The STOKES TRIP – For 34 years, Dover Middle School has been sending its 7th graders to Montclair State University’s School of Conservation at Stokes State Forest in Sussex county, New Jersey.

Three days and two nights are filled with learning about nature and oneself, fun activities and developing lifelong memories and friendships.

For many seventh graders the trip to Stokes is their first extended time away from home, but with the support of teachers, councilors and the teamwork of classmates, all have survived.

rts² -Beginning in the spring of 1998, Mr. Ostroski and Mr. Mains, the School’s Technology Director, have been participating in a Special Grant Project directed by the District’s Technology Coordinator Yolanda Mendez. Because of their participation in Spring, Summer and Fall workshops, Dover Middle School has been presented with a fine, internet-capable Acer Personal Computer that Mr. Ostroski’s classes use to communicate with the 5^th grade class of Ms. Teri Brescher at Gil St. Bernard’s School in Bernard’s Township. The two schools collect air temperature, barometric pressure and sky cover information and regularly e-mail each other with spreadsheets of current data.

Aquatic Awareness – Mr. Steve Goldman, District Science Supervisor, and Mr. Ostroski received a $1,000 Grant from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation’s New Jersey Highlands Project. The two teachers are working together to instruct the seventh grade class in water quality, specifically of the Rockaway River as it courses through Dover. Students have journeyed to Waterworks Park to tour its facilities and learn about the origin of Dover’s drinking water supply. While at Waterworks Park, students also took a battery of tests on the river water. As the project continues, students will continue to collect and compare water data over time. Guest speakers, informative videotapes and special laboratory exercises round out this eight week, every Tuesday mini-course.