By Afia Amoakohene
Welcome back, Sanford High School students, and welcome to the class of 2030!
Students faced a lot of changes this first week of school, such as the introduction of the four-block schedule. It is a small, yet important change from the previous five-blocks, but it gives students more time to be engaged in their classes as well as allows them to get more work done within each block.
Regular Day Schedule
Block 1: 7:50 – 9:10 (80 min)
Passing Time: 9:10 – 9:15
Block 2: 9:15 – 10:35 (80 min)
Passing Time: 10:35 – 10:40
Block 3: 10:40 – 12:20 (79 min)
A – Lunch: 10:35 – 10:56
B – Lunch: 10:56 – 11:17
C – Lunch: 11:17 – 11:38
D -Lunch: 11:38 – 11:59
E- Lunch: 11:59 – 12:20
Passing Time: 12:20 -12:25
Spartan Time: 12:25 – 12:55 (30 min)
Passing Time: 12:55 – 1:00
Block 4: 1:00 – 2:20 (80 min)
With this schedule change, we said goodbye to early release Wednesdays. Now, instead of a 1:20 p.m. release time every Wednesday, the school implemented a 2-hour early release every couple of weeks.
2-HOUR EARLY RELEASE DAY
Block 1: 7:50 – 8:48 (58 min)
Passing Time: 8:48 – 8:53
Block 2: 8:53 – 9:51 (58 min)
Passing: 9:51 – 9:56
Block 3: 9:56 – 11:15 (58 min)
A – Lunch: 9:51 – 10:12
B and ½ C – Lunch: 10:12 – 10:33
D and ½ C – Lunch: 10:33 – 10:54
E – Lunch: 10:54 – 11:15
Passing Time: 11:15 – 11:20
Block 4: 11:20 – 12:20 (60 min)
In addition, there is a new personal electronic device policy introduced by the state of Maine, also known as the “Bell to Bell, No Cell” law, where all students receive Yondr pouches and are expected to put their phones and other personal wearable devices in their pouches to be locked up as they walk into the building. At the end of the school day they are then allowed to unlock the pouch using the magnetic locking system that is placed by the main entrance and PAC doors.
There has also been a new electronic development specifically for our upperclassmen. Juniors and Seniors have received iPads while the Freshman and Sophomores will continue to use chromebooks. SHS Junior Ariana Young says, “I like the iPads for their versatility, because they are compact, and they are more hands on with the keyboard. However, there is a lack of individuality…They also lack security since there are no passcodes.”
Homecoming week is earlier this year, beginning on September 21st. We have some new and fun spirit days planned:
Monday is Meme day,
Tuesday is Camo day,
Wednesday is your class theme day,
Freshmen: Ratatouille
Sophomores: Madagascar
Juniors: Lilo and Stitch
Seniors: Rio
Thursday is Senior Citizen Day,
Friday we are representing our school colors with red and white day!
The Homecoming dance is on Saturday, September 26th, and the home football game is on Friday, September 25th. Tickets are $10 at the door for the dance.
