Sanford High School

Daily Announcements

April 2, 2026

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Sanford Senior Finds His Shot Behind the Camera with the Mainers

April 2, 2026

When Braeden Landry first joined the Sanford Mainers' broadcast production crew, he admitted he didn't know much about baseball and wasn't sure he knew enough about cameras either...

Daily Announcements

April 1, 2026

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Every Thursday afternoon, a group of Sanford High School students gather with sketchbooks in hand to slow down, step outside, and connect with the natural world around them. Welcome to the Nature Journal Club offered at the high school. The club was started two years ago by wildlife biology teacher Lindsay Strout, who noticed that a handful of her students had a genuine hunger for nature observation that extended beyond the classroom. She wanted to give students an outlet that wasn't sports, theater, or traditional art club. "There's got to be somewhere, something else for them," she said. This year, the club has seen its largest group yet, with students ranging from freshmen to seniors. On any given Thursday, you might find students sketching insects, pressing leaves onto light-sensitive paper to create cyanotype prints, carving rubber stamps, or following the trail behind Sanford High School to check on local beaver activity along the river. In the fall and spring, the group ventures outside to explore the school's trails, catch frogs near the vernal pool, or simply sit quietly and observe. Nature journaling is less about artistic skill and more about observation and recording. "It's not about the pretty pictures," Lindsay explains. "It's more about connecting with nature, observing, and recording." Students are encouraged to write down what they see and what catches their eye, with no required format and no wrong answers. Lindsay brings that same passion to her own practice, regularly connecting with a wider nature journaling community and attending conferences to deepen her craft. SHS student Esther Bronwyn spoke to the sense of community Strout has built. "Her room is awesome, all the things that she's made and collected are fun to look at," she said. "It's really cool that she brings kids in." Students also help shape what happens in the club. When one student came in working on a rubber block printing project, Lindsay immediately invited them to teach the technique to the whole group. No one is told what to draw or how to draw it, and students can even create their own handmade journals, giving each member a sense of ownership over their work. The club is open to any Sanford High School student and meets every Thursday after school. No prior art experience or science background is required, just curiosity and a willingness to spend some time outside. Fellow club member Emma Cormier put it simply: "This is a club that I really adore. I'm probably going to come back as long as Ms. Strout continues the club."

Sanford High School's Nature Journal Club Gives Students a Place to Explore and Create

April 1, 2026

Every Thursday afternoon, a group of Sanford High School students gather with sketchbooks in hand to slow down, step outside, and connect with the natural world around them. Welco...

Daily Announcements

March 31, 2026

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March 30, 2026

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On April 7, roughly 1,000 students from approximately 100 schools across Maine will file into the Augusta Civic Center, sit down in near silence, and race to solve some of the most challenging math problems they've seen all year. Sanford High School's Math Team will be among them, and they're ready. The team practices every Tuesday after school under the guidance of Kailee Colbeth and Adam Soule. Those sessions are built around doing practice problems that closely resemble what students will actually see at meets. SHS junior captains Nathan Maloney and Hannah Labbe say the consistency of this year's group has made a real difference. "We've had a lot of the same people showing up, so you can really start to get into a groove and have better team rounds," said Maloney. "We've definitely seen a lot more success this year." Labbe agreed, adding that the experience has been personally rewarding as well. "It's really been fulfilling to succeed in all of the meets," she said. "I feel like I've learned a lot and I'm just going to carry it forward." That success has shown up throughout the regular season. The team has competed in five meets leading up to states, and Colbeth says the squad has grown stronger as the year has gone on. At a typical meet, students compete in five separate rounds, each focused on a specific math topic like trigonometry or statistics. Each round gives students 12 minutes to answer three questions. There's also a round where the whole team works together. Individual and team scores are added up, though only the top performers count toward the final tally. The state meet adds one more challenge that the team has been practicing: a relay round. Five students sit in a row, each with their own math problem to solve. The catch is that each person's answer gets passed to the next teammate, whose problem depends on getting that answer right. "It's something we don't do in normal meets," said Colbeth, "so we've really been focused on it these last few weeks, figuring out who is going to be best in each seat." It's a format that rewards both individual skill and trust in your teammates, and one that has the team thinking carefully about how they line up heading into the state competition. Both Labbe and Maloney competed at last year's state meet and say knowing what to expect will make a big difference. "The first time you go there, it can be kind of stressful, since it's a big auditorium with a lot of people," said Maloney. "But I think this year will be a lot easier." Labbe, put it simply: "I was going into it really blind. I learned so much. I feel like I'm able to take more out of it this year." Coach Colbeth said that the math team is open to all students. Practices resume on Tuesdays next school year. Students interested in joining are encouraged to stop by and see her.

Sanford High School Math Team Gears Up for State Competition

March 27, 2026

On April 7, roughly 1,000 students from approximately 100 schools across Maine will file into the Augusta Civic Center, sit down in near silence, and race to solve some of the mos...

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March 27, 2026

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March 26, 2026

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March 25, 2026

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March 24, 2026

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March 23, 2026

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March 20, 2026

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Sanford High School senior Matthew Hebert earns 2026 Principal's Award

March 19, 2026

Matthew Hebert, a senior at Sanford High School, has been selected to receive the 2026 Principal's Award, Principal Tracy Gibson announced. The award, sponsored by the Maine Princ...

Sanford's student musicians took the stage on March 10th for the 37th Annual Sanford Band Fest, showcasing the talents of students from 5th grade through high school. March is Music in Our Schools Month, and there was no better way to celebrate than with a night full of live music performed by Sanford's own talented young musicians! From 5th graders performing their first melodies to high schoolers tackling complex film scores, the evening was a wonderful reminder of the vibrant music community thriving in Sanford's schools. The evening opened with the 5th Grade Band, directed by Mr. Jacob Morese, performing "Hot Cross Buns" and "Mary Had a Little Lamb." The 6th Grade Band, also under Mr. Morese's direction, followed with "Base-Six" by Laura Estes. The 7th and 8th Grade Bands, led by Mr. Josh Hyssong, brought more advanced repertoire to the stage. The 7th graders performed "Above and Beyond" by James Swearingen and "Ever-Hope" by Carol Brittin Chambers, while the 8th graders took on "Invincible" by Robert W. Smith and "Celtic Air and Dance" by Michael Sweeney. The High School Band, directed by Ms. Hailey Francoeur, closed out the individual performances with "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" by Hans Zimmer and the crowd-pleasing "The Great Rubber Chicken Gallop" by Randall Standridge. The concert concluded with a combined performance featuring all 6th through 12th grade students coming together to perform the "6 Note Folk Song Suite," arranged by Joseph Compello — a fitting finale celebrating the breadth of Sanford's music program.

Musicians Shine at 37th Annual Band Fest

March 19, 2026

Sanford's student musicians took the stage at Partners Bank Gymnasium on March 10 for the 37th Annual Sanford Band Fest, showcasing the talents of students from 5th grade through ...

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March 19, 2026

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March 18, 2026

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March 17, 2026

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Sanford High School Theater Company Presents Disney’s Newsies

March 17, 2026

Sanford, Maine — The Sanford High School Theater Company is proud to present Disney’s Newsies , a high-energy musical inspired by the true story of the 1899 New York City ne...

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March 16, 2026

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