​The Perth Andover Middle School Bears recently came home from Acadia University's 2020 Robotics competition with the first place Gracious Professionalism Award. 

The four-member team included Jacob Durepos, Miles Pacquette-O'Neil, Lachlan Moore and Kyelee Michaud.

The Bears competed against hundreds of middle school students from across the Maritimes in the First Lego League where teams worked together using robotics to create and innovate a solution for a challenge related to an issue in their communities. They also participated in robot game competitions which showcased their engineering, design and programming skills. 

"The students learned more about coding and the power of teamwork and cooperation," said teacher Michael Grant, team coach. "They learned how to give and take feedback from teammates as well as the judges and they had fun!"

Perth Andover Middle School was invited to get involved in the competition by Brilliant Labs, a not-for-profit, hands-on technology and experiential learning platform based in Atlantic Canada which works actively within ASD-W schools.

Grant said his students practiced​ at school for the competition and received extra coaching from Brilliant Labs coordinator Helene Bard. They entered the contest wearing their own bright red school t-shirts donated by Atlantic Potato Distributors in Perth-Andover. 

Overall, they experienced authentic learning - that is how their skills can be transferred to a real life setting. At the same time, they had the opportunity to visit a well known university and speak to students and professors involved in computer science at the post-secondary level.

Shown in the photo below are members of the Perth Andover Middle School Bears team (left to right) Coach Michael Grant, Jacob Durepos, Miles Pacquette-O'Neil, Lachlan Moore and Kyelee Michaud with Principal Claudine Dionne.