The Splash
January 3, 2022
Happy New Year! Welcome back! We hope your winter break was enjoyable, and we look forward to seeing our students back at school! At the same time, we recognize the importance of keeping our school community safe and healthy in order for our students to have optimal learning and play experiences at school over the long haul. We greatly appreciate your continued vigilance and cooperation in helping to monitor and care for your children's health and well-being. If you ever have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact our School Nurses Miranda Rixon or Megan Evans, our School Social Worker Caroline Sorrentino, our Assistant Principal Cara Giacomin-Ferris, our School Principal Akemi Sessler. We recognize the winter season can be quite challenging, especially in these continuing turbulent times, so please call our school office at 847-398-4280. We are happy to assist our students in any way possible!
January
4 - School resumes for students
9 - Dryden PTA Family Day with the Chicago Wolves
12 - Kindergarten & New Student Pre-Registration begins
12 - Dryden PTA Birthday Books for January and July Birthdays
13 - Dryden PTA Dine-Out at Panera, 4:00 - 8:00 pm
14 - MAP Reports Sent Home via Backpack Mail
17 - Martin Luther King Holiday, No School
19 - MONDAY Schedule
20 - Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 pm
25 - 5th Grade Band Concert at South Middle School, 7:00 pm
Winter Recess Guidelines
Students go outside for recess for 40 minutes everyday during the lunch hour unless the windchill is below zero, so it's important they come prepared with appropriate winter gear and understand the recess guidelines:
- In order to play in the snow, students MUST wear snow pants, coat, boots, hat and gloves.
- Students that do not have snow gear can play on the blacktop.
- Students may NOT throw snow or ice.
Most families find it easiest to put all snow gear into a large, plastic shopping bag so that the kids can keep it all together and change when needed.
PLEASE PUT YOUR STUDENT'S NAME ON ALL OF THEIR OUTERWEAR.
ABC/25 Foundation Grants Awarded to Dryden
Thank you and congratulations to all the outstanding Dryden staff who wrote and received ABC/25 Foundation grants for our school this year! Books, Spheros, Cricut Machine, Tangrams, and Social Emotional Learning resources totaling $8,800 have been awarded to Dryden this year. What wonderful, enriching learning experiences our students will have with these resources!
Additionally, Dryden has received the $2500 membership incentive grant. This grant will be used to continue aligning the furniture and organization of the maker space in the LMC. We greatly appreciate our school community's contributions and support of this wonderful foundation.
E-Learning Practice Exercise
This is a reminder that students will bring home their school device (iPad for grades K-2 or Chromebook for grades 3-5) this Friday, January 7. Students will be given a simple practice activity on Seesaw from home. This will help ensure that students and families are able to connect their devices and access Seesaw at home. Please return devices to school on Monday, January 10.
Links to parent letters from the district with details about e-Learning are below:
Kindergarten & New Student Registration
Please note: Registration for current Dryden students will begin in the spring. You will receive an email in late spring with a registration link. There is nothing you need to do at this time.
Winter Wonderland Fun - Many Thanks to Many AWESOME PTA Volunteers!!
Thank you, PTA, for the amazing holiday cookies for our staff!
A Special Visitor on December 17
Music Class Caroling Fun!
SHIELD Testing
As a reminder, throughout the school year, you can always enroll your child in or unenroll your child from the SHIELD testing process. Please click the links below and fill out the form if you would like to enroll or unenroll your child.
At Dryden, SHIELD Testing is conducted on Tuesday afternoons in the commons. An assistant picks up the students from the classroom when it is their turn for testing.
Dryden PTA Family Day with the Chicago Wolves, January 9
Join Dryden students, families, and friends at a Chicago Wolves hockey game on Sunday, January 9 at 3:00 pm as the Wolves battle the Cleveland Monsters. Everyone who attends will receive a free Chicago Wolves hat, and everyone from Dryden will be seated together. Click the following link to purchase tickets: https://offer.fevo.com/chicago-wolves-vs-cleveland-monsters-47xjbsh-3bc0e7c?fevoUri=chicago-wolves-vs-cleveland-monsters-47xjbsh-3bc0e7c%2F
Dryden PTA Dine Out at Panera, January 13
Stop by Panera (1065 North Elmhurst Road, Mt Prospect) on Thursday, January 13 from 4:00 - 8:00 pm. Mention Dryden at checkout, and they'll donate a portion of the proceeds to the PTA. Or order online with the code PRFUND.