To: Asha Riley, Superintendent
From: Jen Havig, Principal
Date: March 19, 2026
RE: Columbia Elementary School Board Report
School Improvement Plan
Our winter assessment results are guiding our work toward Columbia’s school improvement plan. LAP teacher, Sarah Taylor, and instructional coach, Ashley Kleinschmidt, have worked with grade level teams to determine grouping of students for our next round of interventions. We have reduced the number of third grade students participating in the Read Naturally intervention with our specialists. This has opened an opportunity to add another math intervention group at the 4th grade level. In addition, teachers continue to recommend students for 1 on 1 interventions with both specialists and LAP staff. These students receive targeted intervention on specific skills to help them grow academically. We also continue to provide SEL interventions led by counselor, Jordan Babcock and student advocate, Kel Detrich.
As a staff, we continue our focus on student engagement. We have adopted the slogan, All in, All the time to emphasize that each and every student must be fully engaged during lessons in order to get the most out of the learning experience. On Friday, March 13th, Ashley Kleinshmidt and I lead professional development for certificated staff continuing this work. We will check in with each grade level team during PLCs about which strategies they have incorporated into their own instructional practices and routines.
We are also starting to think about the 2026-2027 school year. I am working with my building leadership team to level up our PLC work for next year. I recently attended a webinar and learned about some interesting strategies around classroom goal setting, and I look forward to sharing my learning with my staff.
Recognition
I want to thank everyone, including board members Trish Huddleston, Marie Wodaege, and Sarah Stuart, for participating in our Read Across America week. We had several community members visit Columbia and read to our students.
I would also like to recognize my special education paraeducators. This group of dedicated staff support students in a variety of ways from individual support, to working with small groups of students, to pushing into the classroom. They are also willing to help out when needed and are a big part of the culture of Columbia.
Upcoming Events
We have a few exciting events coming up. We have our first family movie night organized by our amazing PTSA. This will be a free event for families, and there will be free popcorn and water to enjoy.
We have family conferences coming up the week of March 30th. Families are able to sign up through Skyward. They can also call the office to set up a conference time with their child’s teacher.
Also on March 30th, we have our monthly character trait recognition assembly where we will recognize students who have demonstrated this month’s trait. For the month of March, our character trait is cooperation.
Upcoming field trips include the 2nd grade going to OMSI on April 24th, and 1st grade going to the Oregon Zoo on May 1st.