🌟 Celebrating Excellence Across COCSD! 🌟

We are proud to recognize two of our outstanding schools for their exceptional performance on the Spring 2026 AASA & Arizona Science Assessments!

🏆 Mountain View Preparatory earned the distinction of Highest Proficiency, demonstrating outstanding academic achievement and excellence in student learning.

📈 Cottonwood Community School was recognized for Highest Growth, reflecting the incredible progress students made through the dedication, innovation, and hard work of its staff.

These accomplishments are a testament to the commitment of our students, teachers, support staff, administrators, and families who work together every day to create meaningful learning opportunities.

Congratulations to both school communities! Your passion for education and commitment to student success continue to make Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District a place where every student has the opportunity to thrive.

👏 Please join us in celebrating Mountain View Preparatory and Cottonwood Community School on these well-deserved recognitions!

#COCSD #StudentSuccess #AcademicExcellence #AchievementAndGrowth #ProudToBeCOCSD #EveryStudentEveryDay

☀️ Another Successful COCSD Staff Welcome Back Event! ☀️

Nearly 300 Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District staff members came together to kick off the 2026–2027 school year at our annual Staff Welcome Back event!

COCSD Superintendent Jessica Vocca welcomed staff with this year's theme, "Here Comes the Sun," encouraging everyone to remember that each day is a fresh start and that strong relationships are at the heart of everything we do for students.

The morning featured outstanding performances by our District Theater students, Ukulele Club, and Cultural Dancers, showcasing the incredible talent across our district.

A special thank you to Sodexo Food Service for a wonderful breakfast and to Chris Mathe and the Cottonwood Fire Department for organizing the annual Back-to-School Teacher Supply Drive, helping our teachers head back to their classrooms with supplies and smiles.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to our generous community partners and vendors for donating classroom baskets and prizes, including The Science Vortex, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Cottonwood Fire Department, Happy Futures, GBS, Catholic Charities, Parenting Arizona, Steps 2 Recovery, Girl Scouts, Little Learners, Verde Valley Chamber of Commerce, MATFORCE, LISA, Old Town Mission, The Farm, and Sparklight.

We were honored to welcome Governing Board Members Valenzuela, Rollins, and Manzenberger, along with Yavapai County Superintendent Steve King.

Congratulations to Mountain View Preparatory for achieving the highest district proficiency on the Arizona state assessments and to Cottonwood Community School for earning the highest student growth on the state assessments. Outstanding work!

Dr. Trish Alley also welcomed our newest community partner, The Farm Preschool, whose high-quality early learning program will help support our community's youngest learners, while extending a warm welcome to all new and returning staff.

It was a morning filled with celebration, inspiration, and community. Here's to a year of helping every student shine! ☀️💙💛

#HereComesTheSun #COCSDProud #OneDistrictOneTeam #BackToSchool #ServingStudents

🍎 Free Breakfast and Lunch for Every Student for the 26/27 School Year
We are thrilled to share that every student in the district can enjoy 1 free breakfast and 1 free lunch every school day — at no cost to families!

🥯 Start the Day Strong with a Free School Breakfast!
A nutritious breakfast helps students focus, learn better, and perform their best in class.
🥪 Lunch is Free Too!
Along with breakfast, students are also eligible to receive a free school lunch daily.

📋 Our schools serve a variety of healthy, kid-approved options every day.
🌐 Check out our menu here: COCSD Nutrislice Menu

Because when students eat well, they learn well! 💙

#COCSD #FreeMealsForStudents #Sodexo #SchoolBreakfast #NutrisliceMenu

🩺💙 Join AZBlue for a FREE Community Health Fair! 💙🦷

📅 Monday, July 27, 2026
⏰ 1:00–4:00 PM
📍 Camp Verde Middle School

This free event is open to all families and will include:

🦷 Dental screenings
🩺 Health screenings
🧼 Hygiene kits
🥫 Food drive
💚 Mental health resources
✨ And more!

Bring the whole family and take advantage of these valuable community resources. We hope to see you there!

#CommunityHealthFair #FreeFamilyEvent #CampVerde #HealthyFamilies #AZBlue

🚌✨ Our Transportation Department front office got a makeover this summer—and it is looking BUS-tastic! ✨🚌

The inside has been transformed to look like a school bus, creating a fun and welcoming space for our transportation staff and visitors. From the bright yellow walls to the bus-inspired details, this creative makeover celebrates the amazing team that keeps COCSD rolling safely each day! 💛🛑

We can’t wait for everyone to see it! 🚌🏫✨

#COCSD #TransportationTeam #BusTastic #SummerMakeover #KeepingCOCSDRolling

Character Strong Proactive Classroom Training

🌟 Over 50 educators and staff members participated in our CharacterStrong Proactive Classroom Training this week! 📚🍎

