Application to 6-8 Robotics Team (Lego Robotics)
Glendale Preparatory Academy runs a middle school robotics program, that takes part in the FIRST Lego League: Challenge competition. The program accepts members from 6th – 8th grade that attend GP or are close to the GP community based on space availability on the team, recommendation from a teacher or coach, and based on prior work in the program if they wish to return. The teams do not require any specialized knowledge prior to joining, just an intense desire to learn, grow, and work together. The program is also a feeder program into the “high school” robotics teams starting in the 8th grade.
The program has three main elements: a Core Values element that focuses on teamwork, collaboration, and discovery; an Innovation Project element that engages the students in thinking about real world problems related to the season’s theme and novel ways to solve that problem that require the students to do research, come up with questions that guide the research process, and engage with professionals in the broader community; and a robotics element where students design, build, and program parts to fit onto a robot base that perform up to about 15 tasks in a 2.5 minute game.
Time Expectations
The time commitment is on par with a sport team schedule. The team meets two days a week after school until about 5:15 pm and occasionally on Saturdays from the beginning of August to late December. Attendance to at least 50% of the meetings is mandatory and failure to do so in the first month will result in removal from the team. Future participation on the team will depend on attendance and engagement on the team.
There is one competition each season in December, as well as the State Tournament if we qualify. Participation in these events is mandatory.
Cost
An activity fee is required that matches to GP’s sports teams for one season (currently $270) to cover the cost of parts, t-shirts, registration, and other administrative costs. Other funds may be required pending how far the team makes it during the year.