The Wolves Weekly Update
November 9-13, 2026

November 9th-13th, 2026
Great Things are Happening at Pleasant Hill
This week, I want to share a few things that make me proud of our students and staff. The Illinois School Report Card shows gains in academic achievement, and when I visit classrooms, I see the day-to-day work behind that progress. Students are explaining their thinking, teachers are checking what students understand, and students are getting feedback they can use right away.
This week, third and eighth graders connected what they were learning to everyday life through experiments and debate. In fourth grade, teachers check what students understand throughout the lesson so they can revisit concepts that need more practice. During writing workshops, students get feedback while they’re still working and can put it to use right away. I’m also grateful to the staff who find ways to bring some fun to their colleagues’ day and to everyone helping prepare for our Veterans Day program.
Our students are showing up for Pleasant Hill outside the classroom, too. They’ve helped with Color Drive, put up American flags at the cemetery, helped clean up fallen trees, and run a food drive. I’m proud of our students and staff for pitching in wherever they’re needed.
There’s a lot to celebrate at Pleasant Hill. Thank you to our students and staff for the work you do every day, and to our families and community for supporting them.
Go Wolves!
Our Busy Classrooms
High School Band Practicing for Veterans Program
🎺🇺🇸 Our Pleasant Hill band rehearses for Wednesday’s Veterans Day program, where students will honor local veterans through music.
Raising Flags for Veterans Day
With American flags in hand, Pleasant Hill students made their way down the cemetery lane. They worked together to raise the flags along the drive, honoring those who served our country as Veterans Day approached.
Mythology in the Hallway
Take a walk through the high school hallway and you’ll meet Athena, Artemis, and Hercules. Student-made posters introduce these figures from Greek mythology through illustrations and facts.
A Hallway Art Gallery
A little farther along, rows of student drawings invite you to stop and take a closer look. Displayed side by side, the drawings give each student a place in the hallway gallery.
To wrap up Unit 2 of Amplify CKLA, our third graders worked in teams to create posters about different animal groups. Each student had a job to do.
When it was time to present, each student started by telling the class what their job was. Then teammates used their poster to explain what they’d learned about their animal group.
By the end, our third graders had taught one another about different animal groups and practiced speaking in front of an audience. Everyone had a part in bringing the unit to a close!
🔬 What happens when candy corn goes into water? Students put it to the test!
💧 Students watched their cups closely to see how the candy corn changed in the water.
Halloween Games in PE
Cones and colorful beanbags marked the way as students took turns tackling a Halloween challenge in the gym.
Fun Continues
The Halloween fun continued as students spread out across the gym for another round of games in PE.
Ready for the Next Round
Students lined up across from one another, pool noodles in hand, ready for the next Halloween game in PE.
Dates to Remember
November
🚨 Monday, November 9 — Planned school evacuation drill with local law enforcement
🇺🇸 Wednesday, November 11 — School is in session. The Veterans Day program begins at 10 a.m. at Pleasant Hill High School.
🕧 Monday, November 16 — School Improvement Day. Students dismiss at 12:30 p.m.
🏫 Wednesday, November 18 — School Board meeting at 6 p.m.
🧸 Thursday, November 19 — Birth-to-Three Playgroup and Pre-K Family Night, 5–7 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Elementary
📝 Friday, November 20 — Second-quarter midterms
🦃 November 25–27 — Thanksgiving break. No school.
December
🕧 Wednesday, December 16 — School Improvement Day. Students dismiss at 12:30 p.m. The School Board also meets that day.
📚 Friday, December 18 — End of the second quarter
❄️ December 21–January 1 — Winter break. No school.
January
🍎 Monday, January 4 — Teacher Institute Day. No school for students.
🎒 Tuesday, January 5 — Classes resume.
🗓️ Monday, January 18 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day. No school.
🕧 Wednesday, January 20 — School Improvement Day. Students dismiss at 12:30 p.m.
🏫 Wednesday, January 20 — School Board meeting at 6 p.m. in the Elementary All-Purpose Room
Menu Preview
Monday, November 9
🧁 Breakfast — Muffin
🌭 Lunch — Corn dog and green beans
Tuesday, November 10
🍌 Breakfast — Banana bread
🍕 Lunch — Pizza and carrots
Wednesday, November 11
🍕 Breakfast — Breakfast pizza
🍝 Lunch — Chicken Alfredo pasta and peas
Thursday, November 12
🥞 Breakfast — Pancakes
🌮 Lunch — Taco and salad
Friday, November 13
🥪 Breakfast — Uncrustable
🥖 Lunch — Italian sub and baby carrots
🍎 Every day — Breakfast includes fruit, juice, and milk. Lunch includes fruit and milk.
Athletics Preview
Monday–Friday, November 9–13
🏀 8th Grade Boys Basketball — Griggsville Tournament
Saturday, November 14
🏀 4:00 p.m. — High School Girls Basketball vs. opponent to be announced
🏀 6:30 p.m. — High School Boys Basketball Maroon and White Scrimmage at Griggsville
🐺 Go Wolves!