Cottonwood-Oak Creek Schools

🎯 Rim Country Bowhunters Association Scholarship Opportunity 🎯 Attention all graduating seniors! 🌟 Each spring, Rim Country Bowhunters Association awards two $500 scholarships to qualifying graduates in our community! 🎓💵 📝 How to Apply: The application and instructions are attached below. Be sure to read through everything carefully and submit your materials before March 31st! This gives our club members time to review and approve the scholarship at our April meeting, with awards being disbursed in May. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity! 🏹 #RimCountryBowhunters #ScholarshipOpportunity #Cottonwood #BowhuntingCommunity #SupportLocalGraduates #SpringScholarships

Superintendent Vocca featured in the Journal Extra. Jessica Vocca has been the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District Superintendent since April 2024. Born in Cottonwood, Vocca attended West Sedona School until sixth grade, enrolled in Cottonwood Middle School, then known as Cottonwood Junior High, and graduated from Mingus Union High School in 1998. After earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Northern Arizona University, she returned to Cottonwood, earning a master’s degree in education administration from Grand Canyon University. Daulton Venglar/Larson Newspapers Read more here: https://journalaz.com/2025/02/03/jessica-vocca-is-homegrown-leader/

Hello DDB families... Mtn Lion route has some changes to the stops and times. If your student rides on the Mtn Lion bus, please check the route on our website, https://www.cocsd.us/o/cced/page/transportation Click on your school and then on Mountain Lion to see the times for your stops. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Transportation Dept at 928-634-9679. Thank you! - Daniel Maldonado, Transportation Director

👑🎉 A Royal Celebration in Kindergarten! 🎉👑 Mrs. Fuller’s kindergarten class just wrapped up their Kings and Queens unit in CKLA and what better way to celebrate than with a Royal Tea Party?! ☕️👑 The students dressed as kings and queens for the day and were treated to tea, mini sandwiches, and cookies—all served by their amazing 8th grade Reading Buddies. It was a day full of laughter, royal fun, and memories made! A huge thank you to our 8th graders for being such wonderful hosts and making this day extra special! 👏💖 #RoyalTeaParty #KingsAndQueens #KindergartenFun #ReadingBuddies #MemorableMoments #CKLA

🎉 We had an amazing turnout at the Verde Valley SciTech Festival on Saturday with over 250 people in attendance! 🚀 A big thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make it such a success. Here are some of the exciting highlights: ✨ 3 COCSD alumni (now Mingus students) wowed the crowd with their "Science is Fun" performance! 🔬 5 CCS students & Ms. Graeber led two awesome hands-on STEM activity tables. 🤖 Our Chief Science Officers (including two current COCSD students) ran 4 exciting activities: the Van de Graaf machine, silly monster crafts, programming Edison robots, and phosphorescent rocks under UV light. 🌳 Local organizations like Red Rock State Park, Clark Memorial Library, Camp Verde Community Library, and more shared incredible activities and knowledge with everyone. 🌱 The Cottonwood Community Nature Center was open for visitors to explore and learn about nature firsthand. 👥 It was fantastic to see a Cottonwood City Council member and Larson News on-site supporting our community! A huge shoutout to all the participants, volunteers, and supporters who helped bring this event to life. We can’t wait for next year! 🙌 #SciTechFestival #STEMeducation #CommunityEvent #VerdeValley #HandsOnLearning

📣 Big Thanks to Bent River Farm! 🌾🌟 A huge thank-you to Bent River Farm for opening their farm and hearts to our Verde Tech High School freshmen as they hosted Cottonwood Community School's kindergarten field trip! Our freshmen had the opportunity to step into leadership roles, guiding the little ones through hands-on learning about farm life, nature, and sustainability. 🌱🐓🌻 It was inspiring to see our students shine while the kindergarteners explored, learned, and had fun. This collaboration wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity and support of Bent River Farm. Thank you for providing such a magical setting for learning and connection. 💚 #VerdeTech #VTHS

Check out the Verde Valley SciTech Festival Kickoff Extravaganza tomorrow at the Science Vortex on the CES campus! Over 15 organizations will be there with hands-on activities for kids of all ages. Don't miss this exciting, family-friendly event! follow @verdevalleystreamcouncil for festival details @followers #verdevalleylovesstem #vvscitechfest

🚀🔧 Hands-on Learning in Action! 🔧🚀 The kiddos in Mrs. Earl's Robotics & Young Engineers 21st CCLC after-school club at CCS have been diving into the world of Rube Goldberg machines! 🤖⚙️ After learning about these fun and complex chain-reaction machines, they put their knowledge into action—designing and building their own! 🎉✨ Way to go, future engineers! 🏗️👏

