Charles Fernandez Center

As we head into the winter months and approach the holiday season, I want to express my gratitude for our vibrant and caring school community. It's the spirit of partnership and support between students, staff, and families that makes our school a truly special place for learning and growth. In this month's newsletter, we want to highlight some of the ways we are looking out for one another and ensuring every member of our school family feels valued and supported.

We recognize that the upcoming holiday season can bring additional challenges for many families, and we want to remind you that our school community stands with you. The incredible generosity of our CFC/PODS community has provided a donation of food items to stock our in-building food pantry, specifically to help those who may be experiencing food insecurity.

If your family would benefit from supplemental food support, please contact our Social Worker, Joe Rickert, at rickert@pointschools.net or 715-345-5592 for confidential assistance, while supplies last. All requests are handled with the utmost privacy and respect. For information on additional local community resources, please refer to the attached link in the full newsletter. Our goal is to ensure every family within our school community feels supported and cared for, during the holidays and throughout the year.

Warm regards,

Danielle Koenig

https://www.pointschools.net/studentandfamilyresources/food-and-emergency-resources

CFC Website https://www.pointschools.net/CharlesFernandez

CFC Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/CharlesFernandezCenter/

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Stevens Point Area Public Schools and the Alliance for Equity and Inclusion invite families and community members to join us for a special Heritage and Awareness series virtual event: Honoring Tradition - The Art and Meaning of Deer Hide, in recognition of Native American Heritage Month.

This educational presentation will explore the important role deer have held in Native communities for generations and the traditional methods for preparing and using deer hide. While processing a deer hide in real time, our presenter will guide participants through an overview of traditional methods and the respect given to natural materials within the culture.

The session will also include a discussion on Native American history, cultural values, and the importance of honoring traditions that continue today.

Please note: This presentation will include a real deer hide and elements of an authentic preparation process. We encourage families to use their discretion in determining whether the content is appropriate for their household.

Event Details:

• Date: December 3, 2025
• Time: 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
• Virtual → RSVP for the link

We welcome all families, community members, and staff to learn and celebrate the Native American heritage together.

Each month we will feature a learner or learners who contributed to our positive school culture. These students were nominated by CFC staff for having demonstrated resilience and perseverance regardless of the obstacles they face in life.

• Reason for selection -Alisha never misses a day of school.. She is conscientious of her academics and what her responsibilities are.
• Something unique or that you appreciate about CFC - I appreciate the small and short classes but most importantly I am very grateful that CFC has worked with me to graduate on time despite being behind on a few credits.
• What do you do in your free time - I like to read, spend time in nature, bike or just something crafty. Spending time outside is very important to me because it makes me less stressed and overall in a better mood.
• Plans after graduation - I plan to go into college for Pre-Medicine at one of the universities of Wisconsin ( hopefully Eau-Claire). From there, I hope to get into medical school to go into pediatrics.

Each month we will highlight a CFC staff member. This month we are highlighting...

• Current role - School Social Worker at CFC & PODS
• Previous roles/grades/schools - My first year at CFC was as an intern during the 2018-2019 school year. I then briefly had an internship at Green Bay East High School before returning to CFC to be the School Social Worker in October of 2019. I have been serving PODs in addition to CFC since 2022 & previously served as our district's McKinney-Vento Coordinator from 2021-2023.
• Years in education - This is my 8th year
• Interesting fact about you - . My family owns an Antique Mall in New London, WI
• What makes you CFC proud? - What makes me the most proud to be a member of CFC is seeing our students find success and regain confidence in their abilities. When our learning style doesn't line up with the expectations of our educational environment for years, it is easy to get discouraged. It makes me proud to see our students learn that they are more than capable and that there are no limits on their potential.

We’re excited to celebrate our amazing CFC graduates on our new Alumni Wall! If you’d like to be featured, please send us a photo of yourself, the year you graduated, and a short update on what you’ve been doing since graduation.

Help us spread the word—share this message with other CFC alumni who might not receive our newsletter. We can’t wait to showcase the incredible accomplishments of our former students!

Email ameeks@pointschools.net or call the CFC main office at 715-345-5592

November 26th-28th- Thanksgiving Break🦃

December 24th-January 2nd- Winter Break