Sanford School Department

Sanford Pride Elementary Hosts District-Wide Kindergarten Registration Event

March 6, 2026

The Sanford School Department hosted its second District-Wide Kindergarten Registration event on Wednesday, March 4 at Sanford Pride Elementary School, welcoming incoming kinderga...

Margaret Chase Smith First Graders Share Their Love of Space with Families

March 6, 2026

Margaret Chase Smith first grade students proudly welcomed families for a special Learning Showcase to celebrate their knowledge from the CKLA Space unit on Wednesday. Students...

Most Mondays at 6 pm, a group of Sanford High School students meet in the Agora at the school, the open staircase near the cafeteria. Not for practice or tutoring, but to figure out how they can make their community a little better. They're members of Key Club, the school's oldest club, which has been around since 1959. Key Club is an international student-led organization focused on community service and leadership, sponsored by Kiwanis International. At Sanford High School, membership is open to all students throughout the entire school year. SHS senior Braeden Landry has been showing up to meetings since before he was even a high school student. This year's biggest undertaking was the Lighthouse project: a large, student-designed display on the Agora wall created in partnership with Erika's Lighthouse, an organization focused on youth mental health awareness. The display points toward the guidance office, and students are invited to share tips on staying mentally healthy and how to get help, giving a voice to struggles that can be hard to talk about. Members spent hours carefully planning and executing it. "The Lighthouse is one of our biggest projects we've done. That was really cool," Braeden said. "We also set up an ornament painting station and got like 40 different presents. That was awesome." Members focus on hands-on community service projects, preferring to try new things rather than repeat the same events each year. This year's standout was the Lighthouse project. "They spent like five hours figuring out how they wanted it set up and what they wanted it to say," said co-advisor Payton Orino. "They worked really hard on it." Other highlights included assembling and distributing "Boo Bags" around Halloween and running babysitting nights at the school. One of the biggest events on the calendar is DECON — the District Convention — coming up at the end of March in Springfield, Massachusetts, where members get to compete and represent Sanford High on a regional stage. DECON is one of the most exciting parts of the Key Club year. Students travel to compete in events including a talent show, an advertising competition, and a poster competition. Last year the club had a strong showing, taking first place in both the Talent Contest and Club Video competition, second place in the Oratorical Contest, and earning an Advisor Award for Kyle Landry. Landry is in his 10th year advising the club, which has around 40 members on its roster. Kyle remains enthusiastic about growing it. “I would love to figure out how to get 30 or 40 more kids,” he said. Landry and Orino are supportive in their roles. "We're here to guide them when they need it, but this is really their club. They take a lot of pride in what they do," Orino said. Students who love the experience can continue through Circle K International, Key Club's college equivalent. Those interested in joining Key Club can reach out to the advisors or ask at the main office.

Sanford High School's Key Club Makes Impact on Community

March 6, 2026

Most Mondays at 6 pm, a group of Sanford High School students meet in the Agora at the school, the open staircase near the cafeteria. Not for practice or tutoring, but to figure ...

Sanford Middle School's seventh graders had a powerful and meaningful learning experience when they connected via Zoom with Ruth Wade, the daughter of Holocaust survivor Sydney Finkel. During the hour-long session on Wednesday, March 4, Ms. Wade shared her father's remarkable story of survival. From his childhood in Poland when Germany invaded, through the horrors of the concentration camps, to his eventual liberation. Students watched a documentary video featuring Mr. Finkel telling his story in his own words, and then had the opportunity to speak directly with Ms. Wade in a live question-and-answer discussion. What made the experience especially impactful was the conversation that followed the video. Ms. Wade guided students to reflect on the many individual choices — large and small — that shaped her father's survival: the family members who protected him, the strangers who took great personal risks to help, and even the simple acts of kindness that helped sustain him through unimaginable hardship. Students engaged thoughtfully, identifying specific moments from the video and connecting them to a broader message about the choices we all make in our daily lives.

Sanford Middle School Seventh Graders Participate in Holocaust Education Event

March 4, 2026

Sanford Middle School's seventh graders had a powerful and meaningful learning experience when they connected via Zoom with Ruth Wade, the daughter of Holocaust survivor Sydney Fi...

Four Sanford High School Students participate in the ACDA All-Eastern Honor Choir

March 3, 2026

Four Sanford High School vocalists represented our community this past week at the ACDA All-Eastern Honor Choir Festival, one of the most elite high school choral events in the ea...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEteL7uUTtI

WMTW Weather At Your Schools Visits Sanford Middle School

March 3, 2026

WMTW Meteorologist Ted McInerney visited Sanford Middle School this morning for his "Weather At Your Schools" segment. He then presented to fifth graders in the cafeteria and le...

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The SMS Times

March 2, 2026

Check out the latest SMS Times below! The SMS Times is Sanford Middle School's student-run online newspaper.

