Mission

In partnership with students, staff and community, Kapowsin Elementary School builds a foundation for continuous learning by maintaining a safe and nurturing environment while fostering high academic performance through quality instruction and rigorous learning experiences.

What Makes Us Special

We implemented a 30 minute block of time at the end of each day (Tuesday through Friday) for students to read independently or work in small groups with their teacher. Older students also tutored first graders in the library.

Raising Expectations and Standards

Our staff participated in a homework club after school two days a week to help students reach individual achievement goals.

Parent and Community Involvement in Learning

Many parents and community members help tutor students in reading and math at Kapowsin. They also provide students additional practice and one-on-one attention in various academic areas. Our PTA supports our Accelerated Reading program which focuses on reading comprehension for students.

Community Connections

Our school opens its doors to PTA meetings and activities as well as The Parent Support Group, Quail Heights Homeowners Association, Boys and Girls Scout recruiting, Science Club, and All Star Adventures Day Care. Our students participate in Bethel Recreation activities including volleyball, football, basketball, soccer and baseball.

WASL Overview

We're proud of our WASL success! Our reading scores are among the highest in the district. Our fifth graders made gains in reading, math and science. We will continue to do all we can to support student learning in all subject areas.

Focus on Math

In 2006-2007, we participated in a year-long training with math facilitators from the University of Washington. We plan to continue to research, plan, implement and assess current best practices to use with our Kapowsin students.

Adequate Yearly Progress

Kapowsin did not meet adequate yearly progress (AYP), as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act. Of the 36 areas measured, the school met all but two benchmarks. AYP is determined primarily by year-to-year student achievement on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) in reading and mathematics.

Each year individual schools and the school district must "raise the bar" in gradual increments so that by 2014, 100 percent of students achieve proficiency in each subject area. Kapowsin met the benchmarks in each category for all student sub-groups.

Top-notch staff

Kapowsin has 30 classroom teachers. They average 14 years of teaching experience and 43 percent have a master's degree. They are joined by a wonderful support staff who have students' best interest in mind in all that they do.

Bethel School District

Bethel School District serves about 17,500 students in 17 elementary schools, five junior highs (with another opening its doors in 2010), three comprehensive high schools, one alternative junior high/high school, and an online academy. The district has won national awards in technology and communications, as well as state awards in professional development, energy conservation, and the arts. In addition, five district teachers have earned "Washington State teacher of the Year" in the last 25 years - more than any district in the state.

The Bethel School District covers 202-square miles in south Pierce County. The area is one of the fastest growing in the Puget Sound region. In 2006, district voters passed both a four-year levy for operations and a $175 million bond to build new schools. As part of the first phase of the bond, two elementary schools and one junior high (temporarily housing Spanaway Lake High School) were opened in September 2009.

In 2007-2008, the district's budget was $158 million, about 80 percent of which went to salaries and benefits. About 1,050 certificated staff and about 1,000 classified (support) staff work for the district. Tom Seigel joined the district in 2001 as superintendent. He previously worked in Boulder, CO as a superintendent. Prior to his work in public education, Seigel served in the U.S. Navy for 25 years, completing his military career as a Commander.