Homecoming Spirit Week at Sanford High School took place Oct. 6–11, bringing students, staff, and families together for a week of school pride, themed dress-up days, and exciting home games.    Throughout the week, high school students competed grade against grade to win the spirit stick—a tradition passed down through generations of alumni. Each grade earned points by dressing up for spirit days, attending weeknight sporting events, painting large posters and crash-through banners, building floats, and participating in the parade.    The celebration kicked off Monday, Oct. 6, with Adam Sandler Day, as students embraced laid-back, oversized styles.   Tuesday brought the Soccer Mom vs. BBQ Dad theme, with students donning aprons, spatulas, and fanny packs. That evening, students showed their spirit at both volleyball and boys' soccer games at 7 pm, dressed in USA-themed attire.   Wednesday's Disney Channel Theme Day showcased each class's creativity. Freshmen represented Disney Junior, sophomores embodied Marvel, juniors celebrated Disney Animation, and seniors brought Pixar to life. Students packed the girl's soccer game that night wearing neon.   Thursday featured Red and White Day and the traditional pep rally, followed by field hockey's frat-themed home game at 6:30 pm.   The week culminated Friday with the Homecoming Parade, followed by Student Council's inaugural Block Party where clubs and activities hosted vendors. The varsity football game at 7 pm drew an enthusiastic student section, where the spirit stick winner – the senior class – was finally announced.
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the School Committee welcomed a new student representative
High School and Middle School Winter Season Sports Registration
https://www.applitrack.com/sanford/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Maintenance%2fCustodial
The Dungeons & Dragons Club at Sanford High School has been providing students with a creative and educational outlet for about five years, combining storytelling, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving in a structured, supervised environment.  The club meets Tuesdays and Fridays in the cafeteria immediately after school. All materials are provided, and no prior experience is necessary.  This year, the club is led by advisor Carrie Hathaway. "I wanted to make sure that these students got a chance to have the club because it is very important to them," Hathaway explains. Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop role-playing game where students create characters and work together to navigate adventures guided by a student Dungeon Master. Far from the stereotypes some may remember, modern D&D emphasizes teamwork, creative thinking, and positive social interaction.  Students develop characters with unique backgrounds and abilities, then use strategy, negotiation, and problem-solving skills to overcome challenges presented in the story. The club has drawn about 30 students over the years, with a flexible, welcoming atmosphere that accommodates different participation levels. "I have a different and revolving crowd each time," notes Hathaway, emphasizing that newcomers can join at any point.  Students of all experience levels are welcome - they can jump right in and learn as they play, with experienced members providing guidance and support. The creative possibilities are endless. As one SHS student explained, the campaigns can vary dramatically: "It's still D&D, but some do pop culture in their campaign. Some just do normal medieval times." This means stories can incorporate sports, history, science, or any subject that captures students' imaginations.  Some campaigns even feature innovative twists as another SHS student explained: "you don't know what your character is... you start with a blank character sheet, and as you go on through the story, the master gives hints to what kind of character you want to play." Through these games, students practice communication skills in a low-pressure, supportive environment. They develop mathematical skills through game mechanics, enhance creative writing abilities through character development, and strengthen critical thinking through strategic decision-making. The game requires players to work together toward common goals.
As the new school year got underway, students and staff walked into clean, safe, and refreshed buildings thanks to the summer efforts of the Sanford School Department's custodial and facilities team. October 2 marked National Custodian Appreciation Day—a perfect opportunity to recognize their commitment to creating welcoming learning environments. The Sanford School Department oversees an impressive array of properties, including multiple buildings that require year-round management for cleaning, maintenance, and grounds care. This summer marked a significant milestone as the team entered the season fully staffed for the first time in years, and the results speak for themselves. At the heart of the summer preparation efforts was the hardworking custodial team, who undertook comprehensive cleaning of all district buildings. Their work went far beyond routine maintenance, involving a process that touched every corner of each school. Staff completed deep cleaning throughout every building—tackling furniture, walls, windows, and light fixtures. They repaired walls, touched up paint, stripped and refinished floors, and thoroughly cleaned tiles and carpets. "It's exciting to hear how the work that the team has done directly impacts the students," shared Director of Facilities and Maintenance Jason Dudley at a recent school committee meeting. The custodial team faced and overcame challenges during their summer work, navigating scheduling conflicts with summer programs, food services, sports camps, and community events. They demonstrated flexibility in coordinating all this work while accommodating the busy summer schedule. While the custodial staff focused on deep cleaning, the maintenance team was equally busy with infrastructure upgrades that directly impact student safety and learning environments. At Sanford Middle School, they addressed wastewater drainage issues and upgraded the library with modern LED lighting that can be dimmed for Promethean board use.  Sanford Pride Elementary School received new HVAC starter motors, with a complete rooftop unit replacement scheduled for October. At Carl J. Lamb School, the team replaced an HVAC expansion tank and painted fresh blue hallways on the first floor. Safety improvements were a major priority this summer. At Cobb Stadium, the crew upgraded five tiered aluminum bleachers and removed outdated home and away bleachers. Working alongside the Parks and Recreation Department and Public Works, they transformed the space into a safer facility for student athletes and community members.  At Carl J. Lamb, they installed a safety fence separating the parking area from the bus drop-off lane, directing everyone to use the designated crosswalk. Dudley emphasized the importance of this work: "Staff is able to monitor that and monitor when the buses are coming. So it's a definite safety upgrade for us." Margaret Chase Smith School received upgraded handicap bollards and repainted bus lane signage to improve traffic flow and safety. The team also supported expanding academic opportunities by retrofitting a classroom for the new sports medicine program at SRTC and extending compressed air lines in the welding and machine shops. They even helped the IT department modernize classroom technology by removing outdated display boards and installing new mounting brackets. Superintendent Matt Nelson shared his appreciation for the custodial work during the school committee meeting, emphasizing that "our facilities are the first step to having good education."   The combined efforts of the custodial and maintenance staff ensured that Sanford schools were not only clean and safe but 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.
