School Notes

Boomer’s Bookworms student reading challenge isn’t over yet.

Compiled by Carolyn Cadigan

There’s still time to read your way to the ballpark: Less than three weeks remain for Boomer’s Bookworms preseason reading challenge. Students are urged to keep logging in their reading hours to get free tickets to a Sanford Mainers home game this summer. For those kindergarten through grade 8 students who haven’t joined yet, there is still time to sign up at Springvale Library, Zippy Copy Center or the Mainers storefront on Main Street.

It’s never too early to think about the future: Fourth grade students at Sanford Pride Elementary participated in the school’s Career Day on May 10. Students explored a wide range of potential career paths by engaging with professionals from various fields, asking questions and learning more about what they do.

NHS students roll up their sleeves for a Day of Caring: National Honor Society (NHS) students from Sanford High School lent a helping hand at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport on May 15. A total of 47 NHS members cleaned trolleys, scraped, painted and landscaped as part of the United Way’s annual Day of Caring. Their hard work helped prepare the museum for its upcoming season.

SMS students receive Elks award: Ysebella Mitchell and Luke Gendron have been named the 2024 Grade 8 Elks Award recipients at Sanford Middle School. The annual award recognizes outstanding eighth grade students’ academic excellence, leadership, positive attitude and service to the school community. Congratulations, Ysebella and Luke!

Limber up those vocal chords at summer music camp: Kids ages 10 to 17 can share the joy of singing and create new friendships this summer at Youth Vocal Camp with Karen Mathews, scheduled for July 22 through Aug. 2, Monday – Friday from 9 am to noon, at Nasson Community Center and Little Theatre. Singers will learn vocal technique, music literary skills and more. Family and friends will be invited to a performance on the last day at 1 pm. FMI and to register, go here.

New summer grocery aid for low-income families: A new federal program called SUN Bucks (Summer EBT for Children) will help low-income families purchase groceries when school is out for the summer months, a time when kids don’t have access to free or reduced-price school meals. Eligible families with children ages 8 to 16 can receive $120 in food benefits for the summer period. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Family Independence (OFI) is implementing the program. FMI on the program, go here.

Sanford students at the 6th annual Middle School Student Leadership Summit.

Future leaders in the making: Two dozen student leaders from Sanford Middle School attended the 6th annual Middle School Student Leadership Summit at the University of New England (UNE) last week. They discussed important issues, developed leadership skills and felt empowered to create positive change. The summit included motivational sessions and goal-setting activities. Students joined peers from schools across southern Maine, exploring the UNE campus and dining hall. Advisers Angela Avery and Jenn Brown chaperoned.

Friendship takes center stage: Kindergarten through Grade 2 students at Margaret Chase Smith Elementary School attended a performance of Pete the Cat on stage this week at the Sanford Performing Arts Center. The main characters’ once-in-a-lifetime roadtrip transported the audience on an adventure of friendship.

Elks honor top high school students at youth banquet: The Sanford Elks Lodge held its annual Youth Banquet on May 8, celebrating the academic excellence of Sanford High School’s top 50 students. The event recognized students for their accomplishments, achievements and admirable personal qualities. The highest honors went to SHS Student of the Year Zachary Parison. Aidan Gendron received the SHS Male Teen of the Year award, while Sophia Tounge was honored as the SHS Female Teen of the Year. From Sanford Regional Technical Center, Michael Cousineau was named Male Student of the Year and Ailey Mann received the Female Student of the Year. The top 10 students were also individually recognized during the ceremony. In addition to Parison, Gendron and Mann, the top 10 included Lamar Amoakohene, Jack Cullen, Ava Gendron, Hailey Tarbox, Korrinne Greer, Emma Adawadkar and Kamryn Sanborn. Congratulations to all of these outstanding students!

SHS AP students host annual symposium: Sanford High School’s Advanced Placement (AP) students showcased their research projects at the annual AP Capstone Symposium on May 15 in the school’s agora. The symposium allowed the students to present the findings from their year-long, college-level research and project work. Upon successful completion of the program, students earn the AP Capstone certificate in addition to potential college credit. Student participants included Jenny Danis, Addie Fiandaca, Samone Gallagher, Jack Gendron, Izabella Goodrich, Quang Lam, Alex Lemay, Hannah Morgan, Andrew Morin, Madison Osborne, Rishi Patel, Tala Soule and Rowan Winchell. The annual symposium showcases the exceptional work of students while providing valuable experience in research presentation, similar to what they will encounter at the university level and professionally.

Hands-on learning at the water festival: St. Thomas School was one of six schools accepted to participate in last week’s Southern Maine Children’s Water Festival at the University of Southern Maine. Throughout the day, the school’s fifth and sixth grade students engaged in a variety of presentations and learning stations — from the water cycle and water bugs to clean water for clams and the expedition reef. Through a hands-on approach, the students learned about the importance of clean water.