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Seth Lewelling Elementary reports literacy gains, falling chronic absenteeism; highlights community partnerships
Summary
School leaders told the North Clackamas board that second‑grade oral‑reading fluency improved from fall to winter, chronic absenteeism dropped from 48% to 32% year‑over‑year, and the school added community partners, grants and programs to support learning.
Seth Lewelling Elementary leaders updated the North Clackamas School District board on May 8 about reading gains, attendance improvements and community partnerships.
Mason Brandstetter, the school’s principal, said second‑ and third‑grade oral‑reading fluency (CBM English/ORF) showed measurable growth between fall and winter: the school reduced the number of students classified as high‑risk by 5 percentage points (about 10 students) and recorded typical or accelerated growth for 65% of students. The school continues to target a subgroup of students with individualized education programs (IEPs), where current proficiency was cited at about 12%.
Attendance has improved: chronic absenteeism fell from 48% two years ago to 33% last year and is currently 32%. Brandstetter said ongoing spring trends could bring chronic absenteeism below the school’s 30% goal; overall attendance is projected to exceed 91% if current trends persist. Interventions cited include increased parent communication, attendance certificates and classroom incentives.
Reading interventions include a new “Just Right Readers” take‑home program for second graders: Brandstetter said 14 students received five leveled books every two weeks through spring, a total of 30 books through the program’s run, plus QR‑coded guidance for families in English and Spanish. Staff reported strong family buy‑in and early fluency improvements among participating students.
The school also reported curricular and instructional work: built‑in collaboration between classroom teachers, learning specialists and paraeducators, flexible small‑group instruction, math lesson walks and professional development. The school highlighted its Mesa program (mathematics, engineering, science and art), community partners including Burlington and Office Depot donations (roughly $4,000–$5,000 annually in e‑gift cards from Office Depot), volunteer hours approaching 1,000 and two Dennis‑Seventy grants used for campus improvements.
Parent‑teacher organization (PTO) president Deborah Corson described monthly community events and a successful “craft and construction night” designed to be sensory‑friendly for families who had difficulty attending prior events. Brandstetter and staff said they will continue to focus on attendance and targeted reading support.
Board members praised the presentation and asked staff about scaling reading supports and logistics of the international families event scheduled for May 15 at approximately 8:40–11:30 a.m.
