This design package, submitted by Sanford Regional Technical Center student Harley Robinson, is named the winner in a statewide competition to brand the SkillsUSA Maine Leadership & Skills Conference.
Photo: Sanford School Department
Compiled by Carolyn Cadigan
And the winner is: Sanford Regional Technical Center student Harley Robinson, enrolled in the Digital Design program, won the statewide competition to brand the SkillsUSA Maine State Leadership & Skills Conference. The Massabesic High School senior’s win marks the second consecutive year an SRTC student has won the competition. Robinson’s design will be immortalized at the Maine conference, which will take place in March in Bangor. Each year, student members are invited to compete by creating a cohesive design package that reflects the theme, the state, and the organization. Designs must be developed with multiple uses in mind, such as on t-shirts and pins, for production during opening and closing sessions, and to represent the state association at events throughout the year.
No-cost healthcare training with firsthand experience: Sanford Community Adult Education (SCAE) is partnering with MaineHealth to offer a pre-apprenticeship program that offers training in five high-demand healthcare fields: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Education Technician, Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy, and Psychiatric Technician. Learning from working professionals and through instruction from online learning modules and in-person classes, students can complete the program and earn an automatic interview at MaineHealth — all within three months at no cost.
Throughout the program, guest speakers who currently work in the field will share their experiences, giving students a realistic picture of what these careers actually entail. “This is a great way for students to dip their toes in without having this big commitment of taking on a training program or being hired,” explains Sue Zimmer, who serves as the Maine College and Career Access Advisor at SCAE. “They get to really figure out if it’s really an interest for them.”
The program can accommodate up to 100 students and is open to anyone ages 17 and older who is interested in healthcare careers. Participants do not need a high school diploma, and students from any community are welcome. For students who may have applied to other CNA programs but weren’t accepted, this partnership offers an alternative pathway into the healthcare field. For the full story, go here.
Help keep journalism alive at SHS: Students at The Spartan Times, Sanford High School’s online student newspaper, are seeking equipment and financial donations to help them continue their mission. They need Canon cameras or lenses; video cameras, stands and lights; microphones (USB-C wireless, Bluetooth) for interviews; and Mac desktops or laptops (used or new). In addition, they are looking for sponsors of their weekly videos. FMI, email lroy@sanford.org.
How much wood can a metal rack stack? Welding program students at Sanford Regional Technical Center are selling 4’ x 4’ x 4’ metal firewood racks that they have made. The racks, built sturdy enough to be moved by a forklift, are priced at $75 each with proceeds directly benefitting the program. FMI, or to make a purchase, email Adam Hartford at ahartford@sanford.org.
The SRTC Café is scheduled to open on Dec. 10.
Photo: Sanford School Department
Lunch is served: Opening day for the SRTC Café is scheduled for Wed., Dec. 10. The restaurant, operated by the Sanford Regional Technical Center culinary students, will offer lunch service only on Wednesdays and Thursdays — Dec. 10, 11, 17 and 18 — starting at 11:15 am. They anticipate adding breakfast to the menu starting in January. Reservations are required and can be made here. Diners should enter via the Community Entrance (Door 3) upon arrival on campus.
Sanford schools unite to feed families at Thanksgiving: Students came together this Thanksgiving in a district-wide effort that put complete dinners on the tables of dozens of local families. At Sanford High School, the Peer Helpers annual food drive provided complete Thanksgiving dinners for 50 families, feeding more than 250 people in the Sanford community. In a friendly competition among the classes, each grade provided assigned items, including instant potatoes, turkey gravy and cranberry sauce, canned vegetables and stuffing. The students were aided by a $1,000 donation from Marc Motors. Additionally, the Sanford-Springvale Chamber of Commerce raised $650 from its members to purchase turkeys for each of the 50 families. Hannaford rounded out the support by coordinating the turkey pick-up and delivery, bringing all the pieces together for complete holiday meals.
At Sanford Middle School, students participated in the annual Holiday Food Drive Competition, organized by the school’s Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG) Program and coordinated by JMG Specialist Tara Houle. The food collected not only provided Thanksgiving meals for Sanford families but also stocked the school’s Food Closet, which provides students with easy-to-prepare meals for evenings, weekends, and school breaks throughout the year.
Margaret Chase Smith Elementary School took a different approach to the season of giving, hosting “The Heart of Sanford Community Dinner” on Nov. 25 in the school cafeteria, which was open to families with children enrolled in Sanford schools. Across the district, the efforts of students, staff, and community partners ensured that Sanford families could gather around tables filled with Thanksgiving meals.
Cookies with Santa event seeks volunteers, donations: Sanford Pride Elementary School PTA will host their annual Cookies with Santa event on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 5 – 6 pm, for Sanford Pride Elementary (SPE) students and their families. They are in need of high school student volunteers to help with handing out cookies and cocoa, making cards for local nursing home residents, and keeping the line moving to see Santa and Mrs. Claus. Any high school students who would like to help should email SPE PTA at spePTAme@gmail.com.
The PTA is also looking for cookie donations from local businesses. Any business that would like to donate should email spePTAme@gmail.com.
Get the latest on what students are learning: The first Curriculum Newsletter of the 2025-2026 year is now available. Learn about the Maine Math and Science Alliance, middle and high school science curriculum, at-home tips, and more. Access the latest newsletter here.
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