Cottonwood-Oak Creek Schools

🎉 Celebrating Excellence in Education: Congratulations to Mr. Cody Altringer! 🎉 We are thrilled to recognize Mr. Cody Altringer for achieving the prestigious status of National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT)! 🌟 For those who may not be familiar, National Board Certification is the highest professional recognition a teacher can earn. It's an advanced certification that goes beyond state licensure and demonstrates a teacher’s dedication to excellence in the classroom. To become National Board Certified, educators must engage in a rigorous process that includes: ✅ Extensive Reflection: Teachers must analyze their practice through self-assessment, reflection, and continuous improvement. ✅ Professional Growth: Completing a series of assessments that showcase their knowledge, skills, and ability to positively impact student learning. ✅ Commitment to Student Success: NBCTs are required to demonstrate the ability to effectively differentiate instruction, meet the needs of all learners, and use data-driven decisions to improve outcomes. The benefits of achieving NBCT are far-reaching! 🌱 Elevated Teaching Practice: The process helps teachers refine their craft and become even more effective educators. Leadership Opportunities: Many NBCTs take on leadership roles within their schools and communities, guiding their peers toward excellence. Higher Student Achievement: Research shows that students of NBCTs often experience higher levels of academic growth and engagement. Professional Respect & Recognition: It’s a mark of distinction that sets teachers apart as leaders in the field of education. Congratulations again, Mr. Altringer! 🎉 Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to your students' success are truly inspiring. We are incredibly proud of you and excited to see the impact your certification will have on the future of education! 📚👏 #NBCT #NationalBoardCertifiedTeacher #ExcellenceInEducation #TeachingExcellence #ProudMoment

🌟 A Big Thank You to the Arizona Flywheelers! 🌟 We are so grateful to the Arizona Flywheelers for their incredible generosity and craftsmanship in building a beautiful bookcase to house our oversized art and trade books in our campus curriculum center at Verde Tech High School. 📚✨ Thank you for being such an amazing partner in fostering knowledge and innovation on our campus. 💙👏 #ArizonaFlywheelers #EducationMatters #VerdeTechHighSchool

🌨️ COCSD Families: Winter Weather Update 🌨️ COCSD is closely monitoring the current winter weather conditions. As of now, we are proceeding with a regular dismissal time today. If anything changes, we will update you via Facebook, email, text, and will also notify the local radio stations. Stay safe and warm! ❄️ #COCSD #WinterWeather #StaySafe

🚚💥 FREE KIDS EVENT: Touch-A-Truck! 💥🚚 Get ready for a day of fun, excitement, and hands-on adventure at the Touch-A-Truck event! 🚛✨ 🗓 Date: February 8, 2025 ⏰ Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM 📍 Location: Camp Verde Sports Complex, 990 Champion Trail, Camp Verde Bring the whole family out for an unforgettable day of exploring big trucks, live demonstrations, and even a FREE lunch provided by Kiwanis! 🍔🌭 🔧 What to Expect: Climb into real trucks and heavy machinery! 🚜 Watch live demonstrations from local heroes and experts! 🚒 FREE lunch served by Kiwanis! 🍽️ This event is completely FREE and perfect for kids of all ages! 🎉 Don't miss out—mark your calendars and bring your friends! 🤩 #TouchATruck #CampVerdeEvents #FreeFamilyFun #KiwanisLunch #CampVerdeParks #FamilyFunDay

🚍✨ COCSD Bus Driver of the Month – January: Mr. Daniel Badger! ✨🚍 We are excited to recognize Mr. Daniel Badger as our Bus Driver of the Month for January! 🏆👏 Mr. Badger goes above and beyond every day to ensure our students have a safe and positive ride to and from school. His friendly attitude, punctuality, and commitment to the well-being of our kids truly set him apart. Whether it's a rainy day or a sunny one, he always greets everyone with a smile and makes the ride an enjoyable experience. 🌟 Thank you, Mr. Badger, for your hard work, dedication, and the positive impact you have on our school community. You are truly appreciated! 🚍❤️ #COCSD #BusDriverOfTheMonth #ThankYouMrBadger #SchoolHeroes #SafeRides #CommunityLove

Public Relations, 6 hours ago 🎉🍪 Huge congratulations to Miss Lilah Elinski, our 2024 District Sodexo Future Chef Winner! 🎉👏 Today, her delicious SurPrize Chocolate Chip Cookies were featured for breakfast at Cottonwood Community School's cafeteria—and the surprise? They’re not just tasty, they’re healthy too! These cookies are packed with zucchini for a nutritious twist on a classic treat. 🥒🍫 What a creative way to blend flavor and health! A big reminder to all young chefs out there: the deadline to enter this year’s Future Chef contest is January 31st! 🎯 If you’ve got a recipe that’s both tasty and healthy, get your entries in for a chance to be our next winner! 🏆👩‍🍳 #SodexoFutureChefs #HealthyTreats #FutureChef2024 #SurPrizeCookies #CulinaryCreations #GetYourEntriesIn #CommunityPride

