29 Jul 2009
Annual Event Scheduled for Thursday, August 6
DALLAS—The 13th annual Mayor's Back to School Fair kicks off Thursday, August 6, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Automobile and Centennial Buildings at Fair Park.
The fair provides the perfect opportunity for Dallas ISD parents to get their students ready to go back to school on Monday, August 24.
In addition to providing free school supplies to students who meet specific eligibility requirements, the Mayor's Back to School Fair will provide the latest information on education, health and social services for parents and children. Interactive and informative activities, displays, entertainment and kids activities will also be available.
"The Back to School Fair is a fun way to get your child excited to return to school. The entire community has come together to offer every kind of resource possible to equip Dallas schoolchildren for success," said Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert. "We greatly appreciate the overwhelming generosity and support of our donors, nonprofit partners and media sponsors in making this day possible."
Sponsors include Walmart/Sam's Club, Chase, MetroPCS and many others.
"It is important that students enter the classroom ready to learn, and in order to do that they must have the necessary tools," said Superintendent of Schools Michael Hinojosa. "The fair brings all these necessary tools together in one location and makes them available to students and their families. We are grateful to Mayor Leppert and all the sponsors, partners and volunteers who make this event possible,"
Services offered at the fair include free vision, dental and health screenings; free immunizations; and free haircuts. Educational information and services, including bilingual information, will be offered at 100 community resource booths.
Dallas ISD staff will hold parent seminars, answer questions and distribute information on magnet schools, scholarship programs, psychological and social services and family literacy.
Entertainment will be provided by several Dallas ISD schools.
The Mayor's Back to School Fair is a collaborative effort between the City of Dallas, Dallas ISD, Dallas area schools, the public health department, state agencies, non-profits, corporations and volunteers.
Although the Fair's activities are free and open to anyone, the free school supplies are available only to public school students (age 5-18) who reside in the City of Dallas or attend Dallas ISD schools and meet the 2009 Federal Poverty Income guidelines. A photo ID, proof of residency and proof of income are required to qualify.
Pre-registration is not required for the event but is highly recommended. The last day to pre-register is Sunday, August 2.
For more information on eligibility requirements and pre-registration sites, visit www.TheMayorsBackToSchoolFair.com.
"We believe that every student can perform at or above grade level and graduate college and workforce ready to compete in the global economy" is the first core belief adopted by the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees.
For a complete list of core beliefs, visit the Web site at http://www.dallasisd.org/about/vision.htm.