🌟 A huge shout out to Mrs. Jamie Woodward, Mrs. Heather Wacker, and Dr. Trish Alley for their insightful presentation at yesterday’s Yavapai County Admin Meeting in Prescott Valley! 🙌 They shared valuable information on the Science of Reading, which is a research-backed approach to teaching reading that focuses on how the brain processes written and spoken language. By understanding the cognitive processes behind reading, educators can better support students in becoming skilled readers and lifelong learners. 📚✨ The Science of Reading incorporates strategies like phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, all of which are showing tremendous benefits for students—helping them build stronger reading skills and boosting their academic success overall. 🌱 Thank you again to Mrs. Woodward, Mrs. Wacker, and Dr. Alley for sharing your expertise and for your ongoing dedication to helping our students thrive! 👏 #COCSDScienceOfReading #EducationExcellence #YavapaiCounty #ThankYou #StrongerReaders #COCSDFutureLeaders

🎉 Exciting News from MUHS! 🎉 In collaboration with the Rotary Club of the Verde Valley, MUHS Student Leadership clubs (Interact, Student Council & Key Club), are thrilled to announce that Project Prom Closet is returning for the FOURTH year at Mingus Union High School! 💃🕺 Last year, we gave away over 250 formal wear items to students from all over the Verde Valley and beyond, with attendees traveling from all over Northern Arizona! 🏞️👗👔 If you're a high school student in need of a dress, tux, or accessories, don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity! Stay tuned for more details about the event and how you can get involved or donate! 🌟 ✨ #MUHSProjectPromCloset #CommunitySupport #PromDreams #NorthernArizona

Check out this amazing snapshot of creativity at Verde Tech High School!🎨✨ One of our talented students is hard at work on the Sketch Sculpture Project, crafting a dinosaur masterpiece 🦖. These art pieces are coming to life thanks to imagination and dedication of our art teacher, Mr. Beltran.

🌨️❄️ Talk about dedication! Yesterday, our amazing Sodexo employee, Pat Bonfig, braved the snow to deliver much-needed snacks to the preschool! 🍎🥪 Even in the toughest weather, Pat always goes above and beyond to keep the little ones fueled and happy. Thank you, Pat, for your hard work and commitment to our community! 👏👏 You’re truly a winter weather hero! 🙌 #COCSDSodexoStrong #EmployeeSpotlight #SnowDay #AboveAndBeyond

🎉 Celebrating Excellence in Education: Congratulations to Mr. Cody Altringer! 🎉 We are thrilled to recognize Mr. Cody Altringer for achieving the prestigious status of National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT)! 🌟 For those who may not be familiar, National Board Certification is the highest professional recognition a teacher can earn. It's an advanced certification that goes beyond state licensure and demonstrates a teacher’s dedication to excellence in the classroom. To become National Board Certified, educators must engage in a rigorous process that includes: ✅ Extensive Reflection: Teachers must analyze their practice through self-assessment, reflection, and continuous improvement. ✅ Professional Growth: Completing a series of assessments that showcase their knowledge, skills, and ability to positively impact student learning. ✅ Commitment to Student Success: NBCTs are required to demonstrate the ability to effectively differentiate instruction, meet the needs of all learners, and use data-driven decisions to improve outcomes. The benefits of achieving NBCT are far-reaching! 🌱 Elevated Teaching Practice: The process helps teachers refine their craft and become even more effective educators. Leadership Opportunities: Many NBCTs take on leadership roles within their schools and communities, guiding their peers toward excellence. Higher Student Achievement: Research shows that students of NBCTs often experience higher levels of academic growth and engagement. Professional Respect & Recognition: It’s a mark of distinction that sets teachers apart as leaders in the field of education. Congratulations again, Mr. Altringer! 🎉 Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to your students' success are truly inspiring. We are incredibly proud of you and excited to see the impact your certification will have on the future of education! 📚👏 #NBCT #NationalBoardCertifiedTeacher #ExcellenceInEducation #TeachingExcellence #ProudMoment

🌟 A Big Thank You to the Arizona Flywheelers! 🌟 We are so grateful to the Arizona Flywheelers for their incredible generosity and craftsmanship in building a beautiful bookcase to house our oversized art and trade books in our campus curriculum center at Verde Tech High School. 📚✨ Thank you for being such an amazing partner in fostering knowledge and innovation on our campus. 💙👏 #ArizonaFlywheelers #EducationMatters #VerdeTechHighSchool

