This edition celebrates the Sanford School Department's collective effort to feed families for Thanksgiving. We're also celebrating SHS fall athletes earning state, regional and conference honors, exploring SRTC's Engineering Technologies Program, and highlighting Sanford Adult Education's new partnership with MaineHealth. You'll also find updates from each school, important safety information, and ways to stay connected with Sanford Schools.
Sanford Schools Unite to Feed Families For Thanksgiving
Sanford schools came together in a district-wide effort that put holiday meals on the tables of dozens of local families. From spirited student competitions to generous community partnerships, the initiative exemplified the spirit of giving that defines both the season and the Sanford community.
At Sanford High School, the Peer Helpers program's annual food drive provided complete Thanksgiving dinners for 50 families — feeding more than 250 people in the Sanford community. The effort was supported by Marc Motors, which donated $1,000, and the Sanford/Springvale Chamber of Commerce, which raised $650 from its members to purchase 50 turkeys for the families. Hannaford Supermarkets coordinated the turkey pick-up and delivery.
Sights Around Our Schools
Carl J. Lamb Elementary
For their Unit 1 writing celebration, 3rd graders picked a main character from the classic tale, The Wind In The Willows, and provided evidence as to why they display a certain character trait. Students did an excellent job. Click here for the school's newsletter.
Margaret Chase Smith Elementary
Pre-K for ME students wrapped up Unit 2 with a joyful Learning Celebration alongside their families! Children proudly shared their work, demonstrated new skills, and guided their grown-ups through hands-on activities from the unit. Click here for the school's newsletter.
Sanford Middle School
Sanford Middle School hosted a successful Bingo Night filled with prize winners and plenty of laughs. The evening was made possible through gift card donations from Smitty's Cinema and GameLab Sanford. High school volunteers helped run the event, and families enjoyed a fun night together. Click here for the school's newsletter.
Sanford Pride Elementary
Sanford Pride Elementary's PTA hosted a "Rise, Shine, and Drive-Thru Coffee Time!" fundraiser. Families ordered hot coffee, iced coffee, alani, or brisk at the school's drop-off line. Those wishing to brighten a teacher or staff member's day and the PTA delivered it for them! Click here for the school's newsletter.
Sanford Fall Athletes Earn State, Regional, and Conference Honors
Sanford High School's fall athletes earned recognition at the conference, state, and regional levels this season. Field hockey players Reese Beaudoin and Hailey Payeur both earned Maine Field Hockey Coaches Association All-State Selection and NFHCA All-Region honors. Cross country runner Isaac Pelletier capped off his season with a 7th place finish in the MPA Class A Cross Country Championship.
SRTC Program Highlight: Engineering Technologies
Collin McEvoy, and Richard Pocius are working with their instructor, Mr. Mathieu on wiring a prosthetic hand so that it will make some basic motions.
This is part of a series highlighting the career and technical education programs offered at Sanford Regional Technical Center.
There's no single "right answer" in engineering, and that's exactly what makes SRTC’s Engineering Technologies Program so exciting. Instructor Ethan Mathieu loves seeing the creative diversity his students bring to solving problems, with each one of them finding their own approach to the same engineering challenge.
This two-year program at Sanford Regional Technical Center serves as a launchpad for students heading to university engineering programs, exposing them to the engineering design process, diverse engineering disciplines, and the knowledge and skills they'll need to succeed at the college level.
Previous Program Highlights
Sanford Adult Education Partners with Maine Health for Career Training
Students interested in healthcare careers will soon have a chance to explore five different pathways, learn from working professionals, and earn an automatic interview at Maine Health all within three months and at no cost. Sanford Community Adult Education is launching this pre-apprenticeship program through a new partnership with Maine Health.
The hybrid program combines online learning modules with in-person classes at Sanford Community Adult Education. Students will explore five high-demand healthcare fields: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Education Technician, Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy, and Psychiatric Technician. Throughout the three months, guest speakers who currently work in these roles will share their experiences, giving students a realistic picture of what these careers actually entail.
Sanford Schools Take New Steps to Prevent Student Homelessness
We know how stressful it can be when families face housing challenges. That's why our schools are working to reach families earlier—before a housing crisis happens. Last year, we were able to help keep 55 students and their families in their homes, and helped 16 more families find stable housing. By connecting families with resources early and partnering with local organizations, we're making sure no family has to face these challenges alone. The John T. Gorman Foundation recently featured our work on their website below.
Inclement Weather Protocols
As winter approaches, we want to remind everyone of our weather-related protocols. When there is inclement weather, we work closely with local authorities, public works, transportation services, meteorologists, and nearby school districts to make informed decisions about school delays, early dismissals, or cancellations. Ensuring our students and staff’s safety is our top priority.
Our last day of school is currently scheduled for Tuesday, June 9th if we use no snow days; for every day that school is cancelled due to weather, we will add a make-up day starting with June 10th. If we have to use storm days beyond June 18th, we will plan to utilize remote school days.
Attendance During the Holiday Season
As we approach the busy holiday season, we want to remind you of the importance of regular school attendance. We know this time of year brings many celebrations, family gatherings, and traditions and we also know that every day your child is in school matters for their learning.
The weeks before and after holiday breaks are especially important learning times. Teachers are wrapping up key concepts before breaks and introducing new material afterward. When students miss these days, they can fall behind and struggle to catch up in January. Remember, missing just two days a month, even for seemingly good reasons, can impact your child's progress in reading and math.
We have several breaks built into our calendar specifically for family time and rest:
- December 24 - January 2, 2026 - Holiday Break
See Something, Say Something
As a school system, we are committed to creating and sustaining a comprehensive, coordinated effort to maintain the overall safety and well-being of our students, educators and administrators. Therefore we utilize the “Say Something Anonymous Reporting System” (SS-ARS), a system fully funded by the national nonprofit Sandy Hook Promise. The SS-ARS allows youth and adults to securely submit anonymous safety concerns – anytime, from anywhere – to help identify and intervene upon at-risk individuals before they hurt themselves or others. The system enables school administrators and law enforcement (if needed) to create effective interventions and to help prevent violence, suicide, bullying, self-harm and other forms of threatening behavior.
How to submit a tip to the Say Something program:
- Say Something website (SaySomething.net)
- Say Something mobile app (App Store | Google Play)
- Say Something hotline (1-844-5-SAY NOW | 1-844-572-9669)
Additional Links to Stay Updated with the Community
