Thursday, November 7, 2019

Can You See ALL the Purple in the Fall Colored Landscape?

We are off and rolling!

Core Beliefs: We Believe Students Come First. Everyone Can Learn. 

Typically, most staff and students find their groove in the month of October. This October was no exception.

Students and teachers are learning more about each other and building on to the community expectations that they laid the foundation for in September. 

We celebrated Homecoming in October, honored our Board of Education's service to our District, and watched as progress continued on our Capital Improvement project. All things in Dryden this Fall are PURPLE! 


#LionPride Winners

Core Beliefs: We encourage creativity, problem solving, and innovation. We act with integrity and accountability. We have high expectations for all. 

In the month of October, we gave away several #LionPride Awards to many deserving staff and students. We gave each of our five nurses the #LionPride Award for all that they did at the beginning of the year to ensure the District was implementing new state regulations regarding immunizations. This was a difficult thing to do in addition to all of their normal duties and we are grateful for them and their work. 

Mrs. Wenzel was nominated for the #LionPride Award by teachers, Amy Federation and Jill Knout. Mrs. Wenzel has been at DES for one year, and in that short time she has worked hard to establish positive relationships with all stakeholders in an effort to move our District forward. 
Coach Jones was nominated by her athletes on the Swim Team for all the work that she has done this past season to support them and the swimming program. She received three nominations from swimmers and two nominations from parents! We are proud to have her on our coaching team. 

Senior Sam Dow took the last #LionPride Award of the month. Sam provided life saving care to a student who was injured during class. Sam provided assistance to the school nurse and the EMTs when they arrived. Sam also checked in with his classmates who witnessed the accident to ensure that they were not suffering from shock. We are so grateful to Sam and our proud to call him a Lion! 

Brains on Bikes

Core Beliefs: Everyone Can Learn. A Safe, Joyful, and Nurturing Environment Promotes Learning and Growth.

The District's bicycling program continues to grow. This year, we have been able to add a new programming option for MS students. Several days a week before school starts, Mrs. Bennett meets a group of MS students who bike on the Rail Trail and the Jim Schug Trail and get their minds and their bodies ready for the academic day ahead!



Fire Safety and  Prevention Month 

Core Beliefs: A Safe, Joyful, and Nurturing Environment Promotes Learning and Growth. We cultivate resilience and build strength of character. Positive Relationships and Partnerships are Essential.


October is Fire Prevention and Safety Month. Our students benefited from the Freeville, McClean, and Dryden Fire Departments generous offers for educational programming, fire house visits, and climbing on and in the Fire Trucks. 

Each department also assisted with state mandated Fire Drills as well! We are so appreciative of their efforts,  our partnership, and their expertise. 

We are lucky to live and work in this community!  

An Amazing Fall Athletic Season 

Core Beliefs: We cultivate resilience and build strength of character. We have high expectations for all. 


Each of our fall athletic teams had a great season both on and off the field of play.

Both the Boys and Girls Varsity Soccer Teams took the IAC Championship on a chilly Saturday afternoon and evening. The girls took the championship in a scoreless game that led to double overtime.

Our Girls Varsity Swim Team had to overcome many obstacles this season relating to some expected project improvements to the pool as well as some unexpected repairs to the pool. However, they persevered and took second place in the IAC Championship.

We are very proud of all of our athletes!

Homecoming 2019

Core Beliefs: A Safe, JOYFUL, and Nurturing Environment Promotes Learning and Growth. Positive Relationships and Partnerships are Essential.  

The theme of this year's Homecoming was "Return of the Pride". The week prior to Friday night's Homecoming Game and Saturday's Homecoming Dance is Spirit Week. Each day, students and staff enjoyed dressing in attire that matched the day's theme which included Disney Day, Red, White, and Blue, and Purple and White Day. 

The traditional Homecoming Pep Rally was held in the High School Friday afternoon and featured games, teacher dances, cheerleader performances, and the Homecoming Court. We want to publicly thank Mrs. Savoie for all of her work organizing the Pep Rally as well as Mr. Lee for his coordination of the teacher dances. The students remarked that the pep rally was the best they had ever had  during their school career. #LionPride ws on full display. 
Friday night prior to the game, students and families could partake in games, eat cotton candy and dunk Mr. Webb, Mr. Colunio, and Mr. Bacigalupi in a dunk tank. 

