.svg)
Dear Neighbors,
As we squeeze in a few more days of play while summer winds down, I’d like to share some information to help you and our students prepare for the upcoming school year.
The start of the 2026-2027 school year for most DC Public Schools and public charter school students is Monday, August 24. You can find the DCPS school year calendar,here. Charter school students return to the classroom at various dates –with some already in session– and you can find more information about when your public charter school opens for the 2026-2027 school year, here.
Mayor Bowser’s 2026 Back to School Checklist is a great resource that guides families through some of the most important back-to-school tasks. The checklist includes information on enrollment, health records and immunizations, student transportation services, attendance, and more.
If you’re looking for more physical resources, several government agencies along with community organizations are holding back-to-school drives to help fill the gaps for students and parents. Many offer free backpacks, supplies, haircuts, food, and access to health resources. You can also find a list below along with family-friendly activities for the rest of the summer.
Even if you do not have school-aged children, you can help start the school year off right for our community, too. Small things like taking note of and adhering to the school-zone speed limits in your area help tremendously.
In Service,
Christina Henderson
Councilmember, At-Large
ChristinaHendersonDC.com
DCPS Back-to-School Info Session
Interim Chancellor Kim Jackson and DCPS leadership will be hosting a virtual DCPS Back-to-School Info Session for parents and students to learn about key updates, resources, and opportunities for the 2026-2027 School Year. The event takes place on Tuesday, August 18, from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. You can join the session, here.
Back-to-School at the DC Public Library
Back-to-school season starts at the library! Get ready for the new school year with free bookbags, school supplies, performances, activities, and community resources at select DC Public Library locations. Find a Back-to-School event near you, here.
Roving Leader Backpack Giveaway
Department of Parks and Recreation’s Roving Leaders will be giving away free backpacks in remembrance of Ricardo Duren on Saturday, August 15, from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the Brentwood Recreation Center (2311 14th St NE) and 12:00pm to 3:00pm at the Kennedy Recreation Center (1401 7th St NW). Backpacks will be provided to students ages 3 to 17; a parent or guardian must be present to receive supplies.
Ward 7 Back-to-School Extravaganza
Join DC State Board of Education Representative Eboni-Rose Thompson in Ward 7 for the 6th Annual Back-to-School Extravaganza! The event will include a giveaway of 750 backpacks filled with school supplies, information about health and wellness resources, free food, and an education and community resource fair. Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 15, from 11:00am to 4:00pm at East River Park Shopping Center (3425 Minnesota Avenue NE). You can register for the event, here.
DYRS Presents Back2School
Meet with government agencies, community partners, and local schools to enroll in the upcoming school year on August 14, from 11:00am to 3:00pm at The Fields at RFK Campus (401 Oklahoma Avenue NE)! Get free backpacks, supplies, and more while connecting with local schools and agencies. Don't miss this fun-filled day.
Back-to-School with the Ready Center
Back-to-School is almost here! Get ready to learn at the Ready Center (3640 MLK Jr Ave SE) on Saturday, August 15, from 11:00am to 3:00pm with food, music, raffle prizes, community resources for parents, and free backpacks and school supplies for DC students.
Ward Days at THE PLAYGROUND
On Friday, July 31, Legislative Assistant Ange Joseph and Deputy Chief of Staff Heather Edelman joined community members at the National Building Museum for its Ward Days at THE PLAYGROUND celebration. THE PLAYGROUND has transformed the historic Great Hall into a monumental, sculptural landscape that reimagines the familiar experience of parks and playgrounds, but with a twist. By bringing typically public infrastructure indoors, the installation designers aimed to provide an awe-inspiring, nontraditional environment centered on the mental and physical benefits of play.
Aiding Interns at the Mayor’s Office of Racial Equity
On Wednesday, August 5, Committee on Health staff members Marcia Huff, Deputy Committee Director, and Rebecca Cooper, Health Policy Legislative Advisor, joined the Mayor’s Office of Racial Equity for the final presentation from their Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program interns. During their internships, the college students were able to meet directly with government officials and generated conversations geared towards aiding their community. The Committee on Health staffers aided in their policy research for their individual presentations.
The Washington Informer’s 45th Annual Spelling Bee
Think You Have What It Takes to Be the Next D.C. Spelling Bee Champion? The countdown is on! Registration for The Washington Informer’s 45th Annual Spelling Bee opens August 18. Students in grades 3–8 enrolled in D.C. public, charter, private, parochial, or home schools are invited to compete for the chance to be crowned the next spelling bee champion.
