The Sanford Pride Elementary gymnasium was once again filled with excitement and community spirit on Thursday, March 12, as teachers and staff faced off against local first responders in a charity basketball game uniting all three elementary schools in the district. The third annual Staff vs. First Responders basketball game drew a large, loud, and fully engaged crowd of students, parents, and community members who packed the bleachers to cheer on both teams. Adding a special touch to the evening, members of Carl J. Lamb Elementary's show choir performed the national anthem prior to tip-off, setting the tone for the night ahead. "As a teacher who had the opportunity to play in this game, it was incredible to see our entire community come together in support of such a great cause," said Sanford Pride Fourth Grade Teacher Dan Fernandez. "Thank you to the Sanford Maine Police Department and all of the other first responders who took the time to come out and play alongside the teachers and other staff. Your participation helped make the event truly special for everyone involved. Looking forward to next year." The game featured teachers and staff members from across Sanford's elementary schools competing against a team of local police officers, firefighters, and other emergency personnel. Carl J. Lamb’s show choir came back out onto the court again for a special performance during halftime. While the first responders ultimately took home the first-place trophy, the real win was the incredible school spirit in the stands. Sanford Police Chief Eric Small spoke to the spirit of the evening: "This event is a great community tradition that our officers look forward to each year. It's always great to see our teachers and first responders come together under one roof for a night of fun and community spirit." "The crowd was large, loud, and fully engaged, which made for a great atmosphere," Chief Small added. "Sanford really does know how to come together for a good time. On behalf of the Police Department, thank you to everyone who played and to all who came out to support the game. We appreciate our community showing up to cheer on the players." Funds raised during the event will support PTA initiatives across all three elementary schools, directly benefiting students through additional resources, activities, and educational opportunities throughout the year.
Spring Sing at the Performing Arts Center
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Children's Author Visits Sanford Fourth Graders
<div style="position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-top: 129.4118%;  padding-bottom: 0; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px 0 rgba(63,69,81,0.16); margin-top: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.9em; overflow: hidden;  border-radius: 8px; will-change: transform;">   <iframe loading="lazy" style="position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 100%; top: 0; left: 0; border: none; padding: 0;margin: 0;"     src="https://www.canva.com/design/DAHAM4Qbn6w/Yn2BvnBOcg-TpdZo_zJaeg/view?embed" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" allow="fullscreen">   </iframe> </div> <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.canva.com&#x2F;design&#x2F;DAHAM4Qbn6w&#x2F;Yn2BvnBOcg-TpdZo_zJaeg&#x2F;view?utm_content=DAHAM4Qbn6w&amp;utm_campaign=designshare&amp;utm_medium=embeds&amp;utm_source=link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Feb 2026 News.pdf</a> by Samuel Bonsey
Carl J. Lamb Hosts Grade 2 Learning Showcase
We are excited to share information with you regarding the Sanford Public School Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) programs for the 2026-2027 school year. In September, we expect to continue offering full-day Pre-K programming at Carl J. Lamb School, Margaret Chase Smith School, Sanford Pride Elementary School, Sanford Regional Technical Center, Sanford-Springvale YMCA and a new partnership with Kid’s Kove Early Learning Center.   Sanford and Springvale families with children 4 years old on or before October 15, 2026 and not of kindergarten age are eligible. Children who are 5 years old by October 15th, 2026 and not enrolled in Sanford’s Pre-K program can enroll in kindergarten by calling one of our elementary schools. The Pre-K program is free and will include free breakfast, lunch and transportation. We anticipate 128 Pre-K slots will be available for the 2026-2027 school year. To provide equal opportunity for families to enroll their children, students will be chosen using a lottery system. Here is the link to the form that you will need to complete in order to be considered for admittance to our Pre-K program: Registration Link - The lottery registration will close at the end of the day on Friday, February 13, 2026.. If you have any questions about how to fill out the form, please contact our central office at 324-2810. Our goal is to make program notifications the week of March 6th. All students that are placed in a district Pre-K program will need to complete registration prior to Pre-K screening. Once all openings have been filled by lottery, the remaining names will be drawn to create a waiting list, should space become available. If you know of any families who may have an eligible student, please feel free to share this information. If you have any questions, please contact us at the Sanford School Department’s Central Office at 324-2810.
