Raymond Marquith Elementary School
--: was built in 1964, after
the East Galesburg School was condemned due to old age. It is situated
in Knox County, East Galesburg, Illinois, USA. The school is called after Raymond
Marquith, a minister and
school board member, who fought to have a new school built in
the area, after the first school was demolished. The school is part of the
Knoxville Community School District 202.The school is a Kindergarten. through 5th grade school situated in a rural community. It is a small school of 140 students. There are 14 teachers and 9 fulltime staff members, with a number of part-time specialist teachers, for specific areas like art and music.
The school serves approximately 142 students in grades Kindergarten through 5th Grade. The school serves children in East Galesburg, a town of about 100, the north side of Knoxville, Country Elm Estates, and the country students. There are 6 regular classroom teachers. It has many characteristics which affect education in a positive way. The school is known for its "family-type atmosphere" and is highly
thought of in its community. Like most schools all over the world , they
are struggling to bring the pupils into the "Information Age"
and enjoy the opportunities the internet provides their pupils to
communicate with other children in all parts of the world. They
particularly enjoyed working with pupils from Ireland.
Staff
Principal --: Mr. John Shelly.
Kindergarden --: Pam Brown
First Grade --: Vicki Nalley
Second Grade --: Anita Fillman
Third Grade --: Mrs. Nelson
Fourth Grade--: Marge Olzsweski
Fifth Grade --: Minda Rodriquez
Special Needs --: Jackie Miller
School Facilities
There are other part time members of
staff who have expertise in such areas as art, music and physical education.
There are 6 classrooms and three small conference size rooms for the special
classes. There is an all purpose room which is used for music, P.E. and lunch.
The library is on the stage. There are 147 students at present on
rolls in the school. The school year consists of 185 days--this required by the State
of Illinois. They select a country for the entire school to
study on an annual basis and it was Ireland's turn in 1997, and they
linked up with our school. In 1998 they studied Sweden.
Last year was Ireland.
.They learn a little of the language, the culture and traditions of the
link country and they decorate their Christmas tree like that country does, we bring outside speakers, and the students help the cooks
prepare an ethnic meal each year. On St. Patrick's day in 1997 they served
a traditional Irish dinner of bacon and cabbage in the school hall. They
also had an Irish night where they experienced an Irish storyteller and
Irish music and dance. They sent us an Irish quilt which was hand sewn by
the students, parents and staff of the school and sent to Tramore as a
souvenir of our years work. we were to link up again in 1998, when we
communicated in the "Information Age Project".
You can view this
project by clicking here
Achievements:
They
won the Governor of Illinois Environmental Award in 1996 for their major recycling
program--they recycled 20 tons of paper, plastic, tin etc. They were the first elementary school
in the State of Illinois to win.
