🍿From Snacks to Social Studies! ➡️🗺️
Last year, Oak Creek School’s 7th and 8th grade students helped run the PTO Snack Shack — and their hard work paid off! 💪 With their portion of the proceeds, Student Council chose to purchase brand new classroom maps this year! ✨
We love seeing how these photos capture the perfect blend of old and new technology — giving students the best tools to explore and understand our world. 🌎💡
#lifechangingeducation #cocsd #socialstudies #learning #worldmaps #classroom #oakcreekschool #ocs #pto #middleschool
🎉 COCSD Celebrates BIG at November’s Governing Board Meeting! 🎉
This month’s Board meeting was full of reasons to celebrate! Our Governing Board shared heartfelt thanks to our amazing community for passing the M&O Override election — your continued support makes a lasting difference for our students and schools. 💙
We’re also thrilled to share the Arizona Department of Education’s release of school letter grades!
🏫 Mountain View Preparatory – A
📘 Dr. Daniel Bright Elementary – B
📗 Cottonwood Community School – B
📘 Oak Creek School – B
📊 COCSD District Rating – B
These results reflect the commitment, excellence, and hard work of our staff, students, and families who strive to be the BEST every day!
We were proud to honor this month’s Sparklight Award recipients, recognizing outstanding staff and students who go above and beyond:
✨ Mrs. Swenson & Mrs. Cox (DDB) – for going above and beyond providing extra support to students amid scheduling challenges.
✨ Sebastian Sizelove (DDB Student) – for his quick thinking and calm response during a medical emergency, ensuring everyone’s safety.
✨ Mrs. Nayomi Valdez (CCS) – for her leadership, bilingual support, and dedication to clear, compassionate communication with families.
✨ Peyton Vescio (CCS Student) – for living out the Lobo values of perseverance, achievement, collaboration, and kindness.
The Board also celebrated the many fall carnivals and activities that brought joy and connection across our schools throughout October — wonderful displays of school spirit, teamwork, and community pride! 🍂
👏 We’re so proud of every student, staff member, and community partner who helps COCSD shine. Together, we’re building excellence and celebrating success every step of the way!
#COCSDProud #CelebrateBIG #CommunityStrong #StudentSuccess
This incredible achievement reflects the hard work, dedication, and teamwork of our students, staff, and families. Way to go, Ocelots! 🐾
#MountainViewPreparatory #HomeoftheOcelots #MVPride #OcelotPride #GoOcelots #DistinguishedSchool #MVPRatedA #MVPHighestPerformingSchool
We are proud to celebrate our IB Thinkers — students who show exceptional initiative and creativity in their learning. Our Thinkers approach challenges with curiosity, apply their thinking skills critically and creatively, and make thoughtful, ethical decisions every day.
They don’t just find answers — they seek understanding, question ideas, and work to make sense of complex problems in innovative ways.
Let’s give a big round of applause to our October IB Thinkers! Your curiosity, reasoning, and integrity inspire us all to think deeply and act wisely. Keep shining and leading the way as true IB learners!
#MountainViewPreparatory #HomeoftheOcelots #IBLearnerProfile #IBThinker #IBWorldSchool #IBLearners #InternationalBaccalaureate #GlobalThinkers #IBCommunity
Cottonwood Community School is so thankful for Mrs. Michelle and her amazing Crafts & Things Club in our 21st CCLC After-School Program! 🎨🧵
Students have been busy painting, creating with beads, making bracelets, designing shrinky dinks, and even building things with real hammers and screwdrivers! 🔨✨
Thank you, Mrs. Michelle, for inspiring creativity and hands-on learning every week — our students love your club! 💙
At Cottonwood Community School, we’re celebrating our incredible volunteers who make our 21st Century After-School Program so special! 💙
Volunteers bring unique talents, creativity, and care to our students — helping them learn new skills, build confidence, and make lasting connections. Their generosity of time and spirit reminds us what community is all about: working together to support our kids and schools. 🏫✨
Thank you to all of our volunteers for making a difference every single day — we couldn’t do it without you! 🙌
Food Sharing Events
We’d like to share some helpful information about local food sharing events happening in our area, provided by our friends at LISA.
🍎 You can learn more and find event details online here: azlisa.org/food
We hope this resource is helpful for our families and community members! 💛
RSVP forms sent home with students to join in with the pizza dinner.
Chocolate Chip for the Win!
This week the kindergarteners at Cottonwood Community School explored the importance of voting! They cast their votes for their favorite cookie and discovered that chocolate chip is the class favorite. 🍪✅
🌟 THANK YOU, COTTONWOOD-OAK CREEK COMMUNITY! 🌟
We are deeply grateful to our voters for your continued support in passing the Maintenance & Operations Override for the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District! 🙏
For over 25 years, this override has helped sustain the high-quality education our students deserve — and once again, you’ve shown your confidence in our schools, educators, and programs that make a difference every day. 💙
It’s important to remember: this override is not a new tax, but a continuation of existing support that keeps our funding stable without increasing the tax rate. Your vote reflects a strong commitment to our students and the future of our community.
In a state where Arizona continues to rank near the bottom in per-pupil funding, your local support truly matters. The passage of this measure allows us to:
✅ Maintain smaller class sizes
✅ Continue vital programs like STEM, the arts, and extracurriculars
✅ Support classroom technology and essential student services
✅ Prevent cuts to programs our students and families depend on
We’re also proud to share that COCSD has been ranked a “B” district by the State of Arizona — a reflection of our dedicated teachers, staff, and the incredible work happening every day in our classrooms! 🍎✨
To our amazing staff — thank you for your professionalism and passion.
