PBL Junior High School will hold picture retakes this Thursday, November 12th.
If your student would like their picture retaken, please have them bring their original photo package back to school and give it to the photographer. Retakes will be completed at no additional cost.
New orders can also be placed online at https://inter-state.com/FlyerEntry using order code 0529JED.
Our incredible cast and crew are ready to take the stage one last time this afternoon. There is still time to dive into the adventure with Paxton-Buckley-Loda Junior High’s production of Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr.
Grab your family and friends and come out to support these talented students for their final performance!
Final Show: Today (Sunday, November 8) at 2:00 PM — Doors open at 1:30 PM
Location: PBL High School Gymnasium (700 W. Orleans St., Paxton, IL)
Admission: $5 per person (purchased at the door)
50/50 Drawing: Raffle tickets will be available for purchase before the show, with the lucky winner drawn at the end of the performance!
Concessions: Delicious snacks and drinks available for purchase!
Note for Cast & Crew Families:
Following the performance and "strike" (cleaning up and putting everything away), the musical cast and crew will celebrate with a party full of food and treats in the Commons Area!
In 8th Grade ELA, our students are currently reading All Quiet on the Western Front as part of our Wit & Wisdom curriculum. The novel helps students understand World War I and see what life was really like for soldiers on the front lines.
To help bring the book to life, our 8th grade teachers teamed up for a special combined activity in the library on Wednesday, November 4th. Miss Soto, Mrs. Harrison, Mrs. Greiff, and Mrs. Marquis-Bruns worked alongside Miss Bruens to guide students through five hands-on stations:
WWI Technology Timeline: A cut-and-sort activity tracking the new weapons and tools used during the war.
Module 2 Crossword: A fun way to review their unit vocabulary words.
Trench Drawings & Diagrams: Students drew a diagram of what the trenches actually looked during WWI.
Letters from the Front: Students stepped into a soldier’s shoes and wrote a personal letter or journal entry about daily life in the trenches.
Virtual Reality Headsets: Students wore VR headsets to take a virtual walk through the trenches and experience them up close.
It was a fantastic collaborative day for both students and staff, giving everyone a much clearer picture of what life was like in the trenches during World War I.
Opening night was a splash, and our incredible cast and crew are ready to take the stage again tonight! If you missed yesterday’s performance, there is still time to dive into the adventure with Paxton-Buckley-Loda Junior High’s production of Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr.
Grab your family and friends and come out to support these talented students!
Location: PBL High School Gymnasium (700 W. Orleans St., Paxton, IL)
Admission: $5 per person (purchased at the door)
50/50 Drawing: Raffle tickets will be available for purchase before the show, with the lucky winner drawn at the end of the performance!
Concessions: Delicious snacks and drinks available for purchase!
Remaining Performances & Door Times:
Tonight (Saturday, November 7) at 7:00 PM — Doors open at 6:30 PM
Tomorrow (Sunday, November 8) at 2:00 PM — Doors open at 1:30 PM (Final Show!)
On Friday, November 6th, our 7th & 8th grade band students and high school band students gathered in the PBL High School Gymnasium for a special performance by the Eastern Illinois University Faculty Woodwind Quintet, featuring PBL alumnus Professor Evan Tammen. Thank you to Mr. Joshua Breen and Mrs. Dayna Breen for coordinating this wonderful opportunity for our students!
Today, the music continues at Olivet Nazarene University for the ILMEA District 3 Jazz Festival. Best of luck to the two students representing PBL:
Carson Langley – High School Jazz II
Rex Reber – Junior High Jazz II
Congratulations to PBL Junior High's Casey Knoll, named The News-Gazette’s Teacher of the Week!
18 Years at PBL JH: Mrs. Knoll has dedicated her entire teaching career to PBL Junior High, guiding students through critical years of learning and growth.
Why Her Work Matters: Middle school is a transformative time, and she believes every child deserves an advocate who celebrates their growth, encourages their goals, and boosts their self-confidence.
Why She Chose To Become a Teacher: She entered education to help kids problem-solve in and out of the classroom, loving that junior high brings a lively, unpredictable environment where no two days are ever alike.
Join us in celebrating Mrs. Knoll for this well-deserved recognition! (Read the full feature on news-gazette.com)
The cast and crew at Paxton-Buckley-Loda Junior High take the stage tomorrow evening for Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr. Our students have poured their hearts into this high-energy, fun-filled production, and they can’t wait to bring your favorite ocean characters and songs to life.
Grab your family and friends, pick a performance, and come out to support these incredible young performers this weekend!
Location: PBL High School Gymnasium
Doors: Open 30 minutes before each showtime
Admission: $5 per person (cash only)
Concessions: Tasty snacks and drinks available before the show and during intermission!
Showtimes:
Friday, November 6 at 7:00 PM (Opening Night!)
Saturday, November 7 at 7:00 PM
Sunday, November 8 at 2:00 PM (Matinee)
We are so proud of these girls and all they have accomplished. We'd like to recognize their hard work, dedication, and the memories made along the way.
This week, the PBL Junior High Student Council is proudly celebrating Red Ribbon Week!
