Sanford Middle School students recently demonstrated their financial savvy in a statewide stock market competition, with an impressive five students placing in the top 10 across the entire state. The six-week competition, which began in early 2025, gave students $100,000 in virtual money to invest in the stock market. The challenge? Do what investors everywhere try to accomplish: buy low and sell high. Matthew Bourassa claimed the first-place position in the competition, winning $100 and a box of prizes. His fellow Sanford Middle School students followed close behind, with Jacob Hill taking second place ($75 and prizes), Izzy Burns securing third, Jarezz Jackson in fourth, and Madi Dulle rounding out the school's showing at sixth. "I was definitely pretty excited. I was really happy because I was hoping I would win," Matthew said about his first-place finish. "I wasn't expecting to win at all. I was in like 40th place, I think, the day before." What changed his fortunes? A volatile market day and some timely advice from SMS Jobs For Maine Graduates (JMG) teacher Tara Houle. "The stock market, everything just went crazy, and Miss Houlel told us all to sell," Matthew explained. "So I sold, and I woke up the next morning, checked my ranking... I was in first." The competition tracks two different rankings - one for all schools in the state and another for all individual participants. Matthew achieved first place in the overall individual rankings, an impressive feat considering the competition included students from colleges and high schools as well. Fellow eighth-grader Izzy also participated in the competition, sharing that the experience wasn't always predictable. "Honestly, I thought I was going to go down in rank because I was buying a lot of things that were going down," Izzy said. The students joined the competition as part of their financial literacy education, where they've been learning about savings, checking, investing, debit, credit, and other financial concepts before participating in the stock market game. According to the students, Sanford Middle School joined the competition shortly after the presidential election, which they believed gave them certain advantages in their investment strategies. When asked about the most enjoyable part of the competition, Matthew didn't hesitate: "Definitely the day I placed first." Izzy added that she enjoyed "taking the chances" involved in stock market investing. Both students emphasized that the biggest lesson they learned was to "trust your gut" and follow the classic investment advice: "buy low and sell high."

Sanford' Middle School's Matthew Bourassa Wins State Stock Market Game; Four Classmates Join Him in Top 10

April 24, 2025
Sanford Middle School students recently demonstrated their financial savvy in a statewide stock market competition, with an impressive five students placing in the top 10 across ...
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Seventh-grade students at Sanford Middle School participated in the annual "JA in a Day: Economics for Success" program on Wednesday. The day-long event immersed students in essential financial literacy concepts as they rotated through interactive sessions designed to prepare them for future financial independence. "Sanford Middle School has been partnering with the organization Jr. Achievement of Maine for over 10 years," explains social studies teacher Erin Barry. "Jr. Achievement pairs volunteers from the business community with classrooms to teach students lessons about personal finance. These lessons include topics such as credit scores, budgeting, saving and spending, etc... These authentic lessons prepare students for financial success in the real world." The program brought financial professionals from the local community into classrooms, including representatives from Tyler Technologies, Atlantic Federal Credit Union, Partners Bank, United Way, and Kennebunk Savings Bank. These volunteers guided students through practical workshops focusing on budgeting, distinguishing between needs and wants, understanding credit, and planning for future income. "When you live on your own, you'll find that very little things are going to be free," one volunteer explained to students during a session on essential versus non-essential expenses. This revelation sparked thoughtful discussions as students began to grasp the financial responsibilities of adulthood. Students explored important questions about saving, spending, and career planning throughout the day. Volunteers shared personal experiences from their professional journeys, emphasizing how skills and interests can translate into career paths. The presentations encouraged students to reflect on their own strengths and consider how these might shape their future opportunities. The social studies department coordinated the event as part of the school's ongoing commitment to financial education. Department members prepared all materials in advance and ensured students were ready to engage with presenters throughout the day's four sessions: Managing My Money, Paying For My Needs and Wants, My Credit and Spending, and Planning For My Future Income. As students moved from session to session between 8:30 am and 1:05 pm, they gained valuable insights into the connections between education, career choices, and financial well-being—essential knowledge that complements the school's own financial literacy curriculum and provides practical context for academic learning.

