School Notes

In 2023, Sanford High School Peer Helpers provided a record-breaking 77 Thanksgiving baskets to families with the support of local businesses, the SHS community, and the Maine Army National Guard 1136th Sanford Unit. This year’s Thanksgiving Food Drive runs through Nov. 22.

Photo: Sanford School Department

Compiled by Carolyn Cadigan

Students and businesses look to fill plates and hearts this Thanksgiving: The Sanford/Springvale Chamber of Commerce will be providing more than 50 turkeys to Sanford High School (SHS) Peer Helpers to distribute to needy families along with their Thanksgiving food boxes. The chamber would like to raise $500 from its members to buy the turkeys. To make a business donation, submit a check to the Sanford/Springvale Chamber of Commerce. In addition, the SHS Thanksgiving Food Drive runs through Nov. 22, with collection boxes located in the main lobby of the high school. Each class has been assigned a food category. The Class of 2025 is responsible for stuffing; 2026, for canned vegetables; 2027, for gravy and cranberry sauce; and 2028, for instant mashed potatoes. Can they top last year’s record-breaking 77 Thanksgiving baskets?

Haunted Woods event was scary fun: Students at Sanford Middle School transformed the woods at Gowen Park into a Halloween attraction on Oct. 29, continuing its annual Haunted Woods event. Organized by students in the Jobs for Maine’s Graduates (JMG) program, the event allowed students to experience a real-life example of project planning, leadership and teamwork. Students began planning over a month before the event, brainstorming different ideas for the theme. From there, they needed to work together to plan each section of the woods, roles, costumes, decorations, and more. The students thought of the idea of a Haunted Walk, and after navigating red tape and a presentation to the school committee, the event was born. “To see all their work result in something that so many people enjoy, they have said it helps them understand what it really means to work as a team in the ‘real work’ and gives them an idea of what people can accomplish when they work together,” said Tara Houle, SMS JMG specialist.

ISO trucks: The PTAs at Margaret Chase Smith and Sanford Pride Elementary Schools are looking for fun trucks for their Turkey Trot’s Touch-a-Truck, scheduled for Nov. 23, from 11:30 am to 3:15 pm, at Cobb Stadium. If you (and your truck) would like to participate, contact Peggy at mcsptame@gmail.com.

Donate branches and take a bow: The Landscape and Horticulture program at Sanford Regional Technical Center (SRTC) is looking for donations of evergreen boughs (fir or pine) to help with their wreath-making activities this holiday season. Thurston and Peters Sugarhouse of West Newfield, having supported the program in past years, has felled its last fir tree! If you or someone you know is harvesting evergreen trees and can donate the trimmings to SRTC, contact Pamela Durack at pdurack@sanford.org or leave a message at 207–324-2942, ext. 1132.

Helping your child manage meltdowns: Are you feeling like you are always walking on eggshells when dealing with your young child’s meltdowns? Are you at a loss about how to help your child to be successful? If so, join a free training conducted by GEAR Parent Network on Nov. 14, from 6 pm to 8 pm, at the Sanford Pride Elementary School library, 708 Main St., Sanford. Learn practical strategies to help your child manage meltdowns and set them up for success. FMI and to register, go here.

Progress being made on stadium archway: Sanford Regional Technical Center’s Welding students, under the guidance of Instructor Adam Hartford, have been working on the massive sign that will welcome people to Alumni Stadium on the school campus. Students have been following the plans and fabricated the archway out of steel in the welding shop over the last several weeks. Once the welding process is complete, the next step is sandblasting. Following cleaning, the Auto Collision Repair students will go to work painting the massive sign. Chandler’s Auto Service and Repair helped lift the sign up so it could be tacked together. Keep up the great work, SRTC students!