Books and Badges Come Together at Webster Elementary

Summer school students at Webster Elementary recently traded their usual classroom routine for story time with a special guest from the Marshfield Police Department.

Officer Joshua Burris stopped by Ms. Cardoza's third-grade StoryQuest Summer School class to read to students and talk about why books matter.

Miss Cardoza invited several community members to participate in the program, hoping to encourage strong reading habits and show students that reading plays an important role in everyday life.

Burris didn't have to look far for the perfect story.

He chose Officer Buckle and Gloria, a book he had already shared with his own children at home.

The story follows Officer Buckle, a small-town police officer who visits schools to teach safety tips. Along for the ride is Gloria, his energetic police dog, whose playful antics keep students entertained while reinforcing important lessons.

"It was good to see the reaction on their faces," Burris said. "They were attentive not only to everything on my belt and my chest, but also to the book. They really interacted and talked about it with me."

For many of the students, the visit offered a chance to see a police officer in a different light. Instead of responding to emergencies or enforcing the law, Burris sat in front of the class, turning pages and sharing laughs.

The experience also highlighted something the Marshfield Police Department values deeply: positive community connections.

"A lot of times, our interaction with the community isn't as pleasant as we'd like it to be because of the nature of our job," Burris said. "But when we get a chance to positively interact with children or members of our community, we try to take full advantage of it every chance we get."

Burris said the department is always willing to participate when schools and local organizations reach out.

For one summer morning, the badge took a back seat to the book.

And as students listened to Officer Buckle's safety tips and Gloria's humorous distractions, they were reminded that reading can teach, entertain and bring people together in unexpected ways.