Sanford Middle School

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Sanford Middle School's Newspaper: The SMS Times

October 15, 2025

Check out the first edition of Sanford Middle School's newspaper, The SMS Times. Click here .

Wednesday 10/15 Announcements

October 15, 2025

*Congratulations to both the 7th and 8th grade girls soccer teams on their wins against Noble. Both teams won 2-0. Great job, ladies! *Do you like number puzzles and figur...

Tuesday 10 /14 Announcements

October 14, 2025

*The Tech Hub is closed today. *Friday is the last day to sell those pies! Order sheets are due on Friday. *Doctor Who club will be meeting today in Ms. Han...

SMS JMG students are bringing a unique twist to Halloween season with "Haunted Woods," a video game-inspired haunted attraction at Gowen Park in Sanford. The event, scheduled for October 23rd from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., challenges visitors to imagine what would happen if their favorite video games became reality. Attendees will navigate through themed scenarios asking the question: "Would YOU survive?" Admission is $5 per person, and the event is open to the community. The haunted experience is being organized entirely by students from the SMS JMG (Jobs for Maine's Graduates) program, showcasing their event planning and organizational skills. Gowen Park is located in Sanford, Maine.

JMG Haunted Woods

October 9, 2025

SMS JMG students are bringing a unique twist to Halloween season with "Haunted Woods," a video game-inspired haunted attraction at Gowen Park in Sanford. The event, scheduled for ...

Thursday 10/9 Announcements

October 9, 2025

*Sources of Strength will be meeting this morning in the counseling classroom by the art room during Spartan Time. *Cross Country will practice at the high school today from 2:30...

Wednesday 10/8 Announcements

October 8, 2025

*STAFF....Reminder that grades are due in IC today by 3pm. 1st quarter Progress reports go home tomorrow! *Picture Re-Take day has been scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 15th . ...

PIE FUNDRAISER

October 8, 2025

Our Annual Pie Fundraiser is well under way. Order forms need to be turned in by Friday, October 17th. Please make checks payable to SMS. Pies will be ready for pickup on Thurs...

High School and Middle School Winter Season Sports Registration Info

October 7, 2025

The middle school has two winter seasons, the first includes boys’ and girls’ basketball and cheer for 7th and 8th graders. The second season which starts in February includes w...

Tuesday 10/7 Announcements

October 7, 2025

Today is the 1st Be the Change Award! Please send all your students who received one to the lobby for a celebration during Spartan time. *8th grade girls soccer team played a t...

https://www.applitrack.com/sanford/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Maintenance%2fCustodial

Sanford School Department Safety Informational Night

October 6, 2025

Please join our student resource officers and Central Office administration for an overview of school safety in our schools on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 6 pm in the Sanford Per...

10/6 Announcememnts

October 6, 2025

*Podcast Club will meet after school today in room 199 until 3:15. Bring your laptop! *Picture Re-Take day has been scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 15th . *Members of the Da...

Upcoming Free Flu Vaccinations

October 3, 2025

We are pleased to announce that the Sanford School Department is partnering with MaineHealth to offer free flu vaccinations for students this fall. Protecting our student's healt...

Friday 10/3 Announcements

October 3, 2025

*The Tech hub will be closed today. *The 7th grade girls soccer team played a great game against Kennebunk yesterday, bringing home a 2-0 win! Great job, ladies! *...

Pie Fundraiser

October 3, 2025

Our Annual Pie Fundraiser starts today!! Orders need to be submitted by Friday, 10/17. The top seller in each grade will receive a $25. gift card and the opportunity to pie a staf...

Thursday 10/2 Announcements

October 2, 2025

*Happy Custodian Day! When you see Mr. Josh Ingram, give him a high five and thank him for all he does here at SMS! *5th grade chorus this morning *We have a great turnout for F...

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.

Celebrating Sanford's Custodial Team

October 2, 2025

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...

Wednesday 10/1 Announcements

October 1, 2025

*The Tech hub will be closed Thursday and Friday. *Quarter 1 grades close for students today! Grades are due in IC by next Wednesday at 8am. *Picture Day for 7...

