Steele Family Newsletter
August 21, 2023
Week of September 11, 2023
Congratulations to last week's Attendance Award Winners. Thank you again to Judy's Family Cafe for providing a certificate for a free breakfast!
Hip, Hip Hooray, You've Won Breakfast at Judy's Cafe!
District 205 Needs Your Input to Plan for the Future!
Shine in #205
CUSD #205 is kicking off “Shine in #205” for the 2023-2024 school year. The program is aimed to provide recognition for district employees who go the extra mile for students in #205. Each month there will be two staff members selected from the nominations. Parents, Guardians, Co-Workers, Community members are all welcome to nominate a CUSD
#205 staff member.
Click here to nominate a #205 staff member: https://forms.gle/dKxYFirU2qxCt53H8
Congratulations to our Students of the Week Winners Last Week!
These students were nominated by their teachers for exemplifying our CHAMPS expectations throughout the building. They are shining bright as Steele Stars!
SUBMIT YOUR POEM TODAY!
Calling all poets. Whether it’s a lyric, sonnet, limerick, haiku or free verse, put on your creative writing hat, and submit whatever form of poem you’d like before September 28. Contact Meghan Angle with any questions. Let the writing begin!
Transportation Reimbursement is available for custodial guardians of current Kindergarten through 12th-grade students who are eligible to ride the bus to and from school. This is an option for current and eligible bus-riding students. Please visit the link for more information: https://forms.gle/HD9MizaVvEBBasMs6 #Thisis205
3rd Grade Wildlife Prairie Park Field Trip 9/20/23
Hello! Third grade students will be going on a field trip on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 to
Wildlife Prairie Park. We will be leaving school at 9:30 am and returning to school around 2:00 pm. Students will be eating their lunch at Wildlife Prairie Park. Please choose your lunch choice
below. If your child brings a lunch from home, please make sure it is all disposable.
*The rain date for our field trip is Wednesday, September 20.
Please return this permission slip ASAP.
Steele Family & PTO Events for the 23-24 School Year
The September 6th meeting has been rescheduled to September 13th
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
During the month of November, students and families will read the book together at home while celebrating and exploring a novel at school. It’s all part of a unique, national family literacy program called One School, One Book from non-profit Read to Them designed to strengthen the educational connection between home and school.
“Reading a common book together turns out to be a terrific way to unite a school community and increase parental involvement. Reading aloud at home ensures students come to school prepared to read and to succeed – in school and in life,” explains Read to Them Director of Programs, Bruce Coffey.
Steele School will join the schools and districts across North America who have undertaken this family literacy strategy. Families will read and discuss the story at home. In school, students will experience dynamic assemblies, answer trivia questions, and engage in creative extension activities.
One School One Book is the flagship program of Read to Them, a national non-profit based in Richmond, Virginia. The organization’s mission is to create a culture of literacy in every community. “The secret sauce of family literacy is to create a symbiosis between home and school. When students see their book being read and shared and discussed at home and school, they are surrounded by the culture of literacy,” explains Read to Them Director of Programs, Bruce Coffey.
“We’ve heard about the effect One School, One Book can have on our students and families,” explains Gayle Hefty, William Fox’s principal. “We are super confident that reading one great book together can ignite excitement about reading in our school community. I can’t wait to start hearing and joining in the conversations The Trumpet of the Swan will spark.”
Read to Them’s family literacy programs have reached over 2 million families in over 3,000 schools in all 50 states (and 6 Canadian provinces). A continually growing body of research demonstrates that children who are read to at home are better prepared to read, succeed in school, and graduate. www.readtothem.org
Recent testimonials from participating schools:
“My students love participating in this initiative. It is great to see my students from different grade levels discuss a book in class and out of class. It builds this camaraderie through literacy that I have not seen before.”
- Amber Anglada, J.B. Fisher Elementary School, Richmond, Virginia
“I watched this program turn kids onto books. We went from a culture of hating reading to one where the question was: ‘When are we getting our next book?’”
- Corey Carpenter, Virginia elementary school teacher, on bringing the program to Florida
Transportation Updates
Each day our arrival and dismissal routines are getting smoother and quicker. As a reminder, for:
- Kiss-n-Go Line - pull up as far as possible, drop all students off at once so they can walk to their specific door
- Parent Park Lot - you must park your car in a spot, exit your car and come up to the cafe doors to meet your child
Early dismissals are strongly discouraged, but we do know that sometimes it is needed. Anyone showing up at 3:30 or later to pick up their child will be directed to wait in the parent park lot. Thank you.
Report Card Information
Quarter 1: August 10 - October 12, 2023
Quarter 2: October 24 - December 20, 2023
Quarter 3: January 9 - March 14, 2024
Quarter 4: March 18 - May 23, 2024*
*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
Birthday Celebrations at Steele
Attendance Policy
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.
Free Activity Passes for Students
Contact the Steele School office to request your free student pass to district activities.
Steele Elementary School
Mrs. Grice, Dean of Students
Mrs. Knuth, Nurse
Mrs. Hickey, Family Engagement
Mrs. Mowen, Outreach
Mrs. Fones and Ms. Patch, 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/
Twitter: @wearesteele