Sanford School Department

Good Evening. Please read an important announcement regarding Sanford High School and Sanford Regional Technical Center moving to full distance learning this Monday, September 21st. The letter can be accessed via this link: https://www.sanford.org/article/310606?org=sanford-school-department

Good evening. Please access the following link for a welcome back letter that includes links to resources and important information regarding symptom checks. Have a safe and healthy weekend! https://www.sanford.org/article/306362?org=sanford-school-department

Beginning Monday, September 14, 2020, free school meals are available for pickup for all students enrolled in Sanford School Department’s Distance Learning Program. Meals should be pre-ordered by 7:00 pm the night before using the online order form on the Sanford School Department website under Family Links - Food and Nutrition Program. The meals may be picked up between 11:00 to 11:30 on school days at Lafayette School. FMI go to https://www.sanford.org/article/305232?org=sanford-school-department or call the School Nutrition Program office at 608-8762.

Dear Parents: This communication does NOT apply to 5th grade students at SMS. Thank you to all families who had a chance to attend technology distribution. We have become aware that paper copies of student schedules were not included with the opening day paperwork. To keep things as simple as possible, I am asking families who have access to IC to please use it to download student schedules. Please see the link below. If you do not have a student OR parent log-in (It will work for BOTH of those accounts,) please e-mail your child’s homeroom teacher as soon as possible for their assistance. Please note: Teachers will be helping students find their way through the schedule on Monday during homeroom, so all the student needs to know is their homeroom teacher’s Zoom link and to be logged in at 7:40. We understanding this is a strange new world we’re teaching in! Once again, this communication does NOT apply to 5th grade students at SMS. https://ic.sanford.org/campus/portal/sanford.jsp

As you know, York County was recently designated as a “yellow” county so changes were made to our elementary schedule as a precautionary move. Go to https://5il.co/ktqx for a downloadable version of the new Pre-K to 4 schedule starting September 14, 2020.

The additional device pickup time for the middle school on Thursday 9/10 from 3pm - 6pm will still occur as planned. Due to the weather forecast, device pickup will be at the front entrance for ALL grades at that time. This is an amendment to Ms. Lydon's earlier post.

The 20/21 bus routes for CJL, MCS and Willard Schools are now available on our website under Family Links - Busses and Transportation or by clicking https://www.sanford.org/o/sanford-school-department/browse/35994. During COVID-19, we encourage and thank parents for providing transportation whenever possible. If you have any questions about transportation, please call your child's school or Ledgemere at 324-4888.

We understand that the device pickup times did not or will not work for all families. We will be offering additional times for all grades tomorrow, Thursday 9/10 from 3-6pm. Grades 5/6 at the front entrance and Grade 7/8 at the back entrance at our new location--the old Sanford High School, now Sanford Middle School.

Important announcement regarding a change to the start date for Sanford High School and Sanford Regional Technical Center. Please access the letter using this link: https://5il.co/ko0b

“Good morning. This is an important announcement from Matt Nelson, Superintendent of Schools for the Sanford School Department regarding the opening of school for the converted Sanford Middle School. After an in-depth review of the facility, I have made the decision to have all students in grades 5-8 start the school year in full distance learning starting on Monday, September 14th for a minimum of two weeks. It is our plan to have in-person learning for students in grades 5-8 now start on Monday, September 28th. The reason for this change is that school construction is not completely finished and we have not been able to move into the entire facility. Our faculty and staff received permission to begin moving into the converted middle school last week and have been working hard with a goal to have in-person learning start as originally planned. Despite our best efforts, the facility will not be completely ready for us to meet the expectations in our Covid-19 reopening plan. The prudent decision at this time is to change the schedule and give families time to adjust and make the necessary arrangements as a result of this change. We realize the impact of this decision and the hardship it puts on families but our students and staff deserve a facility that is ready. This change is only for students in grades 5-8. Students will be able to pick up technology next week to be able to begin full distance learning on Monday, September 14th. Additional information and details will be forthcoming from Sanford Middle School by the end of this week. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding.

