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in Upper School, Academics

New Middle School: STEM Robotics Class

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This semester, PCA is excited to offer a Middle School Robotics class for our students led by Dr. Myra Finneran and Andy Welch. In the classroom, the goal is to have students engage at every level, with hands-on experiences that stimulate communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking skills.

First, the robotics students reviewed the LEGO League Core Values (discovery, innovation, impact, inclusion, and teamwork) and built their field components. Now they are learning the basics of programming. Their initial task was to code a program for their robot to drive in a square formation. After mastering robotic movements, students will move into utilizing the touch and color sensors.

Through this robotics class offering, these middle schoolers will sharpen their scientific inquiry, engineering design, and data analysis skills. 
 
Posted by Darla Rourk with
in Lower School, Upper School, Academics

High School Mentors

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Mrs. Sweeny's Senior Thesis classes recently had the opportunity to volunteer in Ms. Jones' and Mrs. Andrews' third grade classrooms. During the hour the students spent together, the seniors were able to help the third graders write and edit their very first biography paper. Each
senior was partnered with one or two third graders, and the groups spread out in the hallway and classrooms to write. From Albert Einstein and Molly Pitcher to Milton Hershey and Helen Keller, the third graders covered a wide variety of influential historical figures. 

One senior remarked how she used to look up to the high schoolers when she was in elementary school and how special it is now that she gets to help PCA's rising generation. For other seniors, it took them back to the days where commas weren't as important and indenting paragraphs was a process rather than a habit. Overall, writing with the third graders was a rewarding and enriching experience for the third graders and seniors alike.

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