Photo by Berkeley Heights Public Schools
CMS 5th annual In-House Robotics Competition
Berkeley Heights Public Schools
Columbia Middle School recently held its 5th annual in-house robotics competition to determine the teams that would go on to represent the middle school at the regional qualifier event in mid-November. Five teams from CMS competed: The Tech Team, The Motor-Vators, The I Don’t Knows, The Cyber Tigers and the Odd Ones Out. Chatham Middle School and Deerfield Middle School also joined the event in order to learn from one another and practice in a competitive setting prior to regionals.
Each team had to present a project to a panel of judges in which they identified a problem and designed a solution related to this year’s theme, “using the arts and technology to communicate your passions to a wide audience”. Teams also faced off during 3 rounds of robotics games in which they had to code their robot to autonomously navigate as many board challenges as possible during the 2:30 rounds. Students from the GL Robotics team were also in attendance to act as judges and referees. Coach Michael Maresca of the GL team took time to speak with the middle school students about the high school program and encouraged them to continue to participate in robotics in the future.
Earlier in the school year former CMS Science Teacher Tommy Clayton coordinated an event between the 5th graders and the GL team. In his new role as K-5 STEAM teacher he is very excited to help build a robotics program that extends over all the BHPS schools. CMS Coaches Tommy Clayton and Christina Froehlich were proud to see the Motor-Vators, The Cyber Tigers and The Odd Ones Out move on to represent the middle school in the regional qualifier.
