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Robotics and STEM

Tinkering Engineers

The path towards a passion for STEM starts early at Potomac. Curious minds are sparked through fun and intentional tinkering and engineering. 

Students have many opportunities to engage in science, technology, engineering, and math activities both in the classroom and in co-curricular activities. By building a student's tool box and STEM skill set, students will competently and confidently achieve technology standards and skills in exciting ways.

Champions

ROBOTICS TEAM TAKES SECOND AT WORLDS

The Upper School Robotics team 12H finished as division champions and advanced to the finals at the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas – the largest robotics competition in the world. They finished second in the world – a school and Virginia State record. The event was presented by the Northrop Grumman Foundation and the REC Foundation, and some sponsors include NASA and Google. Congrats to our robotics program!

Tech and Innovation

Tech and Innovation LS Robotics

BUILDING BOTS

Through teamwork, play, and problem solving, robots help students develop key thinking skills in the exciting field of coding and robotics. In K-5 technology classes, all students engage with VEX robotics through building and coding challenges. Students in grades 6-12 have the opportunity to join a competitive robotics team, offering a motivating environment to learn and push STEM skills to new levels.

What the vex?

By its nature, the study of robotics inherently incorporates all four pillars of STEM. VEX IQ is a snap-together robotics system designed to provide an opportunity for future engineers of all skill levels. Through 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 Middle School age that will continue in the Intermediate School and directly translate to VEX Robotics in the Upper School. The VEX IQ platform introduces students to VEXCODE programming, which uses a standard coding system that can expand into Python.

Why Robotics?

Co-oper-tition and generosity of spirit

There is a term in robotics: co- oper- tition. It is preparing, training and doing your very best in a contest while also showing deep kindness and respect, to your opponent, especially when it matters. 

Our robotics program sent two teams to compete in the national finals of the U.S. Open Robotics championship. Both teams were well-prepared, skilled and highly competitive eager, to win the championship.  In that final match, one team- perhaps the stronger team, had a malfunction- their robot needed to be repaired and could not continue without a timeout. The team used a 30 second timeout, but unfortunately, they did not have enough time to make all the necessary repairs.

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Robotics Competes at Glen Allen High Stakes Tournament
Robotics Competes at Glen Allen High Stakes Tournament

This past weekend, seven of Potomac’s Upper School robotics teams competed at the High Stakes Tournament at Glen Allen High School. All seven teams — 12A Absolute Zero (Helena Backus ’28, Woodley Bohannon ’28, Marissa McEwen ’28, Jasper Majeed-Hall ’28), 12C Caffeine (Santi Cangahuala ’27, Nikhil Kothari ’27, Julian Mankovsky ’27, Brayden Nelson ’25, Trevor Nelson ’27, Cole Peterson ’27), 12D Dinomite (Tami Aje ’25, Tony Diller ’26, Aiden Kaminski ’26, Sam Kim ’27, Lauren Lovallo ’25, Deven Tuladhar ’26), 12E Error by Design (Zane Amr ‘28, Esther Choi ‘28, Farrah Gardner ‘28, Hank Kelly ‘28, Imani Nzekwe ‘28, Susie Taylor ‘28)), 12F Finneas and Ferb (Caeden Demory ‘27, Patrick Joseph ‘28, Alex Kim ‘28, Hadley Scribner ‘28, McKenzie Watt ‘28, Evan Yu ‘28), 12X EclipX (Matthew Bodi ’28, Michael McIntyre ’28, Robert Murtagh ’28, Alex Runde ’28), and 12Z Zap (Jacob Cordero ’28, Quentin Toner ’26, Sophia Vilela ’26, Alejandra Villafuerte ’26) — advanced to the elimination rounds, showcasing their skill and preparation.

In the quarterfinals, teams 12X EclipX and 12F Finneas & Ferb put up a strong fight but were ultimately eliminated after competitive matches. Meanwhile, 12A Absolute Zero and 12Z Zap formed an alliance and faced off against other Potomac teams, eliminating 12E Error by Design in the Round of 16 and 12D Dinomite in the quarterfinals. 12C Caffeine defeated the alliance of 12A and 12Z in the semifinals, advancing to the finals and ultimately becoming Tournament Champions. 

Team 12C Caffeine also earned the Innovate Award, recognizing their effective and well-documented design process for a novel aspect of their robot or gameplay strategy. Team 12D Dinomite received the Design Award, which celebrates an organized and professional approach to the Engineering Design Process, project and time management, and team organization. 

Potomac Robotics Tournament US Recap
Potomac Robotics Tournament US Recap

As shared in our featured stories, Potomac hosted a VEX Robotics competition last weekend. In the high school division, eight of our teams earned a spot in the elimination rounds, with four teams making it to the quarterfinals. Team 12C: Chips ’n Fish (Tony Diller ’26, Julian Mankovsky ’27, and Nikhil Kothari ’27 took home the Robot Skill Champions trophy, returning the team to the number one ranking in the State of Virginia and moving them up to #42 out of over 4,500 teams competing around the world. Their win also qualified them for a spot in the Virginia State Championship Tournament in March. View photos from the tournament.

Potomac Robotics Tournament IS Recap
Potomac Robotics Tournament IS Recap

As shared in our featured stories, Potomac hosted a VEX Robotics competition last weekend.

Three IS teams earned a spot in the elimination rounds with teams 13C: Here for the Cake (Arya Bhargava ‘29, Max Kussman ‘29, and CJ Lee ‘29), and 13D: Danger Ducks (Ronnie Bandi ‘29, Woodley Bohannon ‘28, Hugh Holtman ‘29, Robert Murtagh ‘29, and Alex Runde ‘29) climbing their way to the semifinals before being eliminated. Team 13K: 13K Gold (Helena Backus ‘28, Matthew Bodi ‘28, Michael McIntire ‘28, David Murtagh ‘28, and Imani Nzekwe ‘28 made it to the elimination round, and Team 13A: ATM (Esther Choi ‘28, Jacob Cordero ‘28, Jasper Majeed-Hall ‘28, Sawyer Pearce ‘28, and Matthew Seeber ‘28), was also chosen as an alliance team in the elimination round. 

Team 13B: Barbie Bots (Marissa McEwen ‘28, Raine McKeown ‘29, and Farrah Gardner ‘29) earned the Judges Award, which is given to the team that, in the opinion of the judges, is deserving of special recognition for overcoming obstacles, and showcasing effective communication skills, teamwork, professionalism, and exemplary effort. Enjoy photos from the tournament. 

Our K-5 Engineers Get Robotic

Ever wonder what goes on during K-5 robotics classes? There is certainly a healthy mix of cheering, tinkering, and strategizing! While Potomac has a K-12 robotics program, in the Lower and Middle Schools, robotics is a part of the tech and innovation curriculum – which spans technology, engineering, computer science, and Potomac’s life skills – it also includes our ETC program. Check out students' thoughts on problem-solving, collaboration, and perseverance.