Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Acknowledging History, Honoring Resilience
November marks National Native American Heritage Month, an annual observance dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the profound and lasting impact of the continent's First Peoples. It is a vital time to honor the hundreds of distinct Tribal Nations who are the original stewards of this land and continue to enrich the American experience.
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, a valued partner contributed information for my submission:
Carla Charraga, Executive Director Siskiyou Domestic Violence & Crisis Center
"This past October we were able to commemorate Indigenous People's Day. This is the third year working in collaboration with College of the Siskiyous, the Karuk Tribe, Quartz Valley Indian Reservation, and other collaborative partners such as Youth Empowerment Siskiyou, First 5 Siskiyou and us, Siskiyou Domestic Violence & Crisis Center. This and our annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous People's Day on May 5th of each year means so much to me personally. My husband and daughter are Native American, Paiute, California Indian, as well as being adopted by a Karuk Tribal member. It is an honor and a privilege to bring awareness of Native American heritage to our local Siskiyou County community. Many people think of Native Americans in historical terms failing to realize that tribal people still exist and are part of our local and nationwide community. Bringing awareness and pride about local Native American culture is as important and integral because it fosters good feelings or "good medicine" in the community. Learning about culture is part of intersectionality to creating safe and healthy relationships and community, which is part of our mission at Siskiyou Domestic Violence & Crisis Center. Saturday, November 8th, 2025, was the first ever Native American parade held in honor of November as Native American Heritage Month in Sacramento, California."
Wisdom for Good
On November 3 – 5, 2025, I was given the opportunity to participate in the Wisdom for Good Retreat sponsored by the Aspen Institute and Kern Family Foundation. The word 'retreat' doesn't give this experience justice. In summary, it proved to be a transformative event which delved deep into moral goodness, human flourishing and living virtuously with meaning. The experience is meant to change the lives of the participants so that they can effectively change the lives of others.
In preparation for the retreat, each participant was given a satchel of books & readings. The pre-retreat assignments allowed each of us to have meaningful discussions on intersectionality, professional ethics and moral struggles. I feel incredibly blessed to have gone through this experience.
Wisdom for Good (W4G) Attendees (from left to right): Dr. Tony Klemmer, W4G facilitator and author; Dr. Ashanti Hands, San Diego Mesa College President; Brenda Thames, El Camino College President; Dr. Sunny Cooke, MiraCosta College Superintendent/President; Dr. Julius Sokenu, Moorpark College President; Dr. Martha McDonald, Irvine Valley College Vice President of Student Services; Dr. Bernard Franklin, W4G Facilitator; Dr. Char Perlas, COS Superintendent/President; Julie White, Pierce College Chancellor and CEO; Michelle Weise, Kern Family Foundation; Tracy Hartzler, Central New Mexico Community College President; Pascale Charlot, Aspen Institute Managing Director; Dr. Angélica Garcia, Santa Rosa Junior College Superintendent/President; Dr. Omar Torres, De Anza College President; Dr. Mike Muñoz, Long Beach City College Superintendent/President; and Dr. Luis Pedraja, Quinsigamond Community College President.
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.
Winter Session and Spring Semester Registration is Open
Just a quick reminder open registration for the 2025 winter session and spring semester is open. Remind students to register early to get the classes they want and need. The schedule is available online.
Holiday Craft Fair
The 28th Annual COS Holiday Craft Fair will be held Friday evening, December 5 (5:00 to 8:00 pm) and Saturday, December 6 (9:00 am to 3:00 pm) at the COS Weed Campus in the Gym. This Craft Fair celebrates the finest of handcrafted products produced by local and regional artisans and crafters. For more information call (530) 938-5373 or email foundation@siskiyous.edu.
North State Giving Tuesday
Now, more than ever, the COS Foundation needs your support. On Tuesday, November 28, our community will come together for #NorthStateGivingTuesday and we need YOU to join us. From 6:00 am to 8:00 pm you can give where you live. Support the College of the Siskiyous Foundation and our Siskiyous students by making a tax‐deductible donation on December 2.
Come Join Our Team
We are 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.
Annual Winter Extravaganza a Huge Success!
Annually, the Shop is transformed the shop into a Winter Wonderland with beautifully decorated trees and hundreds of holiday items. This year’s transformation took place over the weekend of November 8 - 10.
Closed November 11, to finish preparations for the Winter Extravaganza event, the Shop opened at 4:00 pm to specially invited guests and COS employees. The evening event was filled with holiday cheer, sales, prizes, competition and many, many people. Many returning guest were excited the event was back and new guests were excited to be able to make it to the Shop "after hours."
If you could not attend the evening event, we highly encourage you to stop in to see the beautiful holiday decor and say Hi to the students and volunteers.
Upcoming Activities & Events:
Event dates, times, and locations based on information available at the time of publication and are subject to change.
November 2025
December 2025
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Please welcome our newest member to the team, Kyle Withem, Yreka custodian.
The maintenance and custodial staff received hands on hazardous waste and bloodborne pathogen training. All employees who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals in their work must receive training in hazardous communication standards (29 CFR 1910.1200). All staff expected to handle medical waste, bodily fluids and infectious materials must be trained according to bloodborne pathogens standard (29 CFR 1910.1030). This was a good training day with pizza, fun and lots of laughs.
The Business Office is working diligently to complete the audit for FY 2024–2025. We remain on track to present the final audit to the Board of Trustees in December 2025. We are also pleased to share that the district met the 50% Law for the closing fiscal year, with an unaudited percentage of 50.4%.
