A glance into the D’iberville Middle School’s robotics program

Finished in Top 60 in international competitions

Last year, the D’Iberville Middle School Robotics Team finished in the top 60 in an international competition after only being in existence for a few years.

This year, the crew is preparing for an upcoming Lego robotics competition and they speak to WXXV on their plan to continue their success in this new school year.

You may think Legos are just blocks to play with, but at D’Iberville Middle School, they’re using those blocks and putting their minds to the test in the process.

Eighth grade Robotics student Bray Pennock said, “So robotics, it’s essentially young engineering and it’s really the base of where all that starts.”

Seventh grade Robotics student Presley Holmes said, “A lot of people don’t get that opportunity, and when I was little, I actually wanted to be engineer, so it’s just kind of like a role model, just for what they actually have to do, and see what I have to do in the future.”

The school is entering its third year and is competing in the first Lego League Robotic Competitions.

Through the program, students get hands-on experience in STEM projects and creating innovative ideas to help conserve and develop various environments. This year’s theme is ‘fixing problems in the ocean.’

Robotics Teacher Angel Klobe said, “So they also have to do a research project, an innovative project. They’re giving a broad topic, and they have to go dig and decide what they want to present on it. They are doing that in conjunction with the mat. So, their mat and their competition, their challenges, it’s underwater as well. Each mission could lead to a potential problem with the ocean to help them with their research.”

As for the how the robot works to help them? “The average robot has a hub, and it will have two to three motors, and it’s about five inches, and it’s about a cube. It’s what they choose to do with it to enhance it. They can add all kinds of attachments that will push, that will lift, that will pull, that will spin. They might choose to go with bigger wheels. They might want to create a basket. It’s what they do with the basics and how they add to it that will allow them to successfully complete their mission.”

“Teamwork, is like 100%, it’s key. If there’s not teamwork involved, it’s not a team,” says Pennock.

“Watching the kids do it, watching them go. Did you see that? Yes, I did. That was amazing. And it’s intense. It is a sport, but it’s a head sport. You know, you go to baseball and football, and that’s physical. This is a mental game, and you’ve got to be in the right head space to compete. And that is what’s so amazing, is watching these kids get there,” says Klobe.

The school is gearing up for that regional competition in January, sending a total of six teams with hopes of going to state competitions and then moving on to national and international competitions.