Educator of the Year - Crystal Apple Award: This year, every school in our district will honor one teacher with the Educator of the Year – Crystal Apple Award, proudly sponsored by Horace Mann. A nomination form will soon be emailed to all staff members; please use this form to provide the teacher's name and school, your reasons for the nomination, and specific examples of their exceptional teaching skills, dedication to students, and positive impact on the learning environment. All nominations must be submitted by Friday, May 1st, and the winners will be announced during our all district meeting in the Commons Area on Tuesday, May 26th, as we gather to close out the 2025-2026 school year.
On Tuesday, February 17, 2026 our 8th grade students participated in our annual PBL Junior High School Career Fair. Mrs. Johnson collaborated with the PBL community to allow for our students to have small group conversations with a variety of professionals to discuss different aspects of their career. In the afternoon the 8th graders spent time in different sessions led by PBL high school students learning about different programming options at the high school. We are grateful for all of the time and energy that Mrs. Johnson put into collaborating with the community, staff, and students to make this day successful. We also want to thank the Paxton Masonic Lodge #416 and the PBL Education Foundation for providing donuts and lunch for our presenters. Please check out the Google Photo Link for pictures from PBL 8th grade Career Day.
1 day ago, Taylor Flynn
PBL Junior High Chorus - Winter Interlude Concert
We are delighted to invite you to the PBL Junior High Chorus Winter Interlude Concert. Mrs. Howard, our Junior High Chorus Director, and her students have been working incredibly hard to prepare for this winter showcase of talented singers.
When: Thursday, February 26th
Time: 7:00 PM
Where: PBL High School Gymnasium
Student Arrival: Chorus students should arrive at 6:15pm to prepare for the concert.
We will have plenty of seating available and invite everyone to join us. We thank you for your ongoing support of our students and our chorus program. We look forward to seeing you there!
1 day ago, Josh Didier
Calling all 8th grade parents! Join us on Wednesday, February 25th, at 6:00pm in the PBL JH Commons Area to discuss plans for this year's dance.
This event is organized by parents with school support, and all funds raised will go directly to the Class of 2030 to assist in their fundraising for future high school events like prom and more. If you're interested in helping, planning, and hearing more, please join us!
3 days ago, Josh Didier
Make sure to sign up! On March 2nd, we will host a free dental clinic on campus for all junior high and high school students. This is a convenient opportunity for parents of students entering 6th and 9th grade, who are required to submit proof of a dental examination by May 15, 2026. Because these exams remain valid for 18 months, this clinic will fulfill those upcoming school requirements.
Through a partnership between Orland Park Dental Services and the Illinois Department of Public Aid, licensed professionals will provide comprehensive care using portable equipment. Services include exams, cleanings, fluoride, sealants, and SDF treatments to stop decay. Please fill out the form linked below to sign up.
On Tuesday, February 17th, PBL Junior High will host its 8th Grade Career Fair. The event will begin in the junior gym with a keynote address from Phil Edwards, a motivational speaker and retired firefighter.
We are thrilled to welcome 45 community members who will share their professional experiences during five 25-minute roundtable sessions focused on careers in Central Illinois. In the afternoon, students will learn about future opportunities from current high schoolers involved in the ECCA Parkland Programs, the CEO Business Program, and the PBL Work Study Program.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the PBL Education Foundation and the Paxton Masonic Lodge #416 for sponsoring this event.
4 days ago, Josh Didier
On March 2nd, we will host a free dental clinic on campus for all junior high and high school students. This is a convenient opportunity for parents of students entering 6th and 9th grade, who are required to submit proof of a dental examination by May 15, 2026. Because these exams remain valid for 18 months, this clinic will fulfill those upcoming school requirements.
Through a partnership between Orland Park Dental Services and the Illinois Department of Public Aid, licensed professionals will provide comprehensive care using portable equipment. Services include exams, cleanings, fluoride, sealants, and SDF treatments to stop decay. Please fill out the form linked below to sign up.
Join us for the 37th Annual PBL FFA Farm Toy Show on Saturday, February 14, from 9:00 AM–2:30 PM at PBL High School!
This free, family-friendly event brings together farm toy collectors and dealers from across the region to celebrate agriculture past and present. Enjoy visiting vendor booths, collector displays, a children’s tractor pull at noon, a silent auction, and concessions served all day.
Don’t forget — this year’s feature tractor is the Case 430, and fewer than 25 remain. Once they’re gone, they’re gone!
Bring the whole family and spend the day exploring agriculture while supporting the PBL FFA Chapter. We hope to see you there!
