Paxton-Buckley-Loda Junior High

🏃🏼PBL JH Cross Country season begins next week! If you have questions please reach out to JH Athletic Director, Lindsey Alred at lalred@pblpanthers.org ~ Go Panthers!

Online Registration will be live on Monday starting at 3pm! Check out our walkthrough video and supply lists for your student.

https://bit.ly/PBLStudentRegistration

https://bit.ly/PBLSupplyLists

For those that may need assistance with registration fees please fill out this form:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DFRdGLnJtXAsFg6AL_LcLWNlsC0bkWYa/view?usp=sharing

Excited to see you back!

⚾️ PBL JH Baseball season is right around the corner! If you have questions please reach out to JH Athletic Director, Lindsey Alred at lalred@pblpanthers.org ~ Go Panthers!

Join Our Team at PBL!

PBL is hiring for the 2025-2026 school year! We are looking for dedicated and passionate individuals to fill the following positions:

High School English Language Arts

Junior High Custodian (Immediate Hire!)

Elementary ESL

Elementary 5th Grade

Ready to make a difference? Apply today!

For more information and to submit your application, please visit https://www.pblunit10.com/o/pbl-cusd-10/page/careers-at-pbl

Join our team! Paxton-Buckley-Loda CUSD 10 is hiring for a variety of positions for the 2025-2026 school year, with select roles available for immediate start. We are seeking certified teachers for openings in English, Math, Special Education, Art, and Music, as well as dedicated paraprofessionals. To view all available opportunities and apply to become part of our Panther community, please visit our careers page: https://www.pblunit10.com/o/pbl-cusd-10/page/careers-at-pbl

🥎 PBL JH Softball try-outs are coming soon! Go Panthers!

Come join us for our Softball camp! Make sure to fill out the form and turn it in to our High School Office. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aUwenZCMRkZkeurnKyBG1uTXpZv7h8lU4gLWzMwetD4/edit?usp=sharing

Congratulations to our 4th quarter PBL Junior High School straight A honor roll and honor roll recipients. Great job, Panthers!

On Friday, May 23rd and Saturday, May 24th the PBL Junior High School track team competed at the IESA State Track Meet in East Peoria. The PBL Junior High School boys track team had 6th grader Tomasi Suuava compete in the shot put. Tomasi Suaava finished 17th overall in 7th grade shot with a throw of 35’ 1.25” which was a new PR for Tomasi. He was one of three 6th graders competing at the state meet. The boys track team also had 8th grader Hunter Shedd compete in long jump, 100 m dash, and 200 m dash. Hunter Shedd finished 6th in long jump with a jump of 18’ 4.5,” 10th overall in the 100 m dash with a time of 11.91 with a new PR, and 9th overall in the 200 m dash with a time of 24.45. Hunter finished his junior high school track career as a four time state medalist between his 7th and 8th grade seasons. The girls track team had 7th grader Grace Johnson compete in the 100 m dash. Grace Johnson finished 4th overall with a time of 13.5. This was Grace’s first time medaling at the state track meet. The 7th grade team also had their 4x100 m relay compete at the state meet. This relay consisted of Grace Johnson, Ella Withers, Morgan Loschen, Anna Reber, and alternate Karson Quinlan. The team finished 20th overall with a time of 57.10. We are extremely proud of our state competitors on their accomplishments this season. Please visit the google photos link to see highlights from the state send off and the state track meet! https://photos.app.goo.gl/p4u6QPP7NePNkhDF6

The PBL Junior High School's 8th Grade Recognition event is today on Thursday, May 22nd, at 9:00 AM in the school gymnasium. Doors open at 8:15 AM for all parents, family, and guests; please enter through the north end of the school. We'll honor each 8th grader with a certificate, acknowledging their journey through junior high. Immediately following the ceremony, join us in the Commons for a reception with cupcakes and water, perfect for photos and farewells. All 8th graders also have free admission to the Hudz Family Fun Zone today from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM! Students can then go home or stay for games and Dilly Bars, sponsored by the Student Council. Please note: Friday, May 23rd, is not a required school day for 8th graders, but teachers will be available for one-on-one help with assignments.

8th grade students in Mrs. Harrison and Miss Soto's ELA classes were awarded certificates to represent the four modules they studied throughout the school year. The Crossover: Improving ELA skills from beginning to the end of the year All Quiet on the Western Front: Setting examples through work and dedication A Midsummer Night's Dream: Passion and enthusiasm for writing and literature Claudette Colvin: Strong leadership through thoughtful perspective

Join us in celebrating the retirements of two long-standing and truly amazing members of our school family: Kara Harrison and Kristin Oyer! Kara has been a pillar of our 7th Grade Math department for years, shaping countless minds with her dedication. Kristin, our invaluable High School Guidance Counselor, also served as a dedicated teacher, guiding so many students toward their futures. Beyond their crucial roles in academics and counseling, both Kara and Kristen extended their commitment by serving as dedicated volleyball coaches, inspiring countless athletes on and off the court. Though Kristin isn't in these photos, their combined dedication to our students for so many years is truly remarkable. Their impact will be felt for generations. We wish them all the best in their next chapter and congratulate them on their well-deserved retirements!

Student council took a field trip to Elevate! We had a great time jumping and even had a few real games of dodgeball going!

Our celebration continues...PBL JH, despite the weather, had a great time this morning celebrating our track and field state qualifiers. Good luck to the team & coaches at the state meet this Friday and Saturday in East Peoria at Eastside Centre.

The PBL JH 8th Grade Recognition is set for this Thursday, May 22nd, at 9:00 AM in the PBL Junior High School Gym. Following the event, we'll host a small reception in the Commons Area. This is a chance for 8th grade students, parents/families, and staff to enjoy cupcakes and water, take pictures, and share final goodbyes. After the reception, 8th grade students are welcome to go home with their parents or stay for the remainder of the school day. The fun doesn't stop there! On Thursday, Hudz Family Fun Zone in downtown Paxton will be open exclusively for our 8th grade students from 10:30 AM until 2:30 PM, with free admission.

On Friday, May 16th, students from the Junior High Life Skills class celebrated the end of the year with a trip to Hudz Zone. Students used money earned from the JH school store that they helped facilitate weekly during the school year. Students and staff had a great time playing arcade games, skeeball, basketball, air hockey and winning prizes from the claw machines. Check out the link for pictures from the fun time had by all: https://photos.app.goo.gl/VrZStejGZ15kw8mk8.

On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, PBL and GCMS 8th grade students had the opportunity to dive into the world of trades, getting their hands dirty and learning about the many exciting career paths available in the trades industry. From carpentry to welding, electrical work to plumbing, and more, students explored real-world skills, worked alongside professionals, and discovered the endless possibilities a career in the trades can offer! A huge thank you to all the instructors and tradespeople who made this event possible – your passion and expertise are inspiring the next generation of skilled workers. Please see the folder with pictures from this inspiring day: https://photos.app.goo.gl/okQuExiqy2rnbXT7A

We are looking to add to our team for the 2025-2026 school year with some positions available immediately. https://www.pblunit10.com/o/pbl-cusd-10/page/careers-at-pbl