Families, students, PWCS staff, and volunteers met at Unity Reed High School on the first Saturday in August to kick off the start of the school year with the annual back-to-school community event.

This year, PWCS partnered with the Prince William County Community Foundation to co-host the grand celebration focused on community service and engagement. Families from Unity Reed High School and its feeder elementary and middle schools had the chance to meet school staff and Superintendent of Schools Dr. LaTanya D. McDade.

Thousands of guests enjoyed food from various vendors, music, and free games and activities. Dozens of informational tents were stationed with resources for families, including several PWCS departments, the Prince William County Sheriff’s Office, Prince William Water, Sentara, and AWS in Communities.

One major feature of the event was the backpack station, where volunteers distributed more than 3,000 free backpacks filled with school supplies to elementary, middle, and high school students. The C.H.O.W. Wagon, a local nonprofit organization, was also at the event and gave away free bags of groceries to guests.

There were a variety of fun activities for kids, including the Washington Capitals’ street hockey experience, a fire preparedness obstacle course provided by the Prince William County Fire Department, Prince William County Sheriff’s Department child ID card station, moon bounces, and jump rope stations.

The community event is a fun, back-to-school tradition that PWCS looks forward to hosting every year.