October 9, 2020
Dear Washingtonians,
As planned, students at our DC Public Schools are heading back to the classroom in Term 2! The Chancellor and I announced this week that beginning Monday, November 9, DCPS will begin welcoming back our elementary students.
We are tremendously grateful for all the educators, families, and students working together to make distance learning work. But we also know that distance learning has its challenges and that it is not working for all students. That is why we are returning our youngest students and students with known opportunity gaps for in-person learning first.
We are in the process of upgrading HVAC filters at all 80 elementary schools, and our operations team will be working with schools over the next four weeks to ensure buildings are prepared to safely welcome staff and students. Schools will have thorough health and safety protocols and school leaders are being trained on our COVID-19 reporting and response protocol. In addition to sanitizing and quarantining, the reporting and response protocol involves communicating to the entire school community should a teacher, student, or staff member test positive.
You can learn more about Term 2 plans in Monday's situational update and at DCPSReopenStrong.com. In the meantime, please ensure your child is up to date on vaccinations.
We look forward to safely welcoming our students and families back to school!
Sincerely,
 This year, it is especially important for everyone six months and older to get a flu shot. Flu shots are safe and do not cause flu illness. To make it even more convenient to get a flu shot, DC Health has partnered with CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens to provide flu vaccines at the public testing sites.
Walgreens provides flu shots at the F Street testing site, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
CVS Pharmacy provides flu shots at three firehouse testing sites, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Engine 8, 1520 C Street, SE
- Engine 30, 50 49th Street, NE
- Engine 33, 101 Atlantic Street, SE
No registration is required, but bring your insurance card and a government issued ID. Individuals age 12 and up can get a flu shot at these sites. The CDC recommends everyone six months or older get a flu vaccine. It is recommended that you wear a t-shirt when going to get a flu shot.
Learn more at dchealth.dc.gov/flu
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 This week, Mayor Bowser launched the new #DCHOPE Small Business Resiliency Fund to provide $3 million in emergency operational funding for small and local businesses.
The Small Business Resiliency Fund is a part of the District’s continued efforts to meet the existing and future COVID-19-related needs of the small and local businesses community. The fund will provide much-needed capital to assist brick-and-mortar businesses with a $10,000 grant to support business model pivots, continuity plan and infrastructure development (e.g. e-commerce platform procurement), related COVID-19 marketing expenses, and the purchase of personal protective equipment and/or disinfection products for the business.
Learn more HERE.
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 The end of the year brings many holidays that are important to the DC community. Learn more about how to have fun and keep our community safe from COVID-19 during the fall celebrations of Halloween and Día de los Muertos in this guidance from DC Health.
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