Sanford Middle School

Tuesday 2/10 Announcements

February 10, 2026

*Sanford's Got Talent auditions are being held today and tomorrow after school in Ms. Allen's room. Acts, make sure you arrive five to ten minutes before your audition time. If yo...

Monday 2/9 Announcements

February 9, 2026

*Rehearsal for The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition today is for students who would like to audition for the Jitterbugs Number and for double casted students. It will be until 3:30 in ...

Friday 2/6 Announcements

February 6, 2026

*Mrs. Q, Mrs. Avery, Mr. Christie and Mrs. Thomas want to say THANK YOU for celebrating counseling week! Today we're wearing college shirts or colors so we can remember to REACH H...

Thursday 2/5 Announcements

February 5, 2026

It's National School Counseling Week! Ever feel like not being in school for some reason? Well, your counselor can help with that. We miss you when you're out- so talk to us if yo...

Wednesday 2/4 Announcements

February 4, 2026

*Volleyball and Wrestling start this Thursday. All athletes need to be registered to attend. See Mr. Allen with any questions. *Students may send designs to be 3D print...

Tuesday, February 3 Morning Announcements

February 3, 2026

*Volleyball and Wrestling start this Thursday. All athletes need to be registered to attend. See Mr. Allen with any questions. *The last Ski Bus trip is today! *ST...

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The SMS Times

February 2, 2026

Check out the February issue of The SMS Times below! The SMS Times February 2026 Issue #9.pdf

Monday 2/2 Announcements

February 2, 2026

*It's National School Counseling Week! Do you know you can talk to your grade level school counselor about ANYTHING? Family stuff, friendship things, school- and more. Mrs. Q in g...

Friday 1/30 Announcements

January 30, 2026

KINDNESS SPIRIT WEEK! FRI - Make Kindness a Pattern - Wear any and all patterns - polka dots, stripes, plaid, etc MON - Rock Kindness - Dress up like a rockstar a...

Thursday 1/29 Announcements

January 29, 2026

KINDNESS SPIRIT WEEK! THURS - Ya’ll Be Kind and wear your western clothes, boots, and hats! FRI - Make Kindness a Pattern - Wear any and all patterns - polka do...

Wednesday 1/28 Announcements

January 28, 2026

WED - Dream of Kindness - Wear PJs today THURS - Ya’ll Be Kind and wear your western clothes, boots, and hats! FRI - Make Kindness a Pattern - Wear any and all patter...

Tuesday 1/27 Announcements

January 27, 2026

Kindness Week/Spirit Week! TUES - Global Kindness Day! We all live together so wear blues and greens to represent the earth and sky WED - Dream of Kindness - Wear PJs to...

For the fourth year running, Sanford Middle School students are experiencing the thrill of winter through the school's popular Ski Club, and this year has seen the highest participation yet with 36 students. Sanford Middle School Math Teacher Penny Christie is the club's advisor, and has been passionate about bringing skiing back to Sanford schools since she arrived. "I've been wanting to start the ski club since I got here," Christie said. She previously taught at Willard, where Mr. Levasseur ran a similar program years ago. With strong support from administrators, Christie's vision became reality once COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. The club takes students to Pleasant Mountain for four trips throughout the winter, welcoming both skiers and snowboarders of all ability levels. With nearly 40 students on the mountain, safety remains a top priority. The program employs a comprehensive buddy system and hourly check-ins using a tracking system. Eight adult volunteers participate each trip, with four teachers stationed in the lodge and four on the mountain. For students like Jaxson Tranchemontagne and Rylan Delafontaine, the ski club offers a chance to spend time with friends and classmates. "It's been fun because when you go on the bus, you have people you know," Delafontaine said. Tranchemontagne, who snowboards, shared that his favorite part is "just snowboarding at the mountain." Both students plan to continue with the club throughout middle school. When asked if it's scary going down the mountain, Delafontaine acknowledged the challenge. "Not on the bunny ones, but like, halfway up the mountain, it's kind of steep," he said. "It's just because you can see everything around." The program welcomes complete beginners who take their first lessons on the conveyor belt in the beginner area, as well as more experienced students who tackle challenging runs higher up the mountain. Christie finds special joy in watching newcomers discover the sport. "Just the pride in their face. Some will say 'oh, Miss Christie, come look and see what I'm doing,'" she said. "It's so cool." After students complete their lessons, Christie often joins them on the chairlift, sometimes even accompanying them all the way to the summit. All eight adults who make the trips possible are volunteers, something Christie doesn't take for granted. "We're all volunteers, so it's really great. I feel really lucky that we get to do it," she said. The trips also provide a welcome break during the winter months for both students and staff. "It's nice to see the kids in a different light," Christie explained. "It's different when you're skiing."

