Steele Family Newsletter

Click the headline above to see the calendar for all of the District #205 schools. This will help you stay up-to-date on days off, early release days and much more.

At Steele School, we are committed to maintaining a safe, welcoming, and supportive learning environment for every student and family. We are aware that, from time to time, concerns or comments may be shared on social media. While social media can be a place for community dialogue, we encourage families to reach out to us directly with questions, concerns, or feedback so we can listen, problem solve, and work together in partnership.

We value open communication and believe the strongest solutions come from respectful, direct conversations. Our focus remains on providing high-quality instruction, supporting student well-being, and building a positive school community. We are grateful for the continued support of our Steele families and community.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Coate

Principal

Mrs. Grice

Dean of Students

Mr. Orellana

Dean of Students

How children's understanding of friendship changes and develops with age

We're better equipped to respond in compassionate and helpful ways if we realize that children's social missteps usually stem from immaturity and limited understanding rather than enduring character flaws.

Due to product shortage we are switching Monday and Tuesday of next week. Monday will be Walking Taco, and Tuesday will be Cheeseburgers.

Parent-Teacher Conferences are quickly approaching!

I would like to schedule a parent/teacher conference with you to discuss your child’s progress.

Please check your preference of:

Thursday, March 5 - 4:00-7:15 p.m. or Tuesday, March 10 - 4:00-7:15 p.m.

Please send the bottom half of this form back to school with your child by Friday, February 13.

Thank you!

Mrs. Coate, Principal

Letters should have gone home last week so that you can sign up for a parent teacher conference. If not, they are attached below.

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Spring 2026 Conferences Sign Up English, Spanish and French.pdf

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Join us on February 25th for an insightful workshop led by BCBA Emily Lester, designed specifically for CUSD #205 parents and guardians. This session will focus on practical strategies to effectively utilize reinforcement and consequences in motivating students. Learn how to foster a positive environment without power struggles, guilt, or bribery. Strengthen your parenting toolkit and enhance your child’s learning experience! Don’t miss out—RSVP today by emailing elester@galesburg205.org! We look forward to seeing you there!

Beginning February 3, 2026, students and teachers across Illinois will have an opportunity to participate in the eleventh annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent/guardian, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school.

On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:

· Effective Leaders
· Collaborative Teachers
· Involved Families
· Supportive Environments
· Ambitious Instruction

Prior research in more than 400 schools has shown that schools that were strong on at least three of these “5Essential” indicators were 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains in math and reading than those that were weak on three or more Essentials.

All teachers and fourth through 12th grade students will be responding to this survey. 5Essentials Reports will be generated for schools if their teachers and/or students meet the response rate threshold of 50 percent. These reports will be sent to schools and districts in May and will also be included in the State School Report Card.

Additionally, our district has chosen to provide the optional supplement parent survey. If at least 20 percent of Steele School parents/guardians complete this survey, a parent report will also be generated. The parent data will not be included on the State Report Card. Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child. The results from the 2025 parent survey are linked below.

The Illinois 5Essentials Survey for students and teachers will be conducted until March 10th. The Parent Survey Supplement will be conducted during that same period. To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin.

For more information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, or to view previous years’ Reports, please visit https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact UChicago Impact Survey Support at 1-866-440-1874 or impact-surveys@uchicago.edu.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we need to postpone our Game Night and Silent Auction. If you have already donated items, they will be safely held and used at the rescheduled event. We sincerely thank all of our volunteers who have worked so hard to secure donations. The Steele PTO will notify families as soon as a new date is confirmed.

Please make sure your student is coming to school with weather appropriate outerwear for recess and remind them that it needs to be worn. We have hats, gloves, scarves and coats if you are in need. Please call the office or speak with your child's teacher to request these items.

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

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