A student in Sanford High School’s Interact Club shares a book with a young St. Thomas School student.
Photo: St. Thomas School
Compiled by Carolyn Cadigan
Sharing the joy of reading: On March 4, St. Thomas School welcomed members of Sanford High School’s Interact Club for a special “Read Across America” collaborative project. The high school students visited the kindergarten through grade 2 classrooms to read to students and have the young students read to them. It was a homecoming of sorts for some of the high school students who are also St. Thomas school alumni. The Interact Club is a Rotary International service organization for young people ages 12-18 that fosters leadership, community service, and international understanding.
SHS students attend a weekend conference on the Middle East: Eight Sanford High School students and two staff members traveled to Camden last month to participate in the 39th Annual Camden Conference, with this year’s theme being “Today’s Middle East: Power, Politics, Players.” The conference is a prestigious, nationally recognized event that brings together global leaders, journalists, and policy experts for three days of thoughtful discussion and learning. This year, 16 high schools from across Maine participated, along with five colleges and universities as well as members of the public. Representing Sanford were Alexandra Herring, Alivia Caudill, Elizabeth Hylton, Liana Viroch, Owen Westerlund, Thalinda Hengthal, Ax Courtney and Afia Amoakonene. The students were accompanied by staff members Heidi Whitney and Kelly Jewell.
The conference opened with a compelling talk on the connections and history of conflict in the Middle East. Presentations over the course of the conference were followed by lively question-and-answer sessions with the audience, with Sanford students having prepared thoughtful questions. The weekend wrapped up with a panel discussion that left attendees with both deep concern and genuine hope for the region’s future.
A look at the day’s weather: WMTW meteorologist Ted McInerney visited Sanford Middle School on March 3 for the station’s “Weather at Your Schools” segment. Students participated in the broadcast, sharing the day’s weather forecast. McInerney quickly polled a few students on air who, bundled in their winter coats and hats, readily shared their desire to move on from winter. Following the segment, the fifth-grade students gathered in the cafeteria for a Q&A session on weather and meteorology.
SRTC alum named best in the world: Brian Hayden, a Sanford Regional Technical Center alumnus and Wells native, won the Caterpillar Global Operator Challenge, held at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 earlier this month in Las Vegas. Hayden was one of nine who rose to the finals out of 5,000 operators competing worldwide. The finalists, representing the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific, needed to take on three tough challenges using a variety of Caterpillar equipment and demonstrate technical excellence and precision under pressure. Hayden, the youngest operator to ever enter Caterpillar’s Global Operator Challenge, won two of the three individual competitions as well as the top prize, earning him the title of Global Operator Challenge champion. CONEXPO, held every three years, is the international gathering place for the construction industries.
Teaching girls essential life skills: Registration is open for Girls on the Run, a program for girls in grades 3 and 4 that builds confidence, friendships and healthy habits. The program blends physical activity with life skill development, including managing emotions, fostering friendships, and expressing empathy. At the end of the program, the girls complete a 5K together. The program runs Mondays and Tuesdays, from March 30 to May 31, 3:30 – 5 pm, at Carl J. Lamb Elementary School. Girls on the Run uses a sliding scale participant fee ranging from $20 – $180. FMI, and to register, go here. Questions? Contact Tatyana Wolterbeek at twolterbeek@sanford.org.
https://www.girlsontherunmaine.org/3rd-5th-grade-program-details
Construction Academy to be held at SRTC this summer: The application period is now open for this summer’s Construction Academy, open to youth ages 16 – 20. The academy, which runs from July 15 to Aug. 11, is funded by a combination of state, federal and private funds. Programs are offered in partnership with local high schools as well as career and technical education centers statewide. This is an opportunity for students to learn about career pathways in construction. FMI, go here.
https://app.smore.com/n/18qadp
Juniors look ahead toward graduation and beyond: Sanford High School juniors recently participated in a school counseling session focused on future planning and scheduling. Counselors reviewed updated graduation requirements, discussed post-secondary planning, and helped students begin to think about course scheduling.
Juniors also learned about upcoming one-on-one Junior Meetings and are encouraged to bring a parent or guardian along. These meetings serve as an opportunity for families to connect with counselors and engage in planning for the future together.
Registration Night kicks off the Kindergarten Trail: Sanford Pride Elementary School hosted the district-wide kindergarten registration event on March 4, welcoming incoming kindergarten families from across the community. In addition to registering their child and connecting directly with school staff, families were able to learn about the many resources available to them through the Sanford community. In attendance were representatives from more than a dozen local organizations, including MaineHealth – Partners for a Healthier Community (HEAL Team), the Sanford Backpack Program, Kids Free to Grow, United Way, York County Community Action Corporation, Head Start, Kids Kove Childcare and Learning Center, and many more. Families who were unable to attend can still register their child for kindergarten by calling the Sanford School Department at 207-324-2810.
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