This year, Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) is partnering with Tucson Meet Yourself (TMY) to present the 3rd Annual TUSD Festival of Schools at the 38th Annual TMY Folklife Festival. The Festival of Schools is an annual event for students, parents, and community members to visit with staff and students from the largest school district in Southern Arizona and celebrate our schools. The event also marks the kick off for the first round of Open Enrollment for TUSD (the priority deadline for the 2012-2013 school year is December 12, 2011). It is a unique opportunity for TUSD schools to come together in one place to showcase our rich, outstanding programs and diverse offerings.

Last year’s Festival of Schools took place at Reid Park Zoo, where more than 14,000 community members came to explore the wide variety of schools and programs offered in Tucson Unified School District while enjoying a day at the zoo day with family and friends. This year’s Festival will feature exhibits from more than 100 TUSD schools and programs in addition to an array of student performances on five different stages throughout downtown. Currently, TUSD serves a diverse population of over 53,000 students, including students from more than 50 different countries who speak nearly 100 languages. The TUSD-TMY partnership is the perfect opportunity for Tucson Unified School District to celebrate our cultural diversity, celebrate our schools, and celebrate our community.

The TUSD Festival of Schools will take place on Saturday, October 15th with exhibit space and student performances in the Tucson Convention Center North Meeting Rooms and outdoor patios. A dedicated Tucson Unified Pavilion will be featured all three days of the Festival. Admission to the Festival is free.

For more information on the Festival of Schools, visit TUSD’s website at www.tusd1.org/festival or Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/tucsonunified.