11 days ago, Paxton Buckley Loda CUSD 10
PBL Junior High School yearbooks for the current school year are now available for order. You can purchase yours online for $20 at https://inter-state.com/YearbookEntry/0394GS. Payments can also be made via cash or check at the junior high main office. If you have any questions please call the junior high main office at 217-379-9202.
11 days ago, Josh Didier
🏆 It's another great day to be a Panther! Congratulations to PBL Junior High School 's Scholastic Bowl & 7th Grade Volleyball teams . Scholastic Bowl placed first at the Tri-Point Invitational. 7th Grade Volleyball took second at the Twin County Conference Tournament.
13 days ago, Lindsey Alred
🏅Track and Field sign ups are underway at PBL Junior High! Each student - athlete wishing to participate will need a current sports physical and insurance waiver on file prior to the start date. If you have questions please reach out to lalred@pblpanthers.org. Go Panthers~
15 days ago, Lindsey Alred
This week, we are recognizing the essential work of our school counselors: Stacy Johnson, Mindy Duley, and Lisa Niewold.
Thank you for your steady support, your advocacy for our students, and the dedication you bring to our school every day. We truly appreciate the impact you have on our community.
18 days ago, Paxton Buckley Loda CUSD 10
Congratulations to the PBL Junior High School Students of the Week for January 26th - January 30th. Great job, Panthers!
19 days ago, Josh Didier
Today we celebrated our Reading Challenge participants by hosting a Readers Breakfast in the PBL Junior High School library. Students enjoyed Casey's breakfast pizza and donuts from the bakery at Kirby Foods. We had 55 students participate this month in reading the nonfiction genre, which is our largest number of participants this year. Well done, Panthers! Thank you to the PBL Education Foundation for supporting our students and this program!
21 days ago, Taylor Flynn
On Wednesday, our Panther Pals at PBL Junior High gathered for a celebratory lunch. The group enjoyed a meal from Jimmy John’s and had a fantastic time together. The Panther Pals would like to thank the Paxton Masonic Lodge #416 for sponsoring the event and partnering with our junior high to support our students.
21 days ago, Paxton Buckley Loda CUSD 10
The 8th Grade Orientation/Parent meeting will be held on Wednesday evening, March 4th at 5:30 p.m. in the PBL commons area. All current eighth grade students and their parents or guardians are invited to attend. Students and parents will receive information about courses offered at PBL, graduation requirements, extra-curricular activities and general policies. Also, there will be an open house taking place at the high school as departments and extra-curricular groups will be accessible for questions. Tours of the building will also be available.
Please call the high school guidance office at 217-379-4331 ext. 2 with any questions.
21 days ago, Paxton Buckley Loda CUSD 10
Our 8th-grade students recently visited the high school for an immersive look at our Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. During their tour, they explored diverse pathways including Business & Technology, Agriculture, and Family & Consumer Sciences. It was a fantastic day of hands-on learning, topped off with some delicious cookies!
22 days ago, Paxton Buckley Loda CUSD 10
On Wednesday, January 28th, at 6:00pm, we will hold a meeting in the PBL JH Library to discuss plans for this year's 8th Grade Dance. All 8th grade parents interested in assisting with planning and organizing the dance are encouraged to attend. In previous years, 8th grade parents have organized this dance with the school's help. All money and proceeds will go to the Class of 2030 to support their fundraising efforts for high school events such as prom and more. If you are interested in assisting, please plan on joining us at 6:00pm on Wednesday, January 28th, in the PBL JH Library.
25 days ago, Josh Didier
Good afternoon, PBL families, students and staff. We will be eLearning tomorrow, Friday, January 23rd. We have dangerously low temperatures forecasted Friday with snow to follow especially on Sunday. Here is a summary for this weekend:
FRI: eLearning, no student activities, practices or games
SAT: proceed with scheduled activities as planned until 7pm. Dance postponed.
SUN: no facility use with anticipated heavy snowfall. Wishing you a safe Friday and weekend!
Jon Kilgore Interim Superintendent
29 days ago, Paxton Buckley Loda CUSD 10
Knight of Columbus - Free Throw Contest: The Knights of Columbus will be hosting their annual Free Throw Contest on Sunday, February 1st at PBL High School in the Gymnasium. The doors open at 12:00 p.m. for registration and warm ups, with the competition beginning at 12:30 p.m. Registration forms are posted in the boys and girls locker rooms. We have also posted the Context Flyer and Entry Form on the daily announcements.
