Hello Families!
As we bring the first month of school to a close, I am filled with gratitude. Our teachers and support staff have shown excellence in getting us off to a very strong start. And we couldn't do it without you! We thank those of you at home who send your children to us everyday ready to learn, ready to grow as individuals, and ready to participate fully in their school community. We appreciate you!
In order to further instill the habits, mindset, and personal skills necessary to lifelong success, our Marcia Buker Team has worked this month to make our Richmond School Department Student Code of Conduct policy accessible and visible to our young students. We first created a K-5 version of the policy that uses student-friendly language, and then School Counselor Cindy Edson has been teaching lessons to all classes on our Code, engaging students in discussions and creating a giant bobcat paw with visual representations of our shared values and expectations.
Counselor Edson and students work on the Student Code of Conduct.
We encourage you to support our efforts and help your child understand the Marcia Buker Student Code of Conduct at home. Below are 5 fun ways to reinforce the values and expectations at home (generated by ChatGPT).
1. Respect Role-Play
Act out short scenarios with your child (e.g., listening to directions, sharing toys, taking turns). Pause and ask, “What would be the respectful choice here?” Celebrate their answers and connect them to school expectations.2. Honesty Jar
Keep a small jar at home. Each time a child tells the truth about something—even a mistake—add a bead, coin, or token. When the jar is full, celebrate with a family reward. This makes honesty visible and positive.3. Caring Hands and Words
Trace your child’s hand on paper. Inside each finger, write or draw a way to show care (helping a sibling, kind words, cleaning up, giving a compliment, etc.). Post it somewhere visible as a daily reminder.4. Responsibility Challenge
Give your child one extra “responsibility” for the week (feeding a pet, setting the table, checking their backpack). At the end of the week, talk about how they showed responsibility—linking it back to the Code of Conduct.5. Family Reflection Circle
Once a week, sit together and share: “One way I was respectful this week…” or “One way I showed honesty…” Each family member takes a turn. This models self-reflection and reinforces the same language used at school.
Thank you for your partnership and support!
Principal Mary Paine
Marcia Buker ES
28 High Street
Richmond, Me 04357
School (207)-737-4748
Mobile (207) 557-0062
October Dates and Notices
Oct. 1 Flu vaccine Clinic for those who are signed up
Oct. 2 School Custodian Appreciation Day
Oct. 10 2nd Workshop Day
Oct. 13 Indigenous People Day
Oct. 27 and 28 Northern Star Planetarium
Oct. 31 Early Release
October Menus
It Takes a Village
We are thankful for the generous donation, by a mother and daughter from a neighboring town, of gently used and new backpacks, which they procured from LL Bean. Some of the backpacks are monogrammed with names or initials, but they are of high quality and in great shape. Please let Kerry Gardner know if your child needs a backpack!
