The Southern Local Elementary VEX IQ Robotics program has continued to grow over the past four years and has a new space near the school library. About 32 fourth-and fifth-graders take part and craft machines for competition. Among them are, pictured from left, Bonnie Scarry, Jade Winski, and Jaxon Foster. (Submitted photo)

SALINEVILLE – Southern Local Elementary students are building their minds and machines for the school’s VEX IQ Robotics program.

Now in its fourth year, the program has an official home in a former computer lab in the SLES library and 32 fourth-and fifth-graders gather four times a week to hone their creations. Fifth-grade science teacher Karen Marquis oversees the program with fourth-grade math teacher Janice Pierce and paraprofessional Amanda Vernon, and kids gather on Monday to Thursday from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m. to work on their robots and complete a journal describing their efforts.

Marquis said the students have a little more space to hone their creativity with the new lab.

“They have a room for robotics this year and we started on Sept. 26,” Marquis said, adding that the district used about $15,000 in Title IV funding to establish the facility. “We purchased tables, lights, two 3-D printers to use for STEM activities, a glow forge for etching on materials such as wood, glass, and metals, and we also spent $1,500 on STEM supplies.”

She added that students are designing and building robots in accordance with VEX IQ competition standards and will take part in their first contest on Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. at the Columbiana County Career Technical Center.

“VEX IQ Robotics is a program the kids have been participating in for the past four years. The students build robots to perform specific tasks and each year the competition changes. This year, the competition is called ‘Mix and Match,’ and they have to stack pins and build shapes called cactuses,” Marquis added. “They get points for placing them in specific places on the floor. The more they stack, the more points they receive.”

Marquis said competitions may continue throughout the year, leading up to the world event in May. She noted that robotics has gained quite a following among youth and many students enjoyed being part of the school program.

“The fourth- and fifth-graders love it. It gets to the point where the numbers are so large that some schools are inundated with kids who want to do this, and they interview kids to see who can compete, but we work with everybody.”

Robotics is also seeing interest in the junior-senior high building, where plans are being formulated to establish a program and utilize the current media center. Marquis also hoped to combine the elementary students and upperclassmen, but she was pleased to watch her students’ interest grow. Several pupils noted why they enjoyed participating.

“I like all of it,” said fifth-grader Bonnie Scarry.

“It’s super fun,” added classmate Jaxon Foster.

“I love it. I get to program and move the robot,” commented fourth-grader Dawson Rodgers.