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The Panther Post

September 2024 Monthly Newsletter

The Panther PostSeptember 2024 Monthly Newsletter

Off to a GREAT Start!

Dear Pleasant Hill Staff & Families~


Our 2024-2025 school year is off to a GREAT start. Our Panthers are feeling SO much POSITIVE energy. We have spent a great deal of time in the last three weeks focusing on our PBIS system and school-wide expectations. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a framework that assists schools in creating safe and positive learning environments for all students. Feel free to click on this LINK to learn more about the PBIS system so you can have a better understanding of the ways we are integrating it here at PH.


Our staff has invested a great deal of time learning more about restorative practices and how we can integrate them into our environment here at PH to create and sustain a positive learning environment. Please click on this LINK to learn more about restorative practices. We would love for you to join us for a parent education class on Tuesday, September 3rd from 5:00-6:00 where you will gain knowledge about restorative practices and get the opportunity to engage in some make it take it activities. Don't forget dinner, childcare, and free haircuts will be provided.


Yours In Education,


Dr. Lisa Weaver

Superintendent

Please Help Us Welcome Our Newest Staff Member

Reminders

  • All buses will arrive at 7:45 AM and depart at 2:45 PM. Walker/car riders will be dismissed at 2:45 PM after the buses leave. Please remember if you are picking up your child that you must remain in your car, follow the line, and Ms. Phillips or Mrs. Griffin will bring your child out to you.
  • If there is a change in dismissal for your child, the school office must receive a note by 9:00 AM stating those changes (i.e. If your child is riding the bus home with a friend, you and the parent of the friend will need to write a note stating that change and have your child turn it into the office first thing in the morning). We work hard to keep dismissal procedures consistent for the safety of all students. Therefore, changes should be kept to a minimum. Daily changes to dismissal procedures will NOT be accepted through phone calls, only through hand-written notes. Please make arrangements to pick your child up at the bus stop.
  • If your child is absent from school, it is very important that you call the school 309-637-6829 to report the absence. You may be directed to speak with our district nurse, Ms. Naugle, in regards to your child's illness.
  • Students must be in uniform each and every day. Just a reminder that skirts, skorts, dresses, jeans, and jackets are NOT allowed. Students can wear long sleeve polo shirts, long sleeve cardigan or crew neck sweaters, and/or Panther crew neck sweatshirts or quarter zip shirts.
  • Just a reminder if you are a parent of a student playing a sport, we ask that you volunteer a minimum of 2 games, whether it be at the concession stand, keeping score in the book, running the clock, or working the admission gate. It is essential we secure parent volunteers in order to host successful sporting events. So, we would love to have any volunteers! Just click on the LINK to sign up!

September Webinar Opportunity -- Sign-Up!

Sep 17, 6pm: Social Media & Youth Mental Health: What to Know, What to Do

16 de oct, 6pm: Redes Sociales y Salud Mental Juvenil: Qué Saber y Qué Hacer


Social media use by young people is nearly universal, with up to 95% of youth ages 13-17 reporting using a social media platform and more than a third saying they use social media “almost constantly” (U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory).

Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in guiding how children and teens use social media. But starting that conversation can be hard. How can we engage young people in useful conversations and help instill healthy habits? What are some roadblocks to avoid?

Join Cartwheel and Dr. Ilan Shapiro in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health for an engaging webinar on one of the most pressing youth mental health topics today. Learn how to engage your child in meaningful discussions, set healthy boundaries, and support their well-being in the digital age.

Notes from the Nurse

Hello everyone and happy new school year!


It is great to have all of the students back in the building! I missed them all SO much!!! Welcome to all of our new Panther families as well!! I am so excited you are part of our family!


School nursing is my passion and I am committed to doing my best to ensure the health and safety of your student (s)! Here are some highlights of my focus as we begin our year:


Physicals and Immunizations: Thank you to parents/guardians of our Pre-K, Kindergarten and 6th grade students for getting your student ready for school and turning their physicals and immunizations in. If you are new and just starting at Pleasant Hill, you have 30 days to get them in.


Dental Exams: All Kindergarten, 2nd and 6th grade students MUST have a dental exam. Please schedule these appointments as soon as possible and turn in the exam form when complete. Also, remember to have your students brush their teeth every morning and before bed every night!


Eye exams: All Kindergarten students MUST have a vision exam. Please schedule these appointments as soon as possible and turn in the exam form when complete. It is very important to get these exams done early so we know if your student is having any vision problems that can impact learning.


Classroom education: I have visited each classroom and introduced myself to new students and re-connected with returning students. We talked about ways to have a good healthy start to the school year, including appropriate bed times per age and other healthy bedtime habits. We also talked about proper hand washing and the 7 reasons/times to come see me. We also focused on self care in the classroom for students 3-8.


Students who are sick: If your student is sick or has been sick in the past 24 hours, please keep them home and call me.


Students MUST BE fever free and vomiting free for a FULL 24 HOURS before they can return to school.


If your child tests positive for COVID-19, keep them home. They MUST BE fever free for a full 24 hours AND symptoms must be improving. BOTH NEED TO BE PRESENT. They must wear a mask for 5 days after testing positive.😷


Please feel free to call me at 637-6829 or email me at nurse@phill69.com.


