Young B-BP Robotics Team Advances to National Competition

Currently in its inaugural year, the FIRST Lego League Robotics team from Academy Street Elementary School in the Bayport-Blue Point School District has made a national name for themselves.

Having received two championship awards during the regional competition at Longwood High School earlier this year, the Academy Street Lion Bots have earned a bid to compete at the North American Championship Tournament in California this May.

Out of the thousands of teams in North America, only 72 teams were chosen for this honor. To prepare for this year’s contests, the students spent months applying real- world math and science concepts as they worked to design, build, test and program robots using integrated technology.

During their preparation, the students were challenged to complete research similar to that facing today’s scientists and learn the critical thinking, team-building and presentation skills needed to succeed in the tournament settings. Volunteers Cara and Jonathan Spier and Bob Kaler coach the team.

The group, comprised of students in grades 3-5, has been meeting as part of the school’s PTA enrichment program.

The district extends its congratulations to team members Sean Davis, Miles Fallon, Riley Kaler, Aiden Kleeman, Pierce McGuinness, Nicholas Mignano, Cole Spier, Matthew Stawicki and Tyler Teufel and wishes them well at the national competition this May.