Photo Credit: Amalia Fajardo, Sanford Senior & Grace Kenney, Traip Senior, Academy of Business

SRTC Program Highlight: Auto Collision Repair Program

October 21, 2025
Photo Credit: Amalia Fajardo, Sanford Senior & Grace Kenney, Traip Senior, Academy of Business This is part of a series highlighting the career and technical education prog...
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Teachers Invest in Professional Learning During In-Service Day

Teachers Invest in Professional Learning During In-Service Day

October 16, 2025
On Friday October 10, while students enjoyed a day off, Sanford School Department teachers and staff were hard at work—investing in their own learning to better support our studen...
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Amalia Fajardo, Sanford Senior Academy of Business & Grace Kenney, Traip Senior Academy of Business

SRTC Program Highlight: Baking and Pastry Program

October 14, 2025
Photo Credit: Amalia Fajardo, Sanford Senior Academy of Business & Grace Kenney, Traip Senior Academy of Business This is part of a series highlighting the career and technic...
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SRTC Program Highlight: Engineering and Architectural Design

SRTC Program Highlight: Engineering and Architectural Design

October 7, 2025
Photo Credit: Lulu Morris, Sanford Senior Academy of Business & Autumn Liston, Sanford Senior Academy of Business This is part of a series highlighting the career and technic...
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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...
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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...
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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.

Sanford High School Students Get Hands-On Look at Navy Technology

September 26, 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-reali...
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plants

Fall Plant Sale at SRTC Greenhouse

September 24, 2025
Students in SRTC's Agricultural Enterprise and Environmental Systems (Ag) program have created some exceptional fall planters for their Fall Plant Sale. Students have gathered mat...
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srtc

SRTC Start of the Year Fast and Furious!

September 22, 2025
The Students of SRTC have had a fast start to the year. We hit the ground running with a visit by the Governor of Maine, student assemblies, special speakers, and Field Day 2025 t...
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From meeting the governor to landing full-time careers, Sanford High School and Regional Technical Center students are turning classroom learning into real-world success through the Extended Learning Opportunities Program. Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO’s) provide students with the chance to have meaningful learning experiences at local businesses, community organizations, or with community experts in particular fields. ELO Coordinator Sally MacDougal helps students navigate four distinct types of opportunities: internships, co-op programs which allow students to earn credit for existing jobs, job shadowing experiences, and structured extended learning opportunities that function like additional classes. “A lot of students are excited to know that this is available to them,” MacDougal said. The program, which spans all 25 programs offered between SHS and SRTC, is showing early results this school year. Currently, 18 students have completed their paperwork and are actively participating in various ELO opportunities, with many more applications still in progress. Over the summer, eight students continued their internships, demonstrating the program’s year-round potential and the strong relationships built between students and employers. Several local businesses have embraced their role as educational partners for SHS and SRTC students. Rubb Building Systems has been particularly instrumental in supporting students, especially those in welding programs. SRTC junior Anderson White began working with Rubb at just 16 years old and he even got to share his experience with Governor Janet Mills when she toured the technical center last week. “Anderson is a rock star,” MacDougal said. The program's impact on career outcomes is already becoming evident. Several welding students from the Regional Technical Center have transitioned seamlessly from classroom learning to full-time employment, often with the same companies where they completed their ELOs. Plumbing students have similarly moved from their technical center programs into professional positions. Current opportunities showcase the program's diversity. Students are pursuing nursing experience at Goodall Hospital, exploring education through hands-on teaching experience, and gaining library science exposure across multiple school districts. SHS student Rory White completed a summer staff writer position with the Sanford Springvale News and is continuing that work through an internship this school year. Understanding that not every placement is perfect from the start, the program builds in checkpoints at each semester to evaluate whether students and employers are a good fit. This approach ensures students get the most from their experience while maintaining positive relationships with community partners. “If it is a good fit, we continue with it,” MacDougal said. “If it's not, we'll look for another business or let the student settle where they need to be in their classes." We will soon be highlighting individual student ELO's in future editions of the 'Sanford Spotlight' District Newsletter.

