The Dryden Red and Black
December 1, 2025
Lapeer EdTech Student of the Month
Congratulations to #proudcardinal senior Kaeleigh Gourieux! A student in the Digital Media Arts program, she was named Lapeer EdTech's Student of the Month! We're so proud of you!
Join our #proudcardinal family!
We’re Hiring!
Dryden Community Schools is looking for dedicated individuals to join our team!
We have openings for:
- Special Education Paraprofessional
- Part-Time Cook
- Crossing Guard
If you’re passionate about supporting students and making a difference in our schools, we’d love to hear from you!
Call (810) 796-2201, (810)796-2266, or apply online below.
Project Graduation Meat Raffle
🎉 Support Project Graduation and enter to win delicious prizes in our Meat Raffle sponsored by The Country Market! 🥩🍗🥓
For just $5 per ticket, you could win:
🥇 1st Prize ($475 Value): A huge variety of steaks, chicken, pork, and more to fill your freezer!
🥈 2nd Prize ($200 Value): Ground chuck, sirloins, sausage, whole chickens, ribs & more.
🥉 3rd Prize ($85 Value): Ground chuck, hotdogs, pork steaks, bacon, and more.
📅 Tickets will be drawn on December 19th – just in time for the holidays!
Every ticket purchased helps support our graduating seniors.
👉 To purchase tickets or for more info, contact Ashley at agammon@drydenschools.org.
Thank you for supporting Project Graduation and our students’ futures! ❤️
Junior High Boys Basketball
Dryden Elementary Boys Basketball
Calling all future Cardinals!
Do you love basketball? Want to play with your friends and improve your game?
Join Dryden Elementary Boys’ Basketball — Grades 3–6!
Space is limited — register today!
Email: coachdelcampo@aol.com
Senior Seminar Speakers
Four County Community Foundation
Lapeer County Community Foundation
by Mallory Barker
Jennifer Phillips and Maria Brown, members of the LCCF and 4CCF, came to our school on Thursday and spoke to our class. They spoke to our class about several different things regarding the scholarships each foundation offers. They provided us with helpful information and mentioned what ones we could be eligible for.
The first thing I will be discussing is the scholarships for college kids. They shared that most of the scholarship money will end up going to kids in college rather than high school graduates. I think that this is a lovely thing to do, considering college students don’t have many opportunities to get scholarships while they are attending college. College is expensive, so it is good to have that support throughout college, not just your freshman year.
The next thing I will be talking about is how there are many scholarships, but not everyone is eligible for them. There could be career-specific scholarships that only people who are going into the medical field can earn. I think this gives kids a great chance at earning scholarships because that narrows down the competition.
The last thing that I will be discussing is how both Jennifer and Maria gave us essay tips. They told us to make our writing stand out. They sit there and read many essays for some applications, and the ones that stick out to them will go up higher on the list. They also said to use emotion because if we get that emotion out of someone, they will likely think about and remember your essay.
One thing that the speakers said that stuck out to me was, there are some donors who picked their scholarship money to go to only Dryden and Almont students. This helps narrow down your competition and opens up your opportunities to earn more money. Lapeer is a big county, and it is going to be hard competing against bigger schools because they will have more students that are applying for these scholarships. That is why I love the small-town opportunity some of these scholarships present.
Overall, I found that Jennifer and Maria’s visit was very beneficial. They shared tips about essay writing with us, as well as what qualifications you have to have to qualify for certain scholarships. They also shared that there are great opportunities for college kids to earn money through both of their foundations. They made a point to talk about the Dryden-specific scholarships, too. If I could ask them one final question, it would be: How long does it take to review all of the applications?
Bond Projects Update
Stay updated on our progress with funds from the bond passed in May 2023 by using this checklist! We appreciate your continued support of our students, our schools, and our community.
Dryden Athletic Boosters
Dryden Athletic Booster Meetings
December 17
<---- Winter Concessions Sign Up
We need your help!
Banner Advertisements
Lapeer Rec Center Winter Highlights
Yearbook
Who's Hungry?
