News & Calendar

Beak Squad Robotics - North Campus Grades 3-4

Grade Levels:

3-4

Purpose:

For the 2024-2025 Lower School Robotics Season, we will be returning to our pre-COVID organization FIRST® and their LEGO® League Challenge Program.

FIRST LEGO League (FLL) introduces science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through fun, exciting hands-on learning. Participants gain real-world problem-solving experience through a guided, global robotics program, helping today's students and adult volunteer coaches to build a better future together.

CHCA Teams are split by grade-level and consist of approx. 6-8 students. Students engage in research, problem-solving, coding and engineering – building and programming a robot to navigate multiple missions of the yearly themed robot-game. Each team also participates in a research project to identify and solve a relevant real-world problem.

Teams compete at local tournaments where judges provide valuable feedback on their robot design, code, and presented research project. The final test of their season’s work comes at the Robot-Game table where they race against the clock for a personal best score and the chance to advance to the next-level of competition.

*FIRST LEGO League Programming uses “LEGO”, but contrary to the naming, our extra-curricular robotics programs are not free-build or socialization activities. CHCA Robotics Programs are highly academic requiring exceptional collaboration in rigorous competition.

Months:

June-July: Optional CHCA Summer Camps

August - January: Build & Competition Season

February - March: TBD based on individual team results at initial competition

Practices Schedule

Days & Times for teams TBD based on Adult/Parent Volunteer Coaches – All Practices will be 1x week for 2 hours.

Confirmed Teams as of 08/31/2024 ·
  • Monday Grades 3-4 Team from 3:15 – 5:15 at EBL
  • Tuesday Grades 3-4 Team from 3:15 – 5:15 at EBL
  • Additional Teams = TBD Adult/Parent Volunteers; Practices TBD
ALL Teams: Saturday Workshops from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
  • Sept. 14th, Oct 5th, Oct 26th, Nov. 16th, Dec. 14th, Jan 11th

*Nearing competition deadlines, we may add additional days to complete missions and finalize research project presentation.

Practice  Location:

Practices will be located at designated rooms at EBL Lower Elementary or Founders' Upper Elementary Buildings.

Competition Information:

Competition Location:
  • To Be Determined (Greater Cincinnati Metro Area)
Competition Date & Time:
  • Date To Be Determined… (likely early January)
  • Usually held on a Saturday from 8am – 5pm
Competition Logistics:
  • Competitions are FREE and open to the public to attend
  • Transportation to and from local competitions is Parent-Provided

*Cost:

$175
*Includes team uniform T-shirt, snacks at Saturday Workshops, presentation supplies + robotic & technical equipment for each team, team lunch at Competition

** Scholarships are available to ensure that finances are never a barrier for student participation in CHCA Robotics. Contact Sarah.Hendrix@chca-oh.org for more information and to apply for a scholarship.

Anticipated # of Students:

24+

Expected Parent Involvement:

  • Ensure student attendance and/or communicate absence in advance
    • Timely Arrival & Pick Up from practice
  • Ensure student transportation & attendance for Saturday Workshops
    • Timely Arrival at 8:30 a.m. and Pick Up at 12:00 noon
  • Ensure student transportation & attendance at local competition

* Additional Adult/Parent Volunteer Coaches are required to fulfill program safety protocols. If you are interested in being a dedicated Volunteer Coach, please email Sarah.Hendrix@chca-oh.org.

Notes:

Find out more about FIRST LEGO League Programming at https://www.firstlegoleague.org

 

Program Contact  Information:

Important Dates:

Parent/Guardian Meetings:
08/15/24 – Informational Meeting at 7pm for Parent/Guardians via Zoom
09/09/24 – Robotics Team Parent/Guardian Meeting at 7pm at Founders (streamed on Zoom)

Important Dates (UPDATED 08/27/2024):
08/27/24 – Ultra Camp Registration OPENS

Monday Grades 3-4 Team Registration
(registration not open yet)

Tuesday Grades 3-4 Team Registration
Week of 09/09/24 – Practices Begin (must be registered via Ultra Camp)
09/13/24 – Ultra Camp Registration CLOSES at 11:59 p.m.

Saturday Workshops (attendance required)
  • Sept. 14th, Oct 5th, Oct 26th, Nov. 16th, Dec. 14th, Jan 11th
    • Held at Founder’s Campus
    • 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
    • Snacks provided
Learning to program directional algorithms!
Programming Dash to move, talk, and flash colors in our robotics lab!
Programming multiple Dashes and Dots to interact in our robotics lab!
Engineering with Simple Machines and coding programs to mimic animal movements and sounds.
Teambuilding & problem solving to program two robots to work together to complete the challenge.