School Notes
- February 14th 2025
- School Notes
Sanford Regional Technical Center representatives met with legislators, education officials, and even Gov. Janet Mills at the Maine State House to share stories of the school’s impact on student success and workforce development.
Photo: Sanford School Department
Compiled by Carolyn Cadigan
SRTC delegates have a productive day at the Hall of Flags in Augusta: A group from Sanford Regional Technical Center (SRTC) visited the Maine State House on Feb. 5 in the Hall of Flags to showcase the school’s commitment to technical education excellence. The delegation included SRTC Director Matt Petermann, Extended Learning Opportunities Coordinator Sally Quarles, and two SkillsUSA student officers — State Officer Candidate Brian Graffam, a senior from Massabesic High School, and Officer Riley Smith, a junior from Marshwood High School. During their time at the Capitol, the representatives held productive discussions with senior officials from the Department of Education’s career and technical education division, focusing on current initiatives and future developments in the field. The delegation also met with several legislators representing the Sanford region, allowing them to share firsthand accounts of SRTC’s impact on student success and workforce development. A highlight of the visit was a meeting with Governor Janet Mills, demonstrating the state’s support for career and technical education programs.
Pre-K information for the 2025-2026 school year: For the upcoming school year, the Sanford School Department expects to continue offering full-day Pre-K programming at Carl J. Lamb School, Margaret Chase Smith School, Sanford Pride Elementary School, Sanford-Springvale YMCA and Sanford Regional Technical Center. Sanford and Springvale families with children 4 years old on or before October 15, 2025, and not of kindergarten age are eligible. Children who are 5 years old by October 15, 2025, and not enrolled in Sanford’s Pre-K program can enroll in kindergarten by calling one of the elementary schools.
The Pre-K program is free and will include free breakfast, lunch and transportation. To provide equal opportunity for families to enroll their children, students will be chosen using a lottery system to fill the anticipated 112 Pre-K slots. Lottery registration will close at the end of the day on March 15. To be considered for admittance to the program, families should fill out the form found here.
St. Thomas March Madness fundraiser calendars are for sale: The fundraiser for St. Thomas School gives participants who purchase a calendar multiple chances to win over 100 prizes, including gift cards, gift baskets, museum tickets, sporting event tickets and more. Multiple prizes are pulled each day, with total prizes valued at over $5,500. Purchase calendars, at a cost of $10 each, after Masses during the month of February, by reaching out to a current St. Thomas student or family, or by calling the school at 207-324-5832.
New SRO brings experience and a community focus to SHS: Officer Chris Gosling, Sanford’s newest School Resource Officer, serving at Sanford High School and Sanford Regional Technical Center, brings 15 years of law enforcement experience and a deep commitment to building relationships with the district’s youth. After serving in the military and working at York County Jail, Gosling joined law enforcement and has been serving Maine communities ever since. He has been a resident of Sanford since 2008, giving him deep connections to the community he now serves in this expanded capacity.
The transition from patrol officer to SRO marks a shift in focus for Officer Gosling. “My job as a police officer here is ten percent law enforcement. The rest is mentoring, teaching, and counseling,” he said. “It’s completely different from patrol work.” With his own children in the school system, including one who recently graduated, he understands firsthand the challenges students face. Read the full story here.
AFCU scholarship applications are now available: The 2025 Atlantic Federal Credit Union Foundation College Scholarship Program is now accepting applications. Members graduating high school this spring and planning to continue their education are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Atlantic will award five scholarships — one $10,000, one $5,000, one $2,500, one $1,500, and one $1,000 scholarship — for a total of $20,000. To be considered for the scholarship awards, applicants must fill out and submit an application, write an essay (350 to 400 words), and provide a resume and a letter of reference. All applications must be received or be postmarked by March 25. FMI, and to apply, go here.
