Pana CUSD 8

Panther Football Fans:

I was contacted this morning regarding a canned food drive event that is happening this weekend at Flora at the football game. They are asking if anyone that is coming to the game to donate a couple of canned food items to support the cause below. I will quote directly what I received this morning below.

"AD Cothern,

We have an amazing player in Flora that has been through a lot as a kid by the name of Gage Dugan. He beat cancer twice as a kid, but now has an autoimmune disease where he has to get a shot in St. Louis once every 3 months for the rest of his life. But, it doesn't slow him down because he plays football, basketball and baseball and is an incredible athlete. Above all that, he's an even better kid. I have a Facebook Live Show/Podcast called "Behind the Mic" where we were lucky enough to have him come on to talk about himself, the team and the season. We are doing a fundraiser locally in honor of him, where he picked the two charities that will benefit. One is the local food pantry and the other is the Cancer Crusaders.

In saying that, I was hoping your community that is coming down to the playoff game could help us out and make this an even bigger deal by bringing some canned food items with them? If everybody that's coming to the game would bring a couple of canned goods, we could help fill the food pantry just in time for the holidays, which is really needed this year with all that's going on. I know Gage would really appreciate it. There will be an area by the entry point on the east side of the field where donations can be dropped off."

If anyone can help with this worthwhile cause, your assistance would be greatly appreciated by the organizers of this event.

Check out the great cursive used by these third graders. Congrats to Oliver for winning the contest this week!

📷PJHS students , family, and friends. Grab your camera and take a fun selfie with your copy of The Frindle Files book! We would love to see who is reading together as we are over halfway through the One Book, One School program!

Email your selfies to Mrs. Mayhall at lmayhall@panaschools.com or to Mrs. Cothern at tcothern@panaschools.com. Those who submit selfies will be entered to win prizes! 🏆

Keep reading and snap those selfies while you read!

Together, we can build a reading community! 📗🧡💙🐾

Happy Halloween from the PHS Guitar Techniques class! https://youtu.be/UVPkwqZLU9A?si=kvutkyiQiJqGOm2n

Congratulations to freshman Milo Martell on being chosen for and singing in the Illinois Music Education Association District 5 Senior Vocal Jazz Choir at Millikin University. Always amazing to see a Panther singing on that stage! Congrats, Milo!

Congratulations to freshman Milo Martell on being chosen for and singing in the Illinois Music Education Association District 5 Senior Vocal Jazz Choir at Millikin University. Always amazing to see a Panther singing on that stage! Congrats, Milo!

Congrats to Ambriel Lowe for being the 1st Artist of the Month for the 2025-2026 school year. Her favorite art medium is graphite pencil & watercolor painting. Art is important to Ambriel because you can make something intriguing out of just a thought & ordinary materials.

Congratulations to the Student Council Halloween Costume Contest Winners! 🧡Best Duo: Briley W and Dragan W as Kat Stratford and Patrick Verona from 10 Things I Hate about You 🖤Scariest: Miss Barr as a Shark 🧡Funniest: Carly Bland as the Lorax 🖤Cutest: Tyson Mizeur as a Dinosaur 🧡Staff: Mr. Burton as Beetlejuice 🖤🧡Best Overall: Madison Wilkins as Lola Bunny🧡🖤

🎃Take a look at all the costumes Students and Staff wore to school for Halloween! 🎃

What's happening in the Art Room @ PJHS: weaving & beading. 6th graders are sewing. 7th & 8th graders are creating beaded keychains this week. Lots of great participation! Keep being creative! #GoPanthers🐾🐈‍⬛ #Art🎨

We’re so proud to recognize these outstanding students for their hard work, kindness, and leadership around our school. 🌟 Their dedication inside and outside the classroom makes PJHS a stronger, kinder community.👏

CPO Snyder went over hunting rules and regulations with the PJHS Outdoor Resource class.

Panther Football Fans:

For those of you attending the second round of football playoffs this Saturday (11-8-25), here are some details.

Location: Flora
Admission: $9.00 cash only, no digital (prices set by the IHSA)
Gates Open: 12:00 PM, no tickets sold earlier than the opening of the gates.
Time: 2:00 PM
Pana Fan Parking: Flora Elementary parking lot on north side of football field

*Go Panthers

🌟 🎉 What an amazing week at PJHS! Students and staff came together to celebrate Red Ribbon Week! 🧩🧩 Life is a Puzzle - Solve it Drug Free! ❤️✨

This week in the library, PES students had a blast working in groups and rolling dice to create unique pumpkin designs! Each roll meant a new addition to their pumpkins, showcasing their creativity! 🎃

Mrs. Schafer's 2nd graders had a visit from Ag in the Class! They even got hands-on with REAL worms! 🐛

🥇The Frindle Files Choice Board Contest was a great success! PJHS students submitted very detailed art work and well-written responses to specific prompts. The judges were blown away by the quanity and quality of work from PJHS students and their families! There was one winner per grade level. Each winner received a family certificate to be used at a local business.

We would like to thank the Pana Education Foundation and our local businesses for teaming up to provide these family prizes. You can find winners dining with their family at Pizza Man, bowling and snacking at the Pana Bowl, and enjoying a movie at The Roseland Theatre here in town!

We want to continue to encourage PJHS students and their families to continue reading and completing activities for the One Book, One School program.

Together, we can build a reading community! 📗🧡💙🐾

🍞✨ PJHS 7th graders are learning how to write captivating descriptions for a narrative in the most delicious way possible— by making peanut butter & jelly sandwiches! 🥪🥜🍇 It’s all about adding the right details! 🥪✨