August 4, 2023
Dear Washingtonians,
With the arrival of August, back-to-school season is officially underway. Our DCPS students have returned from their summer abroad programs. DC Health is reminding families to schedule your well child visits and get your child's required immunizations. And next week, sixth and ninth graders will participate in summer bridge programs at schools across DC.
But even as we prepare to return to school, there is still plenty of summer left and lots of fun events still happening across all eight wards, including:
There is lots to do, so continue to enjoy summer in DC. And when you are out at these events, join me in giving a special shout-out to our teams at the Department of Parks and Recreation for their creativity and commitment to making summer safe and fun.
Sincerely,
Mayor Bowser and DC Health remind parents and caregivers across the District to ensure their children and teens obtain the necessary immunizations required for school.
Students in every grade are required to be up to date on vaccinations. A summary of vaccines required to enter key grades in the District can be found HERE.
The best place for DC families to access required childhood immunizations is through their medical provider. However, DC Health and its partners have expanded access to vaccination services which include:
- School-Based Health Centers: Families with students ages 3 and older will be able to visit any school-based health center, regardless of where the student is enrolled, for a vaccination-only appointment.
- District Mobile Medical Units: Community providers are placing mobile units at schools, recreation centers, and other community locations.
- Pediatric Immunization Clinics: Daily vaccination opportunities conducted alongside community partners at schools throughout the District.
All pediatric immunization clinics are free, though insured families should bring their insurance cards to their immunization appointments.
For more information on pediatric immunizations and to find clinics near you, check out DC Health’s August calendar.
For more information and to register for a pediatric immunization clinic, visit pedsvax.dc.gov.
For more answers to questions about immunizations, families can also attend DC Health's Virtual School Health Townhall. The townhall will provide parents and caregivers an opportunity to ask questions to DC Health representatives and will include information on DC’s Immunization Attendance Policy, school health services telehealth program, school health suite staffing model, and the new Electronic Universal Health Certificate (UHC). Email shs.program@dc.gov for more information.
- When: Tuesday, August 8 @ 5:00 p.m.
- Where: Virtual
- Register to attend HERE
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 Residents can now submit their nominations for the 38th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards. Each year, the Mayor’s Arts Awards ceremony is held to honor local artists, art educators, nonprofit organizations, creative and fashion industries, and patrons of the arts and humanities. This year’s theme, Born Bold, embodies the spirit of empowerment, resilience, innovation, and fearlessness that defines the city’s rich artistic heritage and culture.
To submit your nomination for the Mayor’s Arts Awards, visit dcmayorsartsawards.com.
Nominations can be submitted now through Thursday, August 17 at 5:00 p.m.
Following the call for nominations, the public will be able to cast their votes for your favorite DC creative starting on Monday, August 28.
The winners will be announced at the Mayor’s Arts Awards ceremony, which is free and open to the public, on Thursday, September 28.
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 Residents who have debris left by last Saturday's storm, or who may have debris in the future as the District heads into hurricane season, should follow these tips to get it cleared.
You should:
- Contact 311 to report downed trees in the public space, and stack limbs found in public space in a tree box space/area for the DC government to collect.
- Cut the branches and limbs that have fallen onto your private property into bundles no more than 4 inches thick and 6 feet long and do one of the following:
- Place them in your trash can for your regular trash collection.
- Contact 311 to schedule a yard waste collection.
- Bring them to the Ft. Totten Transfer Station (4900 John McCormack Road NE) from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday- Friday, and 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.
- Call a private hauler for removal.
You shouldn’t:
- Stack limbs in the tree box space/area so that they overflow onto the street or sidewalk
- Bring tree stumps or limbs longer than 6 feet to the Ft. Totten Transfer Station
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