The HNMCS Robotics team competed at Georgian College in Barrie from March 27-29 and at the District Competition at Niagara College on April 10-12. These two competitions marked the important, exciting, and successful start to our final robotics season.
Meanwhile, our build and pit crew made quick adjustments to the bot, like changing bumpers and batteries, to keep our bot Cleo running smoothly throughout the competition.
Lastly, our IMPACT presentation team also did an excellent job sharing the differences we have made within our school and across the globe. Our hard work paid off as we received the Judges’ Award, which is when the judging panel decides that a team’s unique efforts, performance, and dynamics deserve recognition.
Carina
HNMCS Robotics Member
At Georgian, we started strong, with every group contributing to how we played. Our amazing drive team worked to play offence and defence, which helped our alliance teams a lot. Our scouting team analyzed the matches to help us develop strategies against other teams and interviewed other teams in their pits to understand their roles in the alliances.
Going into the competition at Niagara, we built on everything we had learned and improved during Georgian. Each member still played an important role, and we got selected to play on Alliance 2, with Team 1241 and Team 3161. Ultimately, we placed 3rd, and we earned a spot at Provincials next week! Although our team might be ending this year, we are so proud of everything we have accomplished, and we hope the impact we have made on everyone we have met throughout our time as a team lasts forever.
On Tuesday, March 31st, Gr. 11 and 12 Physics and Computer Science students from HNMCS had the opportunity to attend the NGEN Innovation Summit at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, a dynamic event showcasing the future of technology in Canada.
Although the visit was short, it offered valuable exposure to real-world applications of concepts learned in the classroom, while sparking curiosity about future career pathways in STEM.
During their visit, students engaged with industry professionals and explored how automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence are being integrated across a wide range of sectors. They also attended insightful seminars highlighting Canada’s growing role in shaping this new age of technology.
A huge thank you to Dr. Kozma for organizing this enriching experience for our students.
HNMCS Robotics has continued to make significant progress throughout the build season. During Technical Tuesdays, several Gr. 12 Physics students had the opportunity to further enhance their CAD skills by assembling our ShooterMechanism in SolidWorks.
Once completed, team members physically assembled the mechanism during Saturday Build.
The team also worked on our climb mechanism by mounting a 1 Stage Climber in a Box and adjusting its dimensions based on the restrictions outlined in the FRC Game Manual. This became our ClimbSubsystem, which was then programmed by our coding team.
These milestones reflect the dedication and collaboration of students across design, mechanical, and coding teams.
We look forward to competing in our first competition of the season on March 27th in Barrie, Ontario.
Throughout the year, HNMCS Robotics lived out the Felician theme, “Widening Our Tents”, by creating opportunities that expanded learning beyond the classroom and welcomed students of all ages into STEM. Through outreach education competitions and mentorship, the robotics program helped build an inclusive community rooted in collaboration, service and shared growth.
Summer Camp 2025
The year began with the HNMCS Robotics summer camp held from July 28 to August 1. Students in grades four to eight were introduced to robotics and coding using LEGO SPIKE robots. Campers learned key programming concepts such as line following and sensor use before applying their skills to FIRST LEGO League challenges. The week ended with a showcase for families, allowing students to proudly demonstrate their work and inspiring many to continue exploring STEM.
ConnectED 2025
As the school year continued, robotics strengthened its connection to education and service through the ConnectED project.
Computer science students partnered with a school in the Northwest Territories to teach younger students how to code using Scratch. In November, HNMCS students also learned directly from students at Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk who shared insights into their culture, daily life and environmental challenges. This exchange widened students’ understanding of Canada and highlighted the value of learning through connection and mutual respect.
STEMley Cup 2025
On November 1, 2025, members of the robotics team competed at the STEMley Cup in Hamilton alongside 27 other teams. Students worked together in a variety of roles, including driving scouting strategy and pit support, gaining valuable experience and teamwork skills. During the event, team members also attended a Women in STEM workshop, which reinforced the importance of inclusion, representation and perseverance in technical fields.
EmpowHER 2025
Throughout October and November, HNMCS Robotics hosted a series of EmpowHER events, with the goal of promoting STEM among middle-school girls.
Through workshops, participants learned the fundamentals of programming using LEGO robots and SPIKE Prime (block-based programming software). Each one introduced a mission-based challenge where students worked in small groups to land their robot on Mars. Along the way, they traversed obstacles that required creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork. Our events included EmpowHER Part 1, EmpowHER Part 2, and EmpowHER Girl Guides. Part 1 was a simpler mission, whereas Part 2 introduced more complex challenges, enabling students to deepen their programming skills.
Girls from middle schools across the GTA and the Mississauga Girl Guides group participated in these events. With older students mentoring younger participants while encouraging independence and equal contribution, EmpowHER fostered a supportive and inclusive environment for girls to explore the exciting world of STEM.
