⚠️ A few important safety reminders as we approach the start of a new school year:

- Please be aware of school speed zones and follow limits. Speed limits in these zones are set by the NYS Department of Transportation and enforced by local law enforcement.
- Be aware of all surroundings and watch out for students at bus stops, in crosswalks, and on bikes.
- Look both ways when entering and exiting parking lots, and follow district procedures for drop off and pick up at each building.
- You MUST stop for a school bus when it is stopped with flashing lights on.

By following these procedures, we hope to keep our students happy, safe, and full of #LionPride!

Good Morning,
In recognition of Patriot Day and the 2,997 individuals who perished in the Terrorist Attacks on 9/11 as well as those who lost their life in the World Trade Center bombing in 1993, all schools in the Dryden Central School District will observe a moment of silence on September 11, 2025.

This practice is consistent with the practice in public schools across NYS as well as consistent with state law since 2019. The District recognizes the many ways that the September 11 Attacks have impacted individuals, families, our state and our country. In recognition of this, the District would like to share with you the words that will be read to students and staff immediately before the moment of silence.

The following will be announced in all schools prior to the moment of silence:

In recognition of Patriot Day, the Dryden Central School District will take a moment to think quietly about the people and their families who were directly impacted by the events on September 11, 2001 as well as the first responders and military service members who sacrificed so much in the minutes, days, and years following the events 24 years ago today in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, New York, New York and Arlington, Virginia.

We fully recognize that our youngest students are not developmentally able to understand the context of the moment of silence, nor is it appropriate to discuss the details of the day's events with our youngest students; however, the District feels strongly that it is important to observe a day that changed our nation while also demonstrating our resiliency, our compassion, and our strength as a people and a country.

Please take care of yourself. Take care of each other. Always...#LionPride!

Hey! Hey! #LionPride! First Day Boards are here! You know the drill. Print out this template or create your very own First Day Board and send us your best pic holding your board and we will post it to our social media platforms so everyone can see you are ready for the year. You can send your picture with your First Day Board to pr@dryden.k12.ny.us anytime between now and the end of the first week of school! Take care of yourself. Take care of each other. Always, #LionPride! 2026-2027 First Day Board #LionPride! .pdf

With just a couple of weeks left until the start of school, the Class of 2027 is ready to ROAR!
Some seniors gathered together to paint their parking spots for the upcoming year! 🦁
#LionPride!

Parents and their children ages 6-10 are invited to join us on Tuesday evenings from 5-7pm, September 15 through November 3 at the High School for free parent-child communication classes!
Dinner is included and childcare is available upon request. Learn more and sign up at: CCETompkins.org/family
#LionPride! 💜

Families, We apologize for the follow up message. The previous message indicated the wrong deadline for photo opt out letters. We apologize. The actual due date is 9/1/2026. We apologize for the confusion! #LionPride!

Families: Please see the following regarding: Dryden Central School District’s Photo Release Protocol This information is also available on the district's website by clicking on "resources" on the main page, and then "parent resources" and then click on the last link in the bulleted list title "Photo Release Protocol". It is the Dryden Central School District’s desire to share the achievements and recognition earned by students and staff with the broader community. This effort can be aided by the use of photos showing students involved in classroom and school-related activities. Throughout the year, the Public Relations Department and Dryden staff may take photographs and video footage of students as they participate in academic, artistic, athletic or other school activities. These photographs and videos may appear in various Dryden materials disseminated to the public, including yearbooks, the Dryden website (www.dryden.k12.ny.us), newsletters,press releases, brochures, social media pages, calendars, newspapers, and otherchannels deemed appropriate by the Dryden Central School District. We, at times, may also publicize student work. If you DO NOT want your child’s name/photo/work publicized for these purposes, you are asked to inform your child’s principal, in writing, by the end of the school day on Monday, September 20, 2026. A simple, written, signed note stating: Please do not photograph my child for use in publications and/or web, including your child’s name and grade level. Your note may be either dropped off in person or mailed to the building principal. Please note: If you choose to “opt-out” and provide a note for your child(ren) not to be photographed, your child(ren)’s accomplishments will not be showcased in any form. This includes all extracurricular activities and performances. If you have any questions regarding this student photograph practice, please feel to contact your child's principal . Please take care of yourself. Take care of each other. Always...#LionPride!

