Notre Dame’s successful robotics program looks forward to new designated space on campus; robotics teacher says it’s the right time.
The new 1,200 square-foot naturally lit robotics lab and 850 square-foot adjoining classroom will provide dedicated education, construction, storage and training space; mobile work stations that will allow for both computer-aided instruction and robot-building space as well as indoor and outdoor work space centrally located between the upper and middle divisions.
But ask any Bees team member, and he or she will say that FIRST Robotics is NOT a six-week program. It is an all-consuming 52-week program that includes many, many design meetings, robot-builds and community outreach sessions along with a healthy dose of sponsor contact.
It’s an exciting and interesting time for those Notre Dame students on the team, especially given the fact that they’ve been so wildly successful over the now more than 20 years of competition. Since 1996, when the program first began at NDPMA, the Killer Bees have amassed an impressive number of district, regional championships, and yes, state championships in 2010 and 2014. The state championship record is particularly impressive given that 2009 was the first year FIRST of Michigan granted such an award.
Robot "Buzz XIX" helped the Killer Bees earn a state championship in 2014.
Other awards the team has earned over the past 20 years include the Quality Award, Industrial Design Award, Imagery Award, Dean’s List Finalist and awards for Innovation in Controls.
New space
With such success both behind and no doubt in front of them, there likely is something even more exhilarating for Notre Dame’s robotics program: the planned new designated space on the Notre Dame campus for a robotics laboratory, part of the $7.5 million “March on to Victory” capital campaign for science, art and technology the school announced a couple of weeks ago.
Susan McGinnis, a science, social studies and computer teacher in Notre Dame’s upper division who also mentors the Killer Bees robotics program, was quite thrilled when she first learned about the planned new space for robotics.
“We have a great robotics program here at NDP and it sometimes doesn’t get the recognition it deserves,” McGinnis said. “But with years of hard work and dedication by many of our fantastic parents, we now have a robust robotics program that includes students as young as third graders.”
She said that having a dedicated space for robotics is equivalent to having a gymnasium or football field for athletics where one hadn’t existed before.
The new facility, part of the Notre Dame March On To Victory Campaign for Science, Art and Technology, will total 26,000 square feet of additional space.
The new 1,200 square-foot robotics lab and 850 square-foot adjoining classroom will complement the space currently provided through the school’s longstanding relationship with FIAT Chrysler, a sponsor of Notre Dame’s robotics program since its inception. The new lab also will provide dedicated education, construction, storage and training space; mobile work stations that will allow for both computer-aided instruction and robot-building space as well as indoor and outdoor work space that will be centrally located between the upper and middle divisions.
In addition to the robotics lab, the planned new wing will house science laboratory facilities, collaborative learning classrooms, a specially designed greenhouse and a fine arts studio.
“Our robotics kids in the high school will have a great place to meet, to build robots as well as to mentor our lower and middle division teams,” McGinnis said. “Additionally, with these new facilities, we hope to also expand our offering of robotics, programming and engineering classes here at Notre Dame.”
More on the March on to Victory campaign is here.
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.