Dryden Splash | March 1, 2026 | Smore Newsletters

Celebrating Our 5th Graders – Traditions That Make Dryden Shine!

Dear Dryden Families,

As our 5th graders begin the final stretch of their time at Dryden, we’re leaning into one of our favorite traditions; celebrating them in fun, meaningful ways that honor their years here and help them make a few more unforgettable memories before they head off to middle school.

On Thursday night, our incredible PTA hosted 5th Grade Volleyball Night, and what a fantastic evening it was! The gym was full of laughter, encouragement, and just the right amount of friendly competition.

One of the most special parts of the night was watching students step outside their comfort zones. For many, volleyball was something new and our supportive parents were right there helping teach the basics and cheer them on. It was heartwarming to see students try something unfamiliar and be met with encouragement from peers who were more experienced. That spirit of support, teamwork, and kindness is so very Dryden.

This event is just one of the many celebrations our PTA has thoughtfully planned to honor our outgoing 5th graders. These experiences aren’t just fun evenings on the calendar. They are memory-makers. They give our students opportunities to connect, grow, and feel celebrated as they close out their elementary school chapter.

Providing experiences like this is one of the many ways our PTA helps make Dryden the special place that it is. Their dedication to our students and staff creates moments that truly matter.

Be sure to scroll below to see our volleyball stars in action. We couldn’t be more proud of them!

Warmly,

Jessica Martinsen

To participate in this survey as a parent/guardian, click the following link:

CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE

The deadline is coming up so please take this opportunity to tell everyone how much you love your school!

🚨 Please note: A parent supplement report will only be generated if at least 20 percent of a school’s parents complete the survey. Parent data will not be included on the State Report Card.

Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.

Dental Forms Required for Current Kindergarten and 2nd Grade Students

If your student is in kindergarten or second grade please remember to turn in their dental form.

The compliance date for this regulation is May 15, 2026. However, you may submit the form at any time. You should make your dental appointments early in the school year. Dental offices will be very busy in the spring as the compliance deadline approaches. We will accept dental exams that have been completed after November 15, 2024.

Completed forms can be turned in via email (scan or picture) to mrixon@sd25.org, in your students backpack, or by fax (847-398-4280).

Kindergarten & New Student Pre-Registration NOW Open!

Pre-registration for kindergarten and students in grades 1 - 5 who will be new to Dryden is now open. Information and step-by-step registration guidance will be available on the district website at www.sd25.org/Registration on that date.

If you know of someone with a kindergarten-aged child or new family to the neighborhood, please encourage them to pre-register or give us a call at 847-398-4280. Thank you for helping us to get the word out!

Please note: Registration for current Dryden students will begin in the spring. You will receive an email in late spring with a registration link. There is nothing you need to do at this time.

Food & Nutrition Services

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 Student Absence Form

Click here to report your child's school absence.

March

March 2: Stock the Lounge

March 5: Jersey Spirit Day

March 6: 1st Grade Musical

March 8: Windy City Bulls Game

March 12: March Birthday Books

March 12: Portillo's Dine Out

March 12-13: 5th Grade Basketball Shootout

March 20: Dress as a Tacky Tourist Spirit Day (wear Hawaiian shirts, sunglasses, etc.)

March 23-27: Spring Break

April

April 8: Wear Your Favorite Hat Spirit Day

April 9: April Birthday Books

April 10: 2nd Grade Musical

April 16: Kindergarten Info Night

April 20-24: Spirit Wear Upcycle

April 22: Wear Green and Blue for Earth Day

April 23: PTA Trivia Night

April 29: Walk to School Day

April 30: Multicultural Night

Link to D25 2025- 2026 Year-At-A-Glance Calendar

5th Grade Basketball Shootout FUNdraiser

Every year the 5th grade students at Dryden participate in an annual Basketball Shootout FUNdraiser. The purpose of the fundraiser is to raise money for the 5th grade class to leave their mark and buy a gift for the school. The Class of 2026 Legacy is still to be determined based on the amount of donations raised.

