Ms. Pala, Principal; Mrs. Scherpe, Dean; Mrs. Knuth, Nurse

Mrs. Fones and Ms. Patch, Front Office Assistants

Email: kpala@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/
Twitter: @wearesteele

Whether this is your first year at Steele or you have been here for multiple years, we want to welcome you all to the 22-23 school year. We are the "STARS" and we shine bright!

Mission Statement: Diversity is who we are. Equity is what we strive to provide.Inclusion is how we achieve our goals. Together we inspire dreams, celebrate learning and embrace the future.

Vision Statement: Creating learners who make wise choices, embrace challenges, and own their future.

When the students at Steele Elementary come to school in August, they will be welcomed by their new Principal, Ms. Pala. Keep reading to learn more about Ms. Pala and click here to listen to her podcast interview with Dr. Asplund!

Ms. Pala moved to Galesburg in 2021 and served as the elementary principal in Knoxville this past year. She is engaged to Patrick Coate, the principal at United West Elementary and will be getting married later this year. Her daughter, Leighanne, lives in Nashville, TN, and is a social worker in the emergency room department of a downtown hospital. Her son, EJ, also lives in Galesburg and works full-time at Yemm Auto. In Ms. Pala’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, attending live music concerts and spending time on the beach.

Ms. Pala started her career in 1996 after graduating from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Over the next ten years, she taught math, science, language arts and technology at Northwood Middle School in Woodstock, IL. After receiving a Master's in Educational Leadership from Aurora University, Ms. Pala was promoted in 2006 to serve as the Assistant Principal in the same school. Seven years later, she became the principal at Mary Endres Elementary in Woodstock, IL where she served for a total of eight years. During that time, the elementary school was named one of the top 10 schools in the county and received an exemplary rating on the Illinois Report Card in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Her supervisor at the time stated, "Ms. Pala is a skillful, conscientious, dedicated administrator who thoroughly understands how children learn. She has a wealth of experience working in buildings with students from a variety of cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. She is an expert at leading by example and continuously works in support of students, parents and teachers."

We are excited to welcome Ms. Pala to the CUSD #205 Family!

Registration: Online Registration for the 2022-2023 school year is now open!

• Click the link to register today!

• https://skyweb.galesburg205.org/scripts/wsisa.dll/WService=wsSky/seplog01.w

• For detailed instructions please click here.

• Registration is easiest to complete in a web browser rather than the mobile app.

• If you have questions please contact the District Registrar at 309-973-2109.

• Please remember proof of an Illinois School Physical and up to date immunizations must be submitted prior to the first day of school.

• Please click here to view the grade level specific health requirements.

• Students who do not submit the required documentation will be excluded on the first day of school.

We need to have parent representatives on our school improvement team. We will be once a month to review goals, look at data, share what we notice and what we wonder, and create action steps to implement throughout the year in order to meet our goals. Does this sound like a good time? Of course it is! Would you like to attend (in person or remotely) to give feedback from your perspective as a parent? Please reach out to Ms. Pala at kpala@galesburg205.org.

Quarter 1: August 17 - October 14, 2022

Quarter 2: October 15 - December 21, 2022

Quarter 3: December 22 - March 17, 2023

Quarter 4: March 18 - May 25, 2023*

*May 30 - June 5 are emergency days if needed

How do we grade at the elementary level? We use a standards-based report card instead of a report card with letter grades. Elementary report cards are issued at the end of each grading period. They are intended to give an evaluation of the scholastic achievement and work habits of each child. Parents should examine all cards carefully since each child is rated not only on academic progress, but also progress in development of social attitudes and work habits.

We use a 4,3,2,1 system to assess a student's mastery of standards.

4 = Exceeding State and District Standards

3 = Meeting State and District Standards

2 = Approaching State and District Standards

1 = Not Meeting State and District Standards

Our district takes student attendance very seriously and we are committed to seeing that every child is at school unless there is an excused reason for absence or tardiness. “Helping Students Achieve Their Dreams” is our district’s mission. Studies have shown that when students are consistently at school they are more likely to achieve their dreams.

What Parents and Students Can Do

• Ensure children arrive to school on time.

• When absent, be sure to make up missed work.

• Communicate with school and seek support when needed.

• Call when your child is absent from school or unavoidably late ASAP at 309-973-2016.

• Know attendance is required on early dismissal days.

• Return to school after appointments.

• Plan appointments outside of school day.

• Call within one hour of the start of school or send a note within 48 hours of the return to school.

• For minor health issues—come to school.

Morning Arrival :

Car Riders: Students may be dropped off after 8:00 am using the single-file car lane next to the playground. Students should exit the vehicle on the passenger's side for their safety. Please do not park in the drop-off lane. Students go directly to their classroom.

Bus Riders: Busses use the front circular driveway to load and unload students. Parents are not to use the circular drive to load/unload students before/after school. If a student wishes to ride home with a friend on the bus, a note must be given to the office for the principal’ signature regarding this prior to dismissal.

Dismissal:

After the 3:30 p.m. bell, all students are dismissed from school through the cafeteria doors except bus riders. Parents are asked to wait outside the gym doors for student pick up at the end of the day. Inform your child where you will be waiting to avoid confusion for him/her. Parents are expected to pick their child by 3:40 p.m. when supervision ends. Alternate plans such as PALS should be arranged if students will be picked up later.

Steele School has an active PTO. Meetings are held monthly in the Learning Center. See the Steele website for exact dates. All parents are welcome & encouraged to attend meetings to get involved in such activities as: Back to School Cookout, Fun Fair, Book Fairs, Family Nights. Every Steele parent is welcome!