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Published August 6, 2025 at 3:30PM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt with G-Wiz, the Washington Wizards mascot, at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School, Aug. 23, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Washington Wizards will tip off the 2025-2026 school year at William Ramsay Elementary School next Friday (Aug. 15).

Even though school officially starts on Monday, Aug. 18, Washington Wizards rookies Tre Johnson, Will Riley, and Jamir Watkins are joining mascot G-Wiz and the Wizards Dancers in handing out free Wizards backpacks filled with school supplies, water bottles, and more. The event will be held at the school, located at 5700 Sanger Avenue, from 12:00 to 3:30 p.m.

The Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation is donating the Wizards-branded backpacks. Students can also get free haircuts from CapeTown DMV at the event, which also includes magicians, balloon artists, and a photo booth, according to ACPS.

The event is exclusively for William Ramsay Elementary School students and will be held outside the school, near the William Ramsay Recreation Center.

The Wizards will also host a similar event that day at Randle Highlands Elementary School in D.C. with players Bub Carrington and Cam Whitmore.

LAST YEAR: Washington Wizards forward Anthony Gill gives 200 backpacks to kids at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School







Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His reportage includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He has also covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.