Litchfield Middle School robotics club members demonstrated their skills during last week’s School Board meeting.
The club “made great strides” in its second year of existence, according to advisor Darin Swenson, who teaches STEAM classes at the middle school. He and science teacher Nick Alsleben started the club during the 2022-2023 school year.
Open only to eighth-graders last year, the club expanded to include seventh-graders this school year. This year’s club included six eighth-graders and seven seventh-graders.
“One thing we learned is that it would be beneficial for our students to have a second year opportunity to demonstrate what they learned from their first season and be able to apply that knowledge to a second year,” Swenson wrote in a memo to the board. “We look forward to seeing the improvement next year from this year’s seventh-graders. After the success of the 2023-2024 teams, we anticipate an increased interest in participation for the 2024-2024 season.”
Litchfield entered two teams in the FIRST Lego League Challenge regional in Alexandria earlier this year and both advanced to the state championship to compete in a field of 570 teams. There, both Litchfield teams were among the 70 still standing when competition concluded. The eighth-grade team finished 14th, while the seventh-grade team took 28th.
“It was an impressive showing by the middle schoolers,” Swenson said. “I think they learned a lot. Those that are going to get to participate next year as seventh-graders going into eighth grade, I think they learned a lot from that experience, because we learned a lot from that first year last year at the regional. I think it helped us take the next step to the state competition.
“So, no pressure, but nationals are on the agenda for next year,” Swenson said with a smile. “We’ll be coming back to you guys (the School Board) for overnight permission forms and all that.”
With high aspirations set for success in competition, Swenson also sees the opportunity for continued growth in the robotics club, as fifth- and sixth-graders have expressed interest in participating. Beyond the learning that goes on, the robotics club encourages involvement.
“Some of the students involved … are not involved in any other extracurricular activity with the school, which makes it a great opportunity for students to get involved and connected to the school community,” Swenson said.
