Our Story

Holy Nativity Episcopal School | Robotics
It all started in 2019

Our Holy Nativity Robotics program began in 2019.  Affiliated with FIRST LEGO League (FLL), competitions require teams to complete a timed obstacle course using a robot they have built and coded.  A separate part of the competition requires that the team create an innovative solution related to the current year’s theme.  A final part of the competition evaluates each team on how well they embody the core values of FIRST:  Discovery, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork, and Fun.

Our team, the Robo-Bolts, have been recognized as a top team in the region for the past four years.  They have competed at the state level for the past two years, also earning the chance to compete at an international invitational.  Last year, the team was chosen as the winner of the Breakthrough Award at the State Tournament.  This award recognizes an up and coming team that has made significant accomplishments in all areas of the competition.  At the Razorback Open Invitational, an international competition with teams from around the world, the Robo-Bolts won third place in the area of Core Values. In 2022, our Robotics Coach Jan Dykes was named Coach of the Year for the FLL Panhandle Region.

MathCounts

In addition to robotics, our seventh grade students participate in an annual Invention Convention.  They come up with original ideas to solve problems, create prototypes of these inventions, and develop a marketing plan.

After competing at the school level, representatives are invited to participate at the district competition.  For the past three years, all our school representatives have earned awards at the district level.  Last year, every Holy Nativity Episcopal School project won first place in its category.  For the past three years, students from our school have competed at the national level in the National Innovator Challenge competition.  Two of our students have moved on to the Global Innovation Challenge.

MathCounts has been a part of Holy Nativity traditions since 2000! MathCounts members spend the fall semester preparing for events by practicing problem-solving during and after school. Due to space, the Math team size is currently limited to 35 members. Our scholars compete at the School level, at the Bay County level, and at the tri-county Regional level. On eight occasions, our mathletes have advanced to the State level by qualifying as one of the top two individuals in the tri-county region! In 2023, our MathCounts Coach Amy Moody won the tri-county MathCounts TEACHERS competition at the Holley Center, FSU-PC.

As you can see, we have a lot to be proud of in the areas of STREAM.  With greater space and resources, we see an even brighter future ahead.