Steele Family Newsletter

Mrs. Grice, Dean of Students

Mr. Orellana, Dean of Students

Mrs. Knuth, Nurse

Mrs. Hickey, Family Engagement

Mrs. Fones and Ms. Howerter, Front Office Assistants

Email: kcoate@galesburg205.org
Website: https://steele.galesburg205.org/
Location: 1480 West Main Street, Galesburg, IL, USA
Phone: (309)973-2016
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steele205/
X: @wearesteele

Instagram: @205steelestars

We had a fun-filled week celebrating Red Ribbon Week with exciting dress-up days and lots of school spirit! We wrapped up the week with Fall parties and costumes, and even the adults joined in on the fun. One of the highlights was when students got the chance to silly string the principal—it was a blast for everyone!

As we move into November, our focus turns to gratitude. I am truly grateful for your continued partnership and support this year. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of our Steele Stars.

Be sure to check out all the information in this week’s newsletter for upcoming events, celebrations, and ways to stay connected.

With gratitude,
Mrs. Coate
Principal, Steele Elementary 🌟

Often we can find ourselves noticing things that we don’t like or that we wish were different. Choosing to notice and appreciate things in our life, things in others, and things in the world can be a challenge, but practicing Gratitude can increase our well-being and happiness. This month's focus for:

• Kinder is on practicing Gratitude to support emotion identification.
• 1st grade is on practicing Gratitude to help with emotion awareness.
• 2nd grade is on practicing Gratitude to support emotion regulation.
• 3rd grade is on using Gratitude to support emotion advocacy.
• 4th grade is on Gratitude to support positive self-talk.

Kindergarten Gratitude Family Newsletter

First Grade Gratitude Family Newsletter

Second Grade Gratitude Family Newsletter

Third Grade Gratitude Family Newsletter

Fourth Grade Gratitude Family Newsletter

Parents often tell kids to “just ignore it” when it comes to bullying… but that advice doesn’t give them the tools they need. Confidence in the face of a bully isn’t luck—it’s learned. Here’s how I help kids get ready:

1️⃣ Keep responses short and calm Instead of explaining themselves or arguing, I teach kids to use a simple phrase like, “Okay,” then walk away. Bullies lose interest when they don’t get the reaction they want.

2️⃣ Practice strong body language We rehearse shoulders back, head up, walking with purpose. Kids who look confident are less likely to be targeted.

3️⃣ Clarify the difference between tattling and reporting If it’s about someone’s safety, it’s reporting. If it’s just about rules, it’s tattling. This gives kids confidence to speak up without fear of being brushed off.

4️⃣ Help them identify their “go-to” friends Whether it’s lunch, recess, or walking in the hallway, sticking with 2–3 trusted peers makes a huge difference. Bullies rarely approach kids in groups.

5️⃣ Teach them how to talk to adults Instead of “He’s being mean,” I show kids how to say, “When [name] calls me [words], I feel unsafe. Can you help me?” Clear, specific language leads to real solutions.

6️⃣ Remind them it’s not their fault This one matters most. A child should never carry the weight of blame for being bullied. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

✨ Confidence comes from preparation—not from being “tougher.”

Follow @school_counselor_mama for daily strategies to build resilience, confidence, and emotional skills that last a lifetime.

Once again, we would like to recognize any current or past members of the military that are related to our Steele Stars. Please send in a digital photo of the person, their name, and branch of service and how they are related to a student at Steele. These can be emailed to Mrs. Coate at kcoate@galesburg205.org. We will need these by November 7th.

We will display yard signs with the photo above and the photos of all of veterans on our front lawn for the next 2 weeks to honor their service. Check it out!

Please download the Galesburg App. When you receive your invitation email, then you can sign up for messaging. All staff will use this for communication this school year. Once you have the app downloaded, you will see your child's teacher and information in the app.

If you haven't received an email or text, you can reach out to the office to get a code. If you are having trouble connecting, please contact our main office at 309-973-2016

The Shine in #205 program is a way for you to salute any CUSD #205 employee who goes above and beyond what is expected. Whether you are a parent/guardian impressed with that special touch your student's teacher added to a moment, a coworker who thinks their colleague doesn't hear often enough about the great job they are doing, or a community member who witnessed a staff member's commitment to students-you can submit a Shine nomination!

Link to nominate a staff member

All meetings are held at Steele in the library. Meetings run from 5:30 - 6:30 PM and are on the first Tuesday of the month.

A Google Meet will be set up for those of you that want to attend but cannot be in person.

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/jms-yjdu-agj

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 678-487-9512‬ PIN: ‪356 280 867‬#

View more: htpp://schools.mealviewer.com/school/SteeleElementarySchool