We also want to publicly thank Mr. Dobush, a parent, who volunteers his time each year to build a display that matches the theme. This year he constructed a full size replica of "Pride Rock" from Disney's The Lion King. In addition, we want to thank the many parent volunteers who helped create an amazing Homecoming experience for our families. 


Homecoming 2019 culminated in the Homecoming Dance held at the High School on Saturday night. We are already thinking, plotting and planning for Homecoming 2020, so get your #LionPride and Purple ready! 

For now, we are going to let our Lion rest up for Basketball Season. We will see you on center court in just a few short weeks.



"Off Their Rockers" 

Core Belief: Positive Partnerships and Relationships are Essential. 

The Dryden Central School District has been blessed with generations of talented, quick witted, and joyful staff members that have served our students and our District well. A couple of times a week, a group of retired staff members who have named their group "Off Their Rockers" meet at restaurants in Dryden to share a meal, catch up on their lives, and LAUGH!

Mr. Bacigalupi has been able to join them on occasion, and he is able to keep them caught up on all the happenings in the District. We are proud to call this group Lions and the pride they have for their work, each other, and our District is undeniable. We are so grateful to this group and everything they did and continue to do for our District and community. They embody #LionPride



Art Display and National High School Film Festival

Core Belief: We Encourage Creativity, Problem Solving and Innovation. 

If you have a chance, please stop by the Dryden Community Cafe to see artwork on display created by Dryden students and staff. There are paintings, drawings, and pottery in the exhibit. 

We also want to recognize Spencer Strickland, an Art Student at Dryden High School, who's film was chosen to represent New York State at the National High School Film Festival in New York City in October. We are very proud of Spencer and his work. He is a credit to his community and our District! 

Board of Education Appreciation Week

Core Belief: Positive Relationship and Partnerships are Essential.

The week of October 21 was National Board of Education Appreciation Week. 

Throughout the week each department and school shared with the Board their appreciation for all the work that our nine member board of education members do to ensure the fair governance and fiscal viability of our District. 

Board of Education members volunteer their time and sacrifice a great deal in service to the Dryden Central School District. We appreciate everything they do! 

Volante Field Capital Improvement Project

Core Belief: We Act with Integrity and Accountability. We have High Expectations for All. A Safe, Joyful and Nurturing Environment Promotes Learning and Growth. 

We are pleased to announce that through the use of  the District's Capital Reserve Fund and NYS Building Aid, we are proposing a referendum to the voter to reconsider installing a multi-purpose synthetic field in place of our grass field. 

The new field would be lined for football, soccer and lacrosse. The new field would not be at any additional cost to the taxpayer unlike the last time the public was asked to consider a referendum on the matter. The new field would offer the District and its students more versatility, more programming options, and be a point of community pride. The field would be accessible to the community and the Town of Dryden Recreation Programs.  

The vote on the referendum for the proposed field will be on December 10, 2019. You can find additional information on the proposed work, dates and times for public information nights, and the times that polls are open on December 10 by clicking on this link: Volante Field Capital Improvement Project.


Apple for the Teacher Award Recognition

Core Belief: We have High Expectations for All. Students Come First. 

We are extremely proud of Lori Welsh, a high school teacher, who was nominated for and won a 2019 Apple for the Teacher Award this past month.

Ms. Welsh embodies the core belief that our students come first. She is always looking for new and creative way to help our students access the curriculum and learn essential teachings.

Ms. Welsh is #LionPride!


Superintendent Coffee Break

Core Belief: Positive Relationships and Partnerships are Essential. We act with Integrity and Accountability. 

Please consider stopping by the Dryden Dunkin Donuts from 4-7 PM on Monday, November 25, 2019 to meet with Mr. Bacigalupi and share any feedback you have about the Dryden Central School District!

We look forward to seeing you and enjoy some donuts and time together!



United States Representative Thomas Reed

Core Belief: Positive Relationships and Partnerships are Essential.

The District was pleased to welcome Unites States Representative Thomas Reed to the District at the beginning of October. Representative Reed spent time touring areas under construction that are related to the capital improvement  project. He also met with high school students and answered questions that they had prepared for him. 

The majority of the Dryden Central School District sits in Representative Reed's congressional district. We were honored to have had time with our representative to the Federal Government as well as make him an honorary Lion for the day!