Cottonwood Educational Services

At Camp Innovation, building friendship and trust between students and staff is fundamental to creating a positive and supportive learning environment. When students feel connected with their educators and the school community, it fosters a sense of belonging that is essential for their overall well-being and success. We're so proud of the supportive atmosphere we're cultivating together! 🌟🤝 #campinnovation #sciencevortex #cocsd

Low Income Student Aid can receive a small donation from Waste Management! They need YOUR help to nominate them! No personal information is asked...just their info, which is: Low Income Student Aid, Inc PO Box 529 Cornville, AZ 86325 https://oakcreeklisa.org https://tinyurl.com/3t4n8das (copy and paste this link into your browser)

Camp Innovation students are learning the importance of "Farm to Table!" Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District's Camp Innovation's partnership with Bent River Farm provides an immersive and hands-on experience aimed at fostering sustainability, food cultivation, and environmental awareness among students. Through practical engagement, campers gain valuable insights into sustainable agricultural practices, including organic farming techniques and biodiversity preservation. The farm's focus on growing food instills a comprehensive understanding of the entire food production process, from planting seeds to harvesting crops. This initiative not only provides participants with hands-on experience in marketing and selling the produce they have grown but also cultivates entrepreneurial skills and a deeper appreciation for the local community's support.

What better way to beat the heat than a Water Day at Camp Innovation Fun Fridays? Our students had an absolute blast cooling off with water games, sprinklers, and lots of laughter! 🌊🎉 Camp Innovation is the best when you can learn and play under the sun! 😎💧

Student performing experiments at the Science Vortex!

Art Class at Camp Innovation with the talented Ms. Holeman is a popular stop for our campers! Small class sizes, creativity, reflection, and paint! The campers painted "characteristic masks" where they were asked to paint representations of themselves using colors, shape, and expression. Opportunities for campers to be engaged in creative learning is an important part of Camp Innovation!

Meet the staff at Camp Innovation! We are the makers of learning and fun, reaching over 200 campers across COCSD's four schools. Our high-quality, creative, and visionary staff share a common mission: Empowering tomorrow's leaders through holistic and experiential learning experiences, while enhancing every student's academic achievement, personal growth, and lifelong success. The Camp Innovation Team and Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District are recognized by the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) and the Best Summer Ever (BSE) organization. We will be presenting our evidence-based practices and summer learning experience in Washington, DC this fall. What an amazing group of educators!

What a gift the Science Vortex is to our community! For the past five years, COCSD has been fortunate to partner with the Science Vortex every summer. This year, Laurie Altringer and her incredible team at the Science Vortex are bringing their innovative STEM and project-based learning to Camp Innovation. Their approach fosters curiosity, high engagement, and hands-on learning, building critical thinkers and lifelong learners!

More pictures from Camp Innovation Farm Stand at Bent River Farm

COCSD Camp Innovation students have the wonderful opportunity to work at Bent River Farm this summer in Clarkdale. Students pull vegetables not only to take home and to cook with their family but also have the opportunity to sell them. As you see, they interact with many animals as well as collect eggs on the farm. There was also a lesson on how eggs are graded. The question that always comes up... which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Enrollment for Mariposa Developmental Preschool is now open. If interested, please fill out the Google form. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeobZktflCF5UU_w0L7dQORfQnNeponhPOb-cJLzQU9jyrArg/viewform?usp%3Dsf_link&source=gmail-imap&ust=1718304877000000&usg=AOvVaw2NwmqY_R2BeMV7i05gSbZ3

Summer Football Camp. Contact Christina Montiel, Athletic Secretary at Phone: 928-649-4455 | cmontiel@muhs.com for more information

COCSD 8th Grade Aviation students attended the MESA STEM Competition at University of Arizona and earned 2nd and 11th places out of 24 schools in the paper helicopter challenge; bravo! They also got to tour the expansive Pima Air & Space Museum :)

