CB Centre students earn Lego robotics prize
By Mark Squibb
Six Holy Cross Elementary grade six students punched above their weight recently at the Skills Canada Intermediate Challenge FIRST LEGO League Robotics Championship, fearlessly competing against older students.
In the eight weeks leading up to the competition, which was held at the Prince Phillip Drive College of the North Atlantic (CNA) campus, Asher Farr, Ava Kane, Mary Green, Aiden Penney, Nathan Quinlan, and Maya Morgan worked together to design and build a functioning LEGO robot, which they also coded to autonomously move around on a course and complete ocean themed tasks. Additionally, students had to research an ocean related problem. The students from the Holyrood school chose remotely operated vehicle (ROV) safety and formulated a solution to the problem. The students had to present their finding at the competition.
All told, 15 teams competed in the provincial intermediate competition, designed for grades 7-9.
Students were brought before a panel of judges for a 30-minute judging session, during which they did a presentation, showcased their robot, and answered questions. They then had to put the robot to work on a special course. Students were awarded points based on the robot’s performance.
At the awards ceremony, the event coordinators took time to acknowledge the members of the Conception Bay Centre team for their positive attitude and determination, and the team was awarded the Core Values Award. The award goes to the team that exemplifies FIRST’s core values – teamwork, discovery, inclusion, innovation, impact, and fun.
“Our students held their heads high, helped everyone and spread happiness and kindness all day,” said teacher Natasha Green. “They entered CNA at 7:45 a.m. on a Saturday and did not stop smiling even when they left at 5 p.m. They were exhausted but still laughing, and still positive.”
The students’ robot bore a small coin in memory of Lincoln Walsh, who passed in 2023 at the age of seven.
FIRST LEGO League is a division of the not-for-profit Levitate Learning, and seeks to promote an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math among young people.
