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Community Corner

Renbrook Robotics Class

Renbrook School just completed its Summer Vacation Care program for Renbrook students, ages 3-Grade 5. The program also included Vacation Care Plusenrichment activities in art, cooking, horseback riding, soccer, and robotics for students in Kindergarten-Grade 5. The robotics class was brand new to most of the children, and a "second-stage" for a few who had built robots before. The participants were ages 5 - 10, having just completed Kindergarten through Grade 4 at Renbrook. Renbrook enlistedKids Corner, a a local after-school enrichment firm, to provide the robotics instruction.
At times, the robotics students all worked together; in addition, most of the students had individual projects, as well. Kids Corner gave the students a mini "Chain of Command," with each student taking a turn as "captain" and getting "supplies" from fellow students. The 12 students created nine electronically-powered robots over the 8 days together. All were enthusiastic. "This is the best thing ever!" said an 8-year-old participant. A Grade 1 student remarked, "I like that we get to build stuff." And a 6-year-old observed, "I didn't realize you can really program the robots to move!" Indeed, two of the older students were doing their own programming by the end of the session.

The Kids Corner instructor encouraged all the students to envision what they wanted to do with their skills. One participant envisioned robots with better human attributes: "more sensors, and more pieces that attach to the sensors."

Renbrook students can participate in the two-week Vacation Care program and Vacation Care Plusenrichment activities in June, after their regular school year ends. Students can come for morning activities, with the option of staying for lunch and spending the afternoons enjoying "pool and play." Renbrook has three outdoor pools on its 75-acre West Hartford campus.

For more information about Renbrook School openings for students from three-years-old through Grade 9, call the Admission Office at 860-236-1661, Ext. 266, or e-mail Amy Clemons at aclemons@renbrook.org.

For more information about Kids Corner Programs for summer and after school for fall, call 860-899-9110 or email Heather Pariseault at kidscornerct@yahoo.com.  Please specify the ages of your children and the activities you are looking for.

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