Dover School has seen its share of growth in the last year and is now working to keep up with it. School leaders were joined by students Wednesday as they broke ground on a new addition to the south end of school campus. Work has begun to expand the school’s cafeteria as well as build new administrative offices and board meeting room. The expansion will increase the capacity of the cafeteria to 368 people, more than twice what it can currently hold. Superintendent Jay Wood said the school has grown by 55 students in the last year alone and is exceeding capacity in the cafeteria. The 12,600 square-foot expansion will cost about $1.6 million which is being paid for from the school’s building fund as well as some money left over from the bond issue to build the elementary. The expanded cafeteria and amenities won’t just better serve students and staff at lunch and breakfast. Wood said the school will be able to host assemblies, banquets, reunions, plays, the prom and several other activities in there. “It will allow us to not have to use the gym for all of the programs we have,” Wood said. Pictured at the groundbreaking on the front row are, from left: Palmer Peck, second grade; Ferdinand Padilla, kindergarten; Blayklee Lombardo, fi rst grade; and Tatum Fuston, kindergarten. Those on the back row are, from left: Wood; Jared Reese, elementary principal; Joi Caldwell, senior; Ivan Ruiz, sophomore; Casen Buck, sophomore; Erin Guinn, freshman; Nathan Guinn, school board member; Trilla Ramer, federal programs director; and Nathan Nance, high school principal. All of the students pictured are at least third generation Dover students. “And we have several more here at Dover whose parents, grandparents and beyond also went to school here,” Wood said. “We’re proud of the history and tradition their families set here and are excited to be able to expand on that and provide our students and staff with excellent facilities which will help build the foundation of an excellent education at Dover.” [KT&FP Staff Photos]