Bus Safety Reminders as Students Return from Holiday Break
Nominations are now open for the Maine Teacher of the Year program. 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 are open now through Friday, January 30, 2026, at 5 p.m. To nominate, please fill out this form. Self-nominations and nominations from family members will not be accepted. 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!
SRTC's STARS Holiday Party Brings Joy and Learning to Carl J. Lamb Elementary Students
https://www.wmtw.com/article/weather-at-your-school-carl-j-school-elementary-school/69799329
Sanford School Department to Host Pre-K Information Sessions
Carl J. Lamb Elementary School held its third annual Veterans Day Celebration, featuring performances and an engaging history lesson that captivated students and honored local veterans. The assembly marked a special milestone for the school's youngest learners: it was the first-ever assembly for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students, who demonstrated remarkable respect and patience throughout the program. Chief Jonathan Hotchkiss and his wife Jan presented a fascinating flag history demonstration, showing students historical American flags including the 1775 Navy flag with its red and white stripes and the Bunker Hill flag with its distinctive pine tree. Students learned how Maine's white pine trees were used to make ship masts and counted the 13 stripes representing the original colonies. Chief Hotchkiss also led students in the flag ceremony, along with two other veterans, Dennis Boyd, Sr. and Punky Noble. Second graders Wesley and Dennis had the honor of holding the flag. The school's show choir performed "Because of You," a tribute to veterans' service and sacrifice. Veterans were then invited to the front of the stage for a performance by all grades. Students dressed in red, white, and blue and performed songs including "Thank You to Our Veterans" and "The Star Spangled Banner" for what one second grader described as "like a billion veterans" gathered in the cafeteria. After practicing all week and having a dress rehearsal on Friday, students were excited to share their tribute. "It was awesome," said second grader Wesley, whose father attended the celebration. His classmate Evelyn's father helped with the flag ceremony, adding to the personal connections that made the day meaningful for both students and veterans alike.
Sanford schools came together to celebrate Halloween with a series of community events that brought families, students, and staff together for evenings of fun and festivities. On Thursday, October 23, Sanford Middle School hosted their annual JMG Haunted Woods, offering students a thrilling walk through the shadows. That same evening, Sanford Pride Elementary welcomed families for Trick or Treat in their gymnasium, providing a safe and festive environment for young students to collect candy. Carl J. Lamb Elementary rounded out the night with their Trunk or Treat event, where creatively decorated car trunks delighted students and families alike. On Thursday, October 30, Margaret Chase Smith School hosted their PTA Halloween event, continuing the week of Halloween celebrations across the district. These events showcase the strong sense of community across the Sanford School Department, with staff and volunteers working together to create memorable experiences for our students and their families.
Dear Families, We're reaching out today because we know that many families in our community may have questions about how the recent federal government shutdown could affect household resources. Please know that our school is here to support you, and we want to make sure you have the most current information and know where to turn for help if you need it.  If you or your family are worried about food during the government shutdown, help is available.  School Meals will Remain Available for All Students All students can still get free breakfast and lunch at school every day.  Find Local Food Assistance If your family needs food support, call 211, or visit the Good Shepherd Food Bank’s Food Pantry Locator to find help near you. Visit www.gsfb.org/get-help/food-map or scan the QR code.  General Assistance Families can apply for General Assistance, which can help meet basic needs including food, housing, utilities, medical costs and more. Visit www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/programs-services/general-assistance. Continue to Apply or Renew SNAP Benefits You can still apply for or renew SNAP during the shutdown. If you qualify, doing this now will help make sure your benefits are ready as soon as funding resumes. Apply or renew at: www.mymaineconnection.gov.  For Federal Employees: If you or someone in your household is a federal employee impact by the shutdown, additional resources and support information are available at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/bdzdsu2p We understand this news may be stressful, and we are here to support our students and families however we can. Sanford Schools will continue to monitor the situation and share updates as more information becomes available. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your school’s school counselor, outreach staff or administrative office if you need help connecting to local resources.
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