SPB Bronco Bots is an inclusive, extra-curricular club for students in Grades 7-9 at Senator Patrick Burns School in Calgary, Alberta.
The Robotics Club includes students with interest in the technological aspects of robotics and building technology, supporting young teens who are interested in careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Aviation, Coding, or Math. However every student is welcome! Students can also join the “Inspires” support team, where they help with fundraising, keep a logbook of the team’s progress, and become the team’s media specialists. The club helps support mental health and student wellbeing. It is a safe space that gives all students the opportunity to belong. We are a bilingual school where Spanish and English are both taught and supported.
If you would choose to contribute to our club, that would be a major support for us. For organizations that donate, they will be acknowledged as sponsors of the Bronco Bots and we will add your company logo to our team t-shirts to promote you during our games with other teams. Please note in the comment line if your contribution is intended to be a sponsorship and not a donation, as sponsorships will not receive tax receipts.
The team meets weekly after school and competes on weekends in the FIRST Robotics Competitions throughout Calgary. Students are expected to build a robot while practicing Gracious Professionalism, a concept best described by the late Dr. Woodie Flowers, a professor from MIT and one of the founders of FIRST: “It’s a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions. Gracious professionals, learn and compete like crazy but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. They avoid treating anyone like losers. No chest thumping tough talk, but no sticky-sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, competition, and empathy are comfortably blended.”
We are one of the few junior high teams in Calgary. Many High Schools have a Robotics Club, so initiating this in Junior High contributes to easing the transition between Junior High and High School, allowing our students to feel more prepared for their next steps in life. Unfortunately, Junior High Schools have, to date, very limited funds and it can be very challenging to find ways to support a Robotics Club for them.
Please provide your contact and payment information below. Your contact details are required to generate an electronic tax receipt, which will be sent to the email address that you provide. EducationMatters is a charitable registration #898887005RR0001. Tax receipts will be provided for donations greater than $20.