More than 140 third and fourth graders participated in the Student Health Fair at Sanford Pride Elementary School earlier this month, spending the day exploring health, nutrition, and mindfulness through interactive, hands-on activities. MaineHealth educators Casey Marcotte (HEAL) and Stephanie Masters-Plamondon (SUPS) led engaging lessons tailored to the elementary audience. Marcotte's "Sugar Shocker" demonstration challenged students to read nutrition labels, compare food choices, and recognize how marketing shapes perceptions of what's healthy — along with the reminder that water is always the best thirst quencher. Masters-Plamondon drew on the MindUP curriculum to introduce students to mindfulness strategies, helping them understand how their brains work and building skills in focus and self-regulation. A highlight of the day was the Smoothie Bike, where students cheered each other on as they pedaled to power their own smoothies during lunch. Community partners also joined the fair, offering additional lessons on health, safety, and wellness.

Sanford Pride Hosts Student Health Fair

March 2, 2026

More than 140 third and fourth graders recently participated in Sanford Pride Elementary School's first annual Student Health Fair and it was a huge success. Students spent the...

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March First 10 Newsletter

March 2, 2026

Check out the latest updates from First 10 below!

U.S. Navy Sea Chanters stop by Sanford March 5

February 27, 2026

SANFORD — Don’t miss this unforgettable evening with The Navy Band Sea Chanters, the U.S. Navy’s premier chorus, performing a FREE concert at the Sanford Performing Arts Center ...

Sanford Regional Technical Center culinary students made their mark this week, competing for the first time in the Maine State ProStart Competition. The milestone event brought together students from career and technical education centers across the state to showcase their culinary skills and hospitality management knowledge in front of industry judges. SRTC joined fellow competitors from Biddeford Regional Center of Technology and Westbrook Regional Vocational Center, with all three programs earning praise from judges for their impressive performances. Capital Area Technical Center took top honors and will advance to the National ProStart Invitational in Baltimore, Maryland, representing Maine on the national stage. For SRTC culinary students, this first-ever appearance at the state competition marks an exciting chapter for the program. As the saying goes in competition — participating is winning — and these students demonstrated that the future of hospitality in Maine is in good hands.

Sanford Regional Technical Center Culinary Students Compete in ProStart Maine State Competition

February 26, 2026

Sanford Regional Technical Center culinary students made their mark this week, competing for the first time in the Maine State ProStart Competition. The milestone event brought t...

Sanford Spotlight Newsletter

February 26, 2026

Check out the latest Sanford Spotlight Newsletter below!

Sanford Middle School's Doctor Who Club has quickly become one of the most popular after-school activities this year and the enthusiasm speaks for itself. The club got its start during the 2024-2025 school year by sixth-grade teacher Abby Hanson, a longtime Doctor Who fan who wanted to share something she loved with her students during her first year of teaching. After showing the British sci-fi series in class, the response was hard to ignore. "I got 10-plus kids interested right away," she said, "So I was like, okay, I'll start it." The club launched with around 15 members and has since doubled this year. I have 30 students signed up,” Hanson said. Every Tuesday after dismissal until 4 p.m., members get together to watch episodes of Doctor Who in order. Hanson brings a lot to the table beyond just hitting play. She keeps the conversation going with discussions about plot, storytelling, and production history, drawing on her deep knowledge of the show's behind-the-scenes world. "We talk about how the show has had an influence on sci-fi, whether it's film, television, or literature," she explained. "Doctor Who has had a huge influence, and the kids are really into exploring that." One of the best things about the club is that no prior knowledge of Doctor Who is required. Some students came in already familiar with the show, while others were discovering it for the first time. Either way, the welcoming atmosphere and the excitement of watching together has been enough to get everyone invested. The students are clearly hooked. Sixth-grader Zoey Bolduc, returning for her second year, was one of the kids who pushed for the club to exist in the first place. After Hanson introduced the show in class, Zoey thought it was a no-brainer. "I told her that she should make a club about this. I thought that would be really cool." Now, her favorite part is simple: "Mostly just hanging out, watching Doctor Who, and talking about the show." Fellow member, sixth-grader, Ana Grant, put it best: "The show is very fun,” Grant said. “You can't look away, because you're going to miss whatever's happening."

Doctor Who Club at Sanford Middle School Keeps Growing

February 25, 2026

Sanford Middle School's Doctor Who Club has quickly become one of the most popular after-school activities this year and the enthusiasm speaks for itself. The club got its start ...

Sanford Middle School Celebrates the Great Kindness Challenge

February 25, 2026

Sanford Middle School recently wrapped up a wonderful week of kindness. Students and staff participated in the Great Kindness Challenge, a national movement that empowers students...