Today’s spirit theme was Multiples Day, where students teamed up in pairs and groups to match outfits under the motto: "Matched by Choice, United in Purpose: Together We Stay Drug-Free." From twin outfits to full matching squads, our hallways were buzzing with school spirit, creativity, and unity. It was an incredible day highlighting the power of standing together for a positive cause.
Check out all the fun highlights and creative group looks in our Multiples Day Photo Album!
Good Luck to 8th Grade Girls Basketball in the TCC 3rd Place Game!
Join us in cheering on our 8th grade girls basketball team tonight as they compete for 3rd place in the Twin County Conference Tournament!
Matchup: vs. Cissna Park Junior High
Date & Time: Tonight at 6:45 PM (bus departs at 5:30pm)
Location: GCMS Middle School
Come out, pack the stands, and show your support. Good luck, girls!
Reminder - Orland Park Dental Services will be at the Junior High and High School this Friday! 🦷 There is still time to sign up for a no-cost dental exam and cleaning. This fulfills the mandatory 6th and 9th grade ISBE school dental requirement—no missed work, no driving, and no missed school. Complete your registration online via the link or have your student return the paper form sent home.
Our Student Council Red Ribbon Week is underway at PBL Junior High, and Student Council wants to remind everyone about our remaining spirit days and our annual poster contest!
Remaining Dress-Up Days:
Wednesday, Oct 28 – Multiples Day: Grab a friend or group and dress alike!
"Matched by Choice, United in Purpose: Together We Stay Drug-Free."
Thursday, Oct 29 – Sports Team Day: Wear your favorite jersey, shirt, or hat.
“Play the Game, Guard Your Future—Stay Drug-Free for the Win!”
Friday, Oct 30 – PBL Spirit Day: Show your Panther pride in Blue & Gold!
“Our School Chooses to Be Drug-Free.”
Advisory Poster Contest:
Theme: “Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug-Free.” (Must be written on the poster)
Paper: Pick up official poster paper in the JH office.
Deadline: Due to Mrs. Reber by the end of advisory on Friday, November 6th.
Prizes: One advisory winner per grade level, plus an overall school winner who earns a pizza party!
You can review our kickoff slides anytime via the Student Council Red Ribbon Week Presentation.
– PBL Junior High Student Council
Keeping Our Students Safe Online - Digital Safety Presentations at PBL Junior High
Today, our 6th grade social studies classes welcomed School Resource Officer Ryan and Officer Colon from the Paxton Police Department for an important presentation on Digital Safety.
With cell phones, apps, and social media platforms playing such a massive role in our students' daily lives, understanding how to navigate the digital world safely has never been more critical. Officers Ryan and Colon had candid, age-appropriate discussions with students about the real-world dangers of the internet—from location sharing and predatory behavior to viral challenges and online scams—emphasizing four core safety practices:
Think Before You Post: Understanding that comments, photos, and videos never truly disappear once shared on social media or group chats, creating a permanent digital footprint that can impact friendships, high school opportunities, and future careers.
Keep Passwords Private: Protecting personal identity and online accounts by keeping passwords confidential—even from close friends—to prevent unauthorized access, identity theft, and hacked accounts.
Report Cyberbullying: Looking out for peers by refusing to participate in mean group chats, negative comment sections, or targeted harassment, and speaking up immediately to a trusted adult or officer when harmful behavior occurs online.
Verify Your Sources: Staying alert to the dangers of communicating with strangers across social apps, recognizing deceptive profiles, phishing scams, and suspicious links, and ensuring that information shared on phones and the internet is trustworthy and safe.
This important safety series will continue across our other grade levels during their social studies classes:
8th Grade Classes: Tuesday, November 3rd
7th Grade Classes: Tuesday, November 10th
A big thank you to Officer Ryan, Officer Colon, and the Paxton Police Department for partnering with PBL Junior High to help our students make smart choices and stay protected online!
PBL Junior High School is proud to announce that all students passed all 1st quarter courses—marking zero failing grades across the entire school!
To honor this outstanding effort, we will host Sundae Monday on Monday, October 26th, in the Commons during grade level lunches for students.
Students: Vanilla, chocolate, cookies & cream, and allergy-friendly (dairy-free/gluten-free) options will be served when tables are called.
Staff: All faculty and staff are welcome to join and enjoy a treat during lunch periods.
Congratulations to our students on an exceptional start to the academic year!
GET READY, PBL JUNIOR HIGH!
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and we have an exciting week lined up to promote respect, inclusion, and positive choices across our school.
To kick things off, students will spend time during Advisory on Monday, October 19th discussing our upcoming assembly as well as other events throughout October that support National Bullying Prevention Month. Then, on Tuesday, October 20th at 10:15am, the Junior High Gym will host the Go Big BMX Air Show!
During this event, pro athletes will perform high-flying BMX stunts while sharing inspiring messages focused on anti-bullying, respecting others, living your dreams, and staying motivated.
We extend a huge thank you to the PBL Education Foundation for sponsoring and funding this incredible experience for our students!
