This issue highlights recent student accomplishments including Sanford Pride Elementary's Celebration of Learning event, Sanford Middle School's impressive showing in the State Stock Market Challenge, and Sanford High School's groundbreaking Special Olympics Cornhole Tournament. You'll also find updates on financial literacy programs, athletic achievements, and important community announcements.
Celebration of Learning at Sanford Pride
Sanford Pride Elementary School recently held its annual Celebration of Learning event, featuring a vibrant art show and grade-level concerts showcasing student talent and creativity. The week-long celebration took place April 14-17, just before April vacation.
Families were invited to explore the school's hallways, which were transformed into art galleries displaying student artwork and classroom exhibits that had been months in the making. Each evening featured musical performances from different grade levels, with kindergarten and first grade performing Monday, second and third grades on Tuesday, and fourth grade closing the celebration on Thursday.
Did you miss the concerts? Check out the videos on WSSRTV's YouTube below!
Sanford Middle School Students Claim Top Spots in State Stock Market Challenge
Matthew Bourassa claimed first-place in the competition.
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."
Sights Around Our Schools
Carl J. Lamb
Carl J. Lamb Elementary School was aglow with excitement on April 10th as students, families, and staff gathered for the school's Glow Run event. The gymnasium was transformed into a neon wonderland as children dressed in white shirts proudly displayed their colorful glow sticks.
Margaret Chase Smith
In art class, everyone has been busy creating and beginning preparations for the upcoming Art Show and Music Concert nights. Pre-K Artists learned about Vincent Van Gogh. They observed several of his still life flower paintings and discussed how artists sometimes look closely at the world around them when they are creating art.
Sanford Middle School
Sanford Middle School students visited Margaret Chase Smith Elementary School to participate in their Wellness Fair. The event featured engaging, hands-on activities promoting health, safety, and social-emotional learning. SMS students delivered interactive presentations to the elementary students.
Sanford Pride
Sanford Pride Elementary School hosted its first Volunteer Appreciation Ceremony in the school cafeteria. The event recognized dedicated individuals who have given their time to support students and staff throughout the school year. The ceremony highlighted the diverse volunteers who contribute to the school community,
Sanford High School Hosts Special Olympics Cornhole Tournament
Students from the Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG) program at Sanford High School (SHS) organized and hosted the first-ever Special Olympics Cornhole tournament in the state of Maine.
The event welcomed 70 athletes from nearby schools and adult agencies who came together to compete and celebrate the spirit of inclusivity through this increasingly popular sport.
The tournament, which took place at Sanford High School, was entirely student-organized and operated, showcasing the leadership abilities and community commitment of the JMG participants.
Athletic Director Zach Lemelin Honored with Past President Rising Star Award
Sanford High School Athletic Director Zach Lemelin has been honored with the Past President Rising Star Award from the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, recognizing his outstanding contributions to school athletics.
Lemelin, who began his career teaching social studies at Sanford High School and later at Sanford Middle School, stepped into the role of Athletic Director in 2022. In the short time since, he has made a remarkable impact on both athletic programs and school culture.
"I was humbled and honored to be recognized by my colleagues across the state with this recognition," shares Mr. Lemelin. "This is more of an award for my supporting cast, that is always there to support me in taking on additional challenges and helping to make the student-athletes in the Sanford school department have a great experience with school-based sports."
The Spartan Times
The Spartan Times, SHS's online student newspaper, features articles by student reporters enrolled in CCP
Journalism or School Newspaper Enrichment courses. Below is an article previewing Sanford High School's Varsity Spring Sports Season.
Journalism or School Newspaper Enrichment courses. Below is an article previewing Sanford High School's Varsity Spring Sports Season.
JA in a Day at Sanford Middle School
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."
SRTC Academy of Business Competes in Titan Challenge
Sanford Regional Technical Center’s Academy of Business had their strongest showing yet at this year's Junior Achievement Titan Challenge on April 3rd, with 28 students forming ten teams to represent SRTC in the annual competition.
Morning weather issues affected the northern part of the state, allowing only half of the participating schools to compete at their regional locations. The state winners will be announced after the remaining regions complete their competitions next week, when all scores will be tallied.
In exciting news from our region, Team SRTC10—made up of seniors Connor Rice, Ethan Wilfong, and Jacob Cardoza—swept all three rounds of the regional competition and earned the highest point total of the day.
Announcements
Community Announcements
Are you looking to share your organization’s events and activities with the Sanford school community? The Sanford School Department website offers a Community Announcements page to help you reach students, families, and staff members.
The process is simple: complete our online approval form (click here for the form), submit it to the Superintendent's Office along with your promotional materials for review
Free Meals
Have you heard all school meals are free in Maine?This includes breakfast. Don’t have time to prepare breakfast in the morning? Let us do the work. We’d be happy to provide your son or daughter with a delicious, nutritionally balanced breakfast every day, free
of charge.
Breakfast Service Times by School:
- CJL: breakfast is 8:00 - 8:30
- MCS: breakfast is from 8:00 - 8:20
- SPE: breakfast is 8:00 - 8:20
- SMS: breakfast is 7:10 - 7:40
- SHS: breakfast is 6:45 - 8:15
Community Resource Guide
The Sanford School Department's new community resource guide is a valuable resource for residents, offering a comprehensive array of essential services.
Click the link below to access the community resource guide.
School Budget Info
The school committee has approved the budget for the 2025-2026 school year.
You can view budget information by clicking here. Or scan the QR code below.
Budget workshops are also streamed on WSSRTV’s YouTube channel.
Download Our App!
Follow us on the Sanford School Department App!
Looking for news and notes about events at your child's school? Hoping to keep track of a traveling sports team? Download the Sanford School Department App directly to your mobile device, and you'll be on top of the freshest news from any and all of the Sanford Schools.
Need a tutorial on how to
download our app? Watch the video below.
download our app? Watch the video below.
Additional Links to Stay Updated with the Community