Tuesday, September 30

September 30, 2025

Tuesday, September 30th *Please remember that Jazz Band has begun being held Tuesday afternoons for those interested. It will begin at the end of the school day and goes until ...

Monday, 9/29 Announcements

September 29, 2025

Monday, September 29 *Our Pie Fundraiser starts this Friday. The top seller in each grade will get to choose a $25. gift card and the chance to pie a teacher in the fa...

Sanford Middle School seventh graders experienced hands-on outdoor learning at The Ecology School in Saco last week, participating in an overnight, three-day program that combined hands-on learning with community building in ways that will positively impact students. The Ecology School has formed partnerships with seven other outdoor education providers across Maine to increase program availability and has made the study of ecology accessible and enjoyable for people since 1998. The school is designed for immersive programs where students learn about conservation, farming, ecology, and sustainability through hands-on, fun activities. The trip was the result of planning and collaboration spearheaded by SMS science teacher Diana Allen. The planning also involved careful investigation and getting approval from school administration and the school committee. This vision became reality through Maine's new Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program, recently signed into law by Governor Mills, which aims to increase access to outdoor learning programs. The Ecology School is part of this statewide initiative, and each network partner gets to select a Maine school to receive scholarships for students to attend. The Ecology School's first choice was Sanford Middle School. The only cost to the school department was for transportation to and from the Ecology School. The setting proved as important as the curriculum itself. The school's location right on the banks of the Saco River, complete with a granite amphitheater and open-air facilities, created a learning environment where natural sunlight and fresh air enhanced each lesson. "This is phenomenal experiential learning," said Sara Nason, a Sanford Middle School teacher who helped chaperone the trip. All classes took place outdoors in natural settings, with students moving between different ecological sites and building knowledge as they explored. During their stay, students participated in hands-on lessons that brought science standards to life. All lessons aligned with Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards, but rather than feeling like traditional classroom work, each activity felt like discovery. In 'Battle of the Biotic,' they explored the roles of producers, consumers and decomposers in forest ecosystems, discovering how organisms compete for survival and examining predator-prey relationships. The 'Watersheds' lesson had students investigating how water flows and changes landscapes as it travels from mountain to sea, learning about weathering and erosion. Through the 'ABCs of Ecology' lesson, students gained foundational knowledge about abiotic factors like soil and climate, biotic organisms like plants and animals, and the cycles and changes that shape ecosystems. While students certainly learned about ecology – as 7th grader Kaydence Adjutant shared, "I learned that mushrooms decompose acorns" – some of the most meaningful learning happened through relationships and life skills developed during their time together. Allen found the community-building aspect particularly meaningful. "The opportunity to spend these days with my students in nature, creating a sense of community, sharing laughter is something I will cherish throughout the school year," Allen said. When asked about the overnight experience, Adjutant captured the spirit perfectly: "It's really fun. Yeah, it's like one big sleepover with my class." "The comments that we're hearing are, 'Well, this is kind of cool,'" Nason explained. "'All sitting down together for a meal.'" Students also learned important life skills like cleaning up after themselves and taking care of shared spaces. Allen was moved by watching her students adapt to the environment: "Watching them play, set tables, help each other - it was just incredible to see and be a part of." These experiences translated into practical learning that students brought home with them. Students returned with practical awareness about waste management, understanding how much food they actually need and how their choices affect the community. The program was such a success that Allen hopes it will become an annual tradition for Sanford seventh graders. "We are incredibly grateful to Drew Demsch and The Ecology School staff for this generous opportunity for our students," Allen added. The shared experience also gives teachers valuable insights into their students and creates positive reference points for future success and learning. "We now have something very much in common, something tangible and meaningful that we can build from," Nason said.

Sanford Middle School 7th Graders Experience Outdoor Learning at The Ecology School

September 26, 2025

Sanford Middle School seventh graders experienced hands-on outdoor learning at The Ecology School in Saco last week, participating in an overnight, three-day program that combine...