With the help of the Jennings and Rebecca Jones Foundation, Middle Tennessee Christian School recently opened its new Robotics Garage. This dedicated robotics space will allow students to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow through the processes of writing code, constructing robots, problem solving, and working as a team.

The MTCS Robotics program is integrated across the school's curriculum kindergarten through 8th grade, with plans for expansion through 12th grade in the fall of 2020. It begins with K-3rd learning basics of programming and robotics using programs such as Bloxel and Ozobots in our Seeker Space. For students in 4th and 5th grade, the Robotics Club that meets mid-year to continue exploration in programing and robotics using kamigami and spheros platform. The middle school team participates in FIRST Lego league (First is an acronym "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology"). The high school team will be participating in the VEX Robotics platform. Both programs not only touch on robotics, but there is a component that requires students to use knowledge learned to impact our community. As MTCS continues to develop the Aspire Honors Academy, many types of academic challenges are needed for those students and the Robotics program is one avenue provided.

Middle TN Christian School's Robotics program is unique because it is built around 6 spiritually based core values: Inclusion, Discovery, Teamwork, Innovation, Fun, and Impact. These values were developed by the current robotics team and connect robotics to the mission of growing students in Spirit, Mind and Body.

Lori Shea, Director of the Aspire Honors Academy, states, " According to the International Federation of Robotics, more than 3 million industrial robots will be in use in factories around the globe by 2020 and this number will continue to grow. It became evident that exposing our students to programming and robotics was necessary."

MTCS is grateful to the Jennings and Rebecca Jones Foundation for their support of this project. Begun by Jennings & Rebecca Jones in 1986, the Foundation's mission is to encourage the establishment of innovative non-profit projects, primarily through investments in educational initiatives driven by exceptional leadership, focused on serving motivated students.