Saline Robotics Students Show Board Program’s Growth

Robots, trophies and students from second grade through high school filled the Liberty School board room April 28 as Saline Area Schools robotics teams showed the Board of Education how the district’s program grows from early problem-solving to international competition.

The student showcase included teams from FIRST Lego League Explore, FIRST Lego League Challenge, FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition. The board packet listed teams from grades 2-3 through high school, including RoboBuzz, RoboDrone, RoboHive, RoboHornets, RoboSwarm, RoboSting, HIVE, Hornet Hackers, SWARM, CyBugs and Saline Singularity.

Jeremy Schroeder, who coordinates the district’s FIRST Lego League teams, told trustees the younger students learn far more than how to build with Lego pieces.

“Yes, we build robots with Legos, but the robot in the Lego is a trick to get the kids in the door and to open other doors for them,” Schroeder said.

He said students learn how to make plans, explain their ideas and speak with confidence. One RoboDrone student summed up her favorite part of the season simply: “I like building and coding.”

Schroeder also highlighted RoboHive, a fourth- and fifth-grade team made up of students who were all new to robotics this year. Despite that, the team earned second place at the state championship and the opportunity to compete at Georgia Tech.

Middle school teams also shared highlights from their seasons. HIVE, the youngest FIRST Tech Challenge team, made it to the state championship for the second year in a row. CyBugs won three of four qualifier events and is headed to Long Beach, California, near the end of the school year.

Swarm represented Michigan at the Governor’s Cup, where members competed against teams from across the country. Hornet Hackers advanced to the Canada Cup in Niagara, Canada, after coach Ian VanSchooten said the team focused on building a simple, reliable robot early in the season.

At the high school level, Saline Singularity, FIRST Robotics Competition Team 5066, was preparing to leave for the FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship in Houston.

Coach Chris Myers said high school robotics is especially competitive in Michigan, with more than 500 teams statewide. Team members showed the board video of a match that helped send Saline Singularity to the world championship for the first time.

Superintendent Rachel Kowalski congratulated the robotics students and wished the high school team well as it prepared for the world championship.

The board also approved a resolution to place sinking fund and recreation and playground millage renewal proposals on the Aug. 4 ballot and heard a scheduled report on secondary pathways. Vice President Jennifer Steben and Trustee Nate Hanson were absent. The millage renewal resolution passed 5-0.

The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. May 12.

Feature photo: Members of Saline Singularity presented to the board before heading to the world championship. Photo by Heather Finch