August 30, 2024
Dear Washingtonians,
I hope that all of our students and families had a fantastic first week of school! On Monday, I was at Miner Elementary School as we kicked off the first day at DC Public Schools. We unveiled Miner’s new Early Childhood Education Center. Later in the week, on the first day of pre-K, our team unveiled the beautiful new Garfield Elementary in Ward 8, which recently underwent a $60 million modernization.
Garfield and Miner are the latest additions to a growing portfolio of sites where we are co-locating child care for children from zero to age three alongside our pre-K and elementary schools. I’m proud to be the Mayor of a city with free pre-K. And we don’t just offer free pre-K; we offer free high-quality pre-K. Just like in our K-12 classrooms, our pre-K educators are world-class educators. And just as I'm proud to be the Mayor of a city with free pre-K, I'm proud to the be the Mayor of a city where the best of the best are teaching and leading in our classrooms.
 Thank you to everyone who worked to make the first week of school a success:
- Teachers, staff, and administrators for welcoming students back with smiles, hugs, and high fives
- The teams and bus drivers at OSSE and WMATA for getting our kids to and from school safely
- Our crossing guards for helping our kids navigate DC streets safely
- The Department of General Services and all our facilities teams for modernizing and maintaining our buildings and ensuring students can thrive in world-class schools
And of course, thank you to the 98,000+ students and their families for making us DC Proud. Let's make it a great school year.
Remember to mark your calendars for the upcoming Afterschool in the City event on Saturday, September 7 and the DCPS Back to School Block Party on Saturday, September 14.
Sincerely,
  We mourn the loss of Investigator Wayne David who died while serving in the line of duty. Read Mayor Bowser's full statement on the passing of Investigator David.
Make the most of the last days of summer at DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) outdoor pools! Select pools are open through Labor Day, so you have a few more days to soak up the sun and splash around. Don’t miss out!
- Dates and Times: Select pools open through Monday, September 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Locations: Visit dpr.dc.gov/outdoorpools to find open pools
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of DC JazzFest! This year's festival promises to be the biggest and best yet, featuring an extraordinary lineup of rising stars and world-renowned artists who will fill the city with the vibrant sounds of jazz. With performances at iconic venues across DC, this year’s festival is set to deliver an unforgettable experience for music lovers of all ages.
- When: Now through Sunday, September 1 @ 12:00 p.m.
- Where: The Wharf (see a map of locations)
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More information: A schedule of events and tickets can be found at dcjazzfest.org
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The DC Public Schools' Back to School Block Party is a celebration to welcome students, families, educators, and community members to the new school year. The event will include free food and fun activities for all ages including games, face painting, and student performances!
Get ready to dance, celebrate, and embrace the rich diversity of DC's Latino community! Join us for the 3rd annual Afro Latino Fest at Franklin Park. Enjoy vibrant cultural performances, community connections, and live music. See you there!
- When: Saturday, August 31 @ 11:00 a.m.
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Where: Franklin Park, 1332 I Street NW
- RSVP: Register here.
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