Sachem High School North in Lake Ronkonkoma, New York on DonorsChoose

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Fast-forward to today, and students come in with impressive background knowledge, making introductory tutorials second nature to them.\r\n\r\nRecognizing the growing student need and the popularity of hands-on activities, I created a grant proposal to establish a permanent, engaging robot center. This initiative was spurred by the growing limitations on our collaborative visits with the public library, whose services are in high demand and who could only offer two limited days of robot visits. The goal was to provide high-quality, hands-on coding experiences, especially for classes unable to secure one of those visits. This need for year-round access is critical, as I have already expanded the Hour of Code from strictly Computer Science Education Week to all of December and January, intentionally scheduling visits with numerous math classes to better accommodate the high volume of teacher requests and schedules.\r\n\r\nThe donation successfully funded a variety of screen-free, center-friendly robots, forming the core of our new library stations. This collection includes the TaleBot Pro Coding Robot kit, the classic Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set, the more advanced Botley The Coding Robot and Action Challenge Coding Activity Set, and two sets of Coding Critters (Ranger & Zip, Rumble & Bumble). During our expanded Hour of Code sessions, students had a diverse choice of STEM activities, including web-based block coding, 3D design using Tinkercad, Makey Makey circuits, and the new tactile robot stations. The initial impact was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. While I strategically provided challenge prompts at each station to guide learning, students were first encouraged to freely play and explore to understand the mechanics of each robot. This self-directed exploration proved highly engaging, and a significant number were intrigued and excited to master the new robots. This enthusiasm was directly reflected by our teaching staff, as multiple teachers proactively asked if they could schedule follow-up visits to allow their classes to use the coding centers again, which is a request I had not received in nearly ten years.\r\n\r\nCrucially, these new resources have profoundly supported our English as a New Language (ENL) and special education student populations. The robots' screen-free, intuitive coding keys and clear, physical functions overcome common barriers like language and reading comprehension challenges. For students who may struggle to follow multi-step instructions on a screen, the physical act of placing a code tile or pressing a directional button makes the logic immediately accessible. This clarity allows students who were previously discouraged by more complex tools, such as our older Recon Rover model which was still too challenging for independent coding (even for some adults), to feel successful and confident in their work. By enabling me to effectively scaffold learning, starting with the most simplistic robot and gradually introducing more features, the donation has created a truly accessible and equitable computer science experience for all students.\r\n\r\nThese robots represent a permanent new staple in the library's STEM offerings. Beyond the annual Hour of Code, they will be integrated year-round, specifically supporting our special education students in their weekly themed story units and providing essential skills practice for our Intro to Computers course. Student ownership of the program is already high, with classes planning future events like a Christmas-themed robot obstacle course and a \"Thanksgiving Day parade\" for next year. Furthermore, their screen-free design makes them the perfect addition to our collaborative March Maker Madness event with the science department and public library, ensuring these invaluable, hands-on manipulatives continue to deliver engaging learning opportunities for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1761096387549,"projectUrl":"project/north-library-logic-labs/9436527/","projectTitle":"North Library Logic Labs","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Berthold-Davis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7464439_orig.jpg?crop=3456,3456,x568,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1761142054000","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7464439"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_23102","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1972,"numTeachers":133,"percentFrplEligible":40,"percentAsian":6,"percentBlack":4,"percentWhite":63,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":21,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"14.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":62.1,"schoolId":23102,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Sachem High School North on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Sachem High School North","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/sachem-central-school-district/sachem-high-school-north/23102"}

About this school

Sachem High School North is a suburban public school in Lake Ronkonkoma, New York that is part of Sachem Central School District. It serves 1,972 students in grades 9 - 12 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.8:1. Its teachers have had 5 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Public School

Grades 9 - 12

1,972 Students

133 Teachers

212 Smith Rd

Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 View local requests

http://www.sachem.edu

Direct, proactive support

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Sachem High School North Teachers on DonorsChoose

Dr. Auletta

Mrs. Berthold-Davis

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Sachem High School North Demographics

40%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

31%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Sachem High School North Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 25, 2025

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