The Sanford School Department has been selected as one of three districts in Maine to receive the First 10 Grant. This initiative, spearheaded by the Maine Department of Education (MDOE), is designed to engage parents, families, and the community in promoting school readiness.
First 10 Schools and Communities are partnerships of school districts, elementary schools, early childhood programs, and community partners that collaborate to work on improving teaching, learning and care for young children. The schools attend to whole child and whole student development by providing consistent quality of services to all children, aligning resources and supports across the first 10 years of children’s lives.
The grant will enable Sanford to implement innovative programs and strategies that support the successful transition of young learners into kindergarten.
Under the First 10 Grant, Sanford Pride Elementary School will take the lead in initiating the work, with the intention of sharing their findings and best practices with Carl J. Lamb and Margaret Chase Smith.
Principal Susan Inman highlights the importance of collaboration, stating that Sanford Pride meets regularly with other schools across the country involved in similar efforts. This collaborative approach allows educators to learn from each other and implement effective strategies that have been proven to enhance school readiness.
One of the significant benefits of the First 10 Grant is the provision of funding to hire outreach coordinator Shana Palmer.
She will work closely with educators and community organizations to bridge the gap between school and home, ensuring that families have the resources and support they need to foster their children's development and prepare them for a successful start to education.
The First 10 Grant has established several key goals that Sanford will strive to achieve. These goals are aimed at supporting incoming kindergarteners, promoting play and learn groups, launching a parenting campaign, and providing ongoing support to current Pre-K and kindergarten parents and families.