Cottonwood-Oak Creek Schools

Governing Board Update 📣

At last night’s Governing Board Organizational Meeting, the Board voted to retain Mrs. Mary Valenzuela as President for another term, with Mrs. Janice Rollins serving as Vice President.

We congratulate both and thank them for their continued leadership and dedication to our staff, students, and the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District community. Their steady service helps keep our schools strong and focused on what matters most—student success.

Please join us in congratulating President Valenzuela and Vice President Rollins! 👏

Your Child's Day - Two Taps Away!
COCSD & ParentVUE: Keeping Families in the Loop

We’re rolling out Rooms, a new communication tool that allows teachers to connect directly with families—all in one place. Rooms will replace other classroom apps, including ClassDojo, simplifying how schools and families stay connected.

Through the COCSD app, families can receive classroom updates, see what’s happening in real time, and stay engaged in their child’s learning.

ParentVUE continues to be the go-to hub for important information—allowing parents to quickly update emergency contacts and stay on top of grades, attendance, and assignments.

One app. Clear communication. Stronger school-home connections.

🌟 Staff Spotlight: David Davidson 🌟

David Davidson has been a valued member of our team since May 2022, and he brings dedication and hustle to work every single day. 🔧🚌 As one of our mechanics, David is steadily building his knowledge in the diesel mechanic and school bus world, learning hands-on and sharpening his skills along the way.

But that’s not all — David also drives two back-to-back routes daily! 🚍🚍 In nearly three years as a bus driver, he has missed only 9 days behind the wheel. That level of reliability is something to be proud of. 💪⭐

With several years of mechanical learning under his belt and a strong work ethic to match, we’re incredibly lucky to have David on our team. Dependable, driven, and always willing to step up — he’s the kind of employee who keeps everything moving. 👏🔥

🙌 Thank you, David, for everything you do! We’re proud to have you with us! 💙

First day back after Winter Break and we got right to work 💪📚

Our team kicked off the semester with PAX and CPI trainings, sharpening skills that support strong classrooms, positive behavior, and student success ✨. Teachers also rolled up their sleeves and spent quality time collaborating within their grade levels, planning with purpose for the months ahead 📝🤝.

A solid foundation, proven practices, and thoughtful preparation — this is how great semesters are built. We’re ready to hit the ground running 🚀🍎

🌟 Staff Highlight: Jimmy Montgomery 🌟

We’re proud to recognize Jimmy Montgomery, who has been an essential part of the COCSD team since 2018. As our Lead Mechanic, Jimmy does far more than keep our fleet running safely—he’s the backbone of our transportation operations.

Jimmy handles all route creation and layout, manages mechanical parts ordering and inventory, and is always willing to step in wherever he’s needed. This includes driving any route at any time, and even spending half the year as a special needs driver to support our students.

With experience as a diesel mechanic since 1991, Jimmy brings an incredible depth of knowledge that has helped our department immensely over the years. His dedication, flexibility, and expertise make a difference every single day.

Thank you, Jimmy, for everything you do for COCSD! 👏🚌🔧

📅 School Schedule Reminder 📅

Just a reminder to our Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District families and students:

➡️ No school on Monday, January 5, 2026
This day is designated as a Teacher Work Day.

✅ School will resume on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

Thank you for planning accordingly, and we appreciate your continued support as our staff uses this time to prepare and strengthen instruction. Let’s keep the momentum going as we move forward into the new year!

🎉 Happy New Year from Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District! 🎉

To our students, families, and staff—wishing you a safe, joyful, and refreshing New Year. As we turn the page, we’re grateful for the dedication, resilience, and community spirit that make our district strong.

The New Year is a time to reset, refocus, and look ahead with purpose. Let’s finish second semester strong by staying engaged, supporting one another, and keeping students at the center of everything we do.

Thank you for being part of the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District family. Here’s to a healthy, successful, and meaningful year ahead!

Wishing all our students and their families at Dr. Daniel Bright Elementary School a very Happy Holidays! 🎄✨

From all of us at DDB, thank you for being part of a school community that values learning, kindness, and tradition. We hope this season brings you rest, joy, and time well spent with those who matter most.

Stay safe, enjoy the break, and we look forward to welcoming our students back refreshed and ready for the year ahead!

🎄💙 Thank You, Cottonwood Parks & Recreation! 💙🎄

We are incredibly grateful to Cottonwood Parks & Recreation for organizing the Angel Tree program, which helped benefit nearly 70 Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District students this holiday season.

This partnership means so much to us each year, and we are thankful for the generosity of our community members who stepped up to ensure our students have what they need—and want—for the holidays.

Your kindness helps bring joy, dignity, and holiday cheer to our students and families. Thank you for making a difference and for supporting our kids in such a meaningful way! 🎁✨

A HUGE thank you to Connie and Cara, two amazing community members! 💙🍩

They generously brought donuts for our staff and took the time to stay and read a story to our Kinder, First, and Second Grade students. The smiles, excitement, and joy they brought into our school truly made the day extra special.

Moments like these remind us how incredibly blessed we are to be supported by such a caring community. Without community members like Connie and Cara, our school wouldn’t be the warm, welcoming place it is.

Thank you for your kindness, your time, and your hearts — we appreciate you more than words can say! ✨📚

Spirit Week kept rocking and rolling at the District Office with Throwback Thursday 🤘🎶

Mrs. Janssen, Mr. Jackson, and Superintendent Vocca absolutely ROCKED IT in their classic rock T-shirts 🎸😎 Bringing the old-school vibes, big smiles, and plenty of school spirit—proof that a little fun and tradition make the workday even better! 🔥🧡💙

OCS 3rd grade had an unforgettable adventure in Sedona! 🌄🚌

Our students hopped aboard a Pink Jeep Tour and learned all about Native American ruins, hieroglyphics, and the importance of keeping our protected areas clean and vandalism-free. They listened to engaging presentations about the Sedona area, hiked with absolutely breathtaking views, and even enjoyed lunch on a mesa! 🥾🌵

The day was full of learning, exploration, and so much fun. A huge shout-out to Mrs. Bond for organizing this incredible experience and to our Transportation Department for safely getting our students to and from Sedona. What an amazing day of hands-on learning our 3rd graders will never forget! 💙✨