The Nelnet payment plans continue to be a helpful option for students, with only minor adjustments needed as we conclude the first full semester of implementation. We are already preparing for the Winter and Spring terms. Past-due payment plans have begun to trickle in, and we anticipate enrolling additional students with past-due balances early in the Spring term to help reduce outstanding receivables by the close of the 2025–2026 fiscal year.
The Business Office also continues to work with Personnel Preference to fill our Account Clerk II/Cashier position, currently held by Angela Bell. Recruitment for this position is expected to begin very soon.
The Food Services team will soon welcome two new members. A new Supervisor/Cook will begin on December 1, and a Food Services Assistant will be joining shortly thereafter. We are also in the process of filling an additional Food Services Cook and Food Services Assistant position, with an anticipated start in mid-to-late January 2026.
Once fully staffed, we look forward to introducing updates to the daily menu and meal offerings. Thank you for your continued support of the department and for your patience with the current staff, who have done an outstanding job keeping up with the demands and always with a smile!
Happy Thanksgiving! As we head into the Thanksgiving season, we're especially thankful for the teamwork, flexibility, and good humor that keep things running smoothly across Administrative Services. This time of year, is always busy, but it's also a great reminder of how much we appreciate everyone's efforts to support our students and one another. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday filled with rest, good food, and good company!
In the month of October, I had the opportunity to attend a joint CSSO and CIO conference. Dr. Fields and I were able to meet with our colleagues from all the California Community Colleges where we were able to collaborate, hear updates from the Chancellor's Office, and had an enjoyable conference experience. In addition, Dr. Perlas was able to join us on the last day of the CSSO portion of the conference as the keynote final presenter for the conference. Dr. Pelas chose a talk show format, with me as the "host" and she did a phenomenal job. Listening to her story was a reminder of how fortunate we are to have her at COS and it was a personal reminder to me that she is passionate about higher education, serving students, and loves living in Siskiyou County and working at the college.
Leading up to Halloween, the Outreach & Retention Department participated in several Trunk or Treat events across Siskiyou County. Thank you, Steph Wroten, Julissa Gonzalez, Janice Porterfield, and several of our student workers for making that happen. I have no doubt Siskiyou County children loved it.
On Veterans Day, we held a very nice event in honor of our veterans. Emaly Brann coordinated and planned out almost all of it. Thank you, Emaly, and thank you to all those that helped staff the table with goodies, information, and "thank you" cards for our Veterans. We are grateful to those who have served on behalf of our country. Thank you, veterans.
Outreach & Retention has been busy this fall!
We wrapped up October by successfully attending all but one of the many Trunk or Treat events held in Siskiyou County. These festive gatherings brought together students, families, and community members for evenings of fun, creativity, and connection. A huge thank you to Janice Porterfield, Jessica Sanchez, David Gonzalez, Caden Greene, Pepper Wroten, Hannah Gast, DreQuain Williams and Akierra Handy for assisting with decorating trunks, handing out treats, and making each event a memorable experience. The Weed Campus also honored Día de los Muertos with a special altar celebrating the pets we've lost. Staff and students shared memories and mementos, creating a warm tribute to our beloved animal companions.
As we move into November, we're excited to collaborate with the ASM group to host our "Cup of Kindness" event where hot chocolate, cider and tea will be served. During lunchtime, ASM will have their "Soup, There It Is" event where students and staff are invited to connect and enjoy a variety of delicious soups, featuring flavors that warm the soul. This cozy gathering is all about sharing good food and good company in a welcoming atmosphere - perfect for the season of gratitude.
Looking ahead to December, we're gearing up for our cheerful "Deck the Doors" competition hosted by our Administrators. Departments across both campuses will have the opportunity to showcase their holiday spirit and creativity by decorating a department door. Whether it's twinkling lights, festive themes, or clever designs, we can’t wait to see the magic everyone brings to their space.
Outreach & Retention is proud to continue building community through events that celebrate togetherness, creativity, and student engagement. Stay tuned for more exciting happenings in the months ahead!
The Library and ASC are partnering up for extra hours at finals. The ASC will be open late during the last week of classes, and the library will be open on the Sunday before finals and will stay open late during the week of finals. Coffee, tea, and snacks are provided during all extra hours (thank you, Basecamp!). Let students know about the extra support that is available to them during this time.
Don't forget to stop by the Library before November 20 to view the traveling exhibit Wherever There's a Fight: A History of Civil Liberties in California. The exhibit is available in person or online.
Module 1A Training
Fire Academy 47 is progressing exceptionally well through Module 1A. The cadets have transitioned into "wet drills," the cornerstone of the fire service. These exercises include advancing hose lines, securing hydrants, and mastering fire attack techniques on simulated fires in preparation for upcoming live-burn evolutions.
Forcible Entry Maze Completed
Our dedicated adjunct staff recently completed construction of a new training prop—the Forcible Entry Maze. This simulator challenges firefighters to navigate a zero-visibility environment while encountering locked doors that must be breached using proper techniques. The maze will greatly enhance cadets’ confidence and competence in real world, with low-visibility conditions.
Rope Rescue Awareness and Operations
COS Fire Technology hosted a full (with a waiting list) RRAO Course. This intensive training introduced students to high- and low-angle rescue principles, anchor systems, mechanical advantage, and victim packaging techniques. The course emphasized teamwork, safety, and precision—key elements of modern rescue operations—and provided cadets with both the knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to respond effectively to rope rescue incidents in the field.
Strengthening Partnership with CAL FIRE
CAL FIRE has continued to support the College of the Siskiyous. Their crews have assisted in restoring and rehabilitating the training grounds following the extensive tree work completed over the summer.
No other reports received.
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