Hello COCSD Families! Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District is excited to announce enrollment for Camp Innovation! Camp Innovation is the District-Wide summer school program! Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis, and spaces are limited to ensure individualized attention for students. Please complete the enrollment form to secure your child's spot in our no-cost summer program, running from Monday, June 3rd, to Thursday, June 27th (Monday-Thursday) from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. During this month-long program, your child will receive academic support and engage in hands-on learning at the Science Vortex and Bent River Farm. The curriculum not only promotes academic success but also nurtures creativity through STEM enrichment, art, and outdoor activities. Please note that there will be no programs on Wednesday, June 19th. Additionally, we offer optional sign-ups for 'Friday's at the Farm,' providing your child with the opportunity to immerse themselves in our growing district agriculture program at Bent River Farm! Kindly fill out a separate form for each child in your family who has been invited to attend. Your child must attend one of the four K-8 schools in our district. For more information, please contact your school's front office. We look forward to a summer filled with learning and fun for your child! https://forms.gle/ACQ68mnku1BnZNkp7

Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District would like to wish our IT Director, Kathy Epperson, and IT Manager, Greg Epperson, a long and joyful retirement! They will both be missed. Their legacy and dedication to the district will not be forgotten! Kathy has insured there are small tokens of her playful personality all around the district! #IT #littlepig #retirement

Summer is right around the corner! Low Income Student Aid, Inc. can help students financially with their swim lessons, summer camps, sports registration, summer classes, extracurricular activities, clothing and things to help keep students engaged and learning! Please visit their website: http://www.oakcreeklisa.org #lowincomestudentaid #cottonwoodoakcreekschools #cottonwoodcommunityschool #drdanielbright #oakcreekschool #verdevalley #lowincomefamilies #summertime #swimlessons #summercamp #studentaid

You're invited to the 2024 Verde Valley Fair! On With The Show May 1-5, 2024 Senior Day is Wednesday, May 1st Seniors 60+ receive free admission Come enjoy the fair before the Carnival opens and the crowds arrive! Gate Hours 10 am-10 pm Art & Craft exhibits open at 10 am A limited selection of Food Vendors will open in the afternoon. All attractions open at 4pm Verde Valley Fair Association 800 E Cherry St PO Box 1974 Cottonwood, AZ 86326 www.vvfair.com. 928-634-3290

WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY? Become Clarkdale’s Parks and Recreation Youth Advisor DO YOU LIVE IN CLARKDALE? ARE YOU 14 - 17 YEARS OLD? APPLY TODAY! Address youth issues in Clarkdale. Build leadership skills. Learn about local government. Attend a monthly Parks Commission meeting. Earn volunteer hours. Scan the QR code to apply Learn more at: clarkdale.az.gov/parksyouthadvisor or call 928-639-2460

MINING IN THE VERDE VALLEY. DID YOU KNOW! A Deeper Dive Into Mining & Effects on Health. What You Will Learn. Lunch & Learn Keynote Speaker Yavapai County Supervisor Dr. Donna Michaels Mining activities in our community (Jerome, Clarkdale, & Cottonwood), past and present. Where we stand with testing & remediation 1:- 1:45 Dr. Raina Maier, Professor of Environmental Science, & Dr. Mónica Ramírez-Andreotta, Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Public Health, University of Arizona - Brief overview of Environmental Health Science Research with Mining Communities. How to collect samples for pXRF analysis in preparation for Soil Workshop tentatively May 2024 2 – 3 PM Ginny De LaCruz - Childhood Lead Prevention Program Manager AZ Dept Health Services (Phoenix). ADHS – Ways to protect oneself from potential exposure to contaminants. Focus on dust and incidental ingestion 3:15 – 3:30 PM Where: Clemenceau Gym, Old Cottonwood School House 1 N Willard St, Cottonwood, AZ 86326 When: Saturday, April 6, 2024 Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Dr. Shaida Sina Facilitator of the lecture. Question or reserve seat text to (928) 554-5779 or email to reserve seat – Office@breakthroughmed.com Live Presentation, capacity 75 at the Gym , or Sign up on Zoom Link to hear live. Zoom capacity 500. Click for zoom link. lhttps://arizona.zoom.us/j/82932712843#success

COCSD and Sodexo are so proud of our 2024 Future Chefs! Please use the link to see pictures from this year's event. Congratulations to Lilah Elinski and her winning recipe: Lilah's Healthy Chocolate Chip SurPRIZE! Click the link to enjoy a slideshow of this wonderful event. https://docs.google.com/document/d/11P02cACqnb-43hszbjJd7xWdeyVMOuEg7OQdd8G9Pew/edit?usp=sharing