Attendance Awareness
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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 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)
Public Comment
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.
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.
Sanford Pride Elementary School hosted a Celebration of Learning, showcasing the culmination of months of hard work, dedication, and artistic exploration the week before April Vacation.  At the heart of this celebration were the Art Show, Music Concerts, and classroom displays, each offering a glimpse into the talents and accomplishments of Sanford Pride's students.  Since the start of the year, our students, along with our dedicated staff, have been actively involved in integrated projects, each one intricately linked to various curriculum topics.  The classroom displays were a window into the student's academic journey, showcasing projects that integrated learning across various subjects, from science and history to language arts and mathematics. The music concerts were a big hit for students and their families.   The week kicked off the kindergarten and first-grade concerts on Monday, April 8th. Those students focused on laying the foundational stones of musical expression.  Second and third graders performed on Tuesday. Second graders delved deeper into rhythm, decoding patterns verbally and through percussion instruments, while third graders put on an interactive performance and strummed on ukuleles.  The concerts concluded on Thursday, April 11th, with fourth graders displaying dynamics and notation and performing written music on glockenspiels.  The Art Show was no less impressive, featuring various creative works spanning various mediums, from paintings and drawings to sculptures and mixed-media creations. Each piece was a testament to the student's imagination and artistic prowess, reflecting a depth of creativity beyond their years.
Kindergarten Registration
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 at sbonsey@sanford.org. This spotlight is on Sanford Pride Music Teacher Meaghan Mannino  How long have you worked in the Sanford School Department?   I've been teaching elementary music in Sanford for five years. Before this, I taught music in New Hampshire for three years, and I was also an ed tech at Sanford Junior High School for one year.   What's your favorite part about working in Sanford?  I was fortunate to have attended Sanford Schools myself, and I love that I'm able to share music in a community that has given me so much. Additionally, my wonderful coworkers and students make SPE a place I love coming to each day.  What's your favorite TV show or Movie?  I guess that depends on the day! I must admit that I'm a huge nerd and love watching anything Star Wars or Marvel, but I also enjoy sappy Hallmark movies or a good laugh from The Office.  If you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be? Crazy cat lady  If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be?  Hmm... either Ireland or Rome.  Iced coffee or hot coffee?  Hot in the morning, iced in the afternoon.  Playlists or podcasts?  As a music person, I have to say playlists. I love a good podcast, too.  Lake or ocean?  Lake. I enjoy the wildlife and peacefulness, and lakes are perfect for camping.   Sunrise or sunset?  Sunrise  Facebook or Instagram? Facebook
The Sanford community shined brightly for the school department’s annual Spring Sing Choral Showcase at the Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, March 6th.
New Kindergarten Student Early Registration Event
In a display of community camaraderie and spirited competition, Sanford First Responders and Teachers recently took to the basketball court for a charity game on Thursday, February 15th.   The event saw Sanford Pride and Margaret Chase Smith Elementary school staff lace up their sneakers and face off against Sanford’s first responders.  While the primary goal was to help Sanford children, the game also allowed individuals from different sectors of the community to come together, fostering a sense of unity and goodwill.  The significance of events like these extends far beyond the final score. Not only do they provide a platform for charitable giving, but they also serve as a reminder of the power of community collaboration.
Sanford Pride Elementary’s Student Leadership team is comprised of third and fourth grade students, with representatives from each classroom.
Sanford Pride hosted a Living Wax Museum on the cafeteria stage on Friday, January 19th. This event showcased the dedication and hard work of the participating students, who explored the lives of famous world changers.
The hallways of Sanford Regional Technical Center were filled with excitement as more than sixty 4th graders from Pride Elementary toured the tech center.
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 at sbonsey@sanford.org. This spotlight is on Sanford Pride Library Ed Tech Jennifer Caswell.