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Robotics Builds Momentum for the Future
An outstanding competitive season for Shawnigan’s Robotics program may have ended without a trip to the VEX Robotics World Championship, but the teams still came away with several accomplishments to be proud of.
Shawnigan fielded five teams this year, including three standout crews that consistently made the playoffs at tournaments across Vancouver Island and collected multiple awards.
“The top teams performed really well, while the other teams could go to tournaments and have fun,” said Mr. Tim Stephens, the School’s Head of Science and one of the teachers who works with the Robotics program.
The game played in competition changes from year to year, and this year’s game, Push Back, had a “lower barrier to entry,” in Mr. Stephens’ words, which made it easier for more teams to participate and contend.
The season came to an end on February 28, when Shawnigan teams attended the Vancouver Island Regional Championships at nearby Brentwood College School. The School’s three top teams made the playoff round, with one reaching the semifinals and the other two getting to the quarter-finals. It was only bad luck on the day that prevented any of the groups from qualifying for the World Championships.
Christian W. and Aaron N. were on the team that reached the semis at Regionals, and were understandably disappointed to miss out on Worlds, but reflected positively on the season, which saw their team reach the finals at two tournaments and win the Design, Create and Amaze awards once each. “We worked really hard throughout the year,” Aaron admitted.
“We learned a lot from the tournaments,” Christian elaborated. “The results at Regionals weren’t ideal, but I’m proud of how far we came.”
Christian graduates this year, but Aaron is in Grade 11 and could return to bring this year’s experience back for another run at Worlds.
John P. is another Grade 12 whose team had a strong season, taking the Amaze Award when Shawnigan hosted the first tournament of the year, and the Build Award at the Salt Spring Island tournament, where they also reached the final. Their results fluctuated from tournament to tournament, John noted, but progress was visible over the course of the year. “One more year and we would probably make it to Worlds,” he said. “There were a lot of challenges, but we finished strong.”
The Brentwood tournament was his favourite event of the year, even though his team bowed out in the quarter-finals. “We had better results at other tournaments, but I liked the game process more,” he related.
Zac R. was on a team made up entirely of Grade 9s that also reached the playoffs in every tournament it attended. “For a first-year team, we were really good,” he said.
Zac’s was the only team from Shawnigan that went to the tournament in Port Alberni the day after they returned from Ski Week, their last chance to qualify for Regionals; they finished 10th in the skills portion of the competition and became Shawnigan’s third team to qualify for the tournament at Brentwood.
Zac is planning to return with his team in Grade 10 and “to actually win something.”
“I’m happy with how we did this year and excited for next year,” he said.
Go Robots!
Go Robots!
Shawnigan would like to acknowledge the support of all donors to C.A.S.E. whose contributions make applied arts and technology focused learning a reality for our students and teachers. The C.A.S.E. (Communications, Arts, Sciences and Entrepreneurship) program is a Shawnigan differentiator that offers a dynamic, hands-on learning environment to inspire, train and prepare students for careers in applied arts and technology.
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
