The Shady Side Academy Middle School Robotics Team hosted the annual Shady Side Open, a FIRST LEGO League competitive scrimmage, in the school gymnasium on Saturday, Nov. 12. Twenty robotics teams from around Pittsburgh competed in the scrimmage in preparation for the Western PA FLL Grand Championship in January. The SSA Middle and Junior School Robotics Teams competed in the event.

The Middle School Blue Team completed several of the "Animal Allies" missions, including moving the shark tank. The Middle School Gold Team also completed several missions, including the operation of the milk machine and getting the service dog to sit. The Gold Team placed second in the Scholastic Division. The Middle School teams are coached by science teacher Matt Brunner.

The Junior School team worked hard each round to improve. The focus for the day was reflection and communication in preparation for the next round. The team improved their score each round completing several missions in the final round. The Junior School team is coached by science teacher Jeff McCarroll.

In FIRST LEGO League, students in grades 4-8 research a real-world engineering challenge, develop a solution and compete with LEGO-based robots of their own design. With adult coaches to guide them, teams apply science, engineering and math concepts, plus a big dose of imagination, to develop solutions to real-world challenges. They design, build and program LEGO MINDSTORMS®-based robots to perform autonomous "missions" on a playing field. Along the way, they develop critical thinking, team-building and presentation skills. Learn more at www.firstinspires.org/robotics/fll or www.pafll.com.