All genders Grades 7 & 8 students eligible
A Competitive Team Robotics Program
The Great Bots of Fire is a competitive team robotics program that provides students the opportunity to explore various elements of mechatronics & robotics.
Please note that when students register and are accepted into the program, students work with the teachers on an assigned day and time, once per week.
Students Work in Teams
In this Great Bots of Fire Competitive Team Robotics program, students work in small teams to design, build, program, and test various robots using the VEX IQ system. Students will be participating in a year-long engineering design challenge in the form of a cooperative game.
Key Student Strengths Required
The program requires students to be able to work both independently and cooperatively with others. Due to the level of ongoing challenge, students are to be aware that they are to arrive to the program prepared to persevere, to be willing to take risks, to be okay with things not quite working out all the time, and to be open to learning from situations where errors occur during this year-long journey.
This program is for those students who display the ability to listen, follow instructions, accept feedback positively, and complete assigned tasks. We work to create and sustain a positive, nurturing learning environment for all students, so the expectation is that students are to be consistently responsible and respectful to both peers and adults.
Select Weekend Tournaments Throughout the Year
It is to be noted that in addition to the weekly session the student participates, the expectation for those who register is that they are also willing to show their learning by participating in a variety of tournaments throughout the school year on select weekend dates. The tournament sites are located in the Greater Vancouver area.
Please note that when there is a weekend tournament, the teachers will provide students who are registered for a weekend tournament the opportunity to work on their robots on the Friday evening prior to the tournament. More information will be provided to parents and students.
Student Volunteer Opportunities
With the many Mechatronics Robotics program levels that West Vancouver Schools offers, students in the Great Bots of Fire will also have the opportunity to volunteer in a variety of roles at secondary school competitive robotics tournaments. The purpose of encouraging our younger students to volunteer at the secondary school tournaments is to provide them with a chance to observe the older students in action which in turn is designed to motivate and inspire our younger students as they think ahead to future grade levels.