School Notes: October 1, 2023

Volunteers for the Walking School Bus Program at Sanford Pride Elementary School help neighborhood students reach the morning bus on time.

Photo Credit: Sanford School Department

By: Carolyn Cadigan

Connecting with students one step at a time: For the second year at Sanford Pride Elementary School, volunteers for the Walking School Bus Program make their daily walk in a specific Sanford neighborhood, rain or shine, to ensure kids in the area arrive at the bus on time. Carol Lantagne, the program’s coordinator, is joined by several volunteers from the school, including school counselors, health teachers and even the principals. The volunteers meet in the CVS parking lot on Main Street at 7:35 am to begin their walk along Charles Street and State Street Court, gathering students from their homes along the way. They end at the intersection of Main and State streets, where the school bus picks them up at approximately 8 am. The school has realized several benefits from the program, including improved attendance and a greater connection with students and families. FMI on the program, go here.

And the band played on: Congratulations to the Sanford High School Marching Band on their first Maine Band Directors Association show of the season. They earned three stars in each of the seven categories rated: Drum Major, Music, Color Guard, Percussion, Visual, General Effect and Overall. This season consists of four shows in southern Maine followed by the final competition, which will be held at Sanford High School on Oct. 28.

October flu clinics offered at Sanford schools: The Sanford School Department, in partnership with Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, is providing influenza vaccines to students on the following dates: Sanford High School on Oct. 16 at 12 noon;Sanford Middle School on Oct. 18 from 8 to 10 am; Margaret Chase Smith Elementary School on Oct. 17 from 8 to 10 am; Carl J. Lamb Elementary School on Oct. 18 from 8 to 10 am; and Sanford Pride Elementary School on Oct. 17 at 10:30 am. Electronic consent forms are available here. The deadline to complete the forms, including accurate insurance information, is Oct. 13 at noon.

If you build it, they will come: The third home built by students at the Sanford Regional Technical Center (SRTC), in collaboration with the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Maine, is complete. Students in the Building Trades, Electrical Wiring and Plumbing programs contributed to its construction, and students in the Landscape and Horticulture program assisted with the landscaping. The 3 bedroom/2 bath home at 4 James Ave. in Sanford is being offered for sale to Sanford School Department employees and Sanford first responders before it is offered to the general public. FMI contact Peg Levasseur at SRTC at mlevasseur@sanford.org or 207-206-2703.