PRINCIPAL NEWSLETTER
October 18, 2021
Home of the Hawks
Empowering ALL students to achieve success, No Exceptions!
Tapteal Families
The first weeks of school are important for building community, and setting the foundation for learning for the year. Our staff have developed relationships with our students, established routines for learning, and set the tone for a positive learning environment. We have enjoyed learning about our students strengths, and we look forward to supporting learning and growth this year!
Positive Behavior Supports and Recognition
We are a school that implements Positive Behavior Interventions of Support (PBIS). This is an approach we use to promote school safety and good behavior. With PBIS, it teaches kids about behavior expectations and strategies to promote positive social, emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes for all students.
To encourage positive behavior, students can be awarded with a "Good Hawk" for following the Tapteal Big 3. The Tapteal Big 3 is Show Respect, Solve Problems, and Make Good Decisions. When students earn a Good Hawk, they can use this in their class for positive rewards. Student Good Hawk cards are also collected and counted as a building for student recognition.
We have set a building wide goal to earn 100 Good Hawks at each grade level. That's 600 Good Hawks. If we reach our goal of 600 Good Hawks, students will be able to wear Pajamas on Friday, October 29th. A student in every grade level will get a chance to win a raffle prize as well!
Fall Report Cards
Teachers are continuing to gather assessment data on students, and designing instruction to meet the needs of all students. Student progress reports will be going home the week of November 22.
Morning Arrival for Students that Eat Breakfast: Students that eat breakfast at school can arrive at 8:15 and enter through the front.
Morning Arrival Student Line Up: Students can line up at 8:30. They must line up on the dot in their classroom, and remain there until their teacher escorts them to class. **Kindergarten enters the building and goes right to their classroom starting at 8:30.
Healthy & Ready: Please be sure to keep everyone safe and healthy by making sure your child is healthy before going to school.
Masks: Parents are responsible for providing a clean mask for their child. The mask must fit, and remain on during the day, with the exception of lunch, snack, and playground time.
Other Important Information
The online meetings will each begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include details on a potential boundary for Elementary #11 and other possible adjustments and ideas for potential programming ideas in the district’s elementary schools.
Families can then share their input on the potential changes via a survey and other tools that that will be available beginning Oct. 8. Here is the LINK additional information, and the zoom link for the meeting.
Sean Langdon
Principal
Sean.Langdon@rsd.edu
Rachael Clayton
Assistant Principal
Veterans Day Assembly
Veterans Day Assembly Wednesday, November 10
We plan on honoring our Veterans this year. In an effort to join our Tapteal community in honoring our personal Veterans, please provide us with a picture of your Veteran(s) you will be honoring this year. Click the link, and upload a photo. Be sure to provide the name, the student name, and grade.
Word of the Month
One way we can show self advocacy is by helping prevent bullying here at Tapteal! Students at Tapteal use STOP, WALK, TALK. Ask your child how they can use this strategy to prevent bullying.
Communities in Schools
"My role in the school is to work with students and families to address barriers to student success. I can help with things like creating a safe space for students to calm down, assisting with schoolwork, providing a snack, listening to concerns and working with school staff to address issues. I also help families connect to resources like a doctor, mental health provider, food, or housing support. I am here to provide access to the tools necessary to empower students to be successful in school and in life.
I update resources in this google classroom daily as they become available so please check back frequently. I will also be posting by Dojo messages to parents that request to receive resource information."
No School Dates in November
Wednesday, November 24 Half Day (Thanksgiving)
Thursday & Friday, November 25, 26 No School (Thanksgiving)
UPDATE on Daily Routines & Procedures
MORNING ARRIVAL
We have made an update in our morning arrival routines, as weather permits. Please see the attached plan below.
LUNCH ROUTINE
We have made an update to ensure 6ft distancing in the cafeteria, and in classrooms. Anytime a student eats, and students remove their masks, they must remain at 6ft social distancing. Students that have lunch from home remain in the classroom, and students that eat school lunch go to the cafeteria.
SAFETY REMINDERS: COVID Guidelines
Mask Up & 6ft Social Distancing:
- Students & Staff wear approved masks, and follow social distancing guidelines while at school.
- Gators are NOT approved face coverings
ARRIVAL and DISMISSAL Routines
- We need all visitors and students to use crosswalks and safe walking paths. Refer to the map provided.
- Keep crosswalks and paths clear when dropping off or picking up students.
Drop Off & Pick Up Zone
- Drive slow, under 5 miles per hour & Pull forward to the next car.
- Make sure students are loading in, and getting out on the RIGHT SIDE of the vehicle for safety. If students are on the left side, they may be in danger loading in/out with passing traffic.
- DO NOT drop off students before 8:30.
- DO NOT arrive before 3:00 for student pick up.
- If waiting longer than 5 minutes, please do not leave your car in idle - Drop Off/Pick Up is an idle free zone.
- If you are getting out of the vehicle, you must use the visitor parking lot.
Visitor Parking
- Please use visitor parking if you are getting out to visit the office, getting out to drop off/pick up your child.
- Use safe walk zones; Use the Crosswalk - Do not walk in the middle of Drop Off/Pick Up loop.
THANK YOU!
- Thank you for helping to keep your child, and all our children safe!
A NOTE FROM THE NURSE
Student Health Plans
- If you have a medical plan, medication, allergies, or health concern we need to be aware or, please contact our school nurse.
Immunizations
- Ensure all medical immunizations are up to date. If they are not up to date, your child may not be able to be at school.
Daily Health Screener
- Please ensure your child is healthy and able to go to school. If your child is feeling ill, and they come to school, you may be receiving a phone call. We will work with you to help ensure your child is safely able to be at school. If a child is ill, or showing symptoms of illnesses, not limited to COVID, they may be sent home.
Tapteal Elementary Office
Lead Secretary, Emily Kelley
Attendance Secretary, Jonna Dearinger
School Office Hours 8:00-4:00
School Phone 509 967-6350
Reminders
- Please call the office if your child is not able to go to school.
- If you are needing to arrange to pick your child up early from school, please notify the office.
- Any changes in how students get home after school need to be in before 2:30, Monday - Thursday, and 1:30 on Friday.
- Make sure your contact information is up to date with our school office.
- Please update student information if anything in your home has changed that would impact your child at school.
Richland School District BACK TO SCHOOL Information
Please check the RSD website, RSD social media, and your email for district updates
Sean Langdon
Email: sean.langdon@rsd.edu
Website: https://tapteal.rsd.edu/
Location: 705 N 62nd Ave, West Richland, WA, USA
Phone: 509 967-6350