🍎 It’s Teacher Appreciation Week at PBL!
Our teachers are the heart of PBL School District. From sparking "lightbulb moments" in the classroom to being mentors, cheerleaders, and innovators, they go above and beyond every single day to support our students.
Now, it’s your turn to share gratitude and thanks for our teachers!
We’ve set up a Teacher Shoutout Form where you can leave a note of gratitude for a teacher who has made a difference in your child's life or our community. We will be sharing these messages with our staff throughout the week to show them just how much they mean to us.
📝 How to Participate:
Click the link below to access our Google Form.
Write a quick note highlighting a teacher’s hard work, a kind gesture, or a great classroom memory.
Hit submit and help us make their week unforgettable!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe7ojjKpocywXQLoJrEl8zETneLVQKNi95JOb33EeHQTtDLxg/viewform?usp=header
Why we appreciate our PBL Teachers:
They Inspire: Turning everyday lessons into lifelong passions.
They Care: Building a safe, supportive environment for every student.
They Lead: Dedicating countless hours to extracurriculars, coaching, and growth.
It is an exciting day of exploration at PBL Junior High School. Today, Wednesday, May 13th, is a day of discovery as 8th grade students from GCMS Middle School and PBL Junior High School participate in IGNITE. Taking place across the junior high and high school campuses, this event offers students a unique opportunity to engage in hands-on experiences across several essential trades.
Throughout the day, students rotate through ten different interactive stations—Precision Agriculture, Electricity, Iron Workers, Industrial Technology, Automotive, Surveying, Welding, Bricklaying, Carpentry, and Plumbing—to explore the various career paths available after high school graduation. We sincerely thank all the adults who came out today to showcase their trades, careers, and professional skill sets; their dedicated efforts ensure our students have an engaging and relevant day focused on the future. A big thank you to the generous support of our sponsors: the Early College & Career Academy at Parkland College, the East Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council, Gibson Area Hospital, Paxton Masonic Lodge #416, and the PBL Education Foundation.
From providing delicious meals and treats to donating raffle prizes and classroom supplies, your generosity reminded our staff that they have an entire village behind them. Because of you, our teachers felt seen, fueled, and deeply valued.
From the classrooms to the hallways, these dedicated professionals go above and beyond every single day. They aren't just educators; they are mentors, cheerleaders, and innovators who show up with passion and heart to help every student succeed. These staff members support our students by attending games, concerts, and every milestone in between. Thank you for all you do for our students and their futures!
Hallee Johnson broke the 300m Hurdle school record with a time of 46.82. She held the previous record at 48.24!
Hallee Johnson and Olivia Rehg both broke the school record in the 100m Hurdles. Hallee ran 16.18 and Olivia ran 16.47. The school record was previously held by Katelyn Crabb with a time of 16.57.
The combined effort of Audrey McCoy, Logan Loschen, Olivia Rehg and Hallee Johnson broke the 4x4 school record running 4:14.60. The previous school record was set in 1999 with a time of 4:14.94!
We are so proud of you all! It's another great day to be a Panther!
Thank You, Mr. Wright, Mr. Didier & Mrs. Eshleman!
Our bus garage crew truly does it all—from daily morning and afternoon routes to ensuring our students get to after-school sports and clubs safely. As a small token of our gratitude, the administration team dropped off fresh donuts yesterday morning to thank them for their dedication and service to our families.
To all of our drivers: Thank you for navigating our Panthers through every mile. Your hard work behind the wheel does not go unnoticed!
Join us for the End of the Year Choir Performance next week, Tuesday, May 5th at 7:00pm in the High School Gymnasium. Both Jr High and High School Choirs will perform and awards will be presented. Bring your cameras as we celebrate the wonderful work students have accomplished this year!
We are so proud of our Math Team, who competed at the state competition last weekend. The team placed 6th overall!
Team results were as follows:
Orals team - 1st place State Champions: Johnny Rodeen and Kayden Vance!
Pre-Calc. Team - 3rd place, with Dylan Otto placing 5th individually
Junior/Senior 8-Person Team - 4th place.
Geometry Team - 5th place
Algebra 1 Team - 6th place
Algebra 2 Team - 6th place, with Ava Reinhart placing 6th individually
Junior/Senior 2-Person Team - 6th place
Freshman/Sophomore 2-Person Team - 7th place
It's a GREAT day to be a Panther! Special thanks to our coaches, Mrs. Pickens and Mrs. Duley, for their investment into this program and these students. We are so thankful for both of you!
Mason Vaughan has been involved in football, basketball, track, NHS, FFA, and FBLA over the course of his high school career. He earned the Norm Henderson Award in football and was 2nd team all-conference running back in 2025. In track, he is also a three-time all-conference hurdler. Additionally, he is a 5-time all-state hurdler and 3-time all area honorable mention recipient.
Around school, Mason is an excellent student. He is kind, compassionate, and truly makes our entire school a better place.
When asked who has inspired his success, he said his coach, Tyler Rubarts. He has always been a trusted adult. Mr. Rubarts was a teacher to him, but also so much more. He is a great person and he is so thankful for his mentorship and leadership.
We wish Mason the best of luck as he pursues a degree in Sports Management and Recreation from ISU.
Olivia Rehg participated in basketball, volleyball, track, NHS, and FFA over the course of her high school career. She qualified for state four times in hurdles. She has maintained a 4.0 GPA and is an Illinois State Scholar.
In our school, Olivia is a highly respected student by her teachers and peers. She is an excellent teammate, always encouraging others and maintaining a positive attitude.
When asked who inspires her, she said Coach Porter. She has helped her improve her self-confidence and showed her how to shift her into a growth mindset.
Olivia will be greatly missed as she pursues a degree in Kinesiology and Physical Therapy from ISU.
