Sanford offers many opportunities to gain class credits outside the classroom

By Madison Osborne, STAFF WRITER

October 8, 2024

SANFORD, Maine – For years, Sanford High School has offered many ways for students to gain credit outside of a traditional classroom, but not everyone is aware of this.

Sally Quarles, the SHS Extended Learning Opportunity Manager, wants to ensure word gets out for students to take advantage.

Extended Learning Opportunities, or ELOs, allow students to engage in long-term experiences in an area of their interest at a business or organization, all while receiving credit.

If students can’t fit an ELO in their schedule, Quarles can also help coordinate job-shadowing opportunities, co-ops, or after school co-ops.

Students work with a learning team composed of other students, teachers, mentors, and Quarles.

The goal is for the student to create real world experience based on their interests, and allows them to get that experience before graduating high school.

With the 5 block schedule, many seniors find themselves with space in their schedules in their final year, and this is a great way to fill the schedule with meaningful opportunities relevant to their interests. 

Dillon Holden, an senior, currently works at LMC Light Iron in Limerick as a Welder/Fabricator. He is currently working on constructing the foundation of a 10,000 square foot guest house on an island in Cape Elizabeth.

“There are plenty of things I love about working where I do, but my favorite is working on real-world projects, and seeing the progress that me and the other employees make,” Holden said. 

Holden is very thankful for the opportunities ELO’s have given him and the “real-world experience that I would not be able to pursue without the help of Ms. Quarles and the ELO program.”

If you are an upperclassmen looking to find real-world experience before graduation, reach out to Ms. Quarles at squarles@sanford.org.

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