🍁 Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District will be on Thanksgiving Break November 26–28.
School resumes Monday, December 1. 🦃
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at COCSD!
From our families to yours, we’re grateful for your trust, support, and partnership. Each day, you give us the opportunity to do the work that matters—serving and supporting the students we all care about.
Wishing you a warm, safe, and meaningful holiday with the people who matter most. Enjoy the break, and we’ll see everyone back ready to finish the semester strong.
Join us for a Parent Meeting on Monday, December 1st from 5:30–6:30 PM at the District Office Board Room (1 N. Willard, Cottonwood).
This meeting is not required, but families who attend will be able to enroll for camp at the meeting. Come with your questions and learn about our district’s amazing partnership with the historic Mingus Mountain Camp and Retreat Center.
District-wide enrollment opens Tuesday, December 2nd.
As with last year, a non-refundable $25 t-shirt payment will be due at registration.
We are always grateful for wonderful parent volunteers. Please remember that all volunteers must be cleared through Human Resources and have a valid IVP card on file.
We cannot wait for our 3rd annual Winter Camp at Mingus Mountain.
We’ll see everyone OFF GRID! 🌲❄️
Attitude of Gratitude 🍎💛
As we head into this season of thanks, we want to shine a light on our Sodexo Food Service team and the families we serve each day. Our food service workers show up early, work hard, and make sure our students are cared for with meals that fuel their day. Their dedication is steady, dependable, and deeply appreciated.
We’re also grateful for our families who support our schools and trust us with their children. Your partnership makes all the difference.
Here’s to the people who keep our students nourished, encouraged, and ready to learn. A heartfelt thank-you to each of you. 🙌💛🍽️
Heads up, families!!! We’ve had to adjust a few bus stops and routes, and the updated information is now posted on our website. These changes go into effect tomorrow, November 25th.
Please take a moment to review the new details so your student is ready for the morning.
👉 https://www.cocsd.us/o/cced/page/transportation
Exciting news from the Science Vortex! 🎉
The Science Vortex has received funding from ACF Sedona for Stage 2 of our outdoor space. This next phase will include new raised garden beds—maintained by CES programs—and fun STEAM features for families and students, including a balance element and a possible airplane component donated by the Children’s Museum of Phoenix. We are so thankful for our community's support!
✨ Staff Spotlight: Eric Wilson ✨
Today we’re recognizing Eric Wilson, whose journey with our district has come full circle. Originally from North Dakota, Eric has called Arizona home since he was seven. He grew up attending CES and CMS, and now has the unique privilege of working alongside some of the very people who once taught him.
Eric first served our schools as a paraprofessional at CCS before joining the Tech Department, where he continues to support students and staff with steady dedication. Guided by his faith, he leads with respect and kindness, sharing, “I think treating others with respect is important, and I try to act with kindness in all I do.”
Outside of work, Eric embraces his inner nerd—enjoying video games, animation, board games, and a good stack of books.
Join us in celebrating Eric for the heart, humility, and reliability he brings to our district every day! 🌟
Oak Creek PTO is kicking off a recycle roundup! ♻️
Got old electronics collecting dust? Give them a second life by sending them our way!
We’re accepting recyclable electronic items now.
Need a pickup? Tom’s your guy — give him a call at (928) 301-9088.
Let’s clean up, clear out, and support our PTO at the same time! 💪📱💻
Today, our Mountain View Preparatory students came together for our monthly assembly—and what a celebration it was!
Middle School & K–5 students were recognized for being inquirers—showing curiosity, asking great questions, and staying eager to learn!
Our K–2 Reading Superstars also took the spotlight! Students who met their reading goals earned their very own Sight Word or Reading Superstar T-shirt! How cool is that?!
We’re so proud of the hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm our Ocelots bring to learning each day. Keep shining, MVP students!
#MountainViewPreparatory #HomeoftheOcelots #Ho#MVPproud #OcelotStrong #ReadingSuperstars #Inquirers #MountainViewPreparatory
Mrs. Ozuna and Mrs. Zienka’s class put on an incredible “Turkeys Go on Strike” play for their families, taking the stage with TV-reporting-next-level energy! The performance was fun, musical, and full of personality as students stepped into their roles with confidence and creativity.
Our 3rd graders delivered an amazing show, leaving the audience smiling, laughing, and proud. What a fantastic job by these talented performers!
