Dryden Splash | October 18, 2026

Our first PTA Chess Club meeting took place today, and our young chess players were ready to make their moves! Whether learning the basics with No Stress Chess or putting their skills to the test with a traditional game, students enjoyed a fun opportunity to practice strategy, problem-solving, and sportsmanship with their classmates. We are so excited to have Chess Club back at Dryden! Take a peek at our photos to see our little chess masters in action!

Veterans Day is a truly special tradition at Dryden as we come together to honor and thank the veterans in our community who have served our country. Our annual Veterans Day Breakfast and Assembly gives our Dolphins an opportunity to show their appreciation and learn about the service and sacrifices of the brave men and women in our armed forces. Families are welcome to recognize veterans who can join us in person as well as those who will be honored in spirit. If you would like to invite a veteran to Dryden for breakfast and our assembly on Wednesday, November 11, please click the link below to RSVP. We look forward to celebrating this meaningful tradition together.

RSVP by 11:00 pm on Monday, October 19, 2026!

Click here to read more and to RSVP

Please click here for information on the following:

• Costume guidelines
• Going home for lunch - Time frame is updated for this year!
• Parade route - Updated for this year!
• Classroom parties
• And more!

We look forward to a safe and fun parade and celebration for our students!

Click the orange button above to complete the Halloween Home/School Lunch and Party Participation Form for each student so we know your family's plan for Halloween and can plan appropriately.

The playground, blacktop, and fields are closed to families and the public during school hours (8:50 a.m.—3:35 p.m). At 4:00 p.m., our after-school CAP program utilizes the playground and blacktop area. As a result, other students and community members should not use the school's outdoor play areas until CAP is finished using them at 5:00 p.m. Families are welcome to use smaller playground that is just south of the school parking lot on Dryden Place during this time.

Cough drops are not allowed at school. They can be kept in the health office for your student with the following three steps!

• Cough drops need to be dropped off by a parent, they cannot be sent in a student's backpack

• Cough drops need to be in an unopened package, not just individually wrapped drops

• The district medication authorization form completed by parent and doctor, not a doctors note

If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Rixon, at mrixon@sd25.org

Dryden’s Lost and Found is overflowing with hoodies, sweaters, water bottles, lunch bags, and so much more! You might be surprised by what your child has left behind. Remember, children often don’t realize they are missing something, so it is well worth taking a look yourself! Please contact the Dryden School office to make arrangements to come in and search for any missing items.

As a reminder, unclaimed items are donated to a local charity on the last day of each month. Our next donation date is Saturday, October 31, 2026. Any items with a student’s name written in or on them will be returned to that student before the remaining items are donated.

Finally, please take a moment to label your child’s clothing and belongings with their first and last name. This simple step makes it much easier for us to return lost items to their owners and helps prevent perfectly good belongings from ending up in the donation pile. Thank you for helping us keep our Lost and Found manageable and getting those missing items back where they belong!

Here is a photo of some of the many items currently in our Lost and Found.

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.

We are preparing for and looking forward to meeting with you during Parent Teacher Conferences! Conferences will take place on Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 8:20 am to 7:40 pm and Friday, October 23, 2026, from 8:20 am to 11:40 am.

If you did not already sign up for a conference time, please contact your child's teacher AND the Dryden School office at 847-398-4280 to schedule one.

This Year's Theme: "What My Culture Means to Me"

Culture is everything that shapes who we are: traditions, food, language, family, community, and the values we carry. This theme invites students to reflect on the people, places, and traditions that have shaped their lives, and share that through art.

Students might explore:

A family tradition or piece of heritage

Rediscovering part of their culture

How other cultures influence their own

How culture shapes their school, neighborhood, or community

Submission Categories:

Dance Choreography

Film Production

Literature

Music Composition

Photography

Visual Arts

How to Enter:

Pick a category and create your entry.

Need ideas & entry rules? Click here for more info: Crafting an Entry guide.

Please complete the Student Entry Form and submit it with your entry: Student Entry Form (PDF)

Deadline for Entries: Friday, November 6, 2026

Questions? Contact Reflection's Chair- Erin Felten: erincfelten@gmail.com

We can't wait to see how our students reflect on what culture means to them!

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