Dryden Community Schools Newsletter

Dear Cardinal Families,

I hope your summer has been filled with sunshine, laughter, and happy memories. We are excited to welcome you to the start of a new school year.

As I was out and about this summer, I noticed framed prints, plaques, coffee mugs, chalkboards, dishware, wall decals, and even shower curtains titled "Family Rules" or "In This Family, We..." that listed attitude and behavior expectations at almost every grocery, home goods, department, or hardware store I visited. They were sometimes funny, sometimes religious, sometimes sarcastic, but mainly heartfelt and sincere.

Our Dryden Schools community is, above all else, a family. I wondered what would be written on our Family Rules plaque. Here are my ideas.

In our Dryden family...

• We dream big. We set goals for ourselves and work to achieve them.
• We are grateful. Life isn't always easy, perfect, or exactly as we anticipate, but it is precious. We appreciate every day we are given.
• We respect one another. We treat each other the way we would like to be treated and always assume the best intentions. We tell the truth and listen to everyone's ideas without judgment.
• We make mistakes. No one is perfect. When we slip, we get up and keep going.
• We don't give up. We show persistence in life and school, and we continue trying even when it's not easy.

What would you add to our Dryden Family rules? Feel free to share your additions with us!

We can't wait to see you later this month. The first day of school is Monday, August 22. There will be no school on August 26, September 2, or September 5. The school year calendar can be found at the bottom of this newsletter. Please reach out to us if we can help you or your family in any way. See you soon!

Yours in Education,

Mary Finnigan

Superintendent

Our domain name has changed from dryden.k12.mi.us to drydenschools.org. When students log in to their school accounts, they will need to use the new domain name.

The School of Choice window is now open through August 25, 2022. Applications MUST be submitted by August 25 to either the High School or Elementary School secretaries.

School of Choice applications can be found on our website at the link below. Please feel free to contact Lori Hall at lhall@drydenschools.org or 810-448-4090 for more information.

All incoming Begindergarten, Kindergarten, and 7th Grade Students must be up-to-date on their immunizations by this fall. Lapeer County Health Department has the Tdap., Meningitis, and Chickenpox (varicella) vaccines along with all CDC and ACIP recommended vaccines available for children needing them to meet school requirements.

Call 810-667-0448 to see if your child’s immunizations are up-to-date before the new school year this fall. If you choose to get a waiver, you must make an appointment with the Lapeer County Health Department to receive one.

Please mail, bring to the high school office, or fax to 810-796-3698, a copy of your child’s updated immunization record on or before August 22, 2022. If you have any further questions, please contact Lori Hall at 810-448-4090 or at lhall@drydenschools.org

Dear Cardinal Families,

We are excitedly preparing to welcome you back to school on August 22, the first day of school and a full day for students. The janitorial staff has been busy all summer doing a deep clean of the building, and the gym floor has been painted and refinished. We can't wait for you to see it!

Cardinal Day

Please join us for Cardinal Day on Tuesday, August 16 from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Students can pick up their schedules, greet their teachers, and get their school photos taken. Chromebooks can be signed out for the school year with the opportunity to purchase device insurance. The 2021-2022 school year’s yearbook will be available for pickup, and previous year’s yearbooks will be sold for $20 each.

Representatives from each of Dryden Early College Academy’s partner schools will attend Cardinal Day to speak to students about post-secondary education opportunities. Families are encouraged to visit with ambassadors from Baker College, Ferris State University, Macomb Community College, Mott Community College, Oakland University, and the University of Michigan Flint.

Grondin’s Hair Center, which has its roots in a Dryden grain elevator, is returning home to offer giveaways, a meet the stylist opportunity, and the chance to win a free haircut at the Grondin’s Hair Center on N. Van Dyke Road in Almont. Also, every Dryden Junior/Senior High School student will receive a free Dryden Cardinals t-shirt courtesy of a grant from the Four County Community Foundation.

Incoming 7th grade students must be up-to-date on their immunizations by this fall. Families may wish to visit the SnoCone Social at Dryden Elementary School on August 17 to receive updated vaccines.

New and Returning Staff

You'll see some new and some returning faces among our staff this year. Mr. Kory Lohrmann has rejoined our staff as the Director of Early College Programs as well as a Government and Economics Teacher. Mr. John Klee is our K-12 Music and Band Director, and you'll find Mrs. Ashley Gammon in the library. Returning as an English and History teacher is Mr. Brian Tresnak. Please welcome them (back) to our family!

As always, please let us know if you have any questions or if we can help in any way.

Warmly,

Mary Finnigan

Dryden Junior/Senior High School Principal

At this time, we are offering the choice of fully in-person or fully online learning for students in grades 7-12 at Dryden Junior/Senior High School. Families interested in the fully online Dryden Virtual Academy should contact the office at (810)796-2266.

Students enrolled in the Dryden Early College Academy have the opportunity to continue their education at one of six post-secondary institutions: Baker College, Ferris State University, Oakland University, Macomb Community College, Mott Community College, or the University of Michigan-Flint.

Dear Cardinal Families,

Welcome back! We missed you and hope you had a nice break. We are excited for you to see what we have been working on this summer. There is fresh paint in the entryway, main hallway, and cafeteria. New American flags and cardinals have been installed in both the gym and cafeteria. The art room has a new dedicated space, and the gym floors were refinished. Several new doors were installed inside the building, and gates were installed at the south end parking lot to enhance student safety. We still have some things to go on our list, but we think you will like what you see!

Our SnoCone Social is Wednesday, August 17 from 4:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. We invite you to come in and tour the building, meet your child’s teacher, and see your child’s classroom and locker. School pictures will be taken that evening with retakes sometime in October. We will have back-to-school folders and Chromebooks ready for pick up. You may also acquire device insurance. The Lapeer County Health Department will be hosting a childhood immunization clinic, and new students and incoming Kindergartners can get their hearing and vision screened. Parents may also apply for free and reduced lunch, sign up for the PTA, and get information about other groups and organizations.

We are looking forward to a GREAT year! We will continue to build on the already amazing things we have going on and move our school to the next level. We will focus on creating and maintaining a positive school culture, instilling and nurturing a growth mindset for all, and making data-driven decisions. If you have any questions, or if we can help in any way, please reach out to us at (810)796-2201.

Sincerely,

Stacey Abromaitis

Principal

Dryden Elementary

At this time, we are offering in-person learning only for students in grades K-6 at Dryden Elementary School.

We are excited to have new staff joining us! Please extend a warm welcome to Mr. Klee, Mr. Capelli, and Mrs. Calvert. You will notice that some teachers have moved grade levels. Below is a tentative list. We are actively working to fill open positions and are doing our best to do so prior to the start of the school year.

Begindergarten- Mrs. Medley

Kindergarten- Mrs. Campbell and Ms. Gorski

1st Grade- Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Lowe

2nd Grade- Mrs. Bonesteel and Mrs. Raymer

3rd Grade- Mrs. Palmerini

4th Grade- Mr. Capelli

5th grade- Mrs. Birkett and Mrs. Calvert

6th grade- Mrs. Howell

Resource Room- Ms. Highley

Art- Mrs. Torok

Gym- Mrs. Margrif

Library- Mrs. Knox

Music- Mr. Klee

OFFICE HOURS

The Dryden Elementary office will be open Monday-Thursday from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. to answer questions and enroll students through August 18. Regular hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) resume August 22, 2022. The office will be closed on August 26, September 2, and September 5.

UNIVERSAL BREAKFAST

Universal breakfast will be served from 8:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m in the cafeteria.

SCHOOL DAY

Dryden Elementary opens to students at 8:15 a.m. daily when school is in session. Students are expected to be in class and ready to learn by 8:30 a.m.; otherwise, they will be marked tardy. Our school day ends at 3:35 p.m. At dismissal, students are expected to exit the building unless they are under the direct supervision of a teacher or Cardinal Club staff.

SAFETY GATES

New gates have been installed in the back of the building by the south parking lot. The gates at each end of the service drive will be closed daily while school is in session between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to keep our students safe The gates will close again after school dismisses until 6:00 P.M. when Cardinal Club dismisses.

Student safety is priority one. Please use CAUTION and extend grace and kindness to everyone.

PARKING

Spaces in front of the building are limited to 10-minute parking during school hours. If you have business with the school that exceeds 10 minutes, please park in the north parking lot. For everyone’s safety, the front of the building is not a designated drop-off or pick-up spot. All Early Childhood program parking is in the back of the building in the south lot. Parents can access it from Pleasant Street. PLEASE use care and caution when driving through this residential area.