#MountainViewPreparatory #HomeoftheOcelots #ThirdGradeStars #SchoolPlay #TurkeysGoOnStrike #FutureReporters #ElementaryTheatre #ProudTeachers #ProudFamilies #ClassroomMagic #StudentSpotlight #CreativeKids
Their teamwork, problem-solving, and commitment to sustainability shine through in everything they do.
The kicker? As soon as the students were done, they asked, "When can we come back to finish?" What work ethic! Now we've got another cleanup day in the works — stay tuned for details!
Thanks to Wheel Fun and all the young folks who came out to help!
Thank you, Mrs. Wright, for all you do for our 21st CCLC program and the students at CCS — we appreciate you! 💛✨
Our Athletics Department is partnering with RAISE365 to fundraise for a brand-new trophy case for our gym! We want a special place to showcase all the hard work, heart, and accomplishments of our amazing student-athletes.
Here’s the fun part:
The class that raises the most money will earn an extra PE class with Mrs. Young!
So spread the word! Ask your grandmas, grandpas, aunties, uncles, neighbors, and friends to support our school.
Every dollar—big or small—helps us reach our goal. Let’s do this together!
#MountainViewPreparatory #HomeoftheOcelots #RAISE365 #SchoolPride #Athletics #TeamWork #SupportOurStudents #TrophyCaseDrive
🎉 Parents’ Night Out! 🎉
Take an evening for yourself — we’ll handle the fun for the kids!
This special event is proudly provided by the Cottonwood Parks & Recreation Department, giving families a trusted, well-run evening of supervised activities.
Join us on December 5, 2025, from 4:00–8:00 PM for a night packed with fun, pizza, and drinks. It’s an easy way to enjoy a well-earned break while your kids have a great time.
Details:
• Ages 3–11 (children must be potty trained)
• $25 per child
• 15% off each additional child in the same household
• All children must be picked up no later than 8:30 PM
Set the date — this event is always a hit!
Cottonwood Community School held its annual Title I Night yesterday evening! 📚✨
Families enjoyed a brief presentation about the Title I program and the academic interventions CCS offers to support students. Afterward, everyone gathered for dinner 🍽️ and a lively round of BINGO! 🎉
Students won board and card games 🎲🃏 they can take home and enjoy with their families. It was a wonderful night filled with laughter and excitement! 😄💛
A big thank-you to Sodexo for generously providing the dinner! 🙌🍴
✨ Staff Spotlight: Tyler Lewis ✨
We’re proud to celebrate Tyler Lewis, our Systems Administrator, whose roots run deep in Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District. Tyler grew up right here—attending Oak Creek School, Tavasci Elementary, and Cottonwood Middle School—before heading off to earn his B.S. in Aeronautical Management Technology from Arizona State University.
He returned to serve his home district in 2021 as a Computer Technician, and through hard work and steady dedication, he earned a promotion to IT Systems Manager in 2024. Today, he continues to push forward, pursuing a cybersecurity degree at Yavapai College.
Tyler brings curiosity, reliability, and a genuine passion for helping our schools run smoothly. When he’s not keeping our systems sharp, you’ll find him enjoying astronomy and aviation.
Help us congratulate Mr. Lewis for his commitment to excellence and his continued service to our district! 🌟
A cherished tradition returns — proudly brought to you by the Cottonwood Parks & Recreation Department.
Kids can drop their letters to Santa into our special North Pole mailbox located at the Cottonwood Recreation Center (150 S 6th St, Cottonwood, AZ 86326). Make sure to include a self-addressed envelope or return address, and Santa will send a personalized letter straight from the North Pole!
No postage needed — just the magic of the season.
The mailbox will be open through December 20, 2025.
Let the holiday excitement begin! 🎄✉️
🔐 OCS Title One Night was a huge success! 🔐
Last night, our families took on an exciting Escape Room Challenge created and led by our amazing Title One specialist, Laura Borden! Each grade level was given its own set of puzzles to solve—once cracked, students could decode their clue and enter the secret password to unlock their prize. 🗝️✨
We loved seeing so many families working together, thinking critically, and having fun. The energy in the room was incredible, and the smiles said it all!
To top it off, everyone enjoyed a simple and tasty dinner of pizza, carrots, and juice. 🍕🥕🧃
A huge thank you to all the families who joined us and to Mrs. Borden for creating such a memorable learning experience. We can’t wait for the next one!
#OCSTitleOne #FamilyEngagement #EscapeRoomFun #OCSProud
