In its second year, the robotics program at Erie Elementary has rapidly grown into a cornerstone of the school’s extracurricular offerings, providing students in grades second through fifth opportunities to learn the fundamentals of designing, building, and programming robots.
Driven by an overwhelming interest and a waitlist of over 70 students, the program expanded to accommodate as many students as possible. Larissa Mangione, K-5 Autism Teacher and VEX Robotics Coach at Erie, shared, “Our district has such an incredible robotics program, particularly at the secondary level. Our goal was to provide students with the same opportunities and engagement, leading to the decision to broaden the program to include competitive and noncompetitive options.”
Currently, there are seven competitive teams consisting of 28 students and five noncompetitive teams with a total of 20 students. Two teams have qualified for the state competition, which will take place on March 9.
Mangione’s mission is to prioritize community building and enhance social-emotional wellness within the program. She is supported by three dedicated parent coaches, who volunteer their expertise to assist with the technical knowledge and robotics end of things. “We focus extensively on self-regulation, collaboration, and problem-solving during the start of the season and continue to do so,” she explained.
Max Southard, a fifth-grader, enjoys the robotics competitions because he is able to explore new and unique robot designs without needing to rely on standard instructions. “We went ‘off grid’ and did completely new and different builds,” shared Max. “Even though we didn’t use the VEX build instructions, we were able to solve our build the entire season.” The competitions provide an opportunity for students to showcase their creativity and problem-solving abilities.
Another aspect that makes the robotics program at Erie unique is its offering of noncompetitive opportunities for second graders. Supported by two teachers, the noncompetitive team aims to prepare students for future involvement in competitive teams. Mangione takes pride in the team’s inclusive environment, welcoming everyone to participate and creating a culture of support and encouragement.
Reflecting on her robotics experience, fifth-grader Avery Larson shared, “The most exciting part was getting to work with my team and having fun while building our robot. I have really enjoyed the competitions, and I’m excited to compete at state.”