Cottonwood-Oak Creek Schools

✨ Holiday Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Teddy Armstrong ✨

This season, we’re celebrating the traditions that shaped Teddy Armstrong in the best possible ways. Growing up in the White Mountains of Arizona, Teddy’s family didn’t have much—but they had service, music, and the great outdoors, and that was more than enough.

Teddy’s father, a schoolteacher in their small community, led by example. Holidays meant delivering fresh-baked bread to neighbors, cutting Christmas trees for widows on their street, and shoveling snowy driveways. Those early moments taught Teddy the kind of joy that only comes from helping others. ❤️

Teddy’s childhood was also filled with music—church choirs, school choirs, and singing carols around the Christmas tree. Those songs still bring back the warmth of simpler times. 🎶🎄

And every winter break, Teddy’s dad made sure the family got outside to soak in the quiet beauty of nature. Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking—each adventure carved out memories that still guide Teddy today. ❄️🌲

Now, Teddy and her husband are passing those traditions on to their four sons. They spend their time biking, hiking, camping, singing—and, just as importantly, serving. Every year, they quietly choose someone who might be struggling or spending the holidays alone and find a way to lift their spirits.

It’s a reminder that when we take time to serve others, we see our own blessings more clearly. ❤️✨

Help us celebrate Teddy Armstrong and the heart she brings to this season!

🎄✨ Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Stephanie King ✨🎄
Instructional Coach & New Teacher Mentor

For Mrs. Stephanie King, Christmas traditions are the heartbeat of the season. Every year, the day after Thanksgiving, her family kicks things off by decorating their Christmas tree together 🎄, sipping hot cocoa ☕️, and turning up their favorite holiday music 🎶. It’s a timeless way to welcome the holidays.

Another favorite tradition is driving around town to admire the Christmas lights 🚗✨. With candy canes in hand 🍬 and holiday tunes playing, her family soaks up the magic shining across the community. And on Christmas Eve, they keep one treasured custom alive — opening a single present before bedtime 🎁.

In her classroom, Mrs. King builds that same sense of joy and connection. Her students love singing Christmas songs together 🎤 and making ornaments for their families 🎨 — small creations that spread a lot of cheer.

We’re grateful for the warmth, spirit, and guidance Mrs. King brings to our district every day. ❤️🌟

Good Food = Good Mood! 😄🥗
Sodexo is keeping our students fueled and feeling their best this winter. Foods rich in fiber and Omega-3s help support focus, energy, and overall well-being — exactly what our bodies need when the cold sets in. ❄️💪

Pair those nutritious meals with fun physical activities, and you’ve got a winning combo to keep both mind and body running strong all season long.

Thanks, Sodexo, for serving meals that truly make a difference! 👏🥦✨

Cartwheel Comes to Cottonwood! 🎉

Our district leadership had a meaningful afternoon today. Superintendent Vocca, Dr. Alley, and Board President Mrs. Valenzuela met with the national team from Cartwheel to talk frankly about the challenges our rural Arizona families and students are facing when they’re looking for mental-health supports. 💬

The Cartwheel team came ready to listen, and the conversation focused on building stronger partnerships that will strengthen mental-health services for our students right where they need them most — in their own community. 🏫
Students can also receive support in the privacy of their own home, with their parents there to help guide the process. 🏡💙

A solid step forward for our kids and our community. ✨

If your family could use some additional support, reach out to your child’s school counselor or get started here:
https://www.cartwheel.org/families

Staff Spotlight: Lyndsay Ludden, Agriculture Teacher

Oak Creek School is proud to shine a spotlight on Lyndsay Ludden, our dedicated and inspiring Agriculture teacher. With 19 years of experience in education, Lyndsay’s passion for working with children is matched only by her commitment to helping them understand where their food comes from and how to make healthy choices.

In her classroom and school garden spaces, Lyndsay teaches students how to grow, tend, harvest, and cook with fresh ingredients. Her hands-on lessons bring learning to life—whether students are planting seeds, preparing a simple recipe, or sampling the fruits (and veggies!) of their labor. She also takes her upper-grade students on field trips that explore the origins of their food and provide real-world lessons in shopping wisely and on a budget.

Outside of school, Lyndsay pours her love for agriculture into her own ventures: The Hoppy Goat Farm and the Arizona Mushroom Company. Though her spare time is limited, her dedication to cultivating good food and sustainable practices never wavers.

Lyndsay’s greatest passion is empowering the next generation to understand the benefits of eating healthy, knowing what’s in their food, and appreciating the effort that goes into producing it. Her enthusiasm, expertise, and genuine care make her an invaluable part of the Oak Creek School community.

🎅✨ GET READY! Annie’s Elves Arrive December 12th! 🎁

Families, the holiday magic is officially on its way! Annie and her team of cheerful elves will be visiting our campuses on Friday, December 12th, delivering special stockings for our students. 🧝‍♀️🎄

The elves will quietly drop off the sealed boxes in the front offices, where they’ll soon make their way to classrooms. We’re asking everyone to keep the boxes closed until our Annie’s Secret Wish celebration the week of December 15th–17th. The surprise is part of the fun—and we don’t want to spoil the excitement!

Annie and her elves can’t wait to bring a little extra joy to our schools this season. 🎁✨. Thank you, Annie, for helping us keep the magic alive for the kids in our community once again.

With holiday cheer,
Elf Jingle 🧝‍♀️💚

Help support our Athletics!
Download RAISE365 and use code 95035179.
Top fundraising class = extra PE + new recess gear!

