School Notes

CJL students channel their inner Paul Bunyan, enjoying flapjacks in flannel.

Photo: Sanford School Department

Compiled by Carolyn Cadigan

Celebrating classic American tales over flapjacks: Second graders at Carl J. Lamb Elementary School dined over flapjacks, and some even wore flannel, to mark their recently completed unit on fairy tales and tall tales. They explored classic stories such as “The Fisherman and His Wife” and “Beauty and the Beast,” learning about story elements and important life lessons. The unit also introduced American tall tales featuring characters like Paul Bunyan and John Henry. These stories helped students understand the concept of exaggeration in storytelling and gave them a glimpse into life on the American frontier.

This fall, the band marches on: On Sept. 21, the Sanford High School Marching Band performed their show — the second competition of the season — at Old Orchard Beach High School and was awarded three out of five stars for the overall performance. SHS student Tim McGee recounted, “I can definitely see how much we’ve grown since band camp, but I can also see how much we can improve on.” The band’s show, titled “Beacon,” is based on the poetry of Portland-born Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and explores the protection, strength and beauty of the rocky coast of Maine and its lighthouses. Read the full story here.

From trial by jury to summer lovin’ on the SHS stage: The Sanford High School Theater Club has announced its fall play and spring musical for this school year. The fall play, scheduled for Nov. 22 through 24, will be “12 Angry Jurors,” based on the classic film and Broadway show, “12 Angry Men.” The cast will have the unique opportunity to use decommissioned chairs from the Alfred Courthouse, as well as the jury box and table from the Maine State Courthouse. Although auditions began on Sept. 17, students can still join the stage crew. In the spring, the musical will be “Grease,” which follows the lives and relationships of teens at fictional Rydell High School in 1959. Auditions will be held in December with performances planned for March 28 through 30. The club offers many opportunities for students to be involved, some performing and some handling stage crew duties. Read the full story here.

Pay what you can for senior photos: Jessanda Marie Photography is offering Pay What You Can senior photo sessions on Oct. 12, 9 am to 11 am, at Gowen Park. Each slot is 10 minutes. Participants get five digital negatives with the rights to print. Sign up for a time slot here.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084AADA62FA7F94-51735705-paywhat#

Photo: Sanford School Department

A jam-packed Homecoming Week at SHS: Homecoming Week at Sanford High School (SHS), scheduled Oct. 7 through 12, has a “Broadway Musicals” theme this year. Activities include Spirit Days and varsity home games throughout the week, as well as a Pep Rally on Oct. 10. The Homecoming Parade is set for Oct. 11 at 4 pm. The Student Council invites the entire community to join the celebration of school spirit. Many youth sports teams and community groups have already signed up. The parade starts at the tennis courts and ends at the softball field lot. Spectators should park at SHS no later than 3:30 pm, after which Alumni Boulevard will be closed until the end of the parade. People who arrive after 3:30 pm should park off campus and walk to the parade route. The Route 4 entrance will close at 3:30 pm, so be sure to enter from Main Street. After the parade is over, Alumni Boulevard will reopen to traffic for the football game, which starts at 7 pm. Concluding the week of activities is the Homecoming Dance on Oct. 12 from 7 pm to 10 pm. For more details on the week’s events, go here.

A dozen reasons to smile: Sanford Pride Elementary School PTA recently organized a “Donuts with Grownups” event, where each student was accompanied by a special adult figure in their life — be it a parent, a grandparent, a guardian, or a mentor. The event created a warm, inviting atmosphere where the pairs could spend quality time together, coloring pages side by side or reading some of the available donut-themed storybooks.

Late bus schedule changes: Effective Sept. 30, the Sanford School Department implemented changes to the late bus runs for Sanford High School (SHS) and Sanford Middle School (SMS). To create a more structured and efficient system, both schools’ late runs now have designated stops. For the SHS late run, the first stop is at approximately 4:20 pm. The route begins at Twombley Road at Sugar Hill Road, proceeds to Springvale, then returns to South Sanford at Lowe’s. The trip from the first to the last stop takes about 35 minutes. For the SMS late run, the first stop is at approximately 4:20 pm. The route begins at Main Street at Mill Street (Walgreens), then heads south with the last stop at Lowe’s. The trip, from the first to the last stop, ends at about 4:50 pm. FMI, including a list of all the stops, go here.

https://www.sanford.org/o/sanford-high-school/article/1785801

Sanford school happenings: For more news from the Sanford school district, read the Sept. 2024 edition of the “Sanford Spotlight” newsletter here.

https://www.sanford.org/o/sanford-school-department/page/sanford-spotlight-newsletter