DES Admin Assistant Karen Wood was nominated for the #LionPride award for being "a team player, reliable anchor, and a true joy to work alongside."

Her colleagues share that Karen has a welcoming presence that sets the tone for the school day. Please join us in celebrating Karen for this well-deserved recognition!

This month's Staff Spotlight goes out to Elementary Librarian Liz Corbett!

Liz shares, "My favorite part about my job is getting to know my students and getting excited with them about what they love!"

Thank you for showing your #LionPride Ms. Corbett! 🦁💜

Good Morning,
This is just a reminder that Friday, October 23, 2026 is a Superintendent's Conference Day. There is no school for students on Friday. All schools will be closed, but all offices will be open and operating during their normal hours. Take care of yourself. Take care of each other! Always....
#LionPride,
Josh Bacigalupi

Dryden Middle School Drama is thrilled to present the musical HONK, JR! The cast is polishing lines, practicing steps & perfecting harmonies. The crew is putting final touches on sets & costumes while preparing for technical rehearsals. The excitement is building! Mark your calendars & join us for a performance of this adorable tale on Friday, November 6 at 7pm and Saturday, November 7 at 11am! 🐣🦢🎶🎭💜
Tickets available at the door for $5.

Coffee with the Superintendent:
Dryden community members are invited to sit down with Superintendent Josh Bacigalupi to ask any questions or just say hello on Monday, October 26 from 4:30-5:30pm at the Southworth Library in Dryden. #LionPride!

Unity Day is an opportunity for all of our schools to come together to promote kindness, inclusion, and a sense of belonging for everyone.
Help us spread a message and promote unity by wearing orange on Wednesday, October 21.
To celebrate Unity Day, Dryden schools will create unity trees and banners, enjoy cafeteria celebrations and a special Unity Day lunch, and hear districtwide morning announcements focused on kindness, acceptance, and the importance of standing together.
We encourage everyone to participate, wear orange, spread kindness, and take a moment to reflect on how each of us can help create a school community where everyone belongs! #LionPride! 💜🧡

High School PE teacher Abby Wilkinson was nominated for the #LionPride award by her colleague Jason Webb for her outstanding dedication to students and the school community.
Webb says "Abby goes above and beyond to support students, create positive experiences, and make our school community a better place."
Congratulations Ms. Wilkinson, and thanks for showing your #LionPride every day! 🦁💜

It's National School Bus Safety Week! 🚌💜

Always remember the importance of following school speed zone limits, stopping for school buses, and being mindful of students getting on or off the bus. It takes a village, and we appreciate our bus drivers and community members for helping to keep our students safe! #LionPride!

Dear Dryden Staff and Families, At approximately 9:00 a.m. today, alarms inside the MS/HS building alerted District staff and first responders to a potential problem. A pipe in a cleaner’s closet had burst, allowing water to flow from the second floor into the basement. While the potential for significant damage was considerable, the quick response of our Facilities Department and the Freeville, McLean, and Dryden fire departments greatly limited its extent. Damage is primarily confined to noninstructional spaces in and around the District Office. Repairs and cleanup will continue throughout the weekend. All schools in the Dryden Central School District will open in person and on time on Monday, October 19, 2026. I am deeply grateful to our facilities team and first responders for their care, skill, and hard work today. They stepped into a challenging situation and worked together to protect our schools. Their efforts made a real difference, and I cannot thank them enough. We understand the concern that comes with seeing images of water inside our building. Please give our crews the space they need by staying out of the affected building while work continues. We will share any additional updates as needed. Thank you for your patience, your concern, and your continued support of our schools. With gratitude and #LionPride, Josh

Good Morning! The MS/HS building is closed today, Saturday, October 17, 2026 due to a water pipe break. We will keep you updated as to the struts of the building and the activities scheduled there throughout the weekend. IAC soccer events will be held outdoors as planned with access to ports potties but spectators will not have access to the building. #LionPride!

It's NYSSBA's School Board Recognition Week, so we are highlighting our wonderful Board of Education members throughout this week!

Tami Tabone says, "For me, being a board member means serving the students, staff, and community of Dryden Central School District to the best of my ability. It also means trying to look at all district matters with an open mind and working with a great team to bring the best results for our district."

Thank you for your commitment to our district, staff, students, and community! #LionPride 💜

It's NYSSBA's School Board Recognition Week, so we are highlighting our wonderful Board of Education members throughout this week!

Next up is Megan Watts: "I am proud to serve on the Board of Education for Dryden because I get to advocate for students and their families as well as our amazing teachers and staff, and also our community members!"

Thank you for your dedication and service to our district, staff, students, and community! #LionPride 💜

It's NYSSBA's School Board Recognition Week, so we are highlighting our wonderful Board of Education members throughout this week!

Leslie Mason shares, "It's important to me to be an active member of my community and one way I am able to do that is to be a member of the School Board. I believe in the importance of education and helping to support what's best for the children of our community and the wonderful faculty and staff that make it possible to educate and support our children."

Thank you for your commitment and service to our district, staff, students, and community! #LionPride 💜

It's NYSSBA's School Board Recognition Week, so we are highlighting our wonderful Board of Education members throughout this week!

Current Board Vice President Justin St. Juliana says, "I love serving on the board for Dryden because it helps me support the education and empowerment of PK-12 students to achieve excellence and build a better world."

Thank you for your devoted service to our district, staff, students, and community! #LionPride 💜

Dryden National Honor Society and Student Council present: Trick or Treat Street! 🎃🍭
Join us on Friday, October 30 from 5:30-7pm starting at the Middle School entrance for a night of costumes, candy, and fun!
Want to help out NHS with candy donations? 🍬 Please feel free to drop off donated candy in the original bags at the attendance office with a note that it is for NHS.
We can't wait to see you there! #LionPride

It's NYSSBA's School Board Recognition Week, so we are highlighting our wonderful Board of Education members throughout this week!

Dryden Board of Education President David Peck says, "My desire is that we can offer every student access to the classes, programs, and opportunities that will help them find fulfillment and joy in whatever they choose to do in life."

Thank you for dedicating your time, energy, and effort to our district, staff, students, and community! #LionPride 💜

The DES PTA is having a fall apparel sale from now through October 25!
Get your DES gear and help support the PTA at the QR code or the link below. #LionPride!
https://www.storessimple.com/cayugaxpress/groups.php?

It's NYSSBA's School Board Recognition Week, so we are highlighting our wonderful Board of Education members throughout this week!

Next up is Daniel Mulligan: "It's important to me to live a life defined by service, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to the community I call home."

Thank you for your dedication and service to our district, staff, students, and community! #LionPride 💜

We are so excited to share that our district has been chosen by the Chef Ann Foundation as a 2026 School Food Renegade! 🍎🥕

This National School Lunch Week, the Chef Ann Foundation is highlighting five districts as Renegades for their exceptional contributions to school food nationwide. If you want to learn more about our story, and how we’ve transition away from reheating to cooking from scratch, see the write-up: https://www.chefannfoundation.org/blog/meet-the-2026-school-food-renegades/

Thank you for your continued support as we work towards providing healthy and delicious meals for our students! And congratulations to Food Service Director Megan Munson and the entire Food Service Team on this distinction and award! #LionPride!