Dryden Splash | August 23, 2026

On Tuesday, August 17, our newest Dryden Dolphins and their families gathered for the PTA Kindergarten Meet and Greet! Kindergarten students had the opportunity to meet new classmates, play together, enjoy popsicles, and listen to a story read by Principal Martinsen. The PTA also gave each student a copy of The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing to help celebrate this exciting milestone. The fun even included a surprise visit from Echo, our Dryden School mascot! We are so excited to welcome our newest Dryden Dolphins to the pod and look forward to a wonderful year ahead!

On Wednesday, August 19, Dryden was buzzing with excitement as students and their families attended our annual Meet the Teacher and Ice Cream Social! Students had the opportunity to meet their new teachers and classmates, explore their classrooms, and drop off their school supplies before the first day of school. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces, happy reunions with friends, and new friendships beginning. Afterward, families gathered in the Commons for a sweet treat at the PTA’s Ice Cream Social. We are so grateful to our amazing PTA for helping us celebrate the start of a new school year. The excitement is building, and we cannot wait to welcome all of our Dolphins back to school!

On Thursday, August 20, Dryden School was filled with excitement as we officially kicked off the 2026–2027 school year! Students arrived with new backpacks, fresh school supplies, and plenty of smiles as they reunited with friends and met their new teachers. Our hallways came alive with joyful voices as our newest Kindergarten Dolphins joined the rest of the pod for their very first day of school. Classrooms quickly came to life with new routines, new friendships, and lots of learning already underway. We loved seeing the excitement of our students and families as everyone began a new year of learning and growing together. Welcome back, Dryden Dolphins! We are so excited for another wonderful year ahead and cannot wait to see all the amazing things our students will accomplish!

As we begin the new school year, we want to remind families of our expectations regarding cell phones and other electronic devices at school, including wearables. These expectations are designed to help students stay focused on learning, minimize distractions, and support a positive school environment.

• Middle school students are expected to turn off electronics and store devices in their middle school locker during the school day.

• Elementary students are expected to leave electronics in the “off” position and in their backpacks throughout the school day.

• A supervising teacher may grant permission for them to be used or if needed during an emergency.

• They may not be used in any manner that will cause disruption to the educational environment or will otherwise violate student conduct rules.

The District will provide access to students who do not own a mobile learning device in circumstances when its use is required for instructional purposes during the day. Electronic devices may be used during the school day if:

• Use of the device is provided in the student’s IEP, or

• Permission is received from the student’s teacher with administrator approval

We appreciate your partnership in helping our students be present, engaged, and ready to learn each day. Please take a moment to review the flyer to the right, along with the full policy in the Parent/Student Handbook.

This is an important reminder that the parking lot at Southminster Presbyterian Church is private property and is not available for use by Dryden or District families at any time during the school day, including arrival and dismissal. Parents are not permitted to enter or use the church parking lot.

We ask for your full cooperation in adhering to this restriction. Please plan ahead by utilizing street parking or arranging carpools. Respecting this boundary is essential to maintaining positive relationships with our neighbors and ensuring the safety of our students, staff, and community.

We are grateful to Southminster Presbyterian Church for their generosity in allowing use of their parking lot after 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and at any time on weekends.

Thank you for your attention to and cooperation with this matter.

Join us in the LMC for Hook a Book. $10 hooks a book for your student. They get to be the first one to check out our newest books. We will also place a special Hook a Book label inside with your dedication. Books then return to the library to be checked out by all. $10 cash or check.

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 27, 2026 • September 24, 2026 • October 21, 2026*
  On October 21, 2026, firefighters from the Arlington Heights Fire Department will join us for the drill.

• Lockdown Drills: September 17, 2026 • February 10, 2027
  These drills will be conducted with officers from the Arlington Heights Police Department.

• Shelter-in-Place (Tornado) Drill: February 25, 2027

2026-2027 School Meals Information

The first day of school is right around the corner, and our Food & Nutrition Services Department would like to welcome you all back as well as provide updated information for the 2026-2027 school year!

Please click HERE for the Food & Nutrition Services Welcome Back flyer, which includes information on how to access the menu, how to order lunch, meal pricing, and more!

Paying for school meals is EASY. Create a My Mealtime online account through the website or app using your student's name and ID number to view your student's meal account and/or deposit money. If you need assistance with locating your student's ID number, contact the Food & Nutrition Services office (847-398-4883 or FoodService@sd25.org) or your school office.

Eligibility for Free/Reduced Price Meals

The District participates in the USDA funded National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. Those families who have students that are directly certified for free or reduced meals have been notified via email. If you are not directly certified through participation in SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid, and feel you may qualify for free or reduced meals based upon your household income, please complete an application online. If you are unable to complete an application online, please visit our website for a paper application.

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.

A Special Evening for Parents and Guardians

Join us for a special evening designed just for parents and guardians! This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the exciting year ahead, meet your child's teachers, and hear about classroom routines, curriculum, and ways we'll work together to support your child's learning and growth.

Evening Schedule

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

Saturday, September 19 | 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Arlington Heights Historical Museum
110 W. Fremont St., Arlington Heights

Heritage Fest is looking for families to host booths celebrating their culture, traditions, and heritage. If your family has participated in a D25 Multicultural Fair, this could be a great opportunity to share your culture with the broader Arlington Heights community.

Sign up to host a booth

Heritage Fest is presented by the Arlington Heights Park District, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Arlington Heights Historical Museum, and Village of Arlington Heights.

Purchase your 2026-2027 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!

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. Sign-up will be sent at 7pm on August 25th.

Please see details below:

Dates:

Tuesday, September 15

Tuesday, September 22

Tuesday, September 29

Tuesday, October 6

Time:

8:10am - 8:50am

Location:

The Dryden grounds

Questions? Contact:

Colleen Quatman coldoh25@yahoo.com

Rebecca Buttrey rebeccahbuttrey@gmail.com

Danielle Sullivan dssullivan18@gmail.com

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A month to celebrate the rich heritage of Hispanic Americans and the many contributions they have made to American culture.

Celebrated Sept. 15 - Oct 15

This holiday celebrates Mexico’s declaration of independence from Spain in 1810.

Mexican Independence Day is a nationwide celebration. The country’s leaders were inspired by our own July 4 Independence Day festivities, so fireworks fill the skies at night and the day is filled with patriotic speeches, flag-waving, parades, live music, and feasts.

Yom Kippur is the Jewish holiest day, known as Day of Atonement. The 25-hour period is devoted to prayer, fasting, and repentance.

*Date changes year to year