Seventh graders at Sanford Middle School recently wrapped up a meaningful interdisciplinary unit on the Holocaust, and they finished it in a pretty memorable way. Over the past several weeks, students have been exploring this important chapter in history through both their social studies and ELA classes. The two courses worked hand-in-hand to give students a well-rounded understanding of the Holocaust — from the historical facts and context to the deeply human stories behind them. To bring it all home, students had the chance to experience something truly special: a live performance by Russell Kaback called 25044: A Musical Story of Resilience. In the show, Kaback shares the story of his own grandfather, a Holocaust survivor, through music and storytelling. It's the kind of performance that sticks with you, and for our 7th graders, it served as a powerful capstone to everything they'd been learning in the classroom. We're proud of our students for engaging so thoughtfully with such a significant and weighty topic, and grateful to performers like Russell Kaback for keeping these important stories alive.

Sanford Middle School 7th Graders Wrap Up Holocaust Learning Unit

February 24, 2026

Seventh graders at Sanford Middle School recently wrapped up a meaningful interdisciplinary unit on the Holocaust, and they finished it in a pretty memorable way. Over the past se...

Exciting Changes to Early Childhood Special Education Services

February 23, 2026

February 23, 2026 Dear Sanford Families: We are writing to share exciting news about an important change coming to early childhood special education services in Sanford. Effecti...

Margaret Chase Smith Third Graders Bring Roman Myths to Life at Learning Showcase

February 20, 2026

Margaret Chase Smith third graders recently welcomed families to a special Learning Showcase highlighting their incredible work from their Roman Myths unit. Students transforme...

Sanford Regional Technical Center took center stage at the Maine State Capitol in Augusta during the week of February 9, 2026, as part of a statewide celebration of Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. SRTC was among the southern and coastal Maine schools featured on February 12 at the Hall of Flags, a multi-day event that brought together CTE programs from all 27 of Maine's CTE schools, along with community college partners, SkillsUSA, FFA, and other supporters. The gathering gave students, educators, and school leaders the chance to connect with legislators, industry partners, and members of the public through hands-on demonstrations and conversations about the power of career and technical education. A highlight of the day was a speech delivered by SRTC Director Matt Petermann, who addressed Maine leaders and distinguished guests on behalf of the state's CTE community. Petermann celebrated the growth of CTE across Maine — enrollment has now surpassed 11,300 students statewide, the highest number ever recorded — while also making the case for continued investment in programs like SRTC. "CTE connects classroom learning to real careers, builds essential skills, and opens doors to family-sustaining wages right here in Maine," Petermann said. "Many of these CTE schools are the lifeblood of their regions and communities." Petermann used his time at the podium to advocate directly with legislators on issues that hit close to home for schools like SRTC, including new pathways to bring experienced industry professionals into the classroom as teachers, and the urgent need to update aging facilities to meet modern, industry-standard expectations. "When you invest in CTE, you're investing in Maine's workforce, Maine's communities, and Maine's future," Petermann said. "Our students are those workers." SRTC's presence at the Hall of Flags was a proud moment for the Sanford community — a reminder that the work happening here every day is making a real difference for students and for Maine's workforce as a whole. Whether students leave SRTC heading into a career, an apprenticeship, or higher education, the skills and confidence they build here follow them every step of the way.

Sanford Regional Technical Center Represented at Hall of Flags

February 19, 2026

Sanford Regional Technical Center took center stage at the Maine State Capitol in Augusta during the week of February 9, 2026, as part of a statewide celebration of Career and Tec...

On Friday, February 13, the Sanford High School Chamber Singers were invited to perform and record with nationally recognized composer Jennifer Lucy Cook in Portland at the Crewe Center for the Arts, Osher School of Music at the University of Southern Maine. Jennifer Lucy Cook is a nationally recognized composer and lyricist whose choral works are performed by high school, collegiate, and professional ensembles across the United States. Based in Los Angeles, her music is widely published and admired for its expressive storytelling, lyrical depth, and contemporary voice within today's choral landscape. In addition to her choral writing, she is also active in stage and screen composition, making her one of today's most versatile and in-demand living composers. During this collaboration, Sanford students recorded three of Cook's choral works, including two performed independently by the Sanford Chamber Singers, and one combined piece alongside the Brunswick High School Chamber Choir, Scarborough High School Chamber Singers, and the Osher School of Music Chamber Singers. Working directly with the composer provided students with invaluable artistic insight and professional-level rehearsal and recording experience.

Sanford Chamber Singers Record with Nationally Recognized Composer in Portland

February 17, 2026

On Friday, February 13, the Sanford High School Chamber Singers were invited to perform and record with nationally recognized composer Jennifer Lucy Cook in Portland at the Crewe ...

Children's Author Visits Sanford Fourth Graders

February 12, 2026

Fourth grade students at Margaret Chase Smith, Carl J. Lamb, and Sanford Pride Elementary Schools were treated to a visit from children's author Frank Cole, who shared his journey...