https://spartan-times.com/2025/09/25/students-gear-up-for-homecoming-spirit-week-2025/
Sanford High School's Jobs for Maine Graduates program organized an opportunity for students to explore STEM careers through the U.S. Navy's innovative "Strike Group" mixed-reality experience on Wednesday, September 24th.  This mobile demonstration, which has been traveling up and down the coast for about a year, made a stop at SHS to provide JMG students and Civics class participants with hands-on exposure to advanced military technology and potential career pathways. The experience used state-of-the-art virtual reality technology to immerse students in realistic Navy scenarios. Students worked together in teams of five, wearing special headsets to coordinate aircraft launches on a Navy aircraft carrier, explored global humanitarian missions through interactive mapping, and piloted fighter jets in full-motion flight simulators. "If you can see it, you can be it," said JMG Specialist Cheryl Gifford, who helped coordinate the event. This philosophy drove the hands-on approach that allowed students to experience military technology firsthand rather than just learning about it in traditional classroom settings. Sanford senior Essence Veilleux-Camara, who is in the SRTC law enforcement program and is pursuing a military career after graduation, was particularly enthusiastic about the flight simulator experience. "I really love the flight simulator," she shared. "You get controls and you start to kind of learn about what they have to do, especially with targeting."  She appreciated how the hands-on simulations provided actual experience rather than just classroom discussion, drawing parallels to the driving simulators used in her law enforcement classes. "I'm actually going to be meeting with a recruiter today and go over questions for the ASVAB.” she said. The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is a test that helps determine which military career fields a person might be best suited for. The interactive experience included a badge system where students earned recognition for participating in each component. Students also received performance scores on activities like the flight simulator, giving them concrete feedback on their skills and abilities. With discussions underway to potentially bring the program back to Sanford High School on November 17, more students may have the chance to benefit from this opportunity.
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Sanford Pride Elementary School PTA is hosting a Halloween event on Oct. 23rd. 5-6PM.  We are looking for groups to join us with decorated tables to hand out candy. If you are a group/team/business or a HS student in need of volunteer hours, please contact: Tricia Boivin,  tboivin@sanford.org   Looking for volunteers to help with this years’ annual Spree of Trees in December.  The Sanford Alumni Association is looking for people to help as many hours as possible for set-up, during the event, and pick-up on the last day.  Hours will be available from 12/1 through 12/7.  If interested, please see Mrs. Pattershall in A237.   Carl J Lamb School is looking for volunteers to help with the annual Halloween Trick or Treat Event on October 23rd! You could help run games or a table for the trick or treaters. This event will run from 5-7 and please email lydiaclehoux@gmail.com if interested.   SSYAA football has some volunteer availabilities for home games on Oct. 5 and 25th. If interested, email kpulley@sanford.org   St. Thomas School is seeking an energetic individual to help with our after-school program. This can start as a volunteer opportunity and turn into employment. Available times are Monday-Friday 3:00pm-5:30pm. You can choose one day a week, multiple days per week, or Monday-Friday. If interested, please reach out to Principal Angela Madigan at (207) 324-5832 or angela.madigan@portlanddiocese.org. Find out more information about St. Thomas School at stsme.org.   The Sanford-Springvale Historical Society is looking for people willing to help with many administrative needs throughout the year to earn community service hours.  If this interests you please reach out to Patricia Violette-Adams @ 207-490-1028 or go to www.sanfordhistory.org   Attention All Students! Looking for an opportunity to earn community service hours while helping your local newspaper? The Sanford Springvale News is looking for student volunteers with a vehicle and a driver’s license to serve as substitute newspaper delivery drivers.  This role involves delivering newspapers on a specific route on Fridays in the late morning or early afternoon, as needed. It’s a simple 1 to 2-hour commitment on weeks you’re available. If you’re interested in joining our team and making a difference in the community, email Kendra at kendra.williams9@icloud.com today!   Sanford Alumni Association is looking for individuals willing to spray paint roughly 150 wire plant cages.  If you are interested, please see Mrs. Pattershall in A237   There is a local elderly couple looking for students willing to help move and stack wood.  If you are interested, please see Mrs. Pattershall in the Assistant Principals office (A237).   A local elderly couple is looking for someone to commit to helping with doing yard work and shoveling.  If interested please see Mrs. Pattershall for contact info.
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SHS Counselors Launch New "Senior Sessions" Program for Post-Graduation Planning