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Sanford Community Adult Education celebrated its Class of 2025 graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 11th, marking a milestone achievement with over 30 graduates —their largest class in five years. The evening brought together families, friends, educators, and community members to honor the perseverance and dedication of students who refused to give up on their educational dreams. The ceremony opened with a performance of the national anthem by graduate Isabella Verissiomo. Superintendent Matt Nelson welcomed attendees and praised the graduates for their "toughness"—not physical strength, but the resilience to overcome obstacles and bounce back from setbacks. "Your experience at SCAE has helped you build that toughness and move toward your goals," Nelson told the graduates. "Everyone has a story and has taken a different path. Be proud that your story is the result of taking action." Three graduates shared their personal journeys with the audience. Tyler Phillips spoke about returning to education, crediting the supportive SCAE staff for helping him succeed. "To be honest, when I started here, I wasn't sure that I could make it work," Phillips admitted. "There was so much reading at first. I knew it had to be done, so eventually I did it." He encouraged his fellow graduates. "Being here today was not an overnight thing for any of us. We showed up, we put the work you needed to make this happen." Verissiomo dedicated her achievement to her son Grayson. "I want him to know that every goal is achievable and every thing you put your mind to is very possible." The evening's final student speaker, Kelly McLean, demonstrated that it's truly never too late to pursue your dreams. Describing her determination to complete her education after an 18-year journey, "I never gave up," McLean shared. "I kept reassuring myself with the help of family and friends and amazing staff that I could do it." Now 36, she fulfilled a promise to her sons to graduate before or with them—achieving her diploma just a week after her eldest son graduated from Sanford High School. "As a Sanford graduate at 36 years old, I can definitely say anything is possible.” The ceremony also featured a special presentation by Elias Thomas from the Sanford-Springvale Rotary Club, who honored Director Jayne Perkins with the Paul Harris Fellow award for her exceptional community service and dedication to education. The ceremony also recognized outstanding achievement, with Tyler Phillips receiving the Student of the Year award for his exceptional dedication and leadership. Several graduates received $500 scholarships from the Sanford-Springvale Rotary Club and free course scholarships from the University of Maine at Augusta, providing pathways for continued education. To conclude the ceremony, Perkins challenged graduates with her father's words: "Go do good things." She reminded them that graduation isn't an ending but a beginning, encouraging them to continue growing, learning, and lifting others as they climb.
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jperkins@sanford.org
Congratulations!
Nominations are now open for the 2025 York County Teacher of the Year and 2026 Teacher of the Year.  Members of the public are encouraged to nominate educators who demonstrate exemplary skills that inspire students and colleagues, and who help focus attention on the importance of public schools among everyone in the Sanford community.  Nominations can be made through a form on the Maine Teacher of the Year Website  from now until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31st, 2025. (Click here for the form) They are accepted by students, parents, caregivers, community members, school administrators, colleagues, college faculty members, and associations/organizations. Recognize an educator today who has continued to inspire, educate and care for their students!
Ashlee Ridlon
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jperkins@sanford.org
As the new school year got underway, the Sanford School Department welcomed students and staff to clean, safe, and well-prepared facilities, thanks to the efforts of our custodial and facilities team over the summer months.   The Sanford School Department oversees an impressive array of facilities, including ten buildings that required management for cleaning, maintenance, and grounds care.  These facilities encompassed a total of 634,000 square feet of building space and spanned 262 acres of land.  At the heart of our school preparation efforts was our hardworking custodial team who took center stage this summer, undertaking a comprehensive cleaning of all facilities. Their work went far beyond routine maintenance, involving a process that touched every corner of our schools.  Staff moved and cleaned furniture, washed lights, walls, and windows, and conducted necessary room repairs. One of their most significant tasks was scrubbing and refinishing floors throughout the buildings, ensuring a fresh and welcoming environment for returning students and staff.  The custodial team faced and overcame challenges during their summer work. They navigated scheduling conflicts with summer programming and demonstrated remarkable flexibility in adapting to last-minute changes.   While the custodial staff focused on deep cleaning, our maintenance team was equally busy with crucial projects. They replaced the boiler at Willard School, installed new doors in the SMS Library and main stairwell, and added climate control to the SPE Library.   Other notable projects included: Installing playground equipment at Margaret Chase Smith School. Setting up an entry heater at Carl J Lamb School. Implementing sound deadening measures at Sanford High School  Our grounds care responsibilities expanded this year to include mowing and maintaining Sanford High School sports fields. This new task totaled 20 additional hours of work and was efficiently managed with the addition of a part-time seasonal staff member.  The combined efforts of our custodial, maintenance, and grounds staff ensured that Sanford schools were clean and safe and enhanced and improved for the new academic year.  As students and staff returned, they found their spaces ready and welcoming, setting the stage for a successful year of learning and growth. Thank you to our Facilities and Maintenance teams!
Attendance Awareness
Stay informed with news and updates by downloading the Sanford School Department app on your mobile device.  The app allows parents to choose the school(s) they want to get notifications from.  You can access the live feed, see sports schedules, check out the dining menu, access important documents, receive emergency notifications, and more.  Just look up Sanford School Department, ME, in your app store.