Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir (and how it compares to the movie, which comes out in March). Meeting dates will be announced soon, so stay tuned for more information. Follow the Library and ASC on Instagram to stay up to date on all the happenings in our areas. February's book displays feature Black History Month and Blind Date with a Book (all books are wrapped and students (and staff!) have fun guessing which books are inside based on the hints provided; whoever checks out the book gets to unwrap it). All COS employees are welcome to check out books from the library, as well as use our services and online collections.
No other reports received.
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