This week, our school had the incredible honour of hosting the first-ever ISABC Robotics Scrimmage for our Grade 6 robotics students! As many of you know, robotics and technology education are my passion. I founded our Robotics Club last year, and since then, it has grown into an instructional course for our Grade 4 & 5 students while continuing as a competitive team for our Grade 6 & 7 students.
One of the biggest challenges in robotics is the cost of competition. Unlike sports like basketball or volleyball, there aren’t regular games where teams can come together to showcase their skills. I wanted to change that—not just for our school, but for the entire ISABC community. That’s why, for the competition, we invited other ISABC schools to participate in this pilot scrimmage, where teams didn’t just compete, but collaborated to solve challenges together.
The event took place in our gym, where the entire floor became a dynamic workspace for students. We welcomed students from Collingwood, West Point Grey Academy, Talmud Torah, St. George’s, Southridge, and Urban Academy. The morning kicked off with Mr. Slinger speaking about future-focused education, emphasizing how robotics isn’t just about technology—it’s about problem-solving, collaboration, and preparing students for an ever-evolving world.
The challenge that was designed included multiple missions and point-based objectives. Teams worked together to strategize, problem-solve, and trade buttons as a symbol of friendship. By the end of the day, final scores were tallied, but more importantly, students left feeling inspired and motivated.
This scrimmage was just the beginning! Urban Academy will be hosting the second competition later this year, and more ISABC schools are stepping up to host future events. Our long-term goal is to make robotics competitions as accessible as any school sports game—where students can hop on a bus and head off to showcase their skills.
I would like to express a heartfelt thank you to all of the parents who have helped support Robotics at UA. As a UA teacher, it is exciting to know there is financial support through Advancement giving from our parent community and encouragement from leadership to pursue entrepreneurial initiatives like our Robotics program. UA Parents, your support continues to be invaluable in fostering innovation and collaboration among our students.
Looking forward to seeing this initiative grow!Best,
Cameron Douglas