Sanford Middle School Ski Club Hits the Slopes

January 23, 2026

For the fourth year running, Sanford Middle School students are experiencing the thrill of winter through the school's popular Ski Club, and this year has seen the highest partici...

Friday 1/23 Announcements

January 23, 2026

*The Tech Hub is CLOSED again today. *Today is a 7th grade Chorus Day. *The library will be closed after 11:00 today. *Wizard of Oz Youth Edition has vocal rehea...

Thursday 1/22 Announcements

January 22, 2026

*Audition sign ups for Sanford's Got Talent 2026 begin today! Pick up a form in the library, office, or from Mrs. Houle in room 1227. Your homeroom teachers may have a copy, too! ...

SMS Spirit Week 1/26 - 1/30

January 21, 2026

Next week starts the Great Kindness challenge. Among other fun events, there will be a spirit week. MON - Kindness Rocks! Dress up like a rockstar! You can also double yo...

Wednesday 1/21 Announcements

January 21, 2026

The Tech Hub is CLOSED today *Wizard of Oz has rehearsal tomorrow until 3:30 for the full cast and crew. Calendar sales end this Friday and all money is also due by ...

Tuesday 1/20 Announcements

January 20, 2026

*The next Wizard of Oz Youth Edition will be Thursday afternoon until 3:30 in the cafeteria. It is a full cast rehearsal. See Google Classroom, Remind, or our website for more i...

Friday, 1/16/26 Announcements

January 16, 2026

NO SCHOOL MONDAY 1/19 *Mechanical Advantage Club meets next Tuesday afternoon. *Mr. Allen will hold a sports meeting for 7th- and 8th-grade girls' volleyball and 6th-8t...

Students at Sanford Middle School were treated to a visit from New York Times bestselling author Sarah Albee, who shared her passion for nonfiction writing. Albee, who has written numerous books for middle grade readers including Poop Happened, Why'd They Wear That?, and Accidental Archaeologist, met with each grade level in the gymnasium for 50-minute sessions. During these presentations, she pulled back the curtain on her writing process, demonstrating how writers make countless choices about what to include, where to start a story, and how to make complex topics accessible to young readers. Using her biography of George Washington as an example, Albee invited student volunteers to become "human note cards," arranging them to show how she structures her books. The demonstration revealed that good writing isn't just about gathering facts, it's about deciding which details matter most and organizing them in a compelling way. Students were surprised to learn that her 24-page picture book required just as much research as her longer works, but demanded even more careful decision-making about what to include. The presentation sparked plenty of curiosity from students. "How do you go to the bathroom in a suit of armor?" one student asked, referencing Albee's book about historical fashion and daily life. Another wanted to know, "What's your name?" in Arabic, after learning about Albee's year living in Cairo. Later in the afternoon, Albee met with student medallion holders in the library for two half-hour question and answer sessions. These gatherings allowed students to dive deeper into both her writing life and personal experiences. Questions ranged from practical inquiries about how long it takes to write a picture book to personal questions about what it was like living in Egypt. When asked about her favorite book to write, Albee shared her enthusiasm for Fairy Tale Science, which allowed her to work with fifth grade classes across the country who tested her experiments. Students also learned that she's currently juggling multiple projects at once—a necessity in children's publishing where illustrators may take months or even years to complete artwork. One student wanted to know what it's like being an author. Albee explained that while people don't recognize her on the street, the job comes with its own challenges, including rejections and the frustrations of the long publishing timeline.. Throughout the day, Albee emphasized the importance of revision, showing students that professional writers often produce many drafts before sharing their work. She encouraged students to view teachers' feedback as a gift, explaining that detailed comments show teachers care enough to invest time in helping students improve.

New York Times Bestselling Author Sarah Albee Visits Sanford Middle school

January 16, 2026

Students at Sanford Middle School were treated to a visit from New York Times bestselling author Sarah Albee, who shared her passion for nonfiction writing. Albee, who has writt...