Sanford Middle School

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...

FRIDAY, September 26, Announcements

September 26, 2025

Art Club Monday is cancelled

Our Annual Pie Fundraiser

September 25, 2025

Fundraiser begins on Friday, October 3rd. Order envelopes will be sent home with students All orders need to be in Friday, October 17th, by the end of the day. Pies will be av...

Sanford High Schoolers Inspire New Middle School Jazz Musicians

September 25, 2025

On Monday, September 22nd, the high school jazz class visited Sanford Middle School to perform for 7th and 8th grade band students and share their experiences with jazz music. T...

Thursday, September 25 Morning Announcements

September 25, 2025

Thursday, September 25 *No field hockey practice today *PTA will be here today with Random Acts of Kindness *Dare to Dream Jr will have rehearsal today unti...

Wednesday, September 24

September 24, 2025

Wednesday, September 24 *A reminder to grade 6, seven and eight that second step lessons start this morning during Spartan time. Please see email from your grade level school cou...

Tuesday, 9/23/25 Announcements

September 23, 2025

Happy Tuesday! *Jazz Band's first rehearsal will be this afternoon from 2:30 to 3:45 in the 5th and 6th Grade Band room. Make sure to bring your instrument and music bin...

Monday 9/22 Announcements

September 22, 2025

*Anyone interested in joining student leadership this year should attend tomorrow's interest meeting in room 2217 until 3:15. Students should bring a device that can get onto goo...

Friday 9/19 Announcements

September 19, 2025

*High school jazz class will be coming to perform for band students on Monday during Spartan Time. 8th grade band members are also invited. *Open rehearsal for chorus students ...

Thursday 9/18 Announcements

September 18, 2025

From the Nurse’s Office: Tooth Protectors will be visiting on October 2nd ! 5th, 6th, and 8th Grade LC's : Please check your mailboxes for the forms to distribute to your ...

Wednesday 9/17 Announcements

September 17, 2025

*Homework Club with Ms. Noone begins tomorrow from 2:30 - 3:30 and will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Starting on Tuesday, October 7th “Doctor Who” Club will begin in Ms. Ha...

Join Jazz Band!

September 16, 2025

The school's jazz band is now recruiting new members for the upcoming season. Students with band experience are encouraged to sign up on the sheet posted outside Mr. Hyssong's roo...

Tuesday 9/16 Announcements

September 16, 2025

*Are you interested in a show that has everything from time traveling, history, diversity, humor, friendship, and cool aliens? Well then you just might be interested in watching t...

Monday 9/15 Announcements

September 15, 2025

*There will be onboarding meetings for Dare to Dream this week on Tuesday, September 16th and Thursday, September 18th until 3:30 in our cafeteria. Have transportation planned at...

Friday 9/12 Announcements

September 12, 2025

*Attention all field hockey players! We will start practice in the gym today. Please meet Coach Fraser in the gym at 2:30, then we will go to the field for the rest of our practi...