To our families and community — thank you for believing in public education and standing beside us.
And to Partners in Education — your ongoing support means the world. 🌍💛
We invite anyone curious about our schools to come visit! Tour a campus, meet our educators, and see firsthand the creativity and learning that make COCSD so special.
Together, we’re building a strong foundation for our students — one that reflects the pride, values, and vision of our community. 💫
#ThankYou #COCSDProud #CommunitySupport #PublicEducation #PartnersInEducation
We’ll be selling freshly pressed apple cider at the Oak Creek School Old Tyme Country Fair on Saturday, November 15. Stop by, say hello, and enjoy a taste of fall! 🍂✨
🎯 Love archery? Enjoy working with kids?
Here’s your chance to do both! We’re looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our after-school archery program as instructors. No experience? No problem — we’ll provide all the training you need!
✅ No Experience Necessary (training provided)
✅ IVP Card Required (we can help with that process)
✅ After-School Clubs: Monday–Thursday across four schools
✅ Flexible Schedule — we’ll work with your availability
Make friends, learn new skills, and make a difference in a child’s life through archery! 🏹
👉 Interested? Contact Guy Day, Lead Instructor at (916) 742-8505 for more information.
Principal Heather Langley from Mountain View Prep is proudly sporting her Yavapai County “I VOTED” sticker today! 🗳️ Have you turned in your ballot yet? There’s still time!
If you haven’t already mailed it, be sure to drop off your ballot for the Cottonwood-Oak Creek and Mingus Union High School Special Override Election at the Yavapai County Administration Building, 10 S. 6th St., Cottonwood — today!
Every vote matters for our schools and community. ✅
COCSD Top Performing K-8 Public School District in the Verde Valley
The Arizona State Board of Education officially released A-F School Letter Grades this week, and the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District (COCSD) earned a B rating for the 2024–2025 school year. This recognition reflects continued academic growth, strong instructional practices, and a shared commitment to student success across all schools.
Read more about it here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LBwWq_b8eZ2HY72J2RoYbgpfnlPGVrW0/view?usp=sharing
Today, our Governing Board came together for their annual Board Retreat! 💼📘
The day included valuable presentations and thoughtful discussions focused on growth and alignment with our District’s strategic plan.
⭐ Ms. Barbara U’Ren with the School Risk Retention Trust shared insights on the many services offered by The Trust and provided professional development opportunities designed to help mitigate risk for our district.
📊 Mrs. Woodward and Dr. Alley presented on student academic achievement and behavior supports, sparking meaningful dialogue as the Board began developing shared values that reflect and support our District’s long-term goals.
We’re grateful for the continued commitment of our Governing Board members as they work to guide our schools and strengthen our community’s future! 💙 We truly have the BEST Governing Board in the State of Arizona who keep our students well being at the heart of all conversations.
Our 21st CCLC after-school coders have been learning the foundations of computer programming — building animations, designing games, and even creating their own musical beats and songs through code! They’re discovering how fun and creative coding can be while developing problem-solving and teamwork skills.
A huge thank you to Mrs. Earls for inspiring our students to think big, be creative, and explore the world of technology in such a fun way! We’re so lucky to have you leading this awesome club! 👏💡
Test Post Live Feed
🎉 Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Katrina Tupkielewicz 🎉
Meet Katrina Tupkielewicz, our incredible Accounts Payable Technician, who keeps the wheels turning smoothly across the district! 💼✨
Katrina ensures bills are paid on time, travel is arranged seamlessly, and projects stay on budget. She also works closely with our Facilities and Maintenance Department on School Facilities Board projects, helping keep our schools safe, efficient, and well-supported. 🏫🔧
Her exceptional attention to detail and deep knowledge of procedures help keep the district in full compliance with auditors — no small task! Katrina’s careful eye and commitment to accuracy give everyone peace of mind. ✅
Outside of work, Katrina enjoys spending time with her husband Fred, making music, and bringing her creativity to life through sewing and crafting beautiful clothing. 🎶🧵👗
We’re so grateful for Katrina’s dedication, precision, and steady hand that keep our district running like clockwork! 🙌💙
#COCSD Proud
🎄✨ Mountain View Preparatory PTA Christmas Tree Fundraiser! ✨🎄
It’s that magical time of year again! MVP PTA is spreading holiday cheer with our Annual Christmas Tree Fundraiser! 🌟
Choose from a beautiful selection of fresh-cut trees, wreaths and greens to make your home merry and bright this season. Every purchase helps support MVP students, classrooms, and special school events — so your holiday décor gives back to our community, too! ❤️🎁
🏐 League Volleyball 2025 Tournament Info! 🏐
It’s tournament time, volleyball fans! 🙌
Join us as our teams bump, set, and spike their way through the 2025 League Volleyball Tournament!
📅 Date: Friday, October 31, 2025
🕘 Start Time: 9:00 AM
📄 Game Times: Refer to brackets for match times
Locations: Mayer High School & Elementary School
Come out and support our athletes as they bring their A-game to the court! Their teamwork, dedication, and school spirit have led them here — now let’s pack the stands and cheer them on to victory! 💪💙🏐💛
#LeagueVolleyball2025 #TournamentTime #GoTeam
