Photo: WSSR TV
Briefings Continue on Strong Start for Schools
By: Kendra Williams
At its September 15 meeting, the Sanford School Committee continued administrator reports that began the previous week.
Sanford’s three elementary principals provided individual reports sharing beginning of the year events and plans for the year. Pride Elementary Principal Susan Inman highlighted a successful “Pops on the Playground” event before open house, along with plans for a Halloween celebration and a Veterans Day chorus performance at Pinnacle Home. She also noted the continuation of the Student Leader program and community mentoring to help raise student aspirations.
Margaret Chase Smith Principal Tracy Hallisey reported strong student engagement under the motto “A sharp start leads to a bright year.” Students have already earned 71 positive referrals for respect and kindness, launched the “Neat Pack Award” for tidiness, and set a school-wide goal of 100 “respect” links. Family involvement has also been strong, with 70% of students attending open house and PTA projects adding new basketball hoops on the playground.
Carl J. Lamb Principal Sherri Baron pointed to improvements such as a new safety fence and freshly painted hallways, along with robust family engagement through screenings, open house events, and new “Young Mathematician Games” to boost early numeracy. She also celebrated a statewide honor for the Spartan Show Choir, made up of third and fourth graders, which was invited as the only school choir in Maine to perform at the American Choral Directors Association Fall Conference.
Athletic Director Zach Lemelin reviewed spring athletics and the status of fall athletics. Sanford High School celebrated a strong year in athletics, with hundreds of students participating across three seasons and many earning academic recognition for their achievements. The school also saw athletes advance to college-level sports and hosted major league events. With a focus on increasing student involvement, Lemelin highlighted steady growth in participation this fall, along with improvements to the registration process and efforts to gather feedback from students and families.
Looking ahead, Sanford’s athletic calendar is filled with events, including the Strong Girls United Leadership Conference, hosting a major sub-varsity cross-country meet and a night for middle school athletic programs. The second annual Hall of Honor induction is set for November 29, and Sanford will host the SMAA Sportsmanship Summit on 12/2. Lemelin highlighted communication tools such as the Sanford Athletics app—integrated with Arbiter Live and live-streaming through Huddle Fan—to help families stay connected.
Sanford Regional Technical School Director Matt Petermann reported that the new school year launched with strong momentum, highlighted by an open house and a two-hour visit from Governor Janet Mills. During the tour, the governor explored all 25 student programs, from the gardens tended by horticulture students to the café operated by culinary and baking students. She engaged directly with students, asking questions and learning about the skills they are building for their future careers. The visit underscored SRTC’s role in preparing students for the workforce while also spotlighting the community’s pride in the school’s expanding opportunities.
Enrollment at SRTC has grown by nearly 100 students this year, reaching about 775, thanks in part to the addition of three new programs: Sports Medicine, Baking and Pastry, and Cooperative Education. The school continues to emphasize employability and soft skills, addressing critical labor shortages in Maine and beyond. Its commitment to student success was further reflected in achievements at Skills USA last June, where 77 students advanced to the state competition and 10 competed nationally in Atlanta. In a historic first, student Miles Seckler won the national championship in Technical Drafting, bringing home SRTC’s first national gold medal.
Director of Special Education Stacey Bissell was pleased to report that the Bridge Program is fully staffed across all grade levels for the first time since its expansion. Enrollment currently stands at six elementary students, two middle school students, and 23 high school students. Staff development has focused on training in neurocognitive growth, boundaries, and IEPs. Teachers also collaborated to create a “Code of Cooperation” that they model for students, supporting consistency across settings.
The program will continue emphasizing resiliency, determination, and integrity, reinforced by “bridge notes” that reward positive behavior and responsibility. Plans for the school year include an October open house showcasing student work, a craft fair fundraiser that will also count toward fine arts credit, and at least three parent education groups. These evening sessions will align with student learning on themes like conflict resolution and executive functioning, while helping families establish their own codes of cooperation at home.
Also at this meeting, the school committee formally adopted a new communications plan that includes strengthening outreach about youth activities to ensure that families are aware of opportunities. The goal is to proactively support non-profits by soliciting and distributing information. The school department’s website now has a community announcements page where organizations can submit information about events and activities. An online approval form is available by going to https://www.jotform.us/form/52016363758154
To view the full meeting go here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-xOz7DFTEk
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