The efforts of the Massapequa Public School District to provide the best education for all students continues to pay off in a big way.

In the latest amazing accomplishment by district staff and students, ten 7th and 8th graders from Massapequa's Berner Middle School, also known as "Team Elite 1337" participated in the Long Island Regional First Lego League Robotics Championship at Longwood High School in Middle Island.

Not only did they participate, this new academic, extracurricular team, under the direction of second year Berner Middle School technology education teacher and team coach Brian Vanek, won the Long Island Regional First Lego League Robotics Championship after competing against more than 40 school districts and other organizations on January 13.

"This is an amazing academic accomplishment for a first year robotics team," stated Susan Thompson, first year District Coordinating Chairperson for Occupational Education and Team Elite mentor. "It's a wonderful thing when success can breed continued success." Team Elite's victory qualifies them to represent the regional community at the Lego World Competition in Atlanta, Georgia in April 2008, where competitors from 84 countries from around the world will be participating.

After months of using newly acquired equipment to learn robotic engineering and programming and researching alternative energy, which was the theme of the competition, the Berner team competed to make their robot perform as many strategic