The Panther Post
April 2026 Monthly Newsletter
Updates from the Superintendent
Hello Pleasant Hill Staff & Families! 🌷
As spring arrives, it brings longer days, warmer weather, and signs of new life all around us. This season is a wonderful reminder that growth happens little by little—through care, patience, and small positive actions each day.
At Pleasant Hill, we believe that the same idea applies to our wellbeing. Spring is a great time for families to pause and reflect on ways we can support our mental, emotional, and physical health. Consider setting aside a few minutes together to talk about one small habit or goal your family can focus on this season—whether it’s spending time outdoors, practicing gratitude, taking mindful moments to breathe, or simply checking in with one another.
One resource available to families is the Small Steps website, which offers simple digital tools designed to support wellbeing. These tools can help individuals manage stress, calm their minds, and build positive daily habits.
Some of the tools available include:
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Guided deep breathing
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Muscle relaxation exercises
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Mindful observation activities
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Strategies for building confidence and self-worth
The Small Steps program was developed by Te Hiringa Hauora in partnership with Clearhead, and it provides easy ways to incorporate healthy practices into everyday routines.
We encourage you to explore the SMALL STEPS WEBSITE and see which strategies might work best for you and your family.
As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or need assistance, please feel free to reach out. I am always happy to connect.
Yours in Education,
Dr. Lisa Weaver
Superintendent
📧 lweaver@phill69.com
📞 309-637-6829
2026-2027 Pleasant Hill Calendar
The calendar for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year has been approved by the Board of Education and is available for your reference. There was one change made to the previously calendar shared last month. Simply click on this LINK to access the new updated and approved version.
ESI Peoria Riverfront Museum Partnership
Pleasant Hill is excited to begin participating in the ESI (Educational School Initiative) program with the Peoria Riverfront Museum this month! Through this partnership, our students will have the opportunity to take part in engaging, hands-on learning experiences at the museum that connect directly to what they are learning in the classroom.
Our Pre-K students kicked off the program on March 19 with an exciting field trip to the museum. During their visit, students explored interactive exhibits and participated in age-appropriate learning activities designed to spark curiosity and creativity.
This partnership will allow students across grade levels to experience science, history, art, and discovery in a real-world setting, making learning come alive beyond the classroom. We are grateful for the opportunity to provide these enriching experiences for our students and look forward to additional visits throughout the year!
Family Engagement Opportunities
Free Cartwheel Webinar
April 15, 2026 | 11–12pm
5 Keys to Parenting a Child with ADHD
Erin Schoenfelder Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Volunteer Opportunity
Our spring track and field season is officially underway! To provide our student-athletes with the best experience possible during our upcoming meets, we are looking for volunteers to lend a hand.
It takes a "village" to run a smooth track meet, and there are plenty of ways to get involved, whether you are a track expert or a first-time fan.
We are looking for help with:
Meet Assistants: Helping at the finish line, raking long jump pits, measuring distances for the shot put and discus ,or resetting crossbars at high jump.
Snack Squad: Providing healthy snacks (granola bars, fruit, Gatorade) to keep our athletes fueled and hydrated.
How to Sign Up: Please click the link below to view our volunteer schedule and snack sign-up sheet. You can choose the dates and roles that work best for your schedule:
Every bit of help is greatly appreciated by Coach Weaver and, most importantly, the students.
Thank you for your continued support of our Panthers. We look forward to seeing you at the track!
Pleasant Hill Spelling Bee
Thanks so much to Mrs. Dollinger for organizing a spelling bee here at Pleasant Hill for our 3rd-8th grade students to participate in. This will be held on May 1 at 1:00. Please join us for this exciting event.
Notes from the Nurse
Dental Exam Reminder: Students in Kindergarten, 2nd and 6th grade are required by the State of IL to have a dental exam no later than May 15, 2026 If you have gotten a notice from me, please make an appointment for your child to see the dentist as soon as possible and turn in the State of IL exam form. If you do not have a regular dentist, please sign your child up for the FREE dental clinic here at school. Details are below.
