Dryden Splash | May 10, 2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the wonderful mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, guardians, and special women in our Dryden community.

Today we celebrate the love, patience, strength, and encouragement you give to your children each and every day. Your support helps our students grow into kind, confident, and caring learners, and we are so grateful to partner with you.

Mothers are truly the glue that holds families together, and that same love and dedication extends into our school community as well. So much of what makes Dryden such a caring, joyful, and supportive place is possible because of you. From volunteering your time, cheering on your children, supporting school events, and encouraging learning at home, your impact is felt every single day.

We hope your day is filled with love, laughter, and special moments with the people who matter most to you. Thank you for all that you do for your families and for our Dryden school community.

With appreciation,
Jessica Martinsen

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.

Our amazing PTA is serving up fun once again! This week marked the exciting kickoff of the new Pickleball Club, and students could not wait to hit the court. Laughter, teamwork, and lots of smiles filled the gym as students learned the basics of this fast-growing sport, from perfecting their serves to practicing quick volleys with friends.

The Pickleball Club has already become a huge hit with students. Not only are they staying active and building coordination, but they are also learning important skills like sportsmanship, perseverance, and teamwork. Some students discovered a hidden talent for the game, while others simply enjoyed trying something brand new with classmates.

A huge thank you goes out to our incredible PTA volunteers for organizing and leading this opportunity for our students. Their energy, creativity, and dedication continue to make Dryden such a fun and engaging place for children to learn and grow. We are so grateful for all they do to keep our students moving, connected, and smiling!

During Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4–8, our incredible PTA truly rolled out the red carpet for Dryden’s VIP teachers and staff! The week was filled with thoughtful surprises, delicious treats, and plenty of Hollywood-inspired fun to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our amazing educators.

Staff members were welcomed with special breakfasts, tasty snacks, and a fabulous lunch from Weber Grill that made everyone feel like stars. The celebration ended with Oscar-themed swag bags filled with fun surprises to thank teachers for all they do each day. Throughout the week, the PTA added creative movie-themed touches, including “Walk of Fame” star displays and messages celebrating the many ways our teachers help students shine.

We are so grateful to our PTA for the time, creativity, and generosity they poured into making this week so special. Their kindness and support reminded our entire staff just how valued and appreciated they are. Thank you, PTA, for always going above and beyond for our school community! And thank you to our teachers for your hard work, dedication, and the care you show our students every single day.

It was an exciting and musical week for District 25 fourth graders as they began exploring the opportunity to join the band program next year! Students were introduced to the different band instruments and learned what it is like to be part of a school band. There was lots of curiosity and excitement as students discovered which instruments might be the perfect fit for them.

On Monday, May 18th, Dryden students will have the chance to try out instruments during the school day. Families should also mark their calendars for Band Registration on Wednesday, May 20th from 3:45–6:45 p.m. at South Middle School. The event will be held in an open house format, and families are encouraged to stop by to learn more and complete registration. We hope to see many future musicians there! Questions can be directed to Mrs. Jenny Scapillato, band teacher, at jscapillato@sd25.org.

On Thursday evening, over 70 Dryden student artists proudly showcased their artwork at the annual District 25 Student Art Show hosted by the Arlington Heights Memorial Library. Students and their families attended the reception to celebrate the creativity, imagination, and hard work represented in each unique piece of art on display. It was a wonderful evening filled with pride and appreciation for the artistic talents of our Dryden students.

We would also like to extend a special thank you to Mrs. Siegel, our incredible art teacher, for her endless dedication to our students. Through her creativity, encouragement, and passion for art education, she helps students explore new artistic techniques while also growing their confidence, abilities, and love for the arts. We are so grateful for the impact she has on our students each and every day.

On Friday, the Kindergarten classes performed their musical, All Aboard Kindergarten! Students sang beautifully about their experiences in school and their excitement for moving on to 1st grade. The program also included a special song honoring mothers and special family members for Mother’s Day. We are so proud of all of our Kindergarten students for their hard work, enthusiasm, and fantastic performance!

Many thanks go out to Mr. Toerner, our PTA volunteers, the Kindergarten teachers, Mrs. Goldstein, and Mr. Burke for all of their time and support in making this wonderful event possible.

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 12: Pickleball Club

May 14: May/June/July Birthday Books

May 14: Dryden School Colors Day

May 14: PTA General Member Meeting (6:30pm open door, 7pm meeting)

May 15: World of Work & Luncheon/Slideshow

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

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

Our 5th graders are stepping out of the classroom and into the real world, spending time working at local businesses to learn firsthand what it takes to keep our community running! From shops to restaurants, these young learners will be gaining valuable experience, confidence, and appreciation for hard work.

We invite you to join in the excitement by supporting the businesses that are opening their doors to our students. Stop by, say hello, and see these future leaders in action. Your patronage helps make this meaningful experience possible!

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