Sanford's ELO Program Bridges Classroom and Career

September 17, 2025
From meeting the governor to landing full-time careers, Sanford High School and Regional Technical Center students are turning classroom learning into real-world success through ...
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Maine's workforce of tomorrow was on full display Wednesday, September 10, at Sanford Regional Technical Center, where Governor Janet Mills witnessed students building the skills that will shape their futures. For SRTC Director Matt Petermann, having the Governor visit was "an extraordinary opportunity to showcase the transformative work we do every single day.” The handshakes started before Governor Janet Mills even entered the building. Law Enforcement students lined up by the student gardens at Sanford Regional Technical Center Wednesday morning, each introducing themselves to Maine's governor. Mills got to see the student gardens before heading into the SRTC Café, where students truly took center stage. Culinary Arts students prepared and served food while instructors and students from the Baking and Pastry, Video Production, Cosmetology, Digital Design, Academy of Business, Information Technology and Networking, Skills USA, and Cooperative Education programs presented their work directly to the Governor. What stood out was how confidently students explained their programs and shared their experiences. One of those students, Anderson White, is in his third year studying precision manufacturing at SRTC. When Governor Mills asked about his experience, Anderson had exciting news to share - he'd landed a paid internship over the summer at a local company. "I'm only 16 years old," he told the Governor, explaining how "the internship program helped me to get out into the workforce early on and just gain experience, become more of an asset to companies." During the café visit, Governor Mills had the chance to hold a gold medal that SRTC graduate Myles Seckler won at the national SkillsUSA competition last spring. SRTC student Leah Glidden spoke with Mills about the school's success at SkillsUSA competitions at both state and national levels, and even presented the new SkillsUSA logo, which was designed by SRTC graduate Deanna Watson. Watson won the state competition for the logo design, showcasing yet another way SRTC students excel in their fields. Watching these interactions between students and the Governor reinforced what matters most to the school Petermann said. "This visit isn't about us—it's about our students," he explained. "The young people who discovered their passion and purpose within our 25 programs." Video Production students followed along, documenting the visit and gaining real experience, while Law Enforcement students provided security support. Mills visited nearly every program - from Early Childhood Education to Automotive Technology to Building Trades - and even tried out the new driving simulator in the Law Enforcement program. What seemed to impress Governor Mills most was seeing students actively engaged in their learning. The state has invested significantly in SRTC, providing money in new equipment through the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan as part of $20 million invested statewide in career and technical education. "We put over $117,000 into this school for equipment, and I got to see some of that equipment at work, and that's really kind of moving seeing how excited kids are, young people are at exploring these opportunities," Mills said. “I am very impressed with just the diverse career opportunities that these kids have from eight different high schools. From culinary arts to automotive to robotics and everything in between and beyond.” The visit highlighted how SRTC serves as more than just a school - it's where students discover what they're passionate about and build skills for their futures. "Students who may have struggled to find their place in traditional settings have found their home here, developing real-world skills that will launch them directly into meaningful careers," Petermann said. "We are building Maine's new workforce and future."

Governor Janet Mills Tours SRTC, Praises Student Programs

September 11, 2025
Maine's workforce of tomorrow was on full display Wednesday, September 10, at Sanford Regional Technical Center, where Governor Janet Mills witnessed students building the skills...
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September is School Attendance Awareness Month!

September is School Attendance Awareness Month!

September 11, 2025
Governor Janet Mills has proclaimed September as School Attendance Awareness Month in Maine, and we are excited to join schools across our state in celebrating the importance of b...
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Your Right to Know: Teacher and Paraprofessional Qualification Information

Your Right to Know: Teacher and Paraprofessional Qualification Information

September 11, 2025
On December 10, 2015, President Barack Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law. ESSA replaces the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). In accordance with ESSA, sc...
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welding

SRTC is Back at it!

September 9, 2025
SRTC is back in session! Students did not miss a beat and are back to work learning their particular trade. Around the Center, classrooms and shops are preparing themselves for p...
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The Sanford School Department recently hosted its annual District-Wide Welcome Back Event at the Sanford Performing Arts Center, bringing together faculty, staff, and administrators from across all schools to celebrate the start of the 2025-26 academic year. The gathering began with a performance from the Sanford High School Chamber Singers, featuring students Ava Allen, Callia Curtis, Avila Cyr, Rebecca Horton, Jordyn Martin, Cynthia Carroll, Keaghan Gagnon, Will Kane, Logan Hamblin, and Evan Lynch. Under the direction of Sanford High School music teacher Ryan Geary, these students took time to rehearse during the summer before taking the stage. Following their musical presentation, each student introduced themselves, shared which schools they attended, and spoke about teachers who've had a lasting impact on their academic journey so far. School Committee Chair Amy Sevigny then delivered opening remarks that challenged both new and veteran staff members to be supportive colleagues. "I want you to all think about when you were that new person on the job, whatever job that was. Do you still remember the first person or the people that welcomed you and made you feel part of the team?" She challenged staff to be supportive, collaborative, encouraging, respectful, and positive colleagues. Whatever the day brings, be the coworker that you want to have. Because a strong school community thrives when each member feels valued and supported. Sanford Superintendent Matt Nelson expressed deep gratitude for the collaborative efforts throughout the district. "I want to thank you as our faculty and staff for all that you do for our students and what you do each and every day with them," Nelson said. A significant portion of the event welcomed new staff members joining the Sanford team across all district schools, including all elementary schools, middle and high school, SRTC and SCAE Adult Ed. The presentation also included Superintendent Nelson introducing the district's updated mission to "prepare all students with future-ready skills and knowledge to empower success in a rapidly changing world" for the first time to staff after it was recently approved by the School Committee. This mission is supported by Core Principles and Beliefs on Learning that focus on creating safe learning environments, developing future-ready skills, ensuring equitable access, adapting learning systems, and strengthening community collaboration. These principles work together to support the district's Portrait of a Future-Ready Graduate vision, preparing students to be critical thinkers and creative problem-solvers, emotionally intelligent collaborators, adaptable and resilient individuals, engaged citizens, and lifelong learners.

