Dryden Community Schools Newsletter

Dear Cardinal Families,

I hope your summer was restful and provided opportunities to make family memories. My not-so-guilty pleasure this summer has been watching the Paris Olympic games. I marvel at the athletes' abilities, of course, but what has struck me the most is the resilience they have shown: they just don't give up. Whether they finish first or last, they show the world the grit they possess. My goal for this year is to follow their example and to inspire our students to do the same. It's easy to give up; what is harder is to keep going even when the task is difficult. Please join me in encouraging your student(s) to keep trying even when obstacles get in the way.

We can't wait to see you later this month. The first day of school is a half day on Monday, August 19. There will be no school on August 23, August 30, or September 2. 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

Stay updated on our progress with funds from the bond passed in May 2023 by using this checklist! We appreciate your continued support of our students, our schools, and our community.

The School of Choice window is now open through August 22, 2024. Applications MUST be submitted by August 22 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 19, 2024. If you have any further questions, please contact Lori Hall at 810-448-4090 or at lhall@drydenschools.org

Dear Cardinal Families,

Happy August and welcome back! We are excited to kick off another fantastic year and hope you had a wonderful summer filled with fun, laughter, and relaxation. We are thrilled to welcome both returning families and new students to our school community. Together, let’s make this year the best one yet!

Our bond improvements this summer include a new roof, new heat and air units in each room, and new improved boilers. We are looking forward to the installation of our new digital sign this fall, too. The preparations for the next round of projects are underway and ongoing. A big thank you to our community, families, and staff for your continued patience and flexibility as we navigate the improvement process.

As we prepare for a new school year, we invite all parents/families of students in early childhood through sixth grade to our annual SnoCone Social on Wednesday, August 14th from 4:00 - 7:00. This is a great opportunity to come in, pick up back-to-school folders, tour the building, meet your child’s teacher and see your child’s classroom and locker, meet some of our community partners, and make connections. The Lapeer County Health Department will be hosting a childhood immunization clinic. This is a great time to make sure your child’s immunizations are up-to-date. In December 2023, the State of Michigan passed a law requiring an oral health assessment for kindergarten entrance. To assist families, Great Lakes Bay Health Mobile Dentist will be available for on-site checks. Parents can also opt to visit their regular dentist. Any new to the district student and incoming Kindergartners can get their hearing and vision screened as well. Parents may also apply for free and reduced lunch, sign up for PTA, and get information about other groups and organizations. Additionally, the elementary reproductive health and HIV/AIDS curriculum will be available for preview in the main office.

We are committed to providing a safe, engaging, and inspiring learning environment for your children and remain dedicated to continuous improvement. At Dryden Elementary, we value kindness, positivity, and gratitude. We understand the importance of a positive school culture, instilling and nurturing a growth mindset for all, and making data-driven decisions. We believe that a strong partnership between home and school is essential to your child's success, and we encourage you to stay involved and engaged in their education. 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

School Safety: Student safety is priority one. We are stronger when we work together. Please review expectations with your child regarding games that should and should not be played at school, items that should and should not be brought to school, and what should and should not be talked about in the school setting, especially as they pertain to school safety. We remain vigilant in our efforts to keep everyone safe and take all matters seriously.

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 while waiting in the loop lane as this is a safety hazard. Parents who need the loop lane must stay with/in the vehicle. Please use care and caution when driving in and around the school and follow the directions of the crossing guards.

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.

Please consider joining our PTA. Meetings are typically held at 6:00 P.M. the first Wednesday of each month in the elementary school media center. Planning is underway for upcoming events. Our fall events include: Sno-Cone Social, Popcorn Fridays, Goodies with Grandparents, Trunk or Treat, and a Veterans Day Celebration. We would love your input!

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 15. Regular hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) resume August 19, 2024. The office will be closed August 23rd, August 30, and September 2nd.

UNIVERSAL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH

All Michigan students are eligible to receive universal breakfast and lunch for the upcoming school year. Breakfast will be served from 8:15 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/absent. 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.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance matters! Let’s work together to make the most of every moment! Please do your best to have your child to school on time every day, and try to schedule appointments and vacations for outside of school time. Please call the main office regarding attendance matters.

