PAXTON, IL — On Thursday, May 7th, the hallways of PBL Junior High were filled with the curious faces of future Panthers as 5th grade students from Clara Peterson Elementary arrived for the annual 5th Grade Tour. This tradition serves as a bridge for students preparing to transition from elementary to junior high, offering a sneak peek into the exciting environment awaiting them next year.
A Musical Welcome and Shared Traditions
The visit kicked off with a sense of community as the 5th graders joined the junior high students and staff for lunch and recess. To make the meal even more memorable, the PBL Junior High Jazz Band played, providing a high-energy environment for the guests. The performance showcased the musical talent of our older students and set a welcoming tone for the afternoon.
Student-Led Creativity
This year’s tour was particularly special as it was designed and facilitated by the enrichment students from Mrs. Sawyer’s class. These students worked hard to develop a creative theme and organized the day's activities to ensure their younger peers felt right at home.
The 5th graders participated in three main rotations:
Building Tours: Navigating the hallways and other key areas at the junior high.
Q&A Panel: Held in the library, where students could ask our panel about "a day in the life" of a junior high student.
The Art Room Challenge: A fun, interactive game where students learned fun facts about the school and staff while competing for prizes.
Special Digital Features
The Enrichment students went above and beyond this year, creating digital content and being creative.
Click here to view the special video created by students, which the Library Q&A session featured.
Click here to access the game students created to review key people and details about the junior high.
Click here to view the photos from the day with the 5th Grade Tour.
Looking Ahead: Information for Incoming 6th Grade Families
It was an incredible day of building relationships and easing the nerves that often come with moving to a new building. We are so proud of our enrichment students for their leadership and can’t wait to see these 5th graders back in our halls as official junior high students this fall.
As we look toward the 2026-2027 school year, we will soon begin communicating directly with incoming 6th grade parents through Skyward. Please keep an eye on your account for updates regarding school supply lists, Back to School Night, summer office hours, and other important transition milestones as our 5th graders move into the junior high in early June.
We understand that moving to a new building can be a big step. To help ease the transition and build trusting relationships with familiar faces, we offer additional tours for students and families throughout the summer months.
We can't wait to officially welcome our new class this fall. We know there might be some first-day jitters, but we always tell our new 6th grade students: "By lunchtime, you will love our school and all the new and exciting opportunities!"