Sanford School Department Welcomes Staff for 2025-26 Year

August 29, 2025
The Sanford School Department recently hosted its annual District-Wide Welcome Back Event at the Sanford Performing Arts Center, bringing together faculty, staff, and administrat...
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Sanford School Department Welcomes New Teachers for 2025-2026 School Year

Sanford School Department Welcomes New Teachers for 2025-2026 School Year

August 27, 2025
The Sanford School Department started the new academic year on a high note, welcoming its newest educators with an extensive orientation day at Sanford High School on Tuesday, Au...
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The 2025-2026 bus routes for the Sanford School Department are now available on Versatrans. On Tuesday, August 19th, emails were sent to parents/guardians with transportation information and Student ID numbers. If you did not receive an email, please contact your child's school to verify your email address and obtain your child's Student ID number. Please note, due to a bus driver shortage, some bus routes have been combined to begin the school year. This change will result in longer ride times for some students. We appreciate your patience as we continue to search for additional drivers. If you are interested in becoming a driver or monitor, contact Ledgemere, our transportation provider. If you have any questions, please call your child’s school directly or Ledgemere at 207-324-4888.

Bus Transportation For The 2025-2026 School Year

August 20, 2025
The 2025-2026 bus routes for the Sanford School Department are now available on Versatrans . On Tuesday, August 19th, emails were sent to parents/guardians with transportation i...
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A Message from Stuff the Bus To families of students attending Sanford schools for the 2025-2026 school year: On Saturday, August 23rd, 2025, Stuff the Bus Maine will hold its annual school supplies distribution event at Curtis Lake Church on Westview Drive in Sanford. No pre-registration is required. Please arrive at (not before) your designated time slot based on your child's last name: T through Z: 9:00 AM N through S: 10:00 AM H through M: 11:00 AM A through G: 11:30 AM If you have children with different last names, use the last name of your youngest school-aged child to determine your arrival time for all children. *If you arrive without your children, please come at 11:00 AM (no exceptions). A volunteer will fill a bag for your child/children. Please prepare a separate 3x5 index card for each child before you arrive. On each card, print: Your first and last name (top of card) Your child's first and last name The grade your child will be entering in fall 2025 Having these cards ready will help the line move efficiently and reduce wait times. The event continues while supplies last as we work hard to ensure every child is served. Stuff the Bus is proud to help get kids excited and prepared for the new school year ahead. Sincerely, Wanda Parent Director, Stuff the Bus Maine

Stuff The Bus

August 6, 2025
A Message from Stuff the Bus To families of students attending Sanford schools for the 2025-2026 school year: On Saturday, August 23rd, 2025 , Stuff the Bus Maine will hold it...
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Sanford Regional Technical Center recently wrapped up its 5th annual Middle School Summer Camp, welcoming over 70 students in grades 6-8 from nine partner schools for a week of hands-on career exploration. Campers rotated through six exciting program areas, learning directly from SRTC instructors in Precision Manufacturing, Video Production, Firefighting, Law Enforcement, Cosmetology, and Carpentry. Students gained valuable experience with equipment safety, built projects to take home, practiced with fire hoses, created short films, perfected nail art and hairstyling techniques, and tested their skills on a police cruiser driving simulator. The summer heat didn't slow down the fun, with special visits from Kona Ice of York County and a refreshing run through the fire truck sprinkler system. Current and former SRTC students volunteered throughout the week, serving as mentors and helping instructors connect with the younger campers. The week's success was evident in the campers' enthusiasm and the friendships they formed. When asked to share positive qualities about their new peers, students consistently described each other as "kind, fun, helpful, and cool," while expressing amazement at what they learned in SRTC's state-of-the-art facility.

SRTC Wraps Up 5th Annual Middle School Summer Camp

June 30, 2025
Sanford Regional Technical Center recently wrapped up its 5th annual Middle School Summer Camp, welcoming over 70 students in grades 6-8 from nine partner schools for a week of ha...
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SRTC

SkillsUSA Competitors / Advisors Ready to Head Home!

June 28, 2025
Our SRTC students competing in the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta Georgia this week have had a great week but are ready to head home. Our advisors and stude...
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