Dryden Splash | October 26, 2025
October 26, 2025
Dear Dryden Families,
We’ve heard from several families that there are more veterans in their lives who they would like to invite to our Veterans Day Breakfast and Assembly to be honored. We are so pleased to hear this and would love to include them in this meaningful tradition! If you have additional veterans you’d like to invite, please click the orange button below to complete the RSVP form. You may also upload photos of your veteran to be shared in our celebration. Additionally, please let us know if your veteran would be willing to visit a classroom to briefly answer students’ questions and share about their service experience. The RSVP deadline has been extended to November 2!
Sincerely,
Jessica Martinsen
Dress for OUTSIDE Recess
Students go outside for recess unless the wind chill is below zero or there is precipitation. Please watch the weather forecast and make sure your child is dressed appropriately for playing outside. We ask that if it is 50 degrees or below, that students wear some type of sleeve for recess. When the weather is 32 degrees or below, please be sure to send your child with a coat. Snow pants, boots, gloves and hats are needed to play in the snow during recess. Without these items, students will need to remain on the blacktop on snowy days.
We recommend that you send your child with an extra bag to hold all their winter gear. Reusable bags seem to be a great option and many students are successful with getting all their gear out and back into the bag when recess is over. Please remember to send your child with shoes to change into if they wear their boots to school.
Please label your coats, hats, gloves, boots, and snow pants. Our lost and found is full of unclaimed items. Labeling items can help students find their missing winter gear.
We recommend that you send your child with an extra bag to hold all their winter gear. This helps students keep track of and store their winter gear. It's important that students bring their snow gear home each day so that items can be dried overnight. Also, please send your child with shoes to change into if they wear their boots to school.
Students are expected to wear whatever cold weather gear they have been sent to school with during grade level and lunch recess. Please be sure to share this information with your child. Thank you in advance for helping us make sure that everyone stays warm in these chillier months!
Winter Gear Needs
As the season changes and the cold weather quickly approaches, please know that we have a selection of winter gear (coats, hats, gloves, snow boot, snow pants) available for families who request support.
Please reach out to Dryden Social Workers Caroline Elsey or Dana Plous, via their confidential emails or voicemail for more information or to request assistance. Please reach out by December 14, 2024:
celsey@sd25.org dplous@sd25.org
847-506-6548
Halloween Celebration Information
Please click here for information on the following:
- Costume guidelines
- Going home for lunch
- Parade route
- 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.
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.
October
28 - Deadline to complete the Halloween Home/School Lunch and Party Participation Form for every student
31 - Halloween Parade & Class Parties
November
2 - PTA Fall Parent Social
10 - PTA Stock the Lounge
11 - Veterans Day Breakfast & Assembly
13 - 3rd & 4th Grade Activity Night, 7:00 - 8:00 pm
13 - November Birthday Books
14 - End of 1st Trimester
18 - Dryden 5th Grade Band Concert
20 - 5th Grade Musical Performance, 6:30 pm
21 - Report Cards emailed to parents
24 - 28 - Thanksgiving Break | No School
3rd-4th Grade Activity Night - 11/13!
Get ready for a night of fun! Our 3rd-4th Grade Activity Night is happening on Thursday, November 13, from 7:00–8:00 PM in the Dryden Gym.
It’s going to be an evening full of games, laughter, and excitement! Keep an eye out for an email to 3rd & 4th Grade families with a sign-up link on Tuesday, October 28!
It's time to Stock the Lounge for November!
Let's show our staff how much we appreciate them by stocking up the teacher's lounge with snacks and treats again! Stock the Lounge is on November 10th - please drop off items by November 9th! The list has been updated to include teachers' favorites.
After you sign up, please drop your labeled items off between Monday, November 3rd and Sunday, November 9th, to 602 E Lynden Lane. Feel free to leave items in the bin on the front porch.
Please sign up via signup genius here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0A48A9AE2DA3F94-59326893-dryden#/
Thank you in advance for helping us show the staff how thankful we are for all they do!
Honoring Our Heroes – Veterans Day Appreciation Breakfast
We are in need of volunteers to help with our Veterans Day Breakfast & Assembly! This event is dedicated to honoring the brave men and women who have served our country. The Veterans Day Breakfast will take place on Tuesday, November 11th, followed by an assembly to recognize the sacrifices and contributions of our Veterans. To make this event truly special, we need your help! We’re looking for volunteers to assist with a variety of tasks — decorating, setting up tables, assisting Veterans to their seats, serving food, and helping with clean-up. This is a wonderful opportunity to show our appreciation for those who have served!
📅 Volunteer Opportunities:
Monday, November 10th: 6:00 p.m. (Set-Up)
Tuesday, November 11th: 8:00–10:00 a.m. (Event Assistance)
👉 Volunteer Sign-Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4FADA82CA1FCC61-59578455-veterans
In addition to volunteers, we’re also seeking donations of pre-packaged breakfast pastries.
All donations should be dropped off on Monday, November 10th.
🥐 Pastry Donations: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4FADA82CA1FCC61-59597518-veterans
Thank you for helping us honor our Veterans — your support makes this special event possible! 🇺🇸
Congrats Dryden PTA!
Dryden PTA was recognized by the Northwest Cook Regional Council of PTAs this past Monday, October 20, 2025. Dryden PTA received two awards for our membership & growth, and one award for being “Stronger Together", an award that celebrates the efforts of our PTA to bring families together (for free!) at last year’s Family Dance. Thank you to all the Board Members, Volunteers & Dryden Families who contribute to the success of our PTA!
Polish-American Heritage Month
October commemorates the first Polish settlers as well as the leadership of General Kazimierz Pułaski and Tadeusz Kościuszko who fought in the American Revolution.
We also honor the contributions of Polish-Americans in the areas of arts, sciences, culture and more.
Italian-American Heritage Month
October is National Italian-American Heritage Month. This month was first recognized by the US Congress in October 1989 as a tribute to all Italian-Americans' achievements and contributions to our nation. It is a time to highlight the cultural impact of the Italian-American community.
Yom Kippur | Begins October 1
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
Columbus Day | October 13
Columbus Day is a federal holiday in the United States, which officially celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas. Columbus went ashore at Guanahaní, an island in the Bahamas, on October 12, 1492.
Indigenous People's Day | October 13
On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that continue to thrive today. It is a day for our nation to celebrate the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples and recognize the communities and cultures throughout our country.
A federal holiday celebrated on the second Monday in October.
Diwali | October 20
A Hindu festival of lights celebrated especially in India. The five-day festival celebrates the victory of light over darkness.
*Date changes year to year