Sanford Middle School Students Navigate Financial Futures with Junior Achievement

April 23, 2025
Seventh-grade students at Sanford Middle School participated in the annual "JA in a Day: Economics for Success" program on Wednesday. The day-long event immersed students in esse...
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spring

Friday 4/18 Announcements

April 18, 2025
*NO School next week!!! Have a great break!!! *Girls Lacrosse practice is canceled for today. *Today is FUN day for all grade levels. Please let students know their location t...
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kindness

Thursday 4/17 Announcements

April 17, 2025
*Mechanical Advantage Club meets this afternoon with Miss Nason from 2:15-3:30 and will be working on solar powered cars. *Student Leadership will meet today until 3:15 in room ...
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Sanford High Students Guide 8th Graders Through Transition Experience

Sanford High Students Guide 8th Graders Through Transition Experience

April 15, 2025
A group of Sanford High School students recently visited Sanford Middle School to participate in a panel discussion aimed at helping 8th graders prepare for their transition to h...
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Sanford High Students Guide 8th Graders Through Transition Experience

Sanford High Students Guide 8th Graders Through Transition Experience

April 15, 2025
A group of Sanford High School students recently visited Sanford Middle School to participate in a panel discussion aimed at helping 8th graders prepare for their transition to h...
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flowers

Tuesday 4/15 Announcements

April 15, 2025
*DBZ Club is canceled for today and postponed until the Tuesday after break. *Congratulations to Matthew Bourassa and Jacob Hill for placing 1st and 2nd in the statewide St...
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dog

Monday 4/14 Announcements

April 14, 2025
*Today’s rehearsal for Beauty and the Beast Jr will be in our cafeteria until 4:00 . Again, this rehearsal is at Sanford Middle School and NOT the Performing Arts Center. N...
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flowers

Friday 4/11 Announcements

April 11, 2025
*Beauty and the Beast Jr has rehearsal today at the Performing Arts Center until 4:00 PM. Students in 5 & 6th grade will ride bus 15 and those students in 7 & 8th grades will rid...
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be kind

Thursday 4/10 Announcements

April 10, 2025
*5A Chorus today during Spartan time! *Student leadership will not meet after school today. If you signed up to help set up for the block party, arrive at 4pm. *Mechanical Adv...
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dog

Wednesday 4/9 Announcements

April 9, 2025
*Beauty and the Beast Jr has rehearsal tomorrow and Friday at the Performing Arts Center until 4:00 PM. Students in 5 & 6th grade will ride bus 15 and those students in 7 & 8th gr...
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spring

Tuesday 4/8 Announcements

April 8, 2025
*6 th and 7 th grade Chorus today. *There is no Pokemon Club this week. See you next Friday, April 18th. *Math club will be held in room 2236 until 3:00. *DBZ club is meeting ...
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spring

Monday 4/7 Announcements

April 7, 2025
*Podcast Club will meet today in room 2240 until 3:15. Please have rides ready. *8 th grade chorus today. *Block party for grades 6 th , 7 th & 8 th this Thursday from 5:...
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flower

Friday 4/4 Announcements

April 4, 2025
*Shout out to our librarian Mrs. Williams! If you are headed to the library today, make sure you tell Mrs. Williams you appreciate her! *The PTA will be holding a family bowli...
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An exciting day for Sanford Middle School 5th graders began before sunrise on Wednesday as they welcomed WMTW Channel 8 Meteorologist Ted McInerney to campus. Several students had the unique opportunity to participate in McInerney's live morning weather broadcast as part of the station's popular "Weather At Your School" program. The educational experience didn't end with the morning broadcast. Later in the day, McInerney returned to SMS to deliver a comprehensive presentation on meteorology to the entire 5th grade. Students learned about weather patterns, forecasting techniques, and the science behind meteorology during the engaging session. The visit provided students with both an inside look at television broadcasting and valuable science education from one of Maine's well-known meteorologists. To watch the segment featuring our SMS students, visit: [LINK]

WMTW Weather at Your School Visits SMS

April 3, 2025
An exciting day for Sanford Middle School 5th graders began before sunrise on Wednesday as they welcomed WMTW Channel 8 Meteorologist Ted McInerney to campus. Several students had...
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bowling

PTA Family Fundraiser tomorrow night!

April 3, 2025
$60 lane reservation required...includes shoe rental for 6, pizza, pitcher of drink and 2 hours of bowling!
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attendance

Thursday 4/3 Announcements

April 3, 2025
*TONIGHT is the 5 th grade block party here at SMS from 4:00 – 5:30. Join us for games, music and a special surprise. *The PTA will be holding a family bowling fundraiser at...
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flowers

Wednesday 4/2 Announcements

April 2, 2025
*Great turnout this morning welcoming News Channel 8 for “Weather at your school!” *This Thursday is the 5 th grade block party here at SMS from 4:00 – 5:30. Join us for ga...
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spring

Tuesday 4/1 Announcements

April 1, 2025
*5 th grade band is canceled for today. *Dragon Ball Z club will meet today until 3:30pm. Today is an art lesson with Mrs. Lynn! *This Thursday is the 5 th grade block p...
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clouds

Monday 3/31 Announcements

March 31, 2025
*The last Chess club meeting today in Mr. Pyle's room from 2:15-3:15. *Beauty and the Beast Junior has rehearsal this afternoon until 330. Cast should check the call list on ou...
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