Dryden Splash | May 17, 2026

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.

On Tuesday, May 12th, Dryden students enjoyed a concert by our very own Music for Youth students. Students from Westgate and Dryden performed together on violin and cello, and our Dryden students in grades K–3 had a wonderful time watching the performance and experiencing the joy of live music. If you are interested in joining the program for the fall, sign-ups are happening on May 21st at 7:00 p.m. at Ivy Hill Elementary School. Come learn about the program, hear a group of students perform, and get sized for an instrument! Any additional questions can be directed to Ms. Grube, program director for MFY (ggrube@mfyah.org).

On Thursday, we held our final Birthday Book celebration of the school year as we recognized students with May, June, and July birthdays. Students enjoyed the special tradition of selecting a book to keep as their very own birthday gift; a fun way to celebrate while encouraging a love of reading.

A huge thank you goes to our incredible PTA Birthday Book Committee for their hard work throughout the year. We are so grateful for the care they put into selecting such high-quality books for our students and for their commitment to promoting reading and making each celebration feel special. Your time, dedication, and support helped create meaningful memories for our Dryden students all year long!

One of Miss Wilson’s favorite fourth grade traditions returned again this year: Tie-Dye Day! With the help of parent volunteers, students had the opportunity to create colorful shirts that will become fun and meaningful keepsakes from their year in Miss Wilson’s class.

Students selected their own color combinations and chose from a variety of tie-dye styles including galaxy, spiral, spider, and lightning, making each shirt a unique reflection of their creativity and personality. This special tradition is a memorable way to celebrate the school year and create lasting keepsakes students can enjoy for years to come. To make the tradition even more fun, students proudly wear their tie-dye shirts on Field Day, giving the class a colorful way to celebrate together and show off their creations!

On Friday, Dryden fifth graders participated in one of the school’s favorite annual traditions: World of Work! This special event is considered a true Dryden rite of passage and gives students an exciting opportunity to explore future careers and learn more about our community. Organized through the collaboration of our amazing PTA and fifth grade teachers, this event continues to be a meaningful experience for our students year after year.

Students and adult chaperones traveled in small groups to visit local businesses and organizations throughout the community, where they learned directly from business owners and managers about the important work done by local businesses and what it takes to run them successfully. Students also had the opportunity to step into the shoes of employees by trying out real tasks and experiencing what their jobs might be like if they worked there.

Our fifth graders visited:

• A La Mode Collections
• Arlington Heights Fire Department
• Arlington Heights Memorial Library
• Arlington Heights Police Department
• Arlington Ridge Center
• Bentley’s Pet Stuff
• Berry Yo
• Charisma
• Chick n Fizz
• Compass Realty
• Egg Harbor Cafe
• Kilwins
• Mindful Kitchen
• Robyn’s Nest
• Something Blue Photography
• Sweet T’s Bakery
• Thrown Elements

This meaningful experience was followed by a special pizza luncheon hosted by our PTA and Dryden’s beloved annual fifth grade slideshow. This cherished tradition celebrates our fifth graders’ journeys from kindergarten through fifth grade and features adorable baby photos of our students along with the career goals and dreams they hope to pursue in the future. Students loved reminiscing, laughing together, and celebrating how much they have grown over the years. Adding to the excitement, students also enjoyed a fun surprise visit from South Middle School’s Cardinal mascot during the luncheon! Click the button below to view this fantastic celebration of our amazing fifth graders!

A huge thank you to our PTA, our fifth grade teachers, and our community partners for making this incredible tradition possible. Our students had a wonderful time learning about the World of Work while gaining firsthand experiences they will remember for years to come. We encourage our Dryden families to support and patronize these wonderful local businesses that generously gave their time and opened their doors to support student learning.

It's an exciting time for 4th graders in District 25. They have been learning about the band program and on Monday, they will have a chance to try the instruments. Mark your calendars for Band Registration on Wednesday May 20, 3:45-6:45 p.m. at South Middle School (open house format). See you there! Questions? Contact Mrs. Jenny Scapillato, band teacher (jscapillato@sd25.org).

As we wrap up another school year, all medications and supplies must be picked up from the health office by the end of the school day on Thursday, June 4, 2026

• If you have medications in the health office, you will receive an email from the school nurse with detailed instructions regarding pick up.

• We do not store any medications over the summer. Any medication remaining after June 4, 2026 will be properly disposed in accordance with Food and Drug Administration Safe Disposal of Medications guidance at the Arlington Heights Police Department.

For any questions, please contact Dryden's school nurse Miranda Rixon at mrixon@sd25.org.

Recently, staff members have noticed an increase in students bringing toys and collectible items to school, such as 3D printed items, NeeDohs, dumplings, Rubik’s Cubes, and other squishable or novelty toys. These items can be distracting during the school day, may lead to social conflicts, and are often traded among students, with some items going missing. To help maintain a positive and focused learning environment, we ask that toys and collectible items remain at home unless they are specifically requested by a teacher for a classroom activity. Please note that the school cannot take responsibility for lost or stolen items that should not be brought to school.

As we plan for the 2026-2027 school year, it will help us to know if your students (currently in Kindergarten - 4th Grade) will not be returning to Dryden. Please complete one form for each student by clicking here or on the blue button below. Please contact administrative assistant Mrs. Porwit at mporwit@sd25.org if you have any questions.

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).

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.

May

May 19: Pickleball Club

May 21: Movie or Game Spirit Day

May 21: HS Senior Walk

May 26: Pickleball Club

May 26-27: Kindergarten Screenings

May 27: Sunrise Lake; Begin Dolphin Countdown

May 29: Kona Ice

June

June 4: Field Day

June 4: 5th Grade Walk the Halls

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

It's back! Dryden's field day will be taking place on Thursday, June 4th. **We will have 2 Field Day sessions! ** The AM session (volunteer hours 9:15-11:15) will include 3rd grade, 4th grade and 5th grade. The PM session (volunteer hours 1pm-3pm) will include Kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade. Yes, this means that if you have a student in the morning session and the afternoon session, you can volunteer for both sessions! Volunteers are needed as class leaders (take 1/2 the class from game to game) and game leaders (run a game with a partner). If multiple parents would like to volunteer, please submit a form for each volunteer. You will receive your specific assignment the day of the event at check in.

Sign-up Here: 2026 Field Day Volunteer Form

Please note, any volunteers who have not had their ID entered in the Raptor Security System beforehand will not be allowed to help with Field Day. If you have not done this, you must go to the office to have your ID scanned prior to June 2nd. Please contact us if you have any questions!

Thank you!

Kristen Smith (KristenNWilson10@gmail.com) and Mary Cape (drydenptapresident@gmail.com).

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Cinco de Mayo is a yearly celebration held on May 5, which commemorates the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The victory over the French army was a morale boost for the Mexicans.

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the US, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

*Date changes year to year

Eid-Al-Adha, known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is the second of two great Muslim festivals, the other being Eid al-Fitr. It is considered the holiest of the two Eids and celebrated by millions of people around the world. Eid al-Adha is also a time for visiting with friends and family and for exchanging gifts.

*dates may vary and change from year to year