Huge congratulations to Adelyn, our 2025 District Sodexo Future Chef Winner! 🎉👏 Her tasty Banana Pancakes will be featured for breakfast at Oak Creek School's cafeteria on February 11, 2026!
✨A big reminder to all young chefs out there: it is free to compete in the Future Chef Challenge, and all supplies will be provided for the chosen finalists. 🎯All you have to do is turn in your recipe online by February 6, 2026. 🗓️Don't miss out on this fun and exciting experience, send in your recipe creations today!!!
👉💻 Submit here: https://futurechefschallenge.com 🥇🥗🍝
We can't wait to see our who our next winner will be! 🏆👩🍳
#SodexoFutureChefs #HealthyTreats #FutureChef2025 #BananaPancakes #CulinaryCreations #GetYourEntriesIn #CommunityPride
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Katherine Devault 🌟
Kathy Devault is an essential part of Cottonwood Education Services, serving in her role as campus secretary after previously supporting our community as Food Service Manager.
In her current position, Kathy wears many hats—including attendance secretary and health aide—and is a steady, caring presence for both students and staff. One of Kathy’s greatest strengths is the genuine care and support she provides to students each and every day, always ready to help with a smile and a kind word. 💙
Outside of school, Kathy enjoys gardening and riding her motorcycle throughout Arizona with her husband, Paul. 🏍️🌵
We are grateful for the dedication, compassion, and heart Kathy brings to our campus.
Our Book Fair is just around the corner and we will have another great selection for all to enjoy!! As always, we will be located through the gym off of the back hallway on the right.
Please mark your calendars for Thursday February 5, 2026 through Tuesday February 17, 2026. THIS DOES INCLUDE THE WEEK OF PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES. Hours are 8-4pm Monday through Friday. Students will be able to shop during their library class time & parents/children may come after school or during your teacher conference until 4:00pm. Also, one night only we will be open until 6pm on Thursday 12th during our Tech Family Night. We hope to see you there!
We are so proud of our growing district theater program.
Thank you, Kyla SanGiovanni, for your hard work and dedication to the arts. Kyla wears many hats in our district, including serving as our district theater director.
This is the first year in five years of COCSD’s district theater productions that all four schools will be participating. Thank you to our Transportation Department for helping make this possible. It truly takes a village to support our children and provide lasting opportunities.
Please join us the first week of May for our production of Aristocats, starring the talented young thespians of the Cottonwood Oak Creek School District and supported by the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant.
❄️⛰️ Mingus Mountain Winter Camp is almost here!
Mrs. Armstrong and Mrs. Winters are counting down the days and can’t wait to welcome our campers next Friday!
Parents of registered campers—don’t forget our Monday evening parent meeting. The adventure is about to begin!
🎉 Project Prom Closet is BACK for Year 5! 🎉
In collaboration with the Rotary Club of the Verde Valley and our amazing MUHS Student Leadership clubs (Interact, Student Council & Key Club), we’re excited to announce that Project Prom Closet will once again be held at Mingus Union High School!
👗✨ Last year, we gave away over 250 formal wear items to high school students from across the Verde Valley—and even welcomed students from all over Northern Arizona!
We are incredibly enthusiastic and eager to invite your schools to participate as we continue to grow this project and make prom more accessible for students in your area. Let’s work together to make prom memories possible for everyone! 💙
📣 Please help us spread the word—we can’t wait for another amazing year!
Families, mark your calendars! 🧪✨
The SciTech Festival Kickoff Extravaganza is January 31st, 10-1 at the Science Vortex.
Explore hands-on STEM, meet local STEM organizations, enjoy food trucks, and kick off a month of learning and fun all February!
More info: sciencevortex.org/vvscitechfestival2026
For event details, schedules, updates, and Spanish translations, please visit:
sciencevortex.org/vvscitechfestival2026
The SciTech Festival Kickoff Extravaganza is January 31st, 10-1 at the Science Vortex.
Explore hands-on STEM, meet local STEM organizations, enjoy food trucks, and kick off a month of learning and fun all February!
More info: sciencevortex.org/vvscitechfestival2026
For event details, schedules, updates, and Spanish translations, please visit:
sciencevortex.org/vvscitechfestival2026
🥣📅 National Granola Bar Day – January 21st!
Sodexo Food Service is giving a friendly reminder that January 21st is National Granola Bar Day—a simple, wholesome snack that’s stood the test of time.
Granola bars are a smart choice for busy days: portable, satisfying, and a great way to keep energy steady between meals. Whether it’s tucked into a backpack, lunchbox, or desk drawer, choosing healthier snacks helps build good habits that last.
Let’s keep it simple, nutritious, and practical—one good choice at a time. 💪🍯
💘 Parent’s Night Out – Valentine’s Day Edition! 💘
Looking for a fun night out while your kids have a blast? We’ve got you covered! 🥰
📍 Cottonwood Recreation Center
🗓 Friday, February 13th
⏰ 4:00 – 8:00 PM
💲 $25 per child
👧🧒 Ages 3–11
Enjoy your Valentine’s plans while your kids enjoy games, activities, and fun in a safe environment! 🎨🎲❤️
⚠️ Pre-registration is REQUIRED
📲 Scan the QR code below to register
📧 Questions? Contact Nick Hull at nhull@cottonwoodaz.gov
📞 (928) 639-3200 Ext. 3210
💕 Spots are limited — sign up today! 💕
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Christine Alagna 🌟
We are excited to spotlight Mrs. Christine Alagna, our 7th and 8th grade English and Social Studies teacher at OCS! Christine has been a dedicated member of our school community for 8 years, bringing passion, heart, and commitment into her classroom every day.
Christine is deeply passionate about learning and is always willing to go above and beyond to help her students succeed. She is one of her students’ biggest supporters and a strong advocate for children, creating a fun, engaging, and supportive learning environment where students feel encouraged to grow.
When she’s not teaching, Christine enjoys hiking, running marathons, and staying active and healthy—a true reflection of her energetic and driven spirit.
We are so grateful to have Mrs. Alagna as part of the OCS family and thank her for all she does for our students! 💙📚
📢 Calling all 8th Graders! 📝✨
Enter the Sparklight Essay Contest for a chance to win 1 of 2 prizes worth $250! 🏆💵. See your teacher for details.
💬 Topic: How to Use Social Media in Kind & Healthy Ways
📅 Deadline: Feb. 20, 2026
📌 Turn in your essay to your classroom teacher!
✅ Include:
💛 What kindness & healthy choices look like online
💡 2–3 tips + why they matter
📖 Real examples (scenarios or personal reflection)
🛡️ Topics like cyberbullying, privacy, screen time, being an upstander
📌 Requirements:
📝 750 words typed
🔤 12 pt Arial/Times, double-spaced
🚫 No plagiarism / No AI writing
📄 Attach Student Cover Sheet
#EssayContest #8thGradeWriters #KindOnline #Sparklight
Mrs. Villas’s 4th grade class at Dr. Daniel Bright Elementary was bursting with excitement during their CKLA Geology: Volcanoes unit! Students explored how volcanoes work through hands-on experiments—then watched their own volcanoes come to life!
Through observation, prediction, and plenty of enthusiasm, students deepened their understanding of Earth’s powerful forces while having a blast learning together. What an explosive way to learn! 🔥🧪🌍
#DrDanielBrightElementary #CKLA #HandsOnLearning #4thGradeFun #FutureScientists
No School – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Please remember that there will be no school on Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This day honors Dr. King’s enduring legacy of service, leadership, and commitment to community. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 20. We encourage families to take time to reflect and serve in ways that strengthen our community.
🛡️📚 Members of our District School Safety Team recently attended the ADE School Safety Training in Flagstaff, gaining valuable updates from the Arizona Department of Education on new ARS legislation, school safety compliance, emergency operations planning, and student mental health.
The training also highlighted the importance of strong relationships between officers and students, shared by Laura Cervantes from Mesa PD, and emphasized engaging the greater community to keep schools safe.
We’re proud of our team’s commitment to learning, collaboration, and student safety! 💙🤝🏫
🎓 Rim Country Bowhunters Scholarship Announcement for High Schoolers🎓
Rim Country Bowhunters is proud to award (2) $500 scholarships this year!
📅 Application Deadline: March 31
📎 Application: Attached to this post
If you or someone you know is eligible, we encourage you to apply. We’re excited to support students in our community as they pursue their educational goals!
Please share to help spread the word.
🌟 Staff Spotlight 🌟 YCSO Deputy Hawkins
We are proud to recognize YCSO Deputy Alex Hawkins, our Campus Resource Officer at Dr. Daniel Bright Elementary School!
Deputy Hawkins is always helpful, approachable, and dedicated to keeping our campus safe while building strong, positive relationships with our students and staff. His presence brings a sense of reassurance to our school community, and he consistently takes the time to connect with students in meaningful ways.
In addition to his work on campus, Deputy Hawkins is a valued member of our district safety team, where he collaborates closely with district administration, facilities, maintenance, and the transportation department to help ensure the safety and well-being of our entire district.
We are truly grateful for Deputy Hawkins’ commitment, professionalism, and the positive impact he makes every day. Thank you for all you do to support our students and school community! 💙🚓
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Kathryn Hazelton 🌟
Kathryn Hazelton is one of our incredible CCS Exploratory teachers, bringing creativity, storytelling, and a lifelong love of the arts to our K–6 Theater program. She teaches K–6 Theater and has truly enjoyed every minute of inspiring students through performance and imagination.
Kathryn’s journey in the arts began early. After moving to Flagstaff in 1959, when her father was hired as an astronomer with Lowell Observatory, she grew up immersed in creativity. In high school, she was active in drama club, played the cello (which she began in elementary school), and served as president of the art club—experiences that laid the foundation for a lifelong passion for the arts.
She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Northern Arizona University, followed by a post-degree certificate to teach K–8. In 2000, Kathryn was awarded a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Her 25-year career in education included teaching first grade and third grade before retiring in 2019.
But retirement didn’t last long! Kathryn is thrilled to be back in the classroom as the Exploratory Theater teacher at CCS. In her classes, students explore story concepts and genres through Reader’s Theater productions, sock puppets, and the creation of sets, props, and costumes—bringing stories to life in hands-on, meaningful ways.
Outside of school, Kathryn and her husband enjoy motorcycle riding and attending live performances. She also loves painting on canvas and stone whenever she finds the time. The couple enjoys their “retirement” home in the community and treasures being close to family in Flagstaff, including their twin four-year-old grandchildren.
We are so fortunate to have Kathryn sharing her talent, experience, and enthusiasm with our students at CCS!
🍗 Bright Bites Menu Highlight – January 14 🍍
Mark your calendars for January 14th—Sodexo is serving up something fresh and flavorful! Our featured dish will be Thai Chicken & Pineapple Fried Rice, a bold and satisfying meal that brings just the right balance of savory and sweet to your plate.
And that’s just the start. Be on the lookout for more new additions coming to our Bright Bites Menu, including General Tso’s Chicken, hearty chili served with baked potatoes, and classic chicken pot pies—the kind of warm, stick-to-your-ribs comfort food that never goes out of style.
Good food done right. Try something new and enjoy the comfort of favorites made well.
