Course Description: This fun class helps students develop a global mindset and build international awareness early in life, an important skill in today's increasingly interconnected world.

Students explore cultural differences across countries,  geography games, famous landmarks, world currencies, current global events, the role of international institutions like the UN, and more. Students role-play as diplomats and come up with solutions to key global problems like hunger, poverty and pollution.

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Course Description: The VEX IQ platform gives the students a solid stepping stone between Robotics in the Middle School to VEX Robotics in the Upper School. By incorporating advanced concepts into an accessible package, the system also naturally encourages teamwork, problem solving, and leadership. Working with the VEX IQ platform gives the students a foundation in engineering design and programming at the Intermediate School level that directly translates to VEX Robotics in the Upper School. The VEX IQ platform has a very robust programming environment, allowing students to utilize up to 12 sensors and motors. This platform is also supported by a free powerful computer aided drawing program (CAD), designed specifically as an introduction to CAD. The students going through the VEX IQ robotics platform will leave the Intermediate School with a strong understanding of engineering and design concepts. The name of this year’s VEX IQ challenge is “Pitching In.” Click here for more information about VEX IQ Team Challenge.

Course Description: Time to level up grade 8 with VEX V5. Take the next steps in advanced concepts while honing in on teamwork, problem solving and leadership. VEX V5 platform gives the students a foundation in engineering design and programming for transitioning to the Upper School level. VEX V5 platform is a metal-based robotics platform with machinable, bolt-together pieces that can be used to construct custom robotic mechanisms. Teams will be engaged in the engineering design process to create a solution to this year's challenge, "Spin Up." Click here to learn more about the challenge. The challenge involves programming, driving, and teamwork skills, so students will interact with other teams to strategize and earn the best collective scores in addition to finding their best individual team solutions. The proprietary VEX CODE Text and VEXCODE PRO which are based on C++ language and Python will be used to code.

The 8^th grade VEX VRC Robotics team will meet every Wednesday after school from 3:30-5:30 pm from September 21 through February 22. Since teamwork is essential to the success of this program, it is mandatory that every member attend all after school meetings and tournaments. This team will compete in at least two tournaments. Competition dates will be released as soon as they are opened for registration.  The class fee includes the cost for both the tournaments and team t-shirt. There may be additional expenses for transportation and food at the tournament. If the team should advance to the VA State tournament, Nationals, or Worlds, additional practices will be necessary and an additional fee will apply for continued participation in the ETC program. Travel expenses will also apply for Nationals or Worlds.