FIRST LEGO League Tournament 2025
In December, HNMCS Robotics hosted its fourth annual FIRST LEGO League tournament, welcoming 21 teams from across Mississauga for the UNEARTHED season. The event emphasized gracious professionalism, teamwork and collaboration as teams competed and supported one another. By opening the school to the wider community, the tournament created a space where students could learn from each other and celebrate STEM together.
Business Brunch 2025
During the year, 7659 Robotics continued its long-standing tradition of co-hosting the annual Business Brunch with 1360 Robotics.
For the past eight years, this event has connected students with professionals from fields such as banking, technology, accounting and corporate operations. By sharing diverse career experiences, speakers helped students feel more confident about post-secondary pathways and encouraged them to explore new possibilities.
Engineering Career Night 2025
As students prepared for life after high school, events such as Engineering Career Night further widened their perspectives. Hearing from engineers across multiple disciplines helped students understand that STEM careers are creative, impactful, and shaped by collaboration, adaptability, and problem-solving.
Conclusion
Through all of these experiences, HNMCS Robotics consistently widened its tent by welcoming new voices, building connections and sharing knowledge across communities. By combining education, mentorship and service, the program has left a lasting impact, encouraging students to move forward with confidence, curiosity and a commitment to inclusion and leadership.
Saturday, January 10th, marked the official kickoff of the 2026 FIRST Robotics Competition REBUILT presented by Haas. Since then, HNMCS Robotics have hit the ground running.
After watching the game reveal, the team began setting goals as well as brainstorming strategies and potential mechanisms for the new robot. Through a hands-on workshop led by our Lead Mentor, Dr. Kozma, middle school students were introduced to this year’s game and contributed early design sketches for possible robot mechanisms. Their creativity and fresh perspectives were insightful and added value to the process.
Meanwhile, Saturday Build has been buzzing with activity as team members began constructing field elements. The trench and bump are already complete, the hub is nearing completion, and the tower is well underway.
With strong determination and teamwork across all grade levels, the team is excited to keep working hard as we prepare for our first competition on March 27th in Barrie, Ontario.
Preyanka,
Technical Lead of HNMCS Robotics
During Technical Tuesdays, several Gr. 12 Physics students had the opportunity to enhance their CAD skills by collaborating in SolidWorks to design a robot chassis with integrated swerve modules.
On Saturday, December 13, HNMCS Robotics hosted our 4th annual FIRST LEGO League tournament, welcoming 21 teams from across Mississauga for the new UNEARTHED season. Throughout the day, teams had the opportunity to compete, collaborate, and demonstrate gracious professionalism while exemplifying the core values of FIRST AGE.
Teams competed with enthusiasm and creativity, adjusting LEGO heads and positions to flip market stalls and complete missions—making their mark on the STEM world one LEGO at a time. Participants worked tirelessly to complete as many missions as possible, supported by dedicated coaches and mentors who collaborated closely with their teams and one another.
My name is Olive, and I attended the FLL tournament as a referee. It was my first time refereeing, and I officiated approximately 30 matches. I had an incredible experience—the students were kind, encouraging, and uplifting toward one another. It was amazing to see everything come together so smoothly this year.
My name is Sofia, and I attended the FLL tournament as a volunteer. My role involved resetting the pits and organizing and guiding teams as they moved through the competition. It was wonderful to watch the teams compete; they were passionate, respectful, and a pleasure to work with.
HNMCS Robotics hosted a series of EmpowHER events throughout October and November, with the goal of promoting STEM among middle-school girls. Through our EmpowHER robotics workshops, students had the opportunity to explore the fundamentals of robotics and programming using LEGO robots. They learned to code using SPIKE Prime (block-based programming software).
These workshops were designed as a hands-on, mission-based challenge in which students worked in small groups to accomplish their goal: to successfully land their robot on Mars.
However, there were various obstacles along the way. Traversing them required creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork. The mission encouraged students to think critically while applying their newly learned programming skills in a fun, space-themed environment.
Our events included EmpowHER Part 1, EmpowHER Part 2, and EmpowHER Girl Guides. While Parts 1 and 2 focused on the same core mission, Part 2 introduced additional obstacles and increased complexity, enabling participants to further develop their programming and problem-solving abilities. Middle-school students across the GTA participated in EmpowHER Parts 1 and 2, while the EmpowHER Girl Guides event welcomed the Mississauga Girl Guides group.
Beyond technical learning, these events provided a supportive and inclusive space for girls to connect with like-minded peers, build confidence, and strengthen their collaboration skills. By the end of each EmpowHER event, the girls gained valuable experience in programming, teamwork, and critical thinking, all while having fun and discovering the exciting possibilities within STEM.
