Sanford Pride Elementary School

Sanford Pride Fourth-Graders Honor Veterans Through Song at Local Nursing Home

November 9, 2024

Sanford Pride Elementary's fourth-grade chorus brought joy to Pinnacle Health and Rehab Nursing Facility Friday morning, uniting the school department's young musicians with loca...

Sanford Pride's Weekly Newsletter

October 29, 2024

Click here for Sanford Pride's weekly newsletter.

Sanford Pride's Weekly Newsletter

October 22, 2024

Click here for Sanford Pride's weekly newsletter.

Three years into its journey, the Walking School Bus Program at Sanford Pride Elementary continues to make strides in building a stronger community and improving attendance. What began as a creative and family-friendly way to ensure students arrive at school safely and on time has blossomed into an engaging morning routine for students, volunteers, and families. Carol Lantagne, the program's coordinator, is there at 7:30 a.m. every morning, always with at least one volunteer. The volunteers meet in the CVS parking lot on Main Street, about a half mile from Sanford Pride Elementary. They begin their route walking opposite the school, taking a right onto Charles Street, then a left at State Street Court. During this route, Lantagne and her volunteer meet students at their households to walk them to the bus stop. On one particular Thursday morning, Sanford Pride's Outreach Coordinator Leah Marks is there with Lantagne, welcoming the students as they make their way towards the bus stop. A key part of the program's success hinges on its volunteers, including staff members from counselors and health teachers to Assistant Principal Kristin Daly. The variety of volunteers brings different perspectives and experiences for the students. Daly noted the improved attendance and a greater connection between students and families as key benefits of the program. This connection with the school has also made it easier for parents to approach Daly, Lantagne or the volunteers with questions or concerns, creating a supportive environment for everyone involved. "Our relationships with parents are awesome," Marks said. The route ends at the corner of State Street and Main Street, where the school bus picks the students up around 7:45 a.m. Lantagne, always thinking of ways to keep students engaged, brings a variety of toys each day. Families from nearby neighborhoods can also bring their children to this intersection, where they get to join in on the fun while waiting for the bus. This flexibility has made the program even more accessible to the community. As the Walking School Bus Program continues to grow and evolve, its impact on the Sanford Pride Elementary community becomes increasingly evident. The program not only ensures that students arrive at school safely and on time but also encourages a sense of community and strengthens the bond between the school and families.

Walking School Bus Program at Sanford Pride Continuing To Thrive

October 18, 2024

Three years into its journey, the Walking School Bus Program at Sanford Pride Elementary continues to make strides in building a stronger community and improving attendance. Wha...

Sanford Pride Elementary's Weekly Newsletter

October 15, 2024

Click here for Sanford Pride's weekly newsletter.

Upcoming Free Flu Vaccination Clinics

October 1, 2024

The Sanford School Department, in partnership with Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, will be offering influenza vaccination clinics for students this October. Parents are encou...

Title I Parents Right to Know Letter

September 30, 2024

Sanford Pride PTA organized an event called "Donuts With Grownups," sponsored by the local favorite, Congdon's Donuts. The school buzzed with excitement as students arrived, each accompanied by a special adult figure in their life - be it parents, grandparents, guardians, or mentors. The event created a warm, inviting atmosphere where these pairs could spend quality time together, engaging in simple yet meaningful activities. Colorful pages and crayons were spread across tables, encouraging creative expression as duos worked side by side on their artwork. Meanwhile, an assortment of donut-themed storybooks provided a delightful reading experience, perfectly complementing the event's sweet theme.

Donuts With Grownups at Sanford Pride Elementary

September 26, 2024

Sanford Pride PTA organized an event called "Donuts With Grownups," sponsored by the local favorite, Congdon's Donuts. The school buzzed with excitement as students arrived, each...

Critical Information about Mosquito-Borne Illnesses

September 20, 2024

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) have reported an elevated risk of mosquito-bor...

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!