DROP-OFF

The building will open at 8:15 a.m. Buses will drop students off in the back of the building on the service drive. Parents may use the loop lane next to the sidewalk in the north lot to drop off students. This lane is NOT for standing or parking in the morning. It MUST be a continuous loop for traffic to flow properly and safely off of Mill Street. Parents who wish to escort their children to the building must park in a parking spot. Students may not be dropped off in front of the building unless school is already in session for the day.

PICK UP

Teachers will escort students out of the building at dismissal time. Students riding the bus will board the bus. Students who are being picked up will meet their parents at the designated location. The loop lane in the north lot is reserved for those who need it and is limited to the number of cars that fit alongside the sidewalk. If the sidewalk spaces are full, parents must park and walk to meet their children. Cars may not block the bus lane or flow onto Mill Street waiting in the loop lane as this is a safety hazard. Parents who need the loop lane must stay with and in the vehicle. Please use care and caution when driving in and around the school and follow the directions of the crossing guards.

Please consider supporting our PTA. Meetings will be held at 6:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month in the elementary school media center. We are in the planning stages of events for the upcoming year. Our fall events include the SnoCone Social, Popcorn Fridays, Goodies with Grandparents, Trunk or Treat, and a Veterans Day Celebration. We would love your input!

Please be advised that the school playground is closed to the public year-round from 6:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Families are welcome to use the facility after hours and on weekends. Please remember that children under the age of 18 must be supervised at all times by an adult. Smoking, vaping, and alcohol consumption are prohibited on school property. The school campus closes at dusk daily.

Dear #proudcardinal students and families,

As another summer winds down, I would like to welcome everyone back for what is sure to be a great year! Our student-athletes have been prepping for this season during summer workouts, team camps, and scrimmages. I look forward to seeing everyone throughout the year at our athletic events supporting our Dryden Cardinals.

If you are a student who wants to participate this upcoming year, please get your physical turned into the office ASAP. When you turn in your physical form, you will be given a try-out card to give to your coach on the 1st day of practice. You will NOT be allowed to try out without this card. The physical form can either be picked up at the HS office or printed from the MHSAA website. (https://www.mhsaa.com/Schools/Forms-Resources)

Here are the High School start dates for each sport this season.

Fall:

• August 8: Cross Country, Football (co-op), Sideline Cheer (co-op), and Volleyball

Winter:

• November 7: Competitive Cheer

• November 14: Girls Basketball and Bowling

• November 21: Boys Basketball

Spring:

• March 13: Baseball, Golf, Girls Soccer (co-op), Softball, and Track & Field

We also offer the following Junior High sports.

• Fall: Cross Country, Football (co-op), Sideline Cheer (co-op), and Volleyball

• Winter: Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball

• Spring: Track & Field, Baseball (7/8th Grades only), and Softball (7/8th Grades only)

Our first events are as follows:

• Tuesday, August 23 @ 6/7 p.m. - High School Volleyball vs Almont

• Wednesday, August 24 @ 6:00 p.m.- JV Football vs Hazel Park

• Thursday, August 25 @ 5:30 p.m. - Varsity Cross Country @ USA

• Thursday, August 25 @ 7:00 p.m. - Varsity Football @ Hazel Park

The rest of the schedule can be found on our school website or at this link:

https://www.drydenschools.org/page/athletics

REMINDER!

Students, please be sure to bring your IDs to all of our home events to get in for FREE. This also includes the football games at Imlay City for all levels. If you have any questions, please ask Ms. Brinker.

We would also like to thank the Dryden Athletic Boosters for their support and gracious gift of the two new Pixellot Systems. These new camera systems have been installed in the HS Gym and Stremler Field. We will schedule our games on the NFHS Network so Cardinal Fans will be able to enjoy the game from anywhere. Please follow this link to start your access today.

https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/

Let’s have a great year! #PROUDCardinal!

Ms. Loraine Brinker

Assistant Principal/Athletic Director

Our student-athletes and coaches explain why here:

September 12

October 10

November 14

December 12

All meetings begin at 7:00 p.m., will be held in the Dryden High School Library, and are open to the public.

Stacey Abromaitis

Dryden Elementary School Principal

Loraine Brinker

Athletic Director

Dryden Junior/Senior High School Assistant Principal

Mary Finnigan

Superintendent

Dryden Junior/Senior High School Principal

Email: MFinnigan@drydenschools.org
Website: www.drydenschools.org
Location: 3866 Rochester Road, Dryden, MI, USA
Phone: 810-796-9534
Facebook: facebook.com/DrydenCommunitySchools
Twitter: @DrydenSchools