General Info Welcome Important Dates School News  Magnet Focus Our Staff Student Council Breakfast/Lunch

Welcome to Carrillo!

Together, we can achieve wonderful things!

Carrillo Elementary is located in historic Barrio Viejo, in Tucson, Arizona.

The school is built on what once was known as Carrillo Gardens and later Elysian Grove. It was a lush green park used by the citizens and at one time the first airplane in Arizona landed on the grounds and Theodore Roosevelt spoke in the park.

Today Carrillo Elementary is a school proud of its heritage and ties to Tucson, Arizona. The school is named after Leopoldo Carrillo, a prominent business man in the 1800's.

The school has moved on through the years and is a wonderful choice and excellent place for your child's/children start for their education.

Carrillo not only offers Kindergarten through Fifth grade but offers art, music, science and technology. Your student will experience each of these classes for one hour each week. And all taught by certified teachers. Carrillo also has extended day where your student can attend extra curricular activities and tutoring.

Las Posadas is a Carrillo tradition performed every December. Please scroll through the pictures below to experience what this tradition means to the school.

Come be a part of the past and the growing future.

Las Posadas ◊ At Carrillo

 the Sun (December 2011)

 

Students a

Students at DeGrazia Studio of the Sun (December 2011)of the Sun (December 2011)

             S

Las Posadas

Las Posadas came into the lives of many Tucsonans for the first time through the efforts of Miss Marguerite Collier, a teacher at Carrillo Elementary School for more than 25 years.  The children of Carrillo School have been enacting Las Posadas since 1937.

.

The Carrillo School observance is held on one night. The procession is led by a single child dressed in a Mexican white farming costume.  The leader is followed by a boy carrying an olla (clay bowl) filled with ashes to cast along the way to keep Mary and Joseph from slipping.   Over 50 children participate in the Las Posadas, singing traditional songs and walking through the historic Barrio Viejo neighborhood.  This event occurs each December and is funded through tax-credit monies.   

 

 

  

s

Each year, the procession includes families, friends, and community members who walk with the children as they replicate this Mexican cultural tradition that is a large part of our school’s history and tradition.

 

 

 In Las Posadas, everyone gets to dress up as something. You pretend to hit the piñata and you also get to sing. We go walking and sing down the street while the people watch us.  Alina S., 2011-12, 2nd grade

 Las Posadas is important to me because my mom, my nana, and all my mom’s family have been in Las Posadas. In kindergarten, I was a peasant. In first grade, I was a peasant. In second grade, I was a peasant. In third grade, I was a pink angel. In fourth grade, I was a pink angel. This year I am going to be a crook carrier. Angel M., 2011-12, 5th grade

 Las Posadas was here for a long time. I have been here since kindergarten. I love to sing the Las Posadas songs. Everybody in my dad’s family was in Las Posadas. So that’s why I want to be in Las Posadas. Juleena E., 4th grade

 I like the Posadas because my sister and I are both in Las Posadas. I like the Posadas because we get to learn all the songs. I have fun in Las Posadas because I’m with my friends. Katalina G., 2011-12, 1st grade

 It means you learn about Las Posadas and Jesus and Joseph and Mary. Las Posadas means we sing about it. Leo C., 2011-12, 1st grade

 

Las Posadas is when Mary and Joseph are poor and then go knocking on so many doors but everyone say, “no!” Until they get to this one door that says, “no.” But, you can stay in our barn so, that is where Mary and Joseph had Jesus.  Danielle D., 2011-12, 3rd grade

 

Las Posadas has been a very important thing to me since I was in kindergarten. My sister and brother have been in Las Posadas when they were here, so I have learned a lot since then. Also because it is a Mexican tradition, so it’s a part of my heritage which is very important to me. This year is my last at Carrillo, so it’s extra important for me to be a part of Las Posadas. No matter what grade I’m in, I will go to Carrillo to celebrate. It also celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. I hope one day when I have children they will enjoy and never forget the importance of Las Posadas. Christian P., 2011-12, 5th grade

 

http://www.kvoa.com/news/school-celebrates-75-year-old-christmas-tradition/

 

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/education/precollegiate/las-posadas-marks-th

-year/article_85a86c59-8eda-5497-86c0-24830abd9d3a.html

 

http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=26181

 

http://www.yelp.com/events/tucson-dia-de-los-muertos-exhibit-runs-10-5-11-6

 

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/in-the-heart-of-tucson/Content?oid=107110