As noted above, safety is priority one! We are stronger when we work together, so please review expectations with your child regarding games that should and should not be played at school, items that should and should not be brought to school, and what should and should not be talked about in the school setting especially as they pertain to school safety. As you know, we live in a world where we must remain vigilant in our efforts to keep everyone safe, and therefore, take all matters seriously.

We continue to follow guidelines from the CDC and Health Department when it comes to illnesses. We do our best to continue to encourage social distancing when possible in addition to regular cleaning and sanitizing. Please help us by encouraging good personal hygiene, and keeping your child home when warranted.

Please extend a warm Cardinal welcome to Mr. Armbrust, our new K-12 director of music and bands!

Dear Cardinal Families,

We are excitedly preparing to welcome you back to school on August 19, the first day of school and a half day for students. We can't wait to see you!

Personnel Update

Please join us in welcoming the following people to our Dryden High School family!

• Mr. Jim Armbrust, Director of K-12 Bands and Music
• Mr. Sam Peyerk, Math Teacher (and Dryden graduate!)

Mrs. Breanne Palmerini, formerly a 3rd grade teacher at Dryden Elementary, will be joining our English Department. Shifting roles is Mr. Brian Tresnak, who will teach a few high school and college courses while serving as Athletic Director.

Cardinal Day

Please join us for Cardinal Day on Tuesday, August 13 from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Students can pick up their schedules, greet their teachers, and say hello to friends. Vaccinations will be available. Chromebooks can be signed out for the school year with the opportunity to purchase device insurance. The 2023-2024 school year’s yearbook will be available for pickup, and limited extra copies can be purchased.

Representatives from 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.

Breakfast and Lunch

All students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch during this school year. You will be able to see the lunch menu in The Red and Black student newspaper, which is posted on the district Facebook page and emailed to students in grades 7-12 and their families every Monday morning.

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.

In education, dual enrollment (DE) involves students being enrolled in two separate, academically related institutions. Generally, it refers to high school students taking college courses. The state of Michigan allows students in grades 9 through 12 to enroll in post-secondary courses. Students can take up to 10 college courses while in high school. Contact Mrs. Fleming for additional information, if interested (kfleming@drydenschools.org).

Dear #proudcardinal students and families,

📣 WELCOME BACK!!! I look forward to seeing everyone throughout the year at our athletic events supporting our Dryden Cardinals.

Students who want to participate in any sports program this year MUST have a PHYSICAL on file in the office prior to participating. You will NOT be allowed to participate without the physical on file. The physical form can either be picked up at the HS office or printed from the MHSAA website.

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

Fall:

• August 12: Cross Country, Football, Cheer, and Volleyball

Winter:

• November 11: Boys Basketball & Cheer

• November 14: Bowling

• November 18: Girls Basketball

Spring:

• March 10: Baseball, Golf, Girls Soccer (co-op), Softball, and Track & Field

We also offer the following Junior High sports.

• Fall: Cross Country and Volleyball

• Winter: Girls Basketball and Boys Basketball

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

Our first events are as follows:

• Wednesday, August 21st - JV/Varsity Volleyball vs Almont @6/730p

• Friday, August 23rd - High School Cross Country @ Lapeer

• Monday, August 26th - JV/Varsity Volleyball @ Parkway Christian @5/630p

• Friday, August 30th - Varsity Football vs North Huron @7p

NEW THIS YEAR…we will be utilizing EVENTLINK for all of our sport scheduling needs. Please use this link to create an account and subscribe to your favorite Dryden Sports Calendars.

https://static.eventlink.com/public/28830303-fce5-4ddc-8efe-d97fc25ac047/17586d7a-d9a3-4f4e-8a4e-18d21ab69c17/Community%20-%20Create%20an%20Account.pdf

REMINDER!

Students, please be sure to bring your IDs to all of our home events to get in for FREE.

Not able to make the game? Stream it with the NFHS Network.

You are able to watch your beloved Cardinals 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

September 9

October 14

November 11

December 9

January 13

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

Dryden High School Assistant Principal

Mary Finnigan

Superintendent/Dryden High School Principal

Brian Tresnak

Athletic Director

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