FREE Dental Clinic: Dental Sealants and More will be coming again this year on April 9th
SEND THOSE PERMISSION SLIPS IN RIGHT UP UNTIL THE DAY OF THE CLINIC! :)
PLEASE TURN IN ALL MEDICAL RECORDS ASAP TO MS NAUGLE. THANK YOU!!
DID YOU KNOW?
We will be doing some activities at school for Autism Awareness Month!
Important Notes & Reminders
- 💲Just a reminder, if your child has any outstanding fees, such as a $5 lock fee, milk fees, etc. these fees must be paid before the end of the year. We will be sending reminders with outstanding fee balances home within the next couple weeks so those fees can be paid. Money can be sent into the office with your child at any time to pay the fee balance.
- 📱Please remember to call Mrs. Dimmitt at 309-637-6829 when your child is going to be absent from school. You can also email her at sdimmitt@phill69.com. If she does not receive a call or email, your child will be counted as unexcused.
- 🌸Spring Weather = Dress in Layers-Illinois weather can change quickly! Send students with jackets and appropriate outdoor wear.
- 🏫 Attendance Matters-Even as we approach the end of the year, daily attendance is critical for student success.
- 🚌 Field Trips & Permission Slips-Be on the lookout for upcoming field trips—return permission slips promptly.
- 😊 Positive Behavior Expectations-We continue to emphasize all of our PAWS LAWS, including being POLITE to others, ACCOUNTABLE to all, WILLING to try, and SAFE to learn—thank you for reinforcing these at home!
Mark Your Calendars
- March 28-April 4-Spring Break-Happy Birthday Gabriel (6th grade), Hunter & Heaven (1st grade)
- April 7-School Resumes-Track Practice 2:45-4:30
- April 8-Track Meet @ LCHS 4:30
- April 9-Dental Clinic-Track Practice 2:45-4:30
- April 10 -Art Club 2:45-4:00
- April 12-Happy Birthday TJ (2nd grade)
- April 13-Happy Birthday Mr. Larry
- April 14-Track Practice 2:45-4:30-Happy Birthday Michael (3rd grade)
- April 15-6th-8th Grade & Instructional II ESI Field Trip to Peoria Riverfront Museum 10:00-12:00-Track Practice 1:30-3:30-Happy Birthday Faith (6th grade)
- April 16-Track Meet @ Monroe 4:00-Happy Birthday Ms. Douglas & Gaven (2nd grade)
- April 17-Kindergarten & 2nd Grade ESI Field Trip to Peoria Riverfront Museum 9:00-11:00-Happy Birthday Jordan (8th grade)
- April 19-Happy Birthday Alexzander (4th grade) & Kenyon (8th grade)
- April 20-Track Meet @ Pekin Rankin 4:30-Happy Birthday Hayden (PK)
- April 21-Track Practice 2:45-4:30-Board of Education Meeting 6:00-Happy Birthday Madelyn (4th grade) & Londan (5th grade)
- April 22-LAC Track Meet @ LCHS 2:00-Happy Birthday Amari S. (1st grade)
- April 24-Junior Achievement BizTown 5th-8th Grade 9:00-1:00-Fourth Quarter Progress Reports Sent Home, Pre- K Fashion Show, Art Club 2:45-4:00
- April 25-Happy Birthday Radrece (5th grade)
- April 27-Track Meet @ LCHS 4:30
- April 28- 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th Grade & Instructional I ESI Field Trip to Peoria Riverfront Museum 9:30-11:30 Track Practice 2:45-4:30-Happy Birthday Sabien (5th grade) & Lamarius (PK)
- April 29-Track Practice 1:30-3:30
- April 30-Spelling Bee Assembly 1:00pm-Track Meet @ Monroe 4:00
Anything is Possible with Panther Pride
Email: lweaver@phill69.com
Website: www.phill69.com
Location: Pleasant Hill Elementary School, West Malone Street, Peoria, IL, United States
Phone: 309.637.6829
Facebook: facebook.com/PleasantHillElementarySchool
Twitter: @PHillPanthers