Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge and honor the Indigenous communities native to this region and recognize that Sanford Middle School was built on the homelands and resources of Indigenous people.  We recognize Anishinaabe and Dakota people as past, present, and future stewards of this land and commit to uplifting Indigenous voices.

Who we are: Community

Sanford is a vibrant community middle school in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis.  We are proud of and celebrate over 90 years of history as a part of an ever-changing, lively river community with a magnificent immigrant and multicultural heritage.  We have many community partners that help us develop goals, identify and confidence in our students during these middle school years. 

Sanford follows the middle school model with a 6-8 program, advisory and teams. We organize students into smaller learning communities called teams that help foster a sense of belonging and connection to Sanford.  The teams of kids stay together for the 3 years that they are at Sanford.  Each student on the team shares the same language arts, social studies, and science teacher, and most have the same Math teacher as well. 

We aim support student success in many ways. We provide opportunities for student voice and leadership through our Native Group, Youth Voice (YPE), Hawk Team and a robust After School Activity program.  We have a strong CARE team to support students through middle school including our social workers, counselors and restorative advocates.  

Who we are: The Hawk Way

Sanford has been an authorized The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) since 2014. Through MYP, we provide academically rigorous instruction in all classes and supportive systems to help all students reach success.  This whole school program is

• international-minded;
• broad, balanced, conceptual and connected to the real world in authentic ways;
  
• student-centered and project-based.
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills are embedded in all classes.

The MYP requires students to have at least 50 hours each year in 8 subject groups to provide the broad and balanced curriculum to our students.  In addition to their team classes, all students will take courses in

• Arts (Visual Arts, Drama or Band),
• Language Acquisition (Ojibwe, Spanish or English Learner services),
• Physical and Health Education, and
• Design (Engineering or Media).

Some students also get an Intervention class such as AVID, Reading Workshop, Read180, or resource to help them reach their potential in all their classes. All students are challenged at their ability level. 

We know we teach more than just content – we teach our students to be well-rounded, healthy, engaged, compassionate life-long learners.