🌟 Our 21st Century Community Learning Centers Spring Clubs are officially up and running district-wide! 🌟 We’re beyond thankful for our incredible site coordinators who pour their hearts into supporting our kids, families, and schools. Their dedication and hard work make all the difference in creating positive, engaging environments for our students to thrive in! 🙌💪 Here's to a fantastic spring of growth, learning, and fun! 🌱🎨📚 Let's keep making a difference together! #COCSD21stCenturyLearning #SpringClubs #CommunitySupport #Gratitude #MakingADifference

🎪✨ Circus Pop Event: Giant Bubble Show! ✨🎪 Get ready for a bubbly, magical experience like no other! 🫧🎉 Join us for the Giant Bubble Show, sponsored by the Camp Verde Parks & Recreation Department! 🗓 Date: January 27, 2025 ⏰ Showtimes: 5:00 PM & 7:30 PM 📍 Location: 51 E. Holloman St., Camp Verde Come witness incredible, larger-than-life bubbles, dazzling performances, and plenty of fun for the whole family! 🌈🎪 Whether you’re young or just young at heart, this show is sure to leave you amazed. ✨ Two exciting shows – bring your friends, bring your family, and get ready to be wowed! ✨ Let’s make this a bubbly night to remember! 🫧💥 See you there! #CampVerdeParks #CircusPop #GiantBubbleShow #FamilyFun #CampVerdeEvents #BubblesForDays

We’re excited to share that thanks to the new mini safety grant, Oak Creek School has had a deputy on campus all week—and will continue to have one for the rest of the year! 🚓 Today, our deputy joined the kids at recess for some fun games, creating positive interactions between law enforcement and students. This helps build trust and ensures everyone feels safer on campus. 🙌 #SchoolSafety #CommunitySupport #PositiveConnections #YCSO #OakCreekSchool

🎉 We are incredibly proud of Mrs. Heather Wacker for her outstanding presentation at the ESSA State Conference! 🌟 Heather highlighted the amazing community partnerships that make our Camp Innovation Summer Camp a success. These partnerships include Wheel Fun Bike Camps, Bent River Farm, Science Vortex, Rim Country Bow Hunters Archery Program, and the Cottonwood Recreation Center. 🙌 Her dedication to fostering these connections helps provide our campers with unique and enriching experiences. Thank you, Heather, for representing COCSD with such passion and commitment! 👏 #COCSDCommunityPartnerships #CampInnovation #COCSDProud #ESSAStateConference

🚍 Important Update for COCSD Families 🚍 We’re excited to announce that our Governing Board has approved a new Transportation Discipline Matrix, now included in the student handbook. This matrix will provide clear and consistent guidelines for addressing bus-related issues, ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all students. Please take a moment to review the matrix and discuss bus behavior expectations with your children. Together, we can maintain a positive and supportive atmosphere for everyone. 📖 Review the new matrix here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rB4AMES574BbIaJMW4He6magY_uM2aXR/view?usp=sharing For any questions, feel free to contact us at (928) 634-2288. Thank you for your continued support! #COCSD #StudentSafety #Transportation #CommunityPartnership

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉 The 2025 Verde Valley SciTech Festival is almost here, and we couldn't be more excited! 🌟 The Verde Valley STREAM Council is bringing back this incredible celebration of all things STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) throughout the month of February. 🧬🔬💻⚙️ With 62 FREE events across the Verde Valley, this festival is the perfect opportunity for families to discover the amazing world of STEM! From hands-on experiments to interactive workshops, there's something for everyone. 🌱👩‍🔬👨‍🚀 Whether you're a future scientist, engineer, or tech wizard—or just curious to learn more—this event is for YOU! 💡 🗓 When: February 2025 📍 Where: Across the Verde Valley, AZ 🎯 What: 62 FREE events showcasing STEM education and resources Let’s come together to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders and innovators! 💥✨ #VerdeValleySciTech #STEMFestival #STEMEducation #FamilyFun #InspireInnovation #VerdeValleyAZ

Hello OCS families... regretfully, Antelope route will not be running this afternoon, Tues 1/14. Please make other arraignments for your students to get home today. This is due to last minute change with driver's availability. We appreciate your patience with this matter... - Daniel Maldonado, Transportation Director