“Good evening. This is an important announcement from Matt Nelson, Superintendent of Schools for the Sanford School Department regarding the opening of school for the converted Sanford Middle School. After an in-depth review of the facility, I have made the decision to have all students in grades 5-8 start the school year in full distance learning starting on Monday, September 14th for a minimum of two weeks. It is our plan to have in-person learning for students in grades 5-8 now start on Monday, September 28th. The reason for this change is that school construction is not completely finished and we have not been able to move into the entire facility. Our faculty and staff received permission to begin moving into the converted middle school last week and have been working hard with a goal to have in-person learning start as originally planned. Despite our best efforts, the facility will not be completely ready for us to meet the expectations in our Covid-19 reopening plan. The prudent decision at this time is to change the schedule and give families time to adjust and make the necessary arrangements as a result of this change. We realize the impact of this decision and the hardship it puts on families but our students and staff deserve a facility that is ready. This change is only for students in grades 5-8. Students will be able to pick up technology next week to be able to begin full distance learning on Monday, September 14th. Additional information and details will be forthcoming from Sanford Middle School by the end of this week. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding.

As parents get ready to send their children back to school, here's a link to an important health message from Sanford School Nurses: https://5il.co/kgxo

The Sanford School Department wants to remind parents to renew their Free and Reduced Meal Applications to avoid any break in eligibility. Paper applications are available by calling your child’s school or parents can use the new, secure online application available at: https://www.myschoolapps.com/ . If you have any questions about the process, please contact our Foodservice Office at 608-8762. Families affected by the COVID 19 pandemic may be eligible for free or reduced priced school meals based on their current income. Families impacted are encouraged to submit an online application.

The Sanford School Department is asking all families to complete a Return to School Intentions Form for the 2020-21 school year. For planning purposes, we need a separate form for each child. We've designated Wednesday, August 19th as the deadline for responses to allow parents time to review their options. To access the appropriate form, go to: https://www.sanford.org/article/286488?org=sanford-school-department.

Sanford School Committee will meet Monday at 7 pm to discuss Sanford's Return to School Plan. Participation options include cable, live stream, Zoom video conference and limited in-person seating. FMI go to https://www.sanford.org/article/286096?org=sanford-school-department.

The Sanford School Committee will meet tonight at 6:30 and discuss Sanford's Return to School Plan. Watch on Metrocast Channel 26 or live stream at https://townhallstreams.com/towns/sanfordme , or email ldudgeon@sanford.org before 6:30 pm to join live via Zoom.

Message from Sanford School Department Superintendent Matt Nelson Hope all is well and everyone is enjoying summer. It was our intention to present our fall reopening of school plans to the School Committee this Monday, August 10th for formal action. We were hoping to make this timeline to allow all stakeholders time to make the necessary arrangements in advance of the starting of school. Unfortunately, we are not in a position to make a decision this Monday. Our plan is to present our latest plan / information to the School Committee this Monday to allow them an opportunity for feedback and to ask questions with the goal of formally making this important decision if possible the following Monday, August 17th at another School Committee meeting. It is a very fluid situation and we are in unchartered waters. We are trying to balance providing as much notice as possible to our stakeholders for planning purposes while also opening school safely under circumstances we have never experienced previously. It is very complex and we want to make the best decisions possible. We appreciate your understanding and continued patience. The agenda for this Monday's School Committee meeting will be released later today. We will be holding the meeting via zoom and there will be an opportunity for public comment. Specific information to access Monday's meeting will be forthcoming. Please stay safe and healthy.

Special Distribution Event of No-Cost Fresh Food Thursday, 7/30/20 3:00 – 5:30 pm Willard and Lafayette Schools Additional information available at: https://www.sanford.org/article/277300?org=sanford-school-department

Reminder - Return to School Information Night tonight from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM. Please use this link to watch live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0qKBZyzjM0. E-mail questions to Schoolinfo@sanford.org

Good Evening. Join Superintendent Matt Nelson on Monday, July 27 from 5:30-7:00pm at the Sanford Performing Arts Center for a Return to School Family Information Night. Superintendent Nelson will outline the most recent reopening guidance from the Maine DOE, and the plans that the Sanford School Department is currently considering for returning to school in the fall. Tickets required - Limited tickets available due to COVID-19 restrictions. This will also be broadcast live on YouTube. More information, including the video link and ticket link, can be found at https://www.sanford.org/article/274482?org=sanford-school-department.