Coming Up for Summer: Community Engagement and Calendar Reminders

July and August 2025

Learn about calendar reminders and upcoming summer community events for July and August. Find out when the ACPS Community Outreach team will be in your neighborhood!

ACPS Academic Calendar Reminders

Independence Day 

Fri., July 4, 2025: All ACPS schools and offices are closed in observance of Independence Day.

Samuel W. Tucker Elementary Step Up to Kindergarten

Fri., July 18, 2025

Samuel Tucker Elementary School (435 Ferdinand Day Dr.)

Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School will host a half-day of orientation for incoming kindergarten students. This introduction to the school experience before the official start of the school year helps incoming kindergarten students become familiar with their schools, classrooms and teachers, so that they can feel more comfortable on the first day of school.

Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School First Day of School

Mon., July 21, 2025

Welcome back to school! Stay informed about all the important dates for the 2025-26 school year by referring to the Modified Calendar for Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School.

Step Up to Kindergarten: All ACPS Elementary Schools Except Samuel W. Tucker

Fri., Aug. 15, 2025

ACPS will host a half-day of orientation for incoming kindergarten students. This introduction to the school experience before the official start of the school year helps incoming kindergarten students become familiar with their schools, classrooms and teachers, so that they can feel more comfortable on the first day of school.

ACPS First Day of School: All ACPS Schools Except Samuel W. Tucker

Mon., Aug. 18, 2025 

Welcome back to school! Stay informed about all the important dates for the 2025-26 school year by referring to the ACPS Traditional Calendar.

Labor Day Weekend

Fri., Aug. 29, 2025 - Mon., Sept. 1, 2025

There is no school for students. ACPS offices will also be closed on Mon., Sept. 1, 2025 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

 

Community Engagement Events

Alexandria Library 

The Alexandria Library hosts exciting events and activities for all ages! From storytime for kids to book clubs, workshops and community gatherings, there is always something happening at your local branch. Additionally, individuals looking to improve their English speaking skills can join our weekly Beginner and Intermediate English Conversation groups, held at various library locations, with no registration required. Check out the events calendar to find something that interests you.

Alexandria Parks and Recreation

Looking for fun and engaging activities around the city? Alexandria City Parks and Recreation offers a variety of programs and events for all ages, including sports, fitness classes, family-friendly festivals and much more. Visit their upcoming events calendar to explore what is happening near you.

 

ACPS 2025-26 School Year Kindergarten Registration Is Open

Kindergarten registration for the 2025-26 school year is now open. We encourage everyone to register their kindergarten students early in the process to assist schools to prepare for staffing kindergarten classrooms.

Families can use the registration web page to check that their child meets the age requirements and to learn about the required documents for enrollment in the upcoming school year. The attendance zone locator tool helps families find their school zone, which may change for the 2026-27 school year.

West-End Weekly Walk-in Student Registration Support

Every Wednesday through July 30, 2025, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ACPS Family and Community Engagement Center at Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School, 1701 N. Beauregard St.- Door 12, 6th Floor

Need help? Stop by or call 571-481-8654 for more information.

ALIVE! Food Hub Hours 

ALIVE! Food Hubs offer free food, personal items, cleaning supplies, school supplies and referrals to other services for the City of Alexandria residents once a month. Proof of residency may be requested to access certain resources. Food Hubs are closed Sundays, Mondays, Fridays and all federal holidays. During inclement weather, ALIVE! follows City of Alexandria weather policies.

Food Hub at 510 - F South Van Dorn St. 

Tue.. - Thu.. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Closed 2 - 3 p.m.) 

Sat., 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Food Hub at 2601 Mount Vernon Ave.

Tue.. - Thu.. noon - 6 p.m. (Closed 2 - 3 p.m.) 

Sat., 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

ALIVE! is a local not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing emergency and basic needs support to children, families and individuals living in poverty and with hunger in the City of Alexandria. ALIVE! will distribute bags of food to Alexandria City residents. No ID is required for the Pop- Up Food Distributions. Make sure to check out the ALIVE website for more information about the ALIVE Summer Pop-Up locations. .

Alexandria City Community Cookouts

The Alexandria Police Department is hosting 12 community cookouts throughout the city between April and July. The cookouts are sponsored by various nonprofits and city agencies. Some cookouts were canceled due to weather. Please stay tuned to the website for updates and rescheduled dates.

The final scheduled cookout in July 2025 will be held on Tue., July 1, 2025 at CASA Chirilagua (4100 Mt. Vernon Ave.) from 6-7:30 p.m.

Alexandria & USA Birthday Celebration -  275th City of Alexandria Birthday Celebration
Sat., July 12 from 6 - 10 p.m.
Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison St.)

The City of Alexandria celebrates its 276th birthday and the USA’s 249th birthday on Sat., July 12, 2025. Experience this one-of-a-kind Alexandria event with your family. The evening includes live music, food and drink vendors, and ends with the grand finale of fireworks on the Potomac River at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Friendship Firehouse Festival 

Sat., Aug. 2,, 2025 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Friendship Firehouse Museum (107 S. Alfred St.)

Join the Friendship Firehouse on Saturday for a fun, family-friendly event featuring fire safety activities, Alexandria Fire Department equipment, water play, music, community booths and more. Kids receive free toy fire helmets. Presented by the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association and the Office of Historic Alexandria.

National Night Out

Tue., Aug. 5, 2025 from 5 - 8 p.m.

Various locations throughout Alexandria City. 

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Nearly three dozen Alexandria communities will host activities. Exact times and events vary by neighborhood. More information will be shared on ACPS social media as the date approaches.

Block Bash for Middle and High Schoolers 

Sat., Aug. 16, 2025 from 4:30- 8:30 p.m. 

Old Town Pool (1609 Cameron St.) 

Oswald Durant Center (1605 Cameron St.) 

Block Bash is the ultimate end-of-summer party for teens! Celebrate the season one last time with music, games and good vibes before heading back to school. This free event includes food, a live DJ, prizes, an obstacle course, fun activities and more. Teens who RSVP using the form will be entered for a chance to win a $100 Nike gift card, but must be present to win. If you need transportation to the event, please contact Lucresha Murphy-Tate at lucresha.murphytate@alexandriava.gov. Do not miss this exciting sendoff to summer!

Back-to-School Day at CASA Chirilagua / Del Ray

Sat., Aug. 9, 2025 from 10 a.m. to noon.

CASA Chirilagua in Del Rey (4109 Mt. Vernon Ave.) 

Let us get ready for back to school! Join us for a fun-filled day of engaging, family-friendly activities designed to help kick off the new school year. Highlights include free backpack and school supply distribution, a clothing and uniform swap, bilingual read-alouds and access to valuable community resources. Families can also receive assistance with ACPS family apps, including ParentSquare, the Free and Reduced-Price Meal (FARM) application and PowerSchool. 

Additional activities such as face painting, arts and crafts and more will make this event both enjoyable and informative for all ages. This event is hosted in partnership with Mount Vernon Community School, George Washington Middle School, George Mason Elementary School, Charles Barrett Elementary School, Cora Kelly School for Math, Science & Technology, the Family & Community Engagement Center, and Casa Chirilagua. We look forward to seeing you there!