Cottonwood-Oak Creek Schools

Our 5th graders at Cottonwood Community School are thriving in their 21st CCLC Gardening Club! 🌱💚

Each week they dig, plant, and care for their garden (or one of the classroom critters!) — and even sneak in a little math practice while they’re at it. It’s a perfect mix of learning, teamwork, and fresh air!

A big thank you to Mrs. Engle for creating such a safe and welcoming space for students to learn and GROW! 🌼

🎉 Congratulations, Becky Roland! 🎉

Becky was presented with a well-deserved award from the Arizona Association for Pupil Transportation (AAPT) at the Fall Conference on October 11, 2025, recognizing her years of dedication and service to student transportation across Arizona.

We couldn’t be more proud to have Becky on our board as an honorary member—she truly embodies excellence and commitment in everything she does. 🌟

A heartfelt thank you to COCSD for sharing such an outstanding employee with all of us in the state. Becky, your leadership and heart for students make a lasting impact every single day! 🚌💛

#AAPT #StudentTransportation #Leadership #Dedication #Congratulations #ArizonaEducation

🎃 Oak Creek School's Halloween Carnival & Haunted House🪾will take you around the OCS campus to select 🎡carnival games 🎳 and trick or treating 🍬. Work your way down to the gym to get spooked in our 👻 Haunted House, 💃🕺dance in the cupcake walk🧁, visit with our fortune tellers🔮, pick a temporary tattoo 💪 and when done, enjoy some food!! 🌭

Another Fall Break Bike Camp in the books. COCSD’s long partnership with Wheel Fun keeps growing. Thank you, Wheel Fun, for a week of riding, fresh fall air, and mountain bike skills. Serving students from OCS, CCS, DDB, and MVP, 25 riders built friendships with our amazing volunteer coaches and with riders from all four schools.

Thank you, Wheel Fun, and the 21st CCLC Out-of-School Time program for bringing these opportunities to kids. We’re already looking forward to Spring Break.

Wheel Fun’s post: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BKtkda538/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🦴 Strong Bodies Start with Healthy Bones!
October is the perfect time to focus on building healthy habits from the ground up — starting with strong bones! 💪

Enjoy these Healthy Bone Tips from Sodexo Food Service:
🥛 Drink Your Milk (or a Calcium Alternative): Choose low-fat milk, yogurt, or calcium-fortified plant-based options.
🍊 Get Your Vitamin D: Spend a little time outdoors or enjoy foods like eggs and fortified cereals that help your body absorb calcium.
🥦 Eat the Rainbow: Dark leafy greens, broccoli, and almonds are great bone-friendly foods.
🏃 Keep Moving: Activities like walking, dancing, or playing outside help strengthen bones and muscles.
💧 Stay Hydrated: Water helps nutrients move through your body efficiently—essential for bone health!

Healthy bones support healthy lives. Let’s nourish our students from the farm to the table and keep them growing strong! 🌱
#HealthyBones #Sodexo #StrongKidsStrongCommunities

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 25th, 2025 at 10AM —

it’s time for some family fun on the trails! Join us at Go AZ Motorcycles, 2550 S. Union Drive, Cottonwood as the rubber meets the road at 10AM sharp!
A huge shoutout to our amazing sponsor, Go AZ Motorcycles, for making this event possible! 🙌

➡️ Entry Fee: $75 per vehicle
🍔 Lunch to follow at Cottonwood Community School
💙 All proceeds benefit teacher classroom grants in Yavapai County and support the Annual YCEF Tribute Magazine.

Grab your family, your rig, and your adventurous spirit — it’s all for a great cause!

📱 For more info, text Tricia at (928) 593-0196.

#YCEF #FamilyFunRun #SupportTeachers #YavapaiCounty

🌾 October is National Farm to School Month! 🌽
Celebrate with us and check out these great tips from Sodexo Food Service on supporting local farms and healthy eating in our schools.

🍁🎃 Autumn Harvest Festival at The Farm at Bent River Farm Store! 🎃🍁

Join us Saturday, October 25th, 2025 from 9AM–3PM for a day full of fall fun — held in conjunction with FFA Agricultural Education! 🌾

🍂 Enjoy:
🎯 Family games & activities
🎃 Pumpkins galore
🚜 Hay rides around the farm
🍏 Fresh apple cider
🍔 Delicious bites from local food trucks

Celebrate the season, support local FFA students, and experience the best of farm life — all in one place! Bring your family, your friends, and your love for autumn traditions.

📍 The Farm at Bent River Farm Store
We can’t wait to see you there! 🍂

#AutumnHarvestFestival #BentRiverFarm #FFA #AgriculturalEducation #FallFun #PumpkinSeason

💙 Support Our Students with an Arizona Tax Credit Donation! 💙
Did you know that any Arizona resident who pays state taxes can make a tax credit donation to support local schools or a child’s extracurricular activities?
Your contribution helps fund programs that enrich students’ educational experiences — things like sports, music, art, and other extracurricular activities that make school special!
💰 Tax Benefits:
If you make a tax credit contribution, you can receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on your state taxes — meaning the amount you donate is deducted directly from what you owe.
📊 Contribution Limits:
$400 for married couples filing jointly
$200 for single filers or other filing statuses
Your donation makes a real difference for our students — and it doesn’t cost you anything beyond what you already pay in state taxes.
👉 Learn more or make your contribution today! www.cocsd.us
#SupportOurCOCSDStudents #ArizonaTaxCredit #COCSD #EducationMatters

🎉 October is National Principal Month! 🎉

Today we’re celebrating Mrs. Amy Romero, our incredible Verde Tech & CES Campus Administrator! 🌟

Mrs. Romero is an excellent principal, supervisor, and person who leads with heart, creativity, and purpose. She’s an out-of-the-box thinker who always puts students first—pushing staff to grow professionally, try new things, and continually improve the school experience for everyone.

Under her leadership, Verde Tech has evolved into a positive, engaging, and supportive place for students to learn and thrive. Her encouragement and vision have truly shaped the culture of success we see today.

Here’s what students have to say about Mrs. Romero:
💬 “A really kind and fair principal.”
💬 “Very cheery.”
💬 “Very caring and nice.”
💬 “Respectful.”
💬 “Helpful.”
💬 “Encouraging.”
💬 “She was a good teacher and a better principal.”

Thank you, Mrs. Romero, for all you do to inspire, uplift, and lead our school community with dedication and heart! 💙
#ThankAPrincipal #NationalPrincipalMonth #COCSDProud #VerdeTech

✨ October Principal Spotlight: Mrs. Julie Tatum ✨

Today we are excited to shine a spotlight on our incredible principal, Julie Tatum, a true example of dedication, heart, and leadership.

Julie is the kind of leader who is always there — whether it’s supporting staff, jumping into a classroom, running a small reading group, or handling a dozen things at once with a smile. She treats everyone with respect, values each member of the school community, and leads by example every single day.

A proud homegrown leader, Julie loves being in the Verde Valley and serving the community that helped shape her. With 16 years in education and 4 years as an administrator, her time in the classroom has made her an exceptional principal. She understands what teachers and students need because she’s walked in their shoes.

Her door is always open, her energy is unwavering, and her commitment to students and staff shines through in everything she does. We’re so grateful to have Julie Tatum at the heart of our school. 💚📚🌿