🌟 Exciting News at Cottonwood Education Services! 🌟 We are thrilled to share the results of our recent kitchen remodel here at the Cottonwood campus! 🍴✨ What once was an outdated, cramped space is now a bright, modern hub that will serve our team, students, and community for years to come! Swipe to see the before and after photos — we can’t wait for everyone to enjoy this upgraded space. Whether it's for meal prep, collaborative work, or simply a place for students to gather, this new kitchen is a game-changer. Huge thanks to our team for making this vision a reality. 💪 #CottonwoodRemodel #KitchenUpgrade #BeforeAndAfter #CommunitySpaces #CottonwoodEducationServices

🌟 Governing Board Acknowledgement: January Spotlight 🌟 We are thrilled to recognize the amazing COCSD Payroll Department as January's Governing Board Acknowledgement! This hardworking team—Kalista Baze, Kim Cox & Rhonda Kester—goes above and beyond to ensure our staff is supported with accuracy, efficiency, and a smile. Their dedication behind the scenes keeps everything running smoothly, and their commitment to excellence does not go unnoticed. 💼💙 Thank you, Kalista, Kim & Rhonda, for all you do to serve our district with care and professionalism! Join us in celebrating this incredible team for their well-deserved recognition! 🎉👏 #COCSDPride #Teamwork #PayrollExcellence

Good morning COCSD families... as you know we have made changes to the bus routes as we returned from Winter Break. We are adjusting the times to make sure your child gets to school and /or home on time. Please keep an eye on your student's bus route through this week as we make these adjustments. They will be posted on our website by the end of each day. All times should be permanent by the end of this week. Thank you for your patience with this. - Daniel Maldonado, Transportation Director

🌟 A Heartfelt Thank You to Healthy Food Healthy Minds! 🌟 We are beyond grateful to Healthy Food Healthy Minds for their incredible donation of $4,674.18 to clear all past-due balances on student meal accounts! ❤️ Your generosity ensures that no child is left worrying about their lunch balance, allowing them to focus on what truly matters—learning, growing, and thriving. This act of kindness demonstrates the power of community and the impact we can make when we work together. Thank you for supporting our students and families in such a meaningful way! For more information check out their website: https://www.healthyfoodhealthyminds.org #HealthyFoodHealthyMinds #COCSDCommunitySupport #Gratitude #MakingADifference

🌟 Sponsor a Child and Make a Difference! 🌟 Help a child in our community attend Camp Innovation, an engaging summer program filled with creativity, exploration, and learning! By donating your Arizona Tax Credit, you can give a child the opportunity to thrive in a safe and enriching environment. 💡 What is Camp Innovation? Camp Innovation is a 21st Century Learning summer program that inspires kids to explore STEM, agriculture, leadership, and teamwork in a fun and supportive setting. 💵 How Can You Help? Your Arizona Tax Credit donation can sponsor a child for this incredible experience—all at no extra cost to you! Contributions up to $200 for individuals or $400 for couples filing jointly are eligible for a dollar-for-dollar credit on your state taxes. 🎯 It’s Simple! Complete the attached form and return with your payment. 🗓️ Deadline: April 15, 2025 (or the day you file your taxes). Let’s work together to give every child in our community the chance to shine. Share this post and encourage your friends and family to support! Thank you for helping us build a brighter future. 💛 #COCSDSupportLocalKids #CampInnovation #TaxCredit #CottonwoodCommunity

📢 Important Update for COCSD Families and Staff 📢 Starting January 8th, 2025, our Governing Board Meetings will have a new schedule! 🎉 🗓️ New Schedule: Study Session: 4:30 PM Board Meeting: 5:00 PM Day: Wednesdays We’re also excited to announce that meetings will be live-streamed starting January 8th, so you can stay informed and engaged from anywhere! 🌐 📍 Live Stream Link: https://cocsd.diligent.community/Portal/ Want to stay informed about agendas? Sign up for notifications here: 👉 https://cocsd.diligent.community/Portal/Subscribe.aspx Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our district. We look forward to seeing you online or in person as we work together to support our students and community! 💙✨ #COCSD #BoardMeetings #Community

🎆 Happy New Year from All of Us! 🎉 As we ring in the New Year, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to our incredible staff, students, and families. Thank you for making our community so special! 💛 Here’s to a year filled with success, growth, and joy for everyone. Wishing you all a Happy New Year filled with new opportunities and bright beginnings! 🌟 Let’s make 2025 the best year yet! 🥂✨ #HappyNewYear #COCSDCommunityStrong #Welcome2025