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.

Calling All Steele Stars! Our furry friends at the local animal shelter need our help! Bring in pet food, treats, toys, blankets or $$ and help us shower them with love. Let’s show our community what kindness looks like—one paw at a time! We are extending this through next week because of our cold days.

The top 3 spellers from the building bee will advance to the District Spelling Bee, scheduled for Feb. 27th at the district office. Our 1st place winner from Steele will be invited to the Regional Spelling Bee, held at Moline High School, on March 21, 2026 @ 1:00 p.m. He or she will receive the "Words of the Champions" packet to study.

Reading aloud is a key that unlocks a lifetime of connection, happiness, and success for children. Research shows reading aloud builds powerful neural pathways that contribute to both emotional wellbeing and academic success. When a child is read to, they are transported to a world of possibility, joy, and magic, and learn to form deep connections to themselves and the people around them. By celebrating the read aloud, we celebrate and share all that it is to be human.

The high school has posted a future gadet clinic (due Feb. 4th). Click here for information and registration. https://ghs.galesburg205.org/o/ghs/documents/athletic--forms/camp-forms/18713039

Thank you, Mrs. Hickey, for the care, compassion, and dedication you show our Steele Stars each and every day. Your steady support, listening ear, and commitment to helping students grow academically, socially, and emotionally make a meaningful difference in our school community.

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