This is the second year that San Cayetano has had a team win the championship. This year was extra sweet as they scored higher than any of the secondary schools that entered the competition. There were 21 teams entered. Through San Cayetano’s NASA Explorer Schools Program, San Cayetano was able to purchase LEGO Robotics and have teacher coaches who attended a Summer Robotics workshop at JPL in 2008. Each 4th and 5th grade student receives thirteen sessions in robotics instruction. This year the program is being expanded with simple programming to include 3rd graders. Each January an after school opportunity begins with robotics teams preparing for the championship and out of those students the team members, by secret ballot choose who can best represent them to win. This year San Cayetano’s sponsors were Fillmore Sunrisers Rotary and INTELSAT. T-shirts were purchased through Waterart Designs, a local business owned by Veronica Morris. One last note that makes our San Cayetano Family very proud- they were awarded a certificate for Good Character as they loaned other teams parts who had broken or forgotten parts so that they may still compete. Isn’t that what life skills are all about!

Currently the competition can be viewed on the web at www.ustream.tv/nasajpl