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
We’re proud to introduce and honor the dedicated individuals serving on the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District Governing Board:
💙 Mrs. Mary Valenzuela, President
🧡 Mrs. Janice Rollins, Vice President
💚 Mrs. Ruth Ellen Elinski, Member & Parent
💙 Mr. Neil Manzenberger, Member
🧡 Mr. Jak Teel, Member & Parent
We are deeply grateful for their leadership, vision, and commitment to keeping our community’s children at the heart of every decision. Their work ensures our schools remain places where students grow, thrive, and succeed.
Please join us in thanking our Governing Board for their service and dedication! 🙌
#COCSD #ThankYouBoard #Leadership #CommunityStrong #StudentFocused
Thank you to all the families who came out to support our learners, and to Sodexo for providing warm, freshly-baked cookies!
At Verde Tech, we don’t just talk about student voice—we empower it.
Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District will be on Fall Break from October 13th–17th, 2025.
No School during this time
District Office Closed on Monday, October 13th
We wish all our students, staff, and families a wonderful break! Take time to relax, recharge, and enjoy the beautiful fall weather with your loved ones. 🍁✨
Join us Friday, October 24th from 4 PM – 7 PM at 3405 E. St. Rte. Hwy 89, Cottonwood for a fun, inclusive Halloween celebration!
This FREE event is open to all special needs children and their families.
Enjoy decorated trunks filled with treats and activities created to be sensory-friendly — no loud noises, no flashing lights, just a safe and welcoming space for everyone to enjoy. 🧡
Come in costume, bring your smiles, and make some Halloween memories with us!
#SensoryFriendly #TrunkOrTreat #CottonwoodCommunity #InclusiveFun #FamilyEvent
🎉 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. 💚📚🌿
We love seeing the students moving, laughing, and making the most of these beautiful autumn days. 💛
They observed real-time reactions, made predictions, and collected data—building both their scientific knowledge and lab skills. 🧠💥
Mrs. Wiliford and the Dr. Daniel Bright Elementary Busy Bees Afterschool Clubs want to extend heartfelt thanks to Home Depot and Ace Hardware for their incredible generosity!
Home Depot donated a variety of wonderful supplies — including baseballs, snow globes, bird feeders, toucan birds, crop duster kits, paint, plates, and paint brushes — while Ace Hardware contributed hammers and screwdrivers.
These donations will help our 21st Century Afterschool Busy Bees Clubs continue offering high-quality, hands-on projects that keep students engaged, creative, and learning in meaningful ways.
We’re so grateful for local businesses that invest in our students and support the exciting work happening at DDB! 💙
#DDBElementary #COCSD #BusyBees #CommunityPartners #ThankYou
The story behind the gift began one afternoon when Ms. Daigle was walking her dog through her neighborhood before the school year began. During her walk, she bumped into Debra Seglund, and the two struck up a conversation about preparing for the upcoming school year. This conversation sparked an idea, and Ms. Seglund reached out to friends in the neighborhood to see if they’d be interested in contributing to Ms. Daigle’s class. What started as a simple inquiry quickly turned into something much more meaningful. A group of kind-hearted seniors sprang into action, and within no time, they had gathered a generous donation from 20 people.
On Friday, September 19, 2025, three of the 20 donors– many who live in the Pine Shadows neighborhood in Cottonwood, visited Ms. Daigle’s class to present the gift. In a heartwarming moment, the children had made personalized cards, which they joyfully gave to their new “adopted grandmothers.” The generous donors include: Debra Seglund, Diana Naismith, Reva Pallone, Mary Edgerton, Sharon Sottile, Debbie and John Seely, June Anderson, Ginny Snyder, Betty Whipple, Jenny Rea, Sandy Rea, Neila MacDonald, Jeanie Gold, LInda Brockway, and a few anonymous donors! We are truly grateful.
It was a truly special occasion for everyone involved, and a reminder of how fortunate we are to live in a community that so deeply values the education of its children.
✨ Free Admission ✨
Come enjoy:
🚜 Hayrides
🍏 Fresh apple cider made on-site by Verde Tech students
🎃 Pumpkins and farm-fresh produce for purchase
🌾 Plus, plenty of family-friendly activities
Mark your calendars — Thursday, October 23rd from 5:00–7:00 PM! Bring the whole family for an evening of fun, food, and festivities. Enjoy games, prizes, music, and more as we celebrate the season together. 🎃🌭🎶
It’s a great way to support our school community and make some wonderful fall memories. We can’t wait to see you there!
#DDBElementary #FallCarnival #CommunityFun #COCSD #FamilyEvent