Sanford Schools Shine: Custodial and Facilities Teams Prepare for New School Year

September 19, 2024

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 custodia...

How long have you been working in the Sanford School Department? This is my 7th year. What's your favorite part about working in Sanford? I love being involved and giving back to the wonderful community of Sanford where my kids and I live. What's your favorite TV show or movie? Currently - The Chosen If you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be? Positive, loving, hardworking If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be? Europe Iced coffee or hot coffee? Iced coffee Lake or Ocean? Ocean Sunrise or Sunset? Sunrise Facebook or Instagram? Instagram

Employee Spotlight

September 17, 2024

The Sanford School Department is spotlighting employees at all of our schools. If you know an employee who you feel should be highlighted, please email Sam Bonsey ( sbonsey@san...

Fruit and Vegetable Program

September 12, 2024

All three of Sanford’s elementary schools were awarded a Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program (FFVP) USDA grant for the 2024-25 school year. The grant is administered through the Main...

Attendance Awareness

September 11, 2024

September is Attendance Awareness Month, a time for individuals and organizations to learn about attendance issues and absenteeism. The Sanford School Department recognizes th...

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.

Download the School's District Mobile App!

September 9, 2024

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 notifi...

The Sanford School Department launched its 2024-2025 school year in the Sanford Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, August 28th, with a powerful message: every student matters, and every adult is important. Carl J. Lamb's Show Choir, under the direction of music teacher Hattie Skvorak, kicked off the morning with an uplifting performance. Thank you to Carl J. Lamb students Breyana Bolduc, Alanna Carter, Olan Clock, Maggie Green, Kinley Martineau, Aoife McGuckin-Welsch, Daisy Peters, Ivy Peters, and Kiara Rohner. Following the performance, School Committee Chair Paula Cote welcomed and thanked staff on behalf of the committee. Superintendent Matt Nelson then welcomed returning staff and new staff joining the Sanford School Department, expressing gratitude for everyone involved in preparing for the opening of school. The Sanford School Department's three pillars for student success – student achievement, school climate and culture, and capacity building – set the stage for introducing the goals for the upcoming school year. In addition to the goals, school safety was emphasized as a continuing priority for the Sanford School Department. Mr. Nelson stressed the importance of engagement, prioritizing relationships, and encouraging staff to focus on making strong connections with students, colleagues, and families. He highlighted that these meaningful relationships help form the foundation for effective teaching and learning, creating an environment where students feel valued and motivated to succeed. Staff were also encouraged to "adjust their lens" heading into the 2024-2025 school year when facing new challenges to see the positives in their work. This adaptability ties with the district's focus on "spotlighting-the-right" and building strong relationships with students, families, and the community. The presentation concluded with a powerful metaphor: the dash between birth and death years on a tombstone. Staff were posed a thought-provoking question: "What does your dash stand for?" This dash, it was explained, represents the sum of one's work and the impact of their daily actions. Mr. Nelson emphasized that one's legacy is measured by every life they touch. Relating this concept to the upcoming 2024-2025 school year, it was framed as the School Department's collective dash. Their shared goal is to ensure that students are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, challenged, and prepared.

Sanford School Department Kicks Off 2024-2025 Year with Focus on Student Value and Staff Impact

August 30, 2024

The Sanford School Department launched its 2024-2025 school year in the Sanford Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, August 28th, with a powerful message: every student matters, ...