Students will participate in the shootout during their PE class on Thursday, March 12th (Ms. Feck & Mr. Holston) and Friday, March 13th (Mrs. Schindler & Mrs. Sainer).

This is always a fun and exciting event for the 5th graders as it allows them to give back to the school in a lasting and memorable way. Sponsorship/donations are optional, but greatly appreciated. The donation page (CheddarUp) will be open through Sunday, March 15th should someone decide to sponsor a 5th grader on the number of baskets. All students have the opportunity to participate. Please encourage your child(ren) to collect donations only from people they know. For their safety, no door-to-door solicitation, please.

Please use the following link to make your donation:

Class of 2026 5th Grade Basketball Shootout

🎵 Additional Volunteers Needed! The 1st Grade Musical Is Almost Here! 🎶🍌

Get ready to go bananas for our amazing 1st graders! They’ve been working a-peel-ingly hard, and we can’t wait to share their performance with you. It’s sure to be a bunch of fun!

Parent & Family Performance: Friday, March 6th at 2:45 PM

🌟 Calling All Volunteers! 🌟

We need your help to make the 1st Grade Musical bananas-tastic! Volunteers are needed to assist during rehearsals and on the day of the performance. Your help will help everything run smoothly—and keep things from getting slippery 😉

👉 Click here to view available dates and times to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4FADA82CA1FCC61-62335252-1stgrade

Questions? Contact us at drydenptachildrensprograms@gmail.com

Capture the Memories: Dryden Elementary Yearbooks!

Get your orders in today for the Dryden Elementary Yearbook! Don't miss out on capturing this year’s unique moments, friendships, and milestones. Each book is a time capsule your student will treasure for years to come.

Custom Pages Due April 16th: Make It Personal

One of the best features of our TreeRing yearbook is the ability to customize two pages for FREE. These pages are printed only in your student’s copy of the book.

Add Your Own Photos: Upload shots from your computer, Facebook, Instagram, or Google Drive.
Answer Memory Questions: Help your child record their favorite memories from the year.
Need More Space? You can add additional sets of 2 pages for just $1.99.

How to Order

To purchase and begin customizing your yearbook, follow these simple steps:

Visit: www.treering.com/validate
Enter Passcode: 1014123635244163
Regular Price: $15.10 (plus sales tax, if applicable)

Join Dryden PTA

Sync the Dryden PTA Calendar to your phone!

Shop Dryden Spirit Wear

Purchase Dryden Yearbooks

Subscribe to the Dryden PTA Newsletter

Connect with Dryden PTA on Facebook & Instagram!

GREEK-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

Greek-American Heritage month, also known as Hellenic Heritage Month, is observed in March of each year. March 25 is celebrated as Greece’s National Independence Day.

This is a time to honor Greek heritage, including Greek history, culture, accomplishments, and experiences. With a vast cultural legacy and history, it is a time to highlight Greek-American contributions to American history.

IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

Irish–American Heritage Month is celebrated by proclamation of the President and Congress in the United States to honor the achievements and contributions of Irish immigrants and their descendants living in the United States. It was first celebrated in 1991 and coincides with the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in March.

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

March is Women's History Month – commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.

HOLI- MARCH 4

Holi marks the closing of the winter season and marks the onset of Spring. Throwing of colors to each other is the signature of this festival. It is also known as the Festival of Colors, the Festival of Spring, and the Festival of Love. It is an ancient Hindu festival and one of the most popular in Hinduism.

*Date changes year to year

EID-AL-FITR- MARCH 20

The Eid al-Fitr holiday is celebrated worldwide and marks the end of the month-long, dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan. It can be translated as "the feast of fast-breaking" and it is common to visit family and friends and exchange gifts.

*Date is tentative based on sighting of the moon.

NOWRUZ- MARCH 20

The word Nowruz translates to “new day”. It starts at the precise moment that winter ends and spring begins

Nowruz marks a new year for millions of people across the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Balkans, particularly in countries like Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan and more.

*Date changes year to year.*