Rossignol High School Wins Sask Robotics Championships

Gabriel Dumont Institute has been sponsoring the Rossignol High School Robotic program in the Île-à-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan for almost a decade.

It took the Rossignol High School Robotic Huskie Squad teams eight months to design, build and test four robots in preparation for this year’s competitions. The team registered perfect scores at the Northern Regional Competition for Skills Canada on March 11, 2020. They proceeded to the provincial championships, Skills Saskatchewan competition, which was held virtually.

The Rossignol High School Robotic Huskie Squad was named the 2020 Skills Saskatchewan Provincial Champions, and thus qualified for the Skills Canada National Championships. “It is unfortunate that we would have been heading out to Vancouver for the Nationals, but this is not possible because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dave Dalton, the math and science teacher who is also the coach of the Rossignol High School Robotic club. “We had a very good chance of winning there too.”

The competitions involved designing, building, and programing a robot. The robot would then build a bridge and contrast a House Post (a Traditional symbol of Pacific Northwest Indigenous Nations). As well, the robot was expected to navigate a maze, pick up a totem pole, and deliver it to the starting point of the maze.

Robotics enables students to develop skills in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The students also get hands on experience in engineering, designing, constructing, and wiring, as well as building interpersonal skills, teamwork, and dedication.

In his letter to GDI, Dalton stated, “From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support over the years. There is no doubt Rossignol High School has the best Robotics Program in Saskatchewan and we are going strong.”

NT5