Questions? Contact your school coordinator or call The Washington Informer at (202) 561-4100. Prince George’s County schools interested in participating can contact Doug Hayes at pgspellingbee@gmail.com.
Metro U Pop-Up Shop
The Metro U Pop-Up Shop will soon be back in session, stocked with this semester's unique collection, hot off the press. Think limited-edition t-shirts, hoodies, hats, totes, mugs, notebooks, and more: everything you need to be the freshest in first period.
Metro U Pop-Up Shop will be open August 17 to September 4 at Metro HQ Lobby Level, 300 7th St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20024. See hours below.
Ward Days at the National Building Museum
This summer, the National Building Museum (401 F St NW, Washington) is celebrating Washington, DC neighborhoods through Ward Days at THE PLAYGROUND.
Residents from each ward are invited to enjoy complimentary admission to both THE PLAYGROUND and the National Building Museum during designated Friday afternoons throughout the summer. Visitors can explore the Museum's immersive summer installation, enjoy Museum exhibitions, and experience special guests and community partners representing neighborhoods from across the District. Ward Days in August are August 21 for Ward 7 and August 28 for Ward 8.
Ward Days take place Fridays from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Visitors simply check in at the Museum's Visitor Center. No advance registration or proof of residency is required.
Learn more: https://nbm.org/exhibitions/the-playground/
Jazzy Sundays in Anacostia is Back
Sundays just got a whole lot smoother. Jazzy Sundays in Anacostia is back for its second season! Join the Anacostia BID and DCity Smokehouse every Sunday from July 12 through August 30 for FREE live jazz, delicious BBQ, refreshing drinks, and great community vibes. Jazz sessions take on Sundays from 4:00pm t0 6:00pm at 1234 Marion Barry Ave SE.
Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, family, and friends, then sit back and enjoy live performances from returning favorites and new artists. The season wraps up Labor Day weekend with the return of the Jazz Hop Sound Sessions, bringing live music throughout the Anacostia Business Corridor. You can get free tickets to participate in the summer of jazz, here.
Lost in Translation Book Club
This book club aims to celebrate the labor translators provide in expanding the beauty of the literary world. Through contemporary works of fiction from authors in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China, with an honorable feature from the current poet laureate of the United States, Arthur Sze, we will explore the role of translation in enriching our understanding of the human condition. And read some great books!
The club will alternate between virtual and in person meetings on select Mondays, lasting for about one hour every month. Limited copies of each book will be available for checkout at West End Neighborhood library.
Please email westendlibrary@dc.gov for a link to the virtual meetings, or with any questions.
Summer Movie Pop-up Series
DPR is bringing outdoor movies, themed activities, and summer fun all across DC with pop-up movies across DC. Movie nights will happen across the District at multiple locations bringing free films and community fun directly to your neighborhood. All movies start at 7:00pm, with screening occurring all summer long until September 6. You can view a complete list of events, here, and sign up to receive cancellation alerts, here.
Interested in creating safer, poison-free DC communities? The DC Rat Rangers are tooling up to prevent rats. Crew members get free swag and grow our collective ability to address the root drivers behind rat populations. Learn how to get involved, here.
Real Time Pool & Spray Park Updates
Trying to beat the heat? Cool down at one of DPR’s pools or spray parks. For the 2026 season indoor pools and spray parks will be open daily, and outdoor pools on the weekends. Y0u can view real time updates on DPR’s website, here, to be aware of when pools are offline or at capacity.
The Return of Free Veggie Giveaways
It's officially FREE veggie giveaway season in Washington, DC. The Department of Parks and Recreation is bringing farm-fresh produce straight to the community, from rooftop harvests to garden-grown goods, this is your weekly chance to grab fresh, locally grown food -on us.
From now until November 25 (weather permitting) you can attend weekly veggie giveaways at DPR communal farms.
Early arrival and reusable bags are encouraged.
To attend giveaways participants must be registered. You can find more information and register, here.
Have a constituent service need related to the Health Committee or any of the other agencies in DC Government? Want Councilmember Henderson to come to your community event or meeting? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Constituent Services Director Ana Berrios-Vazquez during regular business hours (9:00am - 5:30pm) at 202-724-8105, or ABerriosVazquez@dccouncil.gov.
You can visit us online at christinahendersondc.com. Or stay connected by following Councilmember Christina Henderson on her socials.
Website: christinahendersondc.com
Twitter (X): @CMCHenderson
Instagram: @christinahendersondc
Facebook: @christinahendersondc
Bluesky: @cmchenderson.bsky.social