🌨️ COCSD Families: Winter Weather Update 🌨️ COCSD is closely monitoring the current winter weather conditions. As of now, we are proceeding with a regular dismissal time today. If anything changes, we will update you via Facebook, email, text, and will also notify the local radio stations. Stay safe and warm! ❄️ #COCSD #WinterWeather #StaySafe

🚚💥 FREE KIDS EVENT: Touch-A-Truck! 💥🚚 Get ready for a day of fun, excitement, and hands-on adventure at the Touch-A-Truck event! 🚛✨ 🗓 Date: February 8, 2025 ⏰ Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM 📍 Location: Camp Verde Sports Complex, 990 Champion Trail, Camp Verde Bring the whole family out for an unforgettable day of exploring big trucks, live demonstrations, and even a FREE lunch provided by Kiwanis! 🍔🌭 🔧 What to Expect: Climb into real trucks and heavy machinery! 🚜 Watch live demonstrations from local heroes and experts! 🚒 FREE lunch served by Kiwanis! 🍽️ This event is completely FREE and perfect for kids of all ages! 🎉 Don't miss out—mark your calendars and bring your friends! 🤩 #TouchATruck #CampVerdeEvents #FreeFamilyFun #KiwanisLunch #CampVerdeParks #FamilyFunDay

🚍✨ COCSD Bus Driver of the Month – January: Mr. Daniel Badger! ✨🚍 We are excited to recognize Mr. Daniel Badger as our Bus Driver of the Month for January! 🏆👏 Mr. Badger goes above and beyond every day to ensure our students have a safe and positive ride to and from school. His friendly attitude, punctuality, and commitment to the well-being of our kids truly set him apart. Whether it's a rainy day or a sunny one, he always greets everyone with a smile and makes the ride an enjoyable experience. 🌟 Thank you, Mr. Badger, for your hard work, dedication, and the positive impact you have on our school community. You are truly appreciated! 🚍❤️ #COCSD #BusDriverOfTheMonth #ThankYouMrBadger #SchoolHeroes #SafeRides #CommunityLove

Public Relations, 6 hours ago 🎉🍪 Huge congratulations to Miss Lilah Elinski, our 2024 District Sodexo Future Chef Winner! 🎉👏 Today, her delicious SurPrize Chocolate Chip Cookies were featured for breakfast at Cottonwood Community School's cafeteria—and the surprise? They’re not just tasty, they’re healthy too! These cookies are packed with zucchini for a nutritious twist on a classic treat. 🥒🍫 What a creative way to blend flavor and health! A big reminder to all young chefs out there: the deadline to enter this year’s Future Chef contest is January 31st! 🎯 If you’ve got a recipe that’s both tasty and healthy, get your entries in for a chance to be our next winner! 🏆👩‍🍳 #SodexoFutureChefs #HealthyTreats #FutureChef2024 #SurPrizeCookies #CulinaryCreations #GetYourEntriesIn #CommunityPride

🌟 Our 21st Century Community Learning Centers Spring Clubs are officially up and running district-wide! 🌟 We’re beyond thankful for our incredible site coordinators who pour their hearts into supporting our kids, families, and schools. Their dedication and hard work make all the difference in creating positive, engaging environments for our students to thrive in! 🙌💪 Here's to a fantastic spring of growth, learning, and fun! 🌱🎨📚 Let's keep making a difference together! #COCSD21stCenturyLearning #SpringClubs #CommunitySupport #Gratitude #MakingADifference

🎪✨ Circus Pop Event: Giant Bubble Show! ✨🎪 Get ready for a bubbly, magical experience like no other! 🫧🎉 Join us for the Giant Bubble Show, sponsored by the Camp Verde Parks & Recreation Department! 🗓 Date: January 27, 2025 ⏰ Showtimes: 5:00 PM & 7:30 PM 📍 Location: 51 E. Holloman St., Camp Verde Come witness incredible, larger-than-life bubbles, dazzling performances, and plenty of fun for the whole family! 🌈🎪 Whether you’re young or just young at heart, this show is sure to leave you amazed. ✨ Two exciting shows – bring your friends, bring your family, and get ready to be wowed! ✨ Let’s make this a bubbly night to remember! 🫧💥 See you there! #CampVerdeParks #CircusPop #GiantBubbleShow #FamilyFun #CampVerdeEvents #BubblesForDays