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 Tatpeal 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. The current
principal, Carole Swick was hired in 2004.
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