Mary Paine
Greetings Families!
As I write this message on a very windy Saturday morning, during a power outage, I think of the families to our south who have lost so much in the recent hurricanes. I'm grateful that we live in a state that, relatively speaking, doesn't often get destructive weather. I’m grateful too for Maine’s colorful fall days and autumn bounty.
It just so happened that a perfect autumn morning fell on our first ever Walk and Roll to School day. We thank organizer, Nurse Ashley; our bus drivers; the parents and guardians who supported their children in participating; the staff who walked with the students; Chief Donnell and Officer Decker for the safe road crossing; our nutrition crew, who accommodated a late breakfast; and our Bobcat mascot, all for making the event fun, safe, and healthy! The students who participated really enjoyed the early morning exercise and socialization, and many have asked when we can do it again. Nurse Ashley and I are already making plans for the next Walk and Roll day, and we don't think we can wait a whole year! As you can see from the Bobcat Sightings video at the end of the newsletter, those who participated had a wonderful walk to school, and we want to find a way to involve all students the next time!
It's no surprise that getting adequate exercise helps children in all aspects of their lives, including academic focus and achievement. I'm so impressed with the academic demands teachers are placing on students, as well as their deliberateness in balancing those demands with the social, emotional, and physical learning opportunities that teach the whole child and help foster every student's life-long curiosity, appreciation for community, compassion for others, and personal success.
In keeping with that whole-child approach, we finished the week with another healthy event, Super Snack Friday. You can read all about it in the It Takes a Village section of this newsletter.
Coming up, we will participate in Unity Day on Wednesday; I hope you will find some small way to join us in communicating the important messages that this day promotes.
Wishing you a healthy, active long weekend!
Mary
Mary Paine
Principal, Marcia Buker ES
28 High Street
Richmond, Me 04357
(207) 557-0062
October Dates and Notices
Oct. 14th No School(Indigenous People Day)
Oct. 16th Unity Day (Wear orange and spread kindness!)
Oct. 16th Flu Clinic (for those who signed up)
Oct. 25th Early Release (Buses at 11:30; NO PreK)
Oct. 28th - Nov, 1st Spirit Week
Oct. 29th Picture Retake
October Menus
Breakfast
Lunch
It Takes a Village
Super Snack - We are grateful to Mid Coast Hunger Prevention; and our Super Snack Squad -- Nurse Ashley; and PTG parent volunteers Jess Alexander, Danielle Beck, Janelle Drake, and Katelyn Lavallee -- for the amazing morning snack. It took many hands to deliver, wash, pare, slice, and serve our students the beautiful and nutritious array of apples, bananas, kiwi, red pears, oranges and cucumbers.
Backpack Program - Our backpack crew -- Tammy Houdlette, Nurse Ashley, and Emily Snowden -- make sure that some of the Super Snack fruits are included in the supplemental weekend food bags, which program manager, Kerry Gardner, reports reach 40 student households. We appreciate the generous local donations and Mid Coast Hunger Prevention for keeping the backpack program running.
Box Tops App The PTG is continuing the Box Tops App to help our school raise money for things like field trips and hosting guest educators from Chewonki, the Planetarium, and Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers. We hope you will help us one box top at a time!
Marcia Buker School will be participating in Unity Day by wearing orange and participating in Project Connect. Thanks to our School Spirit Keeper, 4th Grade Teacher John Libby, and School Counselor Hope Libby for organizing this meaningful day.
We hope our families and community members will join us in communicating the anti-bullying, unity and kindness message by wearing orange. For more ways to participate in Unity Day 2024, visit PACER's National Bully Prevention Center by scanning the QR Code below.
