The MLK Dragons from School No. 9 and the Purple Panda Dragons from School No. 52 have earned an invitation to the 13
th
annual Finger Lakes
FIRST
LEGO League (FLL) Championship Tournament for overall excellence in teamwork, core values, research, robot design, presentation, and team spirit.
School No. 9 and School No. 52 will represent the Rochester City School District at the tournament—they are two of 44 teams that qualified of the 162 team that participated in the series of qualifiers held in the region. On Sunday, December 10, they will compete at the annual tournament. School No. 52 is also bringing their Junior LEGO teams, who will participate in a Junior LEGO event at the same location.
"We are very proud of our students and appreciate the support of their families, teachers, and partners with these outstanding opportunities for students to demonstrate this teamwork and talent," said Rochester Superintendent Barbara Deane-Williams.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School No. 9 has made a commitment to providing students educational opportunities that integrate technology, and the
FIRST
LEGO League Tournament is one such example. The team from School No. 9 that is advancing to the tournament this year is made up of students who are participating in LEGO robotics for the first time. Their commitment to research, problem solving, programing, and core values helped them to stand out among more veteran teams. Accompanying this team to the tournament are FLL coaches and School No. 9 teachers Robin Hill and Charles Hall.
The ten-person team from Frank Fowler Dow School No. 52 is comprised of five veteran members and five members who have never participated in LEGO. This is the first year any of the students have been to a championship. The team dedicated their win in memory of Amanda Conrow, the sister of a team member who died of cancer four years ago while attending Kindergarten at School No. 52 with many of the team members. School No. 52 teacher Tanya Homer has been the faculty advisor for the school’s LEGO League teams since the program began over seven years ago. She recruits, guides, and encourages student team members as well as their adult volunteer coaches. Mrs. Homer’s dedication to the program has been integral in driving the school community’s sustained interest and participation in
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LEGO League.
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