DMS is so excited to welcome the newest class of 6th graders to school! Incoming 6th grade students and their families are invited to attend one of two 6th Grade Preview Days next week.

Join us on:
Wednesday, August 26: 12-3 PM
or
Thursday, August 27: 8-11 AM

Preview Days are designed to help students get comfortable in their new environment before the hustle and bustle of the first day!

During Preview Days, students can:
🗓Walk the halls and practice following their class schedule.
🔐Locate their locker, practice opening the combination, and store their school supplies.
🏫Get a feel for the building so they feel confident on Day 1.

Please Note: Preview Days are purely an opportunity to explore the physical building. Because our teachers do not return until the following week, staff will not be present in their classrooms. This is not a "Meet the Teacher" event, but rather a self-guided practice run for students!

We hope to see you there! #LionPride

There's no better time than back to school season to stock up on your #LionPride gear!
Visit our Dryden Lions Den Apparel Store for all the Lion Pride to start the new school year 🦁💜
https://zapathletics.chipply.com/Dryden-CSD

Attention families: Open Doors English: The Julie Rudd Coulombe Language Program of Ithaca, NY offers free English classes for adults at any level.
Fall Session runs September 8 through December 10, with classes offered Monday through Thursday in the morning, afternoon, or evening.
Visit www.opendoorsenglish.org or contact esloffice.ode@gmail.com to register!

DCSD Staff Update: The Opening Day Schedule has been sent out via your school email. Supervisor and Administrators will be sending more specific information about schedules following this email and notification. #LionPride

We welcome staff back on 9/1/2026. Thank you to all who donate. Community support of our staff means so much to as a District. #LionPride.!

Dryden families and community members are invited to line the red carpet with #LionPride on Tuesday, September 1st from 7:30-7:50am to cheer on our staff as they kick off the 2026-2027 school year! 🦁💜

We are so excited to welcome our Dryden Lions back to school in just four weeks!
Reminder that grade level school supply lists are available on our website: https://www.dryden.k12.ny.us/page/supply-lists
#LionPride!

Attention all incoming 6th grade families! 📢
Join us at the Dryden MS/HS Auditorium on Thursday, August 13, 6-7pm for a 6th Grade Parent Information Night!
Hear from Principal Lora Champlain and Assistant Principal Greg Harris on what it takes to thrive in middle school. We’ll cover essential information about academic expectations, student support, daily routines, and how we can partner with you to support your child’s success. 🦁💜

The Dryden Southworth Library Wednesday Wildlife summer program invites families to gather at Montgomery Park on Wednesday afternoons to enjoy lunch, stories, a craft, and some furry friends, as well as fresh fruits and veggies from the Kids' Farmers Market!

Thank you to Ms. Laura from The Southworth Library for coordinating this program, Dryden Youth Opportunity Fund for providing free books, Dryden Central School District Food Service Team for providing fresh produce, and The Carpenter Family Farm for bringing this week's animal friends! We are so grateful for community partnerships and opportunities to gather and learn!

Don't miss your last chance to join in on the fun! The final Wednesday Wildlife of the summer is Wednesday, August 12, 12:30pm, at Montgomery Park. The Reynolds Game Farm will be bringing Pheasants!

The Library has so many programs to take advantage of! Check out their website (https://southworthlibrary.org) or Facebook page (Dryden Southworth Library) to learn more!

District Safety Personnel Rob Reyngoudt and Dryden HS Nurse Travis Berggren recently provided District leadership with a Stop the Bleed training, and Stop the Bleed kits will be present in each school building.

As we prepare for another amazing year, we are continuously guided by a commitment to creating a safe, joyful and nurturing environment which promotes learning and growth.

A special shoutout to Travis's daughter for being an excellent tourniquet model! #LionPride!

Public Safety and Military Career Academy Day 1: A big thank you to our partners from the Cornell University Police Department and Tompkins Country Sheriff's Department for coming to Dryden High School and creating meaningful, hands-on learning experiences for our Dryden, Groton and George Junior participants! #LionPride!