~Kamee Naugle, BSN, RN, NCSN

District Nurse

SEPTEMBER FAMILY FUN NIGHT!!!

Thanks to ALL our PH Families who came out for PARTY on the PLAYGROUND!

Parent Education Opportunities

AimsWeb Plus & NWEA Map Assessments

In the upcoming two weeks, students in K-2 will complete Fall benchmark AimsWeb Plus Benchmark Assessment and 3rd through 8th grades will complete the Fall MAP Benchmark Assessment. PH students will take the AimsWeb Plus & MAP benchmark test three times this year: fall, winter, and spring. Taking three benchmark tests allows us to track both individual and grade level progress throughout the year. The students take both a Math and English Language Arts assessment. These assessment scores help our staff check and monitor student performance by measuring achievement and growth. Staff use the assessment results to help drive classroom instruction and set individual goals for students. The assessments assist our teachers in differentiating instruction to meet individual student academic needs. When it comes to MAP, depending on your child's responses, the assessment adjusts accordingly. The next question is more challenging if your child answers a question correctly. If your child answers incorrectly, the next one question is easier. These results provide in-depth information about your child's knowledge and learning readiness.

Community Impact Day

It was so great seeing Pleasant Hill students at Mr. Tate's Masters of the Simple community impact day on August 10. Thanks Mr. Tate for hosting an event to bring students and their families together in the community.

Visit to PH

A huge thank you goes out to Mrs. Kerry Klesath, the Director of SEAPCO (Special Education Association of Peoria County), for taking time to do a site visit here at Pleasant Hill. We are so thankful you were able to meet our staff and students and see some of the great things that are taking place here.

City on a Hill Community Picnic

The members of City on a Hill also hosted a community picnic on August 10. Many of our Pleasant Hill families attended this event. They had the opportunity to enjoy bouncy houses, great music from DJ Will, delicious food, and network with members of the community and City on a Hill Church.

School Safety Drill Act

All school districts are required by the State of Illinois to engage in mandatory safety drills throughout the school year. These drills are reviewed and practiced with our students in developmentally appropriate ways so they can be prepared in the event of a true emergency. Pleasant Hill's safety drills are scheduled for the following dates:

  • Severe Weather Drill (1)- September 15
  • Bus Evacuation Drill (1)- August 20
  • Fire Drills (3)- August 9, September 9 Fire Department Present, April/May TBA
  • Law Enforcement/Lockdown Drill (1)- September 12-This drill will be done with law enforcement in attendance and is age and developmentally appropriate for all students. It will also include trauma-informed approaches to address the concerns and well-being of students and school personnel. During this time, staff will shut off lights and lock doors. The officers and Dr. Weaver and Mrs. Priller will ensure that all classrooms are secure and students are not visible. Parents that wish to opt their students out should have signed the exemption form in the letter that was sent home on August 26 by Dr. Weaver.

Upcoming Events

  • September 1-Happy Birthday Romeo (5th Grade)
  • September 2-Labor Day-No School
  • September 3-Restorative Practices Parent Education Class-FREE dinner, childcare, & haircuts-Happy Birthday Michael (3rd Grade) & Shaydon (4th Grade)
  • September 4-Early Dismissal @ 1:30
  • September 5-FALL PICTURE DAY
  • September 6-4th and 5th Grade Field Trip to Tanner's Orchard 9:00-1:45-First Quarter Progress Reports Sent Home
  • September 7-Happy Birthday Ryker (3rd Grade)
  • September 8-Happy Birthday Ms. Tomlins
  • September 9-Junior High Field Trip to Bradley University & Shea Stadium 8:15-1:30-Happy Birthday Kaiden (8th Grade)
  • September 11-Early Dismissal @ 1:30-Happy Birthday Ayaan (5th Grade)
  • September 12-Lockdown Drill with Peoria County Sheriff's Office
  • September 15-Happy Birthday David (5th Grade)
  • September 16-Girls Basketball Game @ Peoria Heights 4:30
  • September 18-Early Dismissal @ 1:30
  • September 19-Girls Basketball Game @ PH vs. Morton Blessed Sacrament 5:00
  • September 20-Happy Birthday Nancy (8th Grade)
  • September 21-Happy Birthday Mrs. Beyer & Isaac (8th Grade)
  • September 24-Family Fun Night-Girls Basketball Game Pack the Place 5:00-Board of Education Meeting/Public Meeting for Budget Hearing 6:00
  • September 25-NO SCHOOL for Bright Futures PK Students-Mrs. Shook & Ms. Bash's Field Trip to Blue Ridge Farm 10:00-1:00-Girls Basketball Game @ Parkview 4:30
  • September 26-Happy Birthday Arionna (7th Grade)
  • September 27-Early Dismissal @ 1:30-Happy Birthday Roselyn (6th Grade)
  • September 29-Happy Birthday Kelly (8th Grade)
  • September 30-Happy Birthday Lyric (6th Grade)
Lisa Weaver
Lisa is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters