Splash 8.17.25

Dear Dryden Families,

The start of a new school year is just around the corner, and I couldn’t be more excited! I am truly looking forward to getting to know each of you and working together to make this a wonderful year for our students.

Below is a short video to introduce myself—not just as your principal, but also as a person. In it, I share a bit about my values, my approach to leading a school, and some fun details about my family (with photos included!). I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch, so we can start building our connection before the first day of school.

I can’t wait to welcome you and your children back to Dryden soon!

Warmly,

Jessica Martinsen

Our teachers are hard at work getting our classrooms and hallways ready to be filled with laughter and learning.

On Wednesday, August 13, thirty-two of our amazing 5th graders stepped up as Dryden's ambassadors, ready to roll out the red carpet for our brand-new students! With big smiles and lots of school spirit, they guided families through our halls, shared insider tips about life at Dryden, and sprinkled in plenty of friendly chatter along the way. The grand finale? Handing each of our new friends a colorful dolphin Pop-it keychain to take home as a little “welcome to the pod” souvenir. Our 5th grade crew hopes their warm greeting makes the first day of school feel a whole lot friendlier!

We had a fantastic turnout for the PTA Kindergarten Meet & Greet on Thursday, August 14! Our littlest Dryden Dolphins had a blast meeting new classmates and playing together on the playground. The PTA kindly gifted each kindergartener a copy of The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing, which Mrs. Martinsen, our new Dryden Principal, enjoyed reading aloud on the hill to her newest friends. Between the book, popsicles, and plenty of playground fun, it was the perfect way to kick off an exciting new school year!

Each year, Dryden students and staff take part in several required safety drills to help us be prepared for emergencies. Below is our schedule for this school year:

• Evacuation (Fire) Drills: August 28, 2025 • September 30, 2025 • October 10, 2025
  On October 10, 2025, firefighters from the Arlington Heights Fire Department will join us for the drill.

• Lockdown Drills: September 9, 2025 • April 7, 2026
  These drills will be conducted with officers from the Arlington Heights Police Department.

• Shelter-in-Place (Tornado) Drill: February 24, 2026

Please remember to bring all medications and completed paperwork directly to the health office. For safety reasons, a parent or guardian must drop off medications in person—students may not carry them in their backpacks. All medications, including over-the-counter items such as cough drops, Motrin, and similar products, must be in their original, unopened packaging at the time of drop-off.

These steps are part of the D25 Medication Management Procedures. If you have any questions, please reach out to our school nurse, Mrs. Rixon, at mrixon@sd25.org.

Families are welcome to drop off school supplies in classrooms during the Meet & Greet Ice Cream Social on August 20, or students may bring them on the first day of school, August 21.

If you pre-ordered a school supply kit through the PTA, it will be delivered directly to your child’s classroom before the Meet & Greet event.

Click here to view school supply lists for all grade levels.

Please help us reunite lost items with their owners by clearly labeling all of your child’s clothing, lunch boxes, and other personal belongings! Items found at school will be placed in the Lost and Found. Older students may ask their teacher for permission to check for missing belongings, while parents of younger students are welcome to stop by the office between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM to take a look. On the 30th of each month, any unclaimed items will be donated to a charitable organization. If an item has a name on it, our office staff will give you a call so it can make its way home before donation day. Thank you for helping us by labeling everything—big or small—so nothing stays “lost” for long!

Please click on the following links for more information:

• Where can I view the school lunch menu? Click Here
• How does my student order a school lunch? Click Here
• How do I pay for my child’s meals? Click Here
• How do I apply for free & reduced meals? Click Here

For further details on D25 Food & Nutrition Services, please click here.

Dryden staff will be wearing our staff shirts and ID badges—we’re here to help you find your way and make you feel at home! We’re excited to welcome you and look forward to getting to know you.

Event Schedule:
2:30 – 3:15 PM – Visit classrooms and meet your teachers
3:15 – 4:00 PM – Enjoy a sweet treat in the Commons, courtesy of our wonderful PTA!

To help keep our school clean and safe, we kindly ask that all food and drinks stay in the Commons. Please avoid bringing them into the hallways or classrooms.

Schedule for the Day

• 8:50 am - Arrival / Staff Supervision begins

• 9:05 am - Tardy Bell

• 11:30 am - 12:30 pm - Lunch / Recess for Kindergarten & 1st Grade

• 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm - Lunch / Recess for 2nd & 4th Grade

• 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm - Lunch / Recess for 3rd & 5th Grade

• 3:35 pm - Dismissal

*Please look for an email on Friday, August 15 detailing arrival, dismissal, carline, parking and lunch hour procedures.

Come meet Principal Jessica Martinsen, Assistant Principal Dr. Beth Glass, PTA representatives, and fellow Dryden families! This is a great opportunity to learn about school procedures, ask questions, and share your ideas for helping Dryden Elementary be the best it can be.

We’d love to know if you’re coming! Please click here to RSVP by noon on Wednesday, August 20!

A Special Evening for Parents

This evening is designed just for parents to learn more about the exciting learning experiences planned for the year ahead. Teachers will share important information about classroom expectations, curriculum highlights, and how we’ll support your child’s growth and success at Dryden.

Evening Schedule:
6:00 – 6:40 PM – Classroom Presentations (Grades 3–5)
6:25 – 7:05 PM – Visit with Specials Teachers & Support Staff
6:50 – 7:30 PM – Classroom Presentations (Grades K–2)

We look forward to partnering with you for a wonderful year!

The PTA Running Club is returning for fall! Expose your kids to the joys of running in a relaxed and FUN environment! Think games, obstacle courses, calisthenics and more. Each session is different and covers topics such as: stretching, hydration and proper form. Running Club is open to all grades. Please see details below:

Dates:

Tuesday, September 9

Tuesday, September 16

Tuesday, September 30

Tuesday, October 7

Time:

8:10am - 8:50am

Location:

The Dryden grounds

Questions? Contact Nickie Cecola at nvavrik@gmail.com.

Sign-up by Tuesday, September 2, through the following link: https://forms.gle/TzWyvovhsSPDzdAr6

Looking forward to seeing your kids soon!

Support a great cause through Dryden's Annual Fall Mum Sale!

Order by September 1st. Pick-up at Dryden on Sunday, September 21st 9:15-10:00am.

Order here: https://dryden2025-fall-mum-sale.cheddarup.com

Celebrate the first day/weekend of the school year by grabbing some Berry Yo! The Dryden Elementary PTA is thrilled to announce our upcoming fundraiser at Berry Yo frozen yogurt!

When: Thursday, August 21st – Sunday, August 24th

Simply visit Berry Yo anytime between August 21st and August 24th and when you make your purchase, be sure to mention that you are with Dryden Elementary. A portion of all sales from our dedicated days will be donated directly back to the Dryden PTA.

Picture Day — Tuesday, September 2, 2025!

Get ready for your big smile! We’re excited to announce this year’s photographer: Stuart‑Rodgers Photography from Evanston, IL. Picture day is a fun, memorable tradition — please remind students to wear something they feel confident in and come ready to smile.

What to expect: Individual photos and class photos.

Ordering photos this year will be a little different than years past. Photo ordering information and proofs will be sent home after picture day.

Remember: Smile big! Have fun! Be your awesome self!

PTA is seeking Room Representatives for each classroom. Room Reps connect classroom parents, plan & facilitate classroom parties, and help teachers with other needs throughout the year. The form to sign up, along with more information, will go out via email on Monday, August 18th at 7pm. Please contact Lisa Mazur, Room Rep Chair, at lisamazur620@gmail.com with any questions.

Purchase your 2025-2026 Dryden Yearbook by September 30th to receive a 10% discount! If you have questions or need help setting up your TreeRing Yearbook account, please email drydenelementaryyearbook@gmail.com.

Purchase Yearbooks Here: https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1014123635244163

Time to show your school spirit, Dryden Dolphins! Our Spirit Wear sale is open and runs ALL SEMESTER! Check out all of the new styles and ship directly to your house!

Shop here: Dryden PTA Spirit Wear Sale

Hey Dryden, have you signed up to receive our monthly newsletter? It's the best way to stay up-to-date on all of our events and includes lots of information and important details. We are using it as a primary resource for all things PTA. Click on the website to get signed up: www.DrydenPTA.org!

Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook & Instagram!

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