Dover students present Lake Hopatcong projects, district highlights foundation support

Students from Dover elementary schools presented bilingual projects on local watershed health and pollution prevention during the Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening.

The district’s science department supervisor told the board the Lake Hopatcong Foundation piloted winter assembly sessions and classroom visits so students could study how different kinds of pollution affect watersheds and communities. "Thanks to the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, our district has benefited from wonderful opportunities afforded by the foundation to immerse our students in practical applications of environmental studies in the field," the supervisor said.

Four sixth-graders — Salome Hanao, Chelsea Amante Feliz, Saul Ogueta and Cesar Palacio Marin — described what they learned about water, soil and air pollution and presented informational posters in Spanish while the supervisor provided English translations. The students explained runoff and nonpoint pollution and suggested local mitigation steps, such as reducing fertilizer runoff and improving stormwater management.

The board gave the students certificates in recognition of their classroom work and community presentations. Board members praised the students’ bilingual presentations and the teachers who supported them; one member said they were "bursting with pride." The district said the program included classroom extensions so students could turn fieldwork into community-facing projects.

The presentation was part of broader district outreach: staff cited partnerships with school teachers and external grants that help bring field experiences into the classroom. The district said it will continue similar programming and thanked teachers named in the report for helping prepare the students.

The board did not take formal action on the program; the presentation concluded with encouragement for future community events tied to the foundation work.