On May 1st, 2025, from 10:50 am- 11:15 am, students from the computer science class ran a flex block that showcased all of the teamwork and innovation from HNMCS Robotics. In this flex block, one teacher from each house drove a robot that was built and programmed for the 2024-2025 FIRST Robotics Canada Reefscape Competitions. With a student drive coach guiding them step by step through the obstacle course, and a student operator controlling the robot’s arm, the teachers performed to deliver coral and master the Deep Cage Climb! Each piece of coral that was successfully delivered was worth one point, and the Deep Cage Hang was worth three points. The house that accumulated the highest number of points was declared the winner.
By showcasing the exciting and innovative opportunities that FIRST Robotics offers students, 172 students across the HNMCS community were positively impacted. Although the teachers were the ones driving the robot, with students cheering them on, many felt inspired and eager to become part of the successful robotics team at HNMCS and couldn’t wait until the day they could drive the robot. When students become a part of the FIRST Robotics community, they gain a sense of accomplishment and develop a strong interest in STEM, which can lead to increased confidence, valuable real-world skills, and a passion for pursuing future careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Almost every member of the Grades 11 and 12 computer science classes is also a member of the FRC7659, the FIRST Robotics team at HNMCS. This relationship between the two programs showcases the strength of interest in STEM that students at HNMCS possess. Students who have learned how to code in programs run by the FIRST Robotics team, whether in middle or senior school, have an advantage in the computer science programs over those who don’t. Students who have been active members of the team learned quick thinking skills and problem-solving abilities that can be applied to the computer science program. Whether the student was involved in driving the robot, building a practice field element, or creating the judges’ book, many changes can happen on the fly, and the student must be able to figure out a solution. This is helpful when it comes to computer science, where a problem may not always have the most obvious solution. It takes a problem solver, like the ones on the FRC7659 team, to be able to adapt and think quickly to fix a bug in a program.
HNMCS Robotics Members
ICS3U Students
HNMCS Robotics Team 7659 