Substitute Teachers Needed!
Joke of the Week
by Claire Wright
Where do little trees go to become Christmas trees?
Elementree school!
Class of 2026
Senior Parent Yearbook Ads
Attention #proudcardinal Class of 2026 Parents:
If you're looking for a great way to honor your 2026 graduate, consider purchasing a Recognition Ad in this year's yearbook. A 1/4 page ad costs $80. There are several formats from which to choose. Here are some examples from last year's yearbook. A limited number of ads are available and are sold on a "first come - first served" basis. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Mrs. Palmerini at bpalmerini@drydenschools.org.
Dryden Basketball Dueling Pianos Fundraiser
Color Me Green Recycling Club
Riddle of the Week
Last week's riddle:
I turn once—what is out will not get in.
I turn again—what is in will not get out.
What am I?
A key!
No one submitted the correct answer.
This week's riddle:
I have two legs, but they only touch the ground while I'm at rest. What am I?
Submit your answer below for a shoutout next week!
Fundraising Information
Athletics
Junior High Girls Basketball
by Claire Wright
Student-Athlete Post-Season Honors
Sideline Report
From Mr. Tresnak, Athletic Director
At Dryden, we believe athletics are an extension of the classroom and an important part of the educational experience. Through sports, our students learn teamwork, responsibility, resilience, sportsmanship, and the value of hard work—skills that serve them well beyond high school. Our goal is to support student-athletes as they grow not only as competitors, but as people who take pride in themselves, their school, and their community. We appreciate the partnership of families in reinforcing these values and helping create a positive, encouraging environment for all Cardinals.
Strong communication between parents and coaches plays a key role in a successful athletic experience. Coaches commit to sharing expectations, schedules, team requirements, and procedures with families. In turn, we ask parents to communicate concerns directly with coaches, provide advance notice of conflicts, and model the sportsmanship we expect from our student-athletes. While topics like playing time and game strategy are the responsibility of the coaching staff, we welcome conversations about your child’s well-being, development, and academic balance. When questions arise, we encourage following the 24-hour rule and setting up a meeting rather than discussing concerns immediately after a contest. Together, we can ensure that Dryden athletics remains a source of pride, growth, and opportunity for every student.
Upcoming Events
Monday, December 1
2:30 PM–3:30 PM – Boys FCA Meeting (Library)
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5:30 PM–8:00 PM – JH Girls Basketball at Brown City (Bus departs 4:00 PM)
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5:30 PM–8:30 PM – JV/V Boys Basketball vs Memphis
Tuesday, December 2
- 7:10 AM - 7:25 AM - Weekly Encouragement (Library)
2:30 PM–4:00 PM – Creative Writing Club (Room 226)
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2:30 PM–3:30 PM – Girls FCA Meeting (Library)
Wednesday, December 3
- All Day: Wear it Wednesday (HS) - Detroit Pistons Day
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2:30 PM–3:30 PM – Staff Meeting (Library)
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6:00 PM–8:00 PM – JH Girls Basketball at Memphis (Bus departs 4:30 PM)
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6:30 PM–7:30 PM – Weight Room Training/Workouts
Thursday, December 4
2:30 PM–3:30 PM – The Theater Kids Club (Band Room)
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6:30 PM–7:30 PM – Weight Room Training/Workouts
Friday, December 5
6:00 PM–8:00 PM – JV/V Boys Basketball vs Almont
December 8
January 12
All meetings begin at 7:00 p.m., will be held in the Dryden High School Library, and are open to the public.
Mark Your Calendars!
Check out the 2025-2026 Dryden Community Schools District Calendar here!
The Team
Faculty Advisors:
Ms. Sheryl Czerwinski & Mrs. Breanne Palmerini
Editors:
Caila Fitchett & Cara Prusakiewicz
Reporters:
Logan Romain & Claire Wright
Email: Cardinal@drydenschools.org
Website: https://www.drydenschools.org/
Location: Dryden High School, Rochester Road, Dryden, MI, USA
Phone: (810) 796-2266
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drydencommunityschools