Sanford Middle School's 7th grade students participated in the school's annual Junior Achievement in a Day event on Wednesday, April 15, bringing together community volunteers and students for a day of hands-on financial literacy learning. Volunteers came in to teach lessons about personal finance, drawing on their own professional experiences to bring the material to life. As Social Studies Department Chair Erin Barry noted, "The volunteers work for various local businesses and share their work experiences and knowledge about money management with students." Organizations represented included Machias Savings Bank, Kennebunk Savings Bank, Atlantic Credit Union, the Sanford Chamber of Commerce, Longfellow Hotel, and Moody's Collision. This year's program, Economics for Success, guided students through four key lessons over the course of the day. Rotating through sessions with a different volunteer for each, students learned about budgeting, the role of credit, how to pay for wants and needs, and how to plan for future income. One highlight came from Cari Qatar of the Sanford Chamber of Commerce, who led the Managing My Money unit. Her session drew creative parallels between managing time and managing money, sparked lively discussion about needs versus wants and short-term versus long-term goals, and got students thinking about their own financial futures. "The kids did a great job brainstorming ways middle-schoolers can earn money," Cari said. "They walked away realizing that making many small purchases add up and could affect their ability to buy something more meaningful down the line." Danielle Moody of Moody's Collision, who led the Planning For My Future Income unit, spoke to the lasting impact of the program. "Kids do look back on this learning opportunity and realize how important financial literacy is," she said. "Even though these sessions are only 45 minutes long, I do think the students take away a lot from them. It's really nice to share some of that terminology and help them understand." Junior Achievement in a Day is a wonderful example of what becomes possible when schools and their surrounding communities come together. Hearing directly from working professionals helps make financial concepts feel real and relevant in a way that goes beyond the classroom. A special thank you goes out to all of the volunteers, the teachers who helped organize and host sessions, and the Sanford Middle School staff who worked behind the scenes to make the day run smoothly.

Sanford Middle School 7th Graders Participate in Junior Achievement in a Day

Sanford School Department

April 21, 2026

Sanford Middle School's 7th grade students participated in the school's annual Junior Achievement in a Day event on Wednesday, April 15, bringing together community volunteers and students for a day of hands-on financial literacy learning.

Volunteers came in to teach lessons about personal finance, drawing on their own professional experiences to bring the material to life. As Social Studies Department Chair Erin Barry noted, "The volunteers work for various local businesses and share their work experiences and knowledge about money management with students." Organizations represented included Machias Savings Bank, Kennebunk Savings Bank, Atlantic Credit Union, the Sanford Chamber of Commerce, Longfellow Hotel, and Moody's Collision.

This year's program, Economics for Success, guided students through four key lessons over the course of the day. Rotating through sessions with a different volunteer for each, students learned about budgeting, the role of credit, how to pay for wants and needs, and how to plan for future income.

One highlight came from Cari Qatar of the Sanford Chamber of Commerce, who led the Managing My Money unit. Her session drew creative parallels between managing time and managing money, sparked lively discussion about needs versus wants and short-term versus long-term goals, and got students thinking about their own financial futures. "The kids did a great job brainstorming ways middle-schoolers can earn money," Cari said. "They walked away realizing that making many small purchases add up and could affect their ability to buy something more meaningful down the line."

Danielle Moody of Moody's Collision, who led the Planning For My Future Income unit, spoke to the lasting impact of the program. "Kids do look back on this learning opportunity and realize how important financial literacy is," she said. "Even though these sessions are only 45 minutes long, I do think the students take away a lot from them. It's really nice to share some of that terminology and help them understand."

Junior Achievement in a Day is a wonderful example of what becomes possible when schools and their surrounding communities come together. Hearing directly from working professionals helps make financial concepts feel real and relevant in a way that goes beyond the classroom. A special thank you goes out to all of the volunteers, the teachers who helped organize and host sessions, and the Sanford Middle School staff who worked behind the scenes to make the day run smoothly.