Bee-Bot, LEGO Robotics Funded For Wyckoff Students Through $20K Check

WYCKOFF, NJ — Students in Wyckoff schools will be able to step into the shoes of a robotics engineer, thanks to a $20,000 donation from the Wyckoff Education Foundation, District Superintendent Kerry Postma said.

Elementary students will have access to new robotics tools that will include programmable robots, such as Bee-Bot, and Dash and Dot, and also LEGO robotics, Postma said.

"Students will build and program their robots to perform tasks and overcome obstacles," she said.

Also, due to the "generosity" of the foundation, she said, new augmented reality / virtual reality headsets in middle school classrooms will open doors for students to learn about the benefits of that software.

"Possibilities range from exploring space, to visiting historical landmarks, interacting with sea creatures that live on the ocean floor, and more," Postma said.

Support from the foundation, Postma said, funded grant proposals for the interactive tools that were submitted by technology teachers in each of the five Wyckoff schools. She added that the contribution will provide students with "sophisticated and personalized learning opportunities that will bring content to life and prepare them for the future."

"We value the support of (the foundation) and all of our parent partners as we continue our pursuit of excellence here in the Wyckoff schools," the district said on its website.

Since its inception in 1990, the foundation has donated over $2 million to the school district, contributing to wellness initiatives among other things at the five schools, President Dana Casale said in a statement.

Now, the foundation is "happily" supporting the grant proposals to support students' digital literacy and coding skills — as they are in line with the foundation's mission to "fund tools for learning and remain on the "cutting edge of technology," Casale said.