For the past eight years, 7659 HNMCS Robotics has co-hosted an annual Business Brunch with 1360 Robotics. This event has had a lasting, positive impact on our school community. It improves students’ understanding of the business world by connecting them with professionals from a wide range of fields, including banking, technology, accounting, financial advising, and corporate operations. By hearing different career stories, students learn that there is no single path to success. Business offers countless opportunities in different interests and strengths.
The Business Brunch has been especially helpful for students preparing for post-secondary education, as it makes careers in business feel more achievable and less intimidating. The speakers share valuable advice on leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability, which helps students think more confidently about their futures. Beyond career education, the event also brings students and teachers together, encourages meaningful discussions, and creates a supportive space for young women to explore professional goals. Overall, the Business Brunch inspires confidence, curiosity, and a clearer sense of direction for students as they plan their future paths.
The impact of FIRST Robotics on the computer science curriculum at HNMCS, including student engagement.
At Holy Name of Mary College School, FRC Team 7659 had a significant impact on how students understood computer science, despite the two programs being separate. Robotics made programming visible in a practical way. Students could watch team members write code that controlled motors, sensors, and autonomous routines, helping the rest of the school understand what computer science could do when applied to a real-world project. This raised interest in the subject and helped create support for offering computer science as a regular course. Even students who never joined the robotics team still saw how coding works because robotics gave them a concrete example.
The computer science class built its own identity and created important learning opportunities. One of the examples was the ConnectED project. Our class partnered with a single school in the Northwest Territories to teach younger students how to code in Scratch. We prepared lessons, taught them step by step, and watched them build programs for the very first time. It was a clear example of how computer science can be used to share knowledge and widen access to STEM education. For us, teaching Scratch showed that programming skills can make a real difference for students who might not have had the chance to learn them.
Flex block also helped bring STEM awareness to the entire school, not just the students in the course. During these blocks, the robotics team organized activities for assemblies so every grade could participate. One of the most memorable events was when teachers tried driving the competition robot and attempted to score points. It turned a normal school day into something exciting and gave everyone a chance to see how the robot worked up close. Activities like this helped make technology feel approachable and fun. They also showed students why learning to code matters, because they could see the results in action rather than just hearing about it.
The presence of both robotics and computer science created a stronger environment for learning technology at HNMCS. Robotics demonstrated the possibilities, and computer science gave students the space to learn skills that would prepare them for university. Even though the programs were separate, they supported each other by showing students different sides of the same field.
As the school closes, these programs stand out as some of the most impactful parts of our experience. The computer science class provided real practice through projects like ConnectED, and robotics showed what applied programming looks like in action. Both helped students gain confidence in STEM and understand that they are capable of pursuing technical fields after graduation. The influence of these experiences continues with every student who took part in them.
Learning From Mangilaluk School
As part of the ConnectED partnership, the HNMCS Grade 5/6 classes also had the opportunity to learn directly from the Grade 3/4 students at Mangilaluk School. On Tuesday, November 4, they shared an in-depth look at life in Tuktoyaktuk, offering insights into their community, culture, and the land that shapes their everyday experiences.
One of the main topics they introduced was pingos. They explained what pingos are, how these ice-filled hills form, and why they are such an important feature of the Arctic landscape. For many HNMCS students, this was their first time learning about pingos, and it expanded their understanding of Canada’s northern geography.
They also spoke about the effects of climate change on the Northwest Territories. The students explained that the coastline in Tuktoyaktuk is being worn away by erosion, and that these changes are becoming more noticeable each year. They also mentioned how the weather in the NWT can be extremely cold, especially compared to Ontario, and how these conditions shape daily life in their community. Learning about these differences helped the Grade 5/6 classes understand that climate change and environmental conditions vary widely across Canada, offering them a broader perspective on how northern communities are affected.
Overall, this session gave HNMCS students meaningful insight into a northern Indigenous community and the environmental challenges they face. It broadened their understanding of Canada’s diverse regions and highlighted the value of learning directly from peers across the country.
On November 1, 2025, our robotics team participated in the STEMley Cup in Hamilton, which hosted 27 teams. At the one-day tournament, we were all doing our part in different sections like a true team. With our mentor, Dr. Kozma, human player/strategist, and our operator, our 3 new drivers gained experience and tried new things, including both defensive and offensive moves. In the meantime, we had students scouting in the stands and studying other teams during matches to help us gain some new ideas and techniques, as well as learning what we were up against. Our last few members were in the pit, ready to help change bumpers and make little tweaks to the robot. During the lunch period, everyone on our team went to the “Women in STEM” workshop, where we learned about so many inspiring women. Even though we were there for a very long day, our team persevered and made it an amazing experience!
HNMCS Robotics Team 7659 