Cottonwood-Oak Creek Schools

Celebrating Excellence in Education! 🎉 At last night’s COCSD Governing Board meeting, we had the honor of celebrating Mrs. Barbara Daher, who recently retired after 26 years of dedicated service to our students. We are so grateful for her impact and wish her all the best in her well-earned retirement! 💐✨ We also recognized Five Project Momentum Innovators for their outstanding leadership in student-led initiatives: 🔹 Mr. Rich Dambrov – Verde Tech 🔹 Mrs. Diane Schumacher – OCS 🔹 Ms. Michelle Egan – CCS 🔹 Mr. Johnny Stephenson – DDB 🔹 Mrs. Carrie Reay – MVP Your dedication and innovation continue to inspire our students and community. Keep up the amazing work! 👏💡 #COCSD #ThankYouMrsDaher #ProjectMomentum #EducationLeaders #StudentSuccess

📢 Calling All Success Stories! 🎓✨ Did you or someone you know attend Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District and go on to achieve great things? We want to celebrate the incredible journeys of our former students! Whether they’ve excelled in their careers, made a difference in their community, or reached a personal milestone, we’d love to hear about it! Please share your tribute along with a photo by emailing us at publicrelations@cocsd.us. Let’s inspire the next generation by showcasing the amazing paths our students have taken! 🚀💙 #COCSDProud #SuccessStories

🌿✨ March into Wellness! ✨🌿 Spring is the season of renewal, and there’s no better time to focus on your well-being—mind, body, and spirit! 🌸🌞 This month, let’s commit to self-care, movement, and nourishing our bodies with healthy choices. Whether it’s a daily walk, trying a new workout, or practicing mindfulness, every small step counts! 💪🧘‍♀️ Join us for March Wellness—a month of inspiration, motivation, and community support. Stay tuned for tips, challenges, and local events to keep you moving and feeling your best! 🌿💚 Drop a 🌱 in the comments if you’re ready to prioritize YOU this month! 👇 #MarchWellness #SpringIntoHealth #SelfCare #MindBodySpirit #HealthyHabits

🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️ Bike Club Starts This Week! 🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️ We are so excited!! Weather permitting, Bike Club is officially starting this week! We hope everyone is just as excited as we are. Before we get rolling, here are a few important reminders: 🔹 Attendance Matters! If your child signed up, please make sure they attend. If they can’t make it, just let us know—otherwise, their spot may be given to another student. 🔹 Preseason Survey – Please take a moment to fill out the survey I sent a week ago. It’s attached and is needed for Wheel Fun’s grant. 🔹 Shoutout to Wheel Fun! We are incredibly lucky to have such an amazing group of coaches helping make this club a success! We hope your child has the BEST time in Bike Club! 🚴✨ Have a great night! #BikeClub #RideSafe #WheelFun #ExcitedToStart #FunOnWheels

🌟 COCSD Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Bryan Rank 🌟 We love celebrating the incredible achievements of our former students! Dr. Bryan Rank, a proud graduate of Mingus Union High School (Class of 1990), has been named Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at East Texas A&M University! 🎉👏 Dr. Rank’s journey started right here in the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District. He attended Oak Creek School, Clemenceau Middle School (now a museum!), and continued his education in Cottonwood before graduating from Mingus. Reflecting on his path, he credits many inspiring educators, including Dr. John Tavasci, Jr., Mr. Anthony Lozano, Mr. Schumacher, Mr. John Tavasci, Sr., and especially Mr. Steve Dockery, his agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, who influenced his decision to pursue agricultural education. From Cornville to leading an entire college, Dr. Rank’s story is a testament to the power of education, mentorship, and passion for agriculture. Congratulations, Dr. Rank! Your hometown is proud of you! 🎓🌱🐂 📖 Read more about his journey: https://www.tamuc.edu/news/dr-bryan-rank-selected-as-dean-of-the-college-of-agricultural-sciences-and-natural-resources-at-east-texas-am-university/ #COCSDProud #AlumniSuccess #AgriculturalEducation #FutureLeaders

A big thank you to our amazing community sponsor for treating everyone to delicious ice cream this morning at Verde Tech High School! Your generosity brought smiles to so many faces, and we appreciate your support. Thank you for making today even sweeter! 🍦💙 #VerdeTechHigh #VTHS

🎲✨ Roll the Dice Club Spotlight! ✨🎲 Looking for a club that’s all about fun, creativity, and learning? Roll the Dice Club is the place to be! Using donated games, dice, and activities, our club brings together math, science, ELA, and even coloring sheets for a unique and exciting experience every week. From strategic games to telling time, there’s something for everyone! A huge THANK YOU to our generous donors for providing prizes and supplies—we couldn’t do it without you! 💙 #RollTheDiceClub #FunAndLearning #ThankYouDonors #GameOn #COCSD #21stCCLC #OCSClubs

📣🎉 MVP 4-8 Grade Spirit Squad’s Debut Performance! 🎉📣 MVP’s Spirit Squad is officially here, bringing energy, enthusiasm, and school pride to our campus! 🌟 Led by our walking sunshine of a coach, Chelsey, this amazing group made their debut performance at our Learner Profile Assembly, where we celebrated our open-minded and inclusive student body. This special event also recognized the incredible achievements of our MVP Girls Basketball Team, who just secured 3rd place in the STATE under the leadership of our dedicated Athletic Director, Bri Young! 🏀👏 A huge shoutout to our Spirit Squad for bringing the hype, heart, and school spirit to MVP! 🎶💃 Stay tuned for more performances and moments of MVP pride! 📸 Drop a comment below to show your support for our Spirit Squad & MVP Basketball Team! ⬇️🎉 #MVPStrong #SpiritSquad #GoMVP #ProudAndLoud

🎉 What a fantastic time we had last Friday celebrating Read Across America Day at Dr. Daniel Bright Elementary! 📚✨ Students, teachers, and staff came together for a Seuss-tacular day filled with all kinds of fun! We kicked off the day with a delicious breakfast of Green Eggs and Ham in the cafeteria 🍳💚, then things really got creative with our door decoration contest – so many imaginative designs that brought Dr. Seuss' stories to life! 🎨🚪 From fun activities to books galore, the spirit of Dr. Seuss was alive and well all around our school! Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the day so memorable. We loved seeing the joy and excitement in every classroom! 📖🎉 Happy belated birthday, Dr. Seuss! 🎂🎈 #ReadAcrossAmerica #SeussicalFun #DrSeussDay #GreenEggsandHam #DrDanielBrightElementary #COCSDDDB

🎶 Feelin’ groovy with Ms. Sam and her after school Music & Theatre Club at CCS! 🎭 These talented kiddos are diving into a world of sound, exploring a wide variety of instruments! With hands-on learning, they’re not just playing notes—they’re discovering how music tells stories, builds confidence, and brings people together. It’s amazing to see their creativity shine as they experiment, perform, and grow! 🌟🎶

🧶 Stitching friendships together at Mrs. Wright's after school Crochet Club at CCS! It’s not just about making scarves, hats, and occasionally mysterious shapes we swear were supposed to be coasters — it’s about slowing down, chatting, laughing, and getting to know each other one loop at a time. Between the knots and giggles, students and teachers are building something even more special than yarn creations — real connections. 💛 Sometimes the best conversations happen when your hands are busy, and your heart is open.

📣🎉 MVP 4-8 Grade Spirit Squad’s Debut Performance! 🎉📣 MVP’s Spirit Squad is officially here, bringing energy, enthusiasm, and school pride to our campus! 🌟 Led by our walking sunshine of a coach, Chelsey, this amazing group made their debut performance at our Learner Profile Assembly, where we celebrated our open-minded and inclusive student body. This special event also recognized the incredible achievements of our MVP Girls Basketball Team, who just secured 3rd place in the STATE under the leadership of our dedicated Athletic Director, Bri Young! 🏀👏 A huge shoutout to our Spirit Squad for bringing the hype, heart, and school spirit to MVP! 🎶💃 Stay tuned for more performances and moments of MVP pride! 📸 Drop a comment below to show your support for our Spirit Squad & MVP Basketball Team! ⬇️🎉 #MVPStrong #SpiritSquad #GoMVP #ProudAndLoud

🚗🎉 Join us for Verde Tech High School's First Annual Car Show! 🎉🚗 Come out and enjoy a day of amazing cars, fun, and community spirit on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 10 AM to 1 PM at the Cottonwood Education Services campus. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Verde Tech FFA program, helping to support future leaders in agriculture and education. 🌱🚜 Bring the whole family and support a great cause! 💚 #VerdeTechHigh #SupportFFA #VTHS

🎉 Join us for the Rec Expo on Saturday, March 8th from 10 AM - 1 PM! 🌟 Explore all things parks and recreation with tons of activities, local vendors, and exciting community partners! 🎨🏃‍♂️🌳 ✨ Don’t miss out on free swag and the chance to connect with our amazing community! Whether you're a fitness fanatic, a nature lover, or just looking for something fun to do, there's something for everyone! See you there! 🏞️🎉 #RecExpo #CommunityEvent #ParksAndRecreation #FreeSwag #FamilyFun

🚍 Now Hiring: Bus Drivers for Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District! 🚍 Join our team and make a difference in the lives of local students! Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District is now hiring school bus drivers – no experience necessary! Training is provided, and we’re offering a sign-on bonus for new drivers. ✔ Competitive pay ✔ Flexible schedules ✔ Rewarding work environment Help us keep our community moving safely! Apply today or share with someone who might be interested. 📞 For more info, call (928) 634-9679 💻 Apply online at: https://cottonwood.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx #COCSDNowHiring #BusDriversNeeded #CottonwoodOakCreek #JoinOurTeam

🌟 Verde Tech Sophomores Visit Yavapai College! 🌟 Our students had an exciting day exploring Yavapai College! They toured the campus and got a feel for college life. Plus, they took the ACCUPLACER to kickstart their academic journey. Thank you, Yavapai College, for hosting us! 🎓 #VerdeTech #YavapaiCollege #VTHS

🌿 Help the CES/Science Vortex Garden Grow! 🌿 Calling all volunteers! The CES Garden needs your helping hands this Saturday to keep our community space thriving. Whether you have a green thumb or just want to lend a hand, we’d love to have you join us! Date: This Saturday Come dig, plant, weed, and connect with fellow community members. It’s a great way to give back and enjoy some fresh air! 🌱✨ Tag a friend and spread the word. See you there! 💚 #CESGarden/ScienceVortex #CommunityStrong #VolunteerDay

📚✨ COCSD Teachers Hard at Work! ✨📚 Our dedicated COCSD teachers are putting in the effort during their Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)! 👏 They’re diving into pacing guides, curriculum, and assessments—all with one goal in mind: making student learning more authentic, engaging, and rigorous. 💡📖 Thank you to our amazing educators for your commitment to student success! ❤️👩‍🏫👨‍🏫 #COCSD #TeacherExcellence #AuthenticLearning #EngagingEducation #StudentSuccess

🌟 Verde Valley Teen Maze: Empowering Youth for a Brighter Future! 🌟 This week, the Verde Valley Teen Maze is taking place at the COCSD District Office, offering our youth a chance to experience the consequences of their choices in a safe and educational setting. 🎯 The event, coordinated and sponsored by Yavapai County Community Health Services with the support of many community partners, is a wonderful opportunity for young people to gain valuable insights on making healthy and positive decisions that will impact their lives. 🙌 A huge thank you to everyone involved in bringing this important event to life and helping our youth make informed, responsible choices! Let’s come together as a community to support and guide the next generation. 💡 #VerdeValleyTeenMaze #CommunityDriven #EmpoweringYouth #HealthyChoices #YavapaiCounty

🚍 Congratulations to Sherry Kelley - COCSD's Transportation Driver of the Month for February! 🎉 We are excited to announce Sherry Kelley as the Transportation Driver of the Month for February! 🏆 Sherry consistently goes above and beyond to ensure our students have a safe and positive experience every day. Her dedication, kindness, and reliability make her an invaluable member of the COCSD family. Thank you, Sherry, for all you do! Your hard work and commitment are truly appreciated. 🌟 Keep up the amazing work! 👏💙 #COCSDDriverOfTheMonth #ThankYouSherry #COCSD #Teamwork