Sanford High School Kaitlyn Gardner (Admin Assistant to the Principal) Michael Gauthier (Physics Teacher), Matthew Guertin (Math Teacher), Linden Hollins (Chemistry/Physics Teacher), Anna Silva (Social Studies Teacher), Charlene Foss (SpEd Tech), Megan Kiley (Virtual Learning Ed Tech), Matthew Ouellette (Support and Transition Ed Tech) Sanford Middle School Abigail Hanson (6th Grade Teacher), Joshua Hyssong (Instructional Band Teacher), Deborah Leclerc (Seal Team) Sanford Regional Technical Center Shawnda Williams (Health Occupations Teacher), Jenna Holmes (Health Occupations Teacher) Carl J. Lamb Beth Baldarelli (SpEd-Self Contained Teacher), Holly Brown (2nd Grade Teacher), Denise Bergeron (SpEd Ed Tech), Jessica Harmon (Self-Contained Ed Tech), Laurie Morse (K Literacy Ed Tech), Alethea Pettine (Library Ed Tech), Aaliyah Studer (SpEd Ed Tech) Margaret Chase Smith Ayla Alrich (3rd Grade Teacher), Pamela Legere (1st Grade Teacher), Taylor Nygren (4th Grade Teacher), Lee Paula Perkins (4th Grade Teacher), Ashley Brochu (Self Contained Ed Tech), Angela Kepner (K Literacy Ed Tech), Suzi MacDonald (Behavior Ed Tech) Sanford Pride Lindsey Jenkins (1st Grade Teacher), Haley Kennedy (3rd Grade Teacher), Makenzie Smith (Art Teacher) BRIDGE Eric Stephens (Social Studies Teacher), Sara Tremblay (Ed Tech)

Sanford School Department Welcomes New Teachers at Orientation

August 28, 2024

The Sanford School Department kicked off the new academic year with a bang, hosting a comprehensive and engaging orientation day for its newest teachers in the district at Sanfor...

Bus Transportation for the 2024-2025 School Year

August 21, 2024

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school Year! The 2024-2025 bus routes for the Sanford School Department are now available on Versatrans . On Wednesday, August 21th, emails were sen...

ESEA Public Comment

May 22, 2024

The Sanford School Department accepts funding through the Elementary and Secondary Act (ESEA) of 1965. As part of ESEA, the Sanford School Department is required to provide a re...

Fourth graders at Sanford Pride Elementary (SPE) recently had the opportunity to explore a wide range of potential career paths during the school's Career Day on Friday, May 10th. The event allowed students to engage with professionals from various fields, planting seeds about the many avenues for future success. This wasn't about choosing a career but rather an opportunity for students to realize there are many different opportunities in the future. The event exposed students to professionals from various fields, planting seeds of inspiration about the many avenues to future success. The idea for Career Day stemmed from discussions among the fourth-grade teaching team - Jason Stone, Kristan Curtis, and Tricia Boivin. To make the most of the enriching opportunity, students rotated through seven different career sessions in small groups, with teachers helping to facilitate each rotation. The hands-on approach allowed students to hear personal stories and ask questions that sparked their curiosity.

Sanford Pride Career Day

May 15, 2024

Fourth graders at Sanford Pride Elementary (SPE) recently had the opportunity to explore a wide range of potential career paths during the school's Career Day on Friday, May 10th....

The Portland Symphony Orchestra's talented String Quartet paid a special visit to Carl J. Lamb Elementary School, Sanford Pride Elementary School, and Margaret Chase Smith School this past Thursday, May 9th. The musicians treated students to a lively performance that blended music, storytelling, and interactive elements. The centerpiece of the presentation was Leo Lionni's children's book Swimmy. As a member of the quartet narrated the tale of the brave little fish, the other musicians underscored the story with excerpts from classical compositions. The sounds of the violin, viola, and cello evoked the mysteries of the deep blue sea, which served as the setting for Swimmy's adventures. The quartet encouraged students to join in on the fun by performing hand motions mimicking the movements of the fish characters. Children waved their hands to depict Swimmy swimming, the larger fish chasing him, and other events from the beloved story. The musicians also introduced their orchestral instruments to the young audience members. They demonstrated the unique tones produced by plucking, bowing, and striking the strings in different ways.

Portland Symphony Orchestra's String Quartet Visits Carl J. Lamb, Sanford Pride, and Margaret Chase Smith

May 13, 2024

The Portland Symphony Orchestra's talented String Quartet paid a special visit to Carl J. Lamb Elementary School, Sanford Pride Elementary School, and Margaret Chase Smith School ...