Students in SRTC’s Culinary Program rely on their training and creativity to compete in the Maine State ProStart Competition.
Photo: Sanford School Department
Compiled by Carolyn Cadigan
A pressure-filled competition worthy of Food Network: Culinary students from Sanford Regional Technical Center (SRTC) competed for the first time in the Maine State ProStart Competition on Feb. 24. The event, hosted by Hospitality Maine at the Holiday Inn By the Bay in Portland, brought together students from career and technical education centers across the state to showcase their culinary skills and hospitality management knowledge in front of industry judges.
For the culinary competition, students were tasked with preparing a three-course meal in 60 minutes, utilizing only two butane burners without access to running water or electricity. SRTC’s team competed against students from Biddeford Regional Center of Technology, Westbrook Regional Vocational Center, and Capital Area Technical Center in Augusta, with judges evaluating taste, skill, teamwork, safety and sanitation. All four of the programs earned praise from the judges for their performances.
Sanford basketball conference honors are plentiful: Several Sanford High School basketball players received SMAA All-Conference Awards. For the girls, Mollie Puffer was named to the 1st team, Paige Sevigny to the 2nd team, and Jaslinn Johnson to the all-defensive team. For the boys, Dylan Gendron was named to the 1st team, Luke Gendron to the 3rd team, and Ryan Alexander received an honorable mention. In addition, Coach Rossie Kearson was named SMAA Girls Class A South Coach of the Year. Both the girls’ and boys’ teams went deep into the playoffs this season. The boys reached the Class A South semifinals where they fell to Portland in a 61-51 loss. The girls also reached the semifinals but were knocked out by South Portland with a score of 43-38.
This month’s SMS newspaper is available: The March issue of Sanford Middle School’s student newspaper, SMS Times, includes many creative submissions, Winter Olympics coverage, facts about March and Ireland, and more. Access the publication and see what the middle schoolers have to say here.
College scholarship opportunity: The Sanford-Springvale Rotary Club is accepting scholarship applications for students planning to attend college. Seniors attending Sanford High School, Noble High School, Massabesic High School, and Sanford Regional Technical Center are eligible to apply. The application window is open until April 8. FMI, including the scholarship criteria and application, go to the Rotary Club website.
Photo: Sanford School Department
SMS students perform at Honors Festival: Sophia O’Connell, Emma Higgins and Mason Labbe represented Sanford Middle School at the MMEA District 1 7th/8th Grade Honors Festival held Feb. 27 – 28 at Westbrook Middle School. O’Connell and Labbe performed in the Honors Band, and Higgins sang in the Honors Chorus. Both ensembles performed on Saturday afternoon.
What happens on the court stays on the court: Sanford elementary school teachers will take on Sanford’s first responders in a friendly community basketball game, held at the Sanford Pride Elementary School gym, on Thursday, March 12, 6 – 8 pm. Proceeds from concession sales and donations will support the three schools’ PTAs, which are putting on the event. Admission is free. Attendees are asked to wear red or Spartan gear to root for the teachers, blue to root for the first responders, or a combination of both. Go to SignUpGenius to donate concession items.
Aiming to make kindness the norm: Last week, students and staff at Sanford Middle School (SMS) participated in the Great Kindness Challenge, a national movement that empowers students to perform as many random acts of kindness as possible throughout the week. Interactive checklists distributed to every student served as a guide, emphasizing compassion, acceptance and respect. The class with the most acts of kindness in each grade was rewarded with a pizza party. With every grade level participating, SMS registered 3,306 random acts of kindness over the week. The challenge helps to build a positive school climate and inspires social-emotional growth among the students.
SHS students perform at prestigious regional festival: Last week, four Sanford High School students — Ava Allen, Ariana Young, Jack Van Gieson and Keaghan Gagnon — participated in the ACDA All-Eastern Honor Choir Festival, one of the most elite high school choral events in the eastern United States. Sponsored by the American Choral Directors Association, the festival brings together the top student singers from multiple states through a rigorous, competitive audition process. Throughout the festival, students engaged in intensive rehearsals, sectionals, and a culminating concert that showcased a level of artistry typically associated with collegiate and pre-professional ensembles. Read the full story here.
Latest news from First 10 Sanford: The March newsletter from First 10 Sanford is now available. It includes tips and activities to boost early brain development in children ages 0 to 4 years, information on kindergarten registration, a link to this month’s Family Activity Calendar, and more. Access the newsletter, which connects families with valuable early childhood opportunities, here.
Babe Ruth launches two new leagues in Sanford: The Greater Sanford Babe Ruth League is launching a 12U Cal Ripken local traveling baseball program. This program is ideal for 12-year-old players who are too old for Little League but are not ready for the Babe Ruth big diamond. The Cal Ripken program is a performance-based team with limited spots on the roster.
The league is also launching a new 12U – 14U Girls Softball League for athletes who want to continue after Little League. The league is designed to build confidence, develop skills, encourage teamwork and leadership, and grow the softball community in Southern Maine. FMI on the baseball or softball programs, contact sanfordmaine.baberuth@gmail.com.
Sanford school happenings: For more news from the Sanford School Department, including student newspaper coverage, sights around the schools and more, read the latest Sanford Spotlight Newsletter here.
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