About Our School
Welcome to Tapteal Elementary School!
Mission
Tapteal will empower all students to achieve success, no exceptions.
Vision
Tapteal will maintain a safe and supportive learning community.
Our Staff Commits To:
- Collaborate
- Respect one another
- Communicate positively
- Believe in all students
Tapteal Elementary History
Tapteal Elementary school opened its doors to students in the fall of 1978. The name was chosen because Tapteal was the Native American name for the Yakima River. It means, "the river that runs clean." (or Where two rivers meet?) Many years ago the Yakima River was full of salmon, which the native Americans scooped out of the river and dried for food and fuel. Today, it is a major source of irrigation water for the Yakima valley farms and orchards.
The first Principal of Tapteal elementary was Bill Hinchcliff. Upon his retirement in 1981, Paul Dowdy was appointed principal. After Dr. Larry Dale came, in 1988, Tapteal began a primary multi-age program with combination classes of 1,2, and 3rd grades together. In 1993, an intermediate multiage program was started with 4th & 5th grades in the same classrooms. Todd Baddley, former Tapteal PE teacher, became principal in 1997. When he left to become the principal of Carmichael Middle School in 1999, Nick Grubich was hired as principal. Carole Swick replaced Nick in 2004 and was principal until 2008. Rhonda Pratt became the next principal in 2008 and was principal until June 2019 when she left to become the principal of Chief Jo Middle School. In 2019, Sean Langdon was then chosen to become our latest Tapteal principal.
Title I Schoolwide Plans
Parents are invited and encouraged to participate in the development of the Schoolwide Plan/Campus Improvement Plan. Parents are invited each spring to participate in the development of each Title I school’s plan. The team is comprised of various stakeholders- parents, community members, administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, and support personnel. This team is responsible for reviewing data and providing input into the development of the school’s Title I plan. Parents from each demographic group are invited and encouraged to participate in the development of the annual Schoolwide Plan or Campus Improvement Plan.
A copy of the plan will be provided to parents on request. Please visit your child’s school to request a copy of the Title I Plan. Parents can share their comments or questions about the plan with a campus administrator.