This evidence-backed training provides educators with practical, easy-to-implement strategies designed to strengthen academics, improve student behavior, build meaningful connections, and create consistent classroom environments where every student feels seen, supported, and ready to learn. 💙

A BIG thank you to our amazing trainer, Coley Veitenhans, for making the training such an engaging, meaningful, and memorable experience! 👏🎉

We were also excited to welcome educators from Camp Verde School District and Beaver Creek School District! 🏫🤝 Bringing our neighboring districts together gave participants an opportunity to collaborate, share ideas, and strengthen the work we are all doing to support students throughout the Verde Valley.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this an incredible week of learning, connection, and growth! 🌱✨

#CharacterStrong #ProactiveClassroom #ProfessionalLearning #StudentSuccess #StrongerTogether #VerdeValleyEducators #COCSDFamily

🎒📚✏️ Back-to-school excitement is here! 🍎🚌🏫

A HUGE thank you to Foothills Bank for generously donating 100 backpacks to Cottonwood Community School! 🎒💙💚 This wonderful contribution will help ensure our students begin the new school year prepared, confident, and ready to learn! 🌟📖✏️

Foothills Bank’s Back-to-School Donation Event will be held July 27 through August 7! 🗓️🎉

🏦 Open a checking account with Foothills Bank
🎒 Receive a backpack
💵 Foothills Bank will donate $30 to your school
💰 Bring in checks and/or deposit slips from your other bank, and Foothills Bank will deposit an additional $25 into your new account!

We are incredibly grateful for community partners like Foothills Bank who continue to invest in our schools, students, and families! 🤝🏫❤️

🌟 Bank local. Give back. Make a difference! 🌟

#COCSDFamily #CottonwoodCommunitySchool #FoothillsBank #CommunityPartners #BackToSchool #BankLocalGiveBack #SupportLocalSchools

🎉 Welcome to the COCSD Family! 🍎

Today we officially welcomed our newest teachers and staff during our annual New Hire Orientation, an important first step in preparing for an outstanding school year!

Our newest team members spent the day learning about COCSD policies and procedures while beginning training in curriculum, instructional methodologies, technology, and the resources they'll use to support student success. This onboarding experience helps ensure that every employee is equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to make a positive impact from day one.

A special thank you to Barbara Amato for coordinating this year's orientation and for the dedication she brings to helping our newest teachers and staff feel welcomed, supported, and prepared for a successful year.

We're excited to have these talented professionals join the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District family and look forward to the difference they'll make in the lives of our students and our community.

💚 Welcome to COCSD—we're excited you're here!

#COCSD #NewHireOrientation #WelcomeToTheTeam #OneDistrictOneTeam #ExcellenceInEducation

🎉 Congratulations, Rhonda Kester! 🎉

Please join us in congratulating Rhonda Kester on earning her Arizona School Business Official Academy Certificate of Completion through the Arizona Association of School Business Officials (AASBO).

This accomplishment reflects Rhonda's commitment to professional growth and her dedication to serving the students, staff, and community of the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District. Completing the Arizona School Business Official Academy requires a significant investment of time, learning, and leadership development, and we are proud to celebrate this milestone with her.

Rhonda's continued pursuit of excellence helps strengthen our district and ensures we remain focused on providing outstanding service and stewardship for our schools.

👏 Congratulations, Rhonda, and thank you for your dedication to COCSD. We are fortunate to have you on our team!

💚💙 #COCSD #TeamCOCSD #ProfessionalExcellence #AASBO #SchoolBusinessLeadership #Congratulations #LifelongLearning

🧹 Camp Innovation: Behind the Scenes 💚

A huge THANK YOU to Brian Porter, Custodian at Cottonwood Community School, for everything he did to help make Camp Innovation a success!

Throughout the summer, Brian worked tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our campus clean, safe, and ready for learning each day. From preparing classrooms and common areas to making sure teachers and students had what they needed, his dedication and hard work never went unnoticed.

The success of Camp Innovation wasn't just about what happened in the classrooms—it was made possible by incredible team members like Brian who worked every day to create a welcoming environment for everyone.

👏 Thank you, Brian, for your commitment, pride in your work, and all you do for the students and staff of Cottonwood Community School. We appreciate you!

#CampInnovation #BehindTheScenes #ThankYouBrian #COCSD #CottonwoodCommunitySchool #TeamCOCSD #MakingADifference #EveryRoleMatters

On Wednesday, 40 educators from three Verde Valley school districts came together for our two-day professional learning workshop, Closing Reading Gaps Through Responsive Foundational Skills Instruction.

Teachers explored practical, evidence-based strategies to identify students' reading needs and provide targeted foundational skills instruction that helps every child become a confident, successful reader.

A special thank you to Yavapai County Education Service Agency, the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors, and Yavapai County Superintendent of Schools Steve King for funding this valuable professional learning opportunity. Your support is helping educators strengthen literacy instruction and create brighter futures for students across the Verde Valley.

#LiteracyMatters #ScienceOfReading #ProfessionalLearning #YavapaiCounty #EveryStudentReads

🎬 Behind the Scenes at Camp Innovation
Great learning starts with great spaces, and our Groundskeeping Team worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure our campuses looked their very best throughout Camp Innovation. 🌳🌼

From mowing and landscaping to maintaining outdoor learning spaces and preparing school grounds for the return of students and staff, their hard work helped create safe, welcoming environments for everyone who stepped onto our campuses this summer.
As Camp Innovation wrapped up and preparations for the new school year ramped up, our groundskeepers continued working to ensure every campus was ready to welcome students back.

Thank you to our dedicated Groundskeeping Team for your commitment, hard work, and the pride you take in keeping our schools beautiful. We appreciate everything you do!
#CampInnovation #BehindTheScenes #GroundsCrew #TeamCOCSD #ThankYou #EveryRoleMatters

𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝟏:

As the new school year approaches, it's crucial to keep our bus stops safe.

🛑When a school bus has flashing-red lights and its stop arm extended, drivers in both directions must stop. The only exception: Traffic on the opposite side of a raised median may continue but should do so cautiously.

Please remember to slow down, stay attentive, and watch for children crossing the street.

Together, we can ensure a safe start to the new school year.

🎬 Behind the Scenes at Camp Innovation
Before campers walked through the doors each morning, our Facilities Crew was already hard at work making sure every campus was clean, safe, and ready to welcome students. ✨🧹

From preparing classrooms and common spaces to tackling the daily cleanup that comes with a busy summer program, our custodians played an essential role in the success of Camp Innovation. Their hard work didn't stop there—they were also preparing our schools for the start of a brand-new school year.

Thank you to our amazing facilities team and custodians for your dedication, pride in your work, and the countless ways you support our students and staff every single day. Camp Innovation simply wouldn't have been possible without you!
#CampInnovation #BehindTheScenes #CustodialTeam #TeamCOCSD #ThankYou #EveryRoleMatters

🎬 Behind the Scenes at Camp Innovation
Today we're celebrating the incredible Camp Innovation bus drivers! 🚌💙
Before the school year even begins, our drivers are already hard at work—transporting campers safely, learning routes, adapting to changing schedules, and greeting students with a smile each day.
Their commitment to safety, reliability, and caring for our students made Camp Innovation possible. Thank you for being the friendly faces that started and ended each camper's day.
We appreciate everything you do!
#CampInnovation #BehindTheScenes #BusDrivers #TeamCOCSD #StudentSuccess

🎬 Behind the Scenes at Camp Innovation

Camp Innovation couldn't happen without the incredible people working behind the scenes—and today we're shining the spotlight on Tanya Barrett, Food Service Manager with Sodexo! 👏

From coordinating meals and snacks to making sure every campus had what it needed, Tanya's planning and leadership helped keep our campers and staff fueled all summer long. Her attention to detail and commitment to serving our students made a tremendous difference.

Thank you, Tanya, for your partnership, dedication, and all you do to support COCSD students and staff. We appreciate you!

#CampInnovation #BehindTheScenes #TeamCOCSD #ThankYou #SodexoTany

🎬 Behind the Scenes at Camp Innovation
It takes more than great teachers to make Camp Innovation a success—it takes an amazing operations team!
A huge shout-out to Matt and Kat from our Transportation Department for keeping the wheels turning all summer long. 🚍
From coordinating routes and schedules to solving last-minute transportation needs, they made sure campers arrived safely and on time every day. Their planning, flexibility, and teamwork kept Camp Innovation moving.
Thank you, Matt and Kat, for your dedication and for helping make this summer a success!
#CampInnovation #BehindTheScenes #Transportation #TeamCOCSD #ThankYou

🌱 Growing Together. Cultivating Excellence. 🌱

This week, School Secretaries and Business Services staff from across the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District gathered for our annual Business Services Retreat as we prepare for the 2026–2027 school year.

Centered around the theme "Growing Together, Cultivating Excellence in Our Schools," the retreat provided opportunities for training, collaboration, and professional learning. Team members strengthened their knowledge of district procedures, shared best practices, and received training on our new InTouch online payment system as we continue moving toward a more convenient, secure, and cashless experience for families.

Our Business Services and administrative professionals are often the first faces families see and the behind-the-scenes team that helps keep our schools running smoothly. Their dedication, teamwork, and commitment to continuous improvement help create exceptional experiences for our students, families, and staff.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's retreat. Together, we are growing stronger, cultivating excellence, and preparing for an outstanding school year ahead! 🌻

#COCSD #GrowingTogether #CultivatingExcellence #BusinessServices #HereComesTheSun #BackToSchool