North Dover students win statewide contests and land $6,000 Tri-State Blue Schools grant

At the board meeting, teachers and students from North Dover Elementary presented classroom work and described a newly awarded Tri-State Blue Schools grant that will expand ocean-literacy programming.

Fourth-grade teacher Sharon Leister said one of her students, Ariela Flores, won first prize in the New Jersey Consortium for Gifted and Talented Students annual poster contest. Leister read Ariela's written explanation about choosing Albert Einstein as a role model and highlighted the class's curiosity- and creativity-focused work.

North Dover also described plans and activities supported by a $6,000, two-year Tri-State Blue Schools grant sponsored by Prada. Presenters (Dr. Kalina and Ms. Bullock) said the grant funded visits by a whale-mobile, creation of a school mural, weekly classroom slides and challenges, bilingual literacy connections and plans to cover topics from whales and sharks to local watersheds. Teachers described hands-on lessons, cross-grade visuals and partnerships with external organizations such as USA Blue Schools and Mystic Aquarium.

Students showcased projects, including student-designed "No Trash 3,000" cleanup machines and entries for a mural. Presenters said the grant was competitive and this was the first year New Jersey schools were eligible. Teachers said they plan next-year programming focused on sea turtles and deeper-ocean topics, plus local watershed education.

The board thanked students and staff for the presentations; no board action was required or taken on these items.