Cottonwood-Oak Creek Schools

🌿 From Seed to Supper: Oak Creek Starts Strong! 🍽️💙

We're starting the year off strong in our Oak Creek School Agriculture and Culinary Program with Mrs. Ludden!

🌱Sowing, Growing, Eating, Gratitude💙

🌤️ Good morning, COCSD families!
The storm has passed and conditions have improved. All schools and offices are open today and operating on a regular schedule.
It is a cold one out there today, so please have students dress warmly.
Thank you for your patience and support, and please travel safely on your way to school. 🚍☀️

🎉 Congratulations to our honorees! 🌟👏
At our recent Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District Governing Board Meeting, we proudly recognized these outstanding students and staff for their dedication and excellence! 💙💛

✨ Above & Beyond Awards:
💙 John Chaddock
💛 Brian Lewy

🌟 Sparklight Awards (sponsored by Sparklight Internet Services):
⭐ Ruby Irving
⭐ Maria Valazquez
⭐ Bob Freeman
⭐ Kyla Sangiovanni

👏 A special thank you to Sparklight Internet Services for sponsoring and supporting staff recognition across our district!

#COCSDProud #AboveAndBeyond #SparklightAwards #ThankYouSparklight

Adverse Weather Ahead
Snow and ice may impact the start of school tomorrow. We will send notifications by 6:00 a.m. if there are any delays or closures. It is very important that you check your email, text messages, our website, Facebook page, and local radio stations for the latest information before sending your student to school. Thank you for your immediate attention and understanding.

Governing Board Update 📣

At last night’s Governing Board Organizational Meeting, the Board voted to retain Mrs. Mary Valenzuela as President for another term, with Mrs. Janice Rollins serving as Vice President.

We congratulate both and thank them for their continued leadership and dedication to our staff, students, and the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District community. Their steady service helps keep our schools strong and focused on what matters most—student success.

Please join us in congratulating President Valenzuela and Vice President Rollins! 👏

Your Child's Day - Two Taps Away!
COCSD & ParentVUE: Keeping Families in the Loop

We’re rolling out Rooms, a new communication tool that allows teachers to connect directly with families—all in one place. Rooms will replace other classroom apps, including ClassDojo, simplifying how schools and families stay connected.

Through the COCSD app, families can receive classroom updates, see what’s happening in real time, and stay engaged in their child’s learning.

ParentVUE continues to be the go-to hub for important information—allowing parents to quickly update emergency contacts and stay on top of grades, attendance, and assignments.

One app. Clear communication. Stronger school-home connections.

🌟 Staff Spotlight: David Davidson 🌟

David Davidson has been a valued member of our team since May 2022, and he brings dedication and hustle to work every single day. 🔧🚌 As one of our mechanics, David is steadily building his knowledge in the diesel mechanic and school bus world, learning hands-on and sharpening his skills along the way.

But that’s not all — David also drives two back-to-back routes daily! 🚍🚍 In nearly three years as a bus driver, he has missed only 9 days behind the wheel. That level of reliability is something to be proud of. 💪⭐

With several years of mechanical learning under his belt and a strong work ethic to match, we’re incredibly lucky to have David on our team. Dependable, driven, and always willing to step up — he’s the kind of employee who keeps everything moving. 👏🔥

🙌 Thank you, David, for everything you do! We’re proud to have you with us! 💙

First day back after Winter Break and we got right to work 💪📚

Our team kicked off the semester with PAX and CPI trainings, sharpening skills that support strong classrooms, positive behavior, and student success ✨. Teachers also rolled up their sleeves and spent quality time collaborating within their grade levels, planning with purpose for the months ahead 📝🤝.

A solid foundation, proven practices, and thoughtful preparation — this is how great semesters are built. We’re ready to hit the ground running 🚀🍎

🌟 Staff Highlight: Jimmy Montgomery 🌟

We’re proud to recognize Jimmy Montgomery, who has been an essential part of the COCSD team since 2018. As our Lead Mechanic, Jimmy does far more than keep our fleet running safely—he’s the backbone of our transportation operations.

Jimmy handles all route creation and layout, manages mechanical parts ordering and inventory, and is always willing to step in wherever he’s needed. This includes driving any route at any time, and even spending half the year as a special needs driver to support our students.

With experience as a diesel mechanic since 1991, Jimmy brings an incredible depth of knowledge that has helped our department immensely over the years. His dedication, flexibility, and expertise make a difference every single day.

Thank you, Jimmy, for everything you do for COCSD! 👏🚌🔧

📅 School Schedule Reminder 📅

Just a reminder to our Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District families and students:

➡️ No school on Monday, January 5, 2026
This day is designated as a Teacher Work Day.

✅ School will resume on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

Thank you for planning accordingly, and we appreciate your continued support as our staff uses this time to prepare and strengthen instruction. Let’s keep the momentum going as we move forward into the new year!

🎉 Happy New Year from Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District! 🎉

To our students, families, and staff—wishing you a safe, joyful, and refreshing New Year. As we turn the page, we’re grateful for the dedication, resilience, and community spirit that make our district strong.

The New Year is a time to reset, refocus, and look ahead with purpose. Let’s finish second semester strong by staying engaged, supporting one another, and keeping students at the center of everything we do.

Thank you for being part of the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District family. Here’s to a healthy, successful, and meaningful year ahead!

Wishing all our students and their families at Dr. Daniel Bright Elementary School a very Happy Holidays! 🎄✨

From all of us at DDB, thank you for being part of a school community that values learning, kindness, and tradition. We hope this season brings you rest, joy, and time well spent with those who matter most.

Stay safe, enjoy the break, and we look forward to welcoming our students back refreshed and ready for the year ahead!