#MountainViewPreparatory #HomeoftheOcelots #Raise365 #SupportAthletics #SchoolPride #Fundraiser #TeamWork #PEDay #RecessFun

MVP Robotics Club with Mrs Romey

The MVP Robotics Club had an amazing trip to Flagstaff to compete in this year’s robotics competition!
Our students designed and programmed their very own robot and put their skills to the test against teams from other schools.
A huge shout-out to Mrs. Romey, our dedicated club leader, for making this opportunity possible for our students every year!

#MountainViewPreparatory #HomeoftheOcelots #MVPRobotics #MVP21CCLC #MVPAfterschool #MVP-COCSD #MVPTeamwork

MVP School Christmas Spirit Week is Here!

Get ready to spread the holiday cheer! Join us as we celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with our Christmas Spirit Week! From festive outfits to fun-filled activities, it's going to be a week packed with joy, laughter, and MVP school spirit!

#MVPChristmasSpirit #MountainViewPreparatory #HomeoftheOcelots #MVPHolidayFun #MVPXmasWeek #ChristmasSpiritAtMVP #MVPSeasonOfJoy #MVPHolidayCheer #MVPFestiveFun

Something unusual is on the move.

Somewhere on the highway between Phoenix and Cottonwood, a very large surprise is making its way to the Science Vortex.

Thanks to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, we are becoming the proud new caretakers of… well… let’s just say it has wings. Or had wings.

Stay curious, Cottonwood.

❄️ Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Winters ❄️

Around here, you don’t need a calendar to know the holidays have arrived—you just wait for Mrs. Winters’ snowmen to take over the district office. Once they start popping up, it’s full-on festive mode. And believe it or not, the crew she brings to work is nothing compared to the snowman army she has at home.

But the real holiday drama begins when her grandsons’ favorite trio—Pixie, Trixie and Dixie the Elves—show up. Those elves waste no time stirring up trouble, and when the snowmen get involved, the mischief level goes off the charts. Some years it’s a showdown… other years it’s a full-blown circus.

Mrs. Winters brings just the right amount of holiday fun to our district office! 🎄⛄✨

This week, we had a few amazing events take place during after-school clubs:

- First, we had graduation ceremonies in Denisha Ozuna's and Chelsea Henderson's (pictured here) Read Better Be Better clubs! These kiddos really supported each other's reading goals this semester and went home with new books to read. Help us in congratulating them on their accomplishment!

- Second, we had our Fall Showcase Night yesterday! Our wonderful MVP families joined together in the gym to see students' work on display, play bouncy tennis with our tennis coach Andrea Meyer, make puppets with club leaders Sherry Davis and Officer Scarim (pictured here), shoot bopper arrows with archery instructor Becky Dennis, and chow down on hot school lunch (stunningly good hamburgers and hotdogs). If you missed it, you missed a good time — but don't worry, we'll have another one in the spring!

🌟 Staff Spotlight: Armida Cervantez 🌟

This week we’re proud to highlight Armida Cervantez, whose heart for tradition and family shines just as brightly in her work as it does at home.

Armida shared a cherished memory that has shaped the way she builds community today:

“I have fond memories of sitting around a large kitchen table and making tamales with my aunts. I carry this tradition to my own family and friends join us too.” — Armida

There’s something timeless about gathering around good food and good people, and Armida brings that same spirit of connection, patience, and care to our campus every day. Her dedication reminds us that traditions and food not only ground us—they bring people together in meaningful ways.

Thank you, Armida, for sharing your story and for the warmth you bring to our school community.

🌾🐄 First Grade Farmers in Training! 🐄🌾

During Mrs. Ludden’s agriculture class this week, and we’re pretty sure we just witnessed the future of farming — OCS style. Using chalk and their huge imaginations, our first grade students created their own perfect farms.

We saw rainbow animals, extra-fancy farmhouses, crops taller than Mount Everest, and yes… the mysterious number 67 showed up everywhere. Why 67? Only the first graders know... and they’re not telling. 😂

One student drew a cow with sunglasses, another invented a “super chicken,” and at least three farms were run entirely by goats. Honestly, iconic.

At Oak Creek School, a STEM-certified school, we love seeing hands-on learning turn into hands-down hilarity. 🌱🎨🚜

Great job, first graders! Keep those farm dreams growing (and the goats contained). 🐐💛

#STEMSchool #OCSProud #FutureFarmers #FarmLifeOCS #CreativeKids #GoatTakeover #MrsLuddenRocks

🍪 Happy National Cookie Day! 🍪
Sodexo Food Service wants to share a quick reminder to slow down today, warm up the kitchen, and bake something together. December 4th is all about celebrating those simple, time-honored traditions that bring families closer.

Gather the crew, preheat the oven, and enjoy making a batch of fresh, hot cookies at home. It’s a perfect way to kick off the holiday season—sweet, warm, and shared with the people who matter most.

Good food. Good moments. Good memories.

🎉 Highlights from Last Night’s COCSD Governing Board Meeting 🎉

Our Governing Board approved the revised budget for the 2025–2026 school year, and we’re pleased to report that the district remains in strong financial health. It’s steady footing like this that keeps our schools moving forward with confidence.

We were proud to recognize the MVP Girls Volleyball Champions, who opened the meeting by leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Their hard work and teamwork are exactly what we hope to see in our students.

A well-earned acknowledgment also went to Bethany Campista for her dedicated work in supporting our National School Lunch Program. Her efforts help ensure our students receive the meals they count on every day.

We also celebrated our December Sparklight Award winners — Mrs. Laurie Altringer and Verde Tech student Carla Sanchez — whose contributions shine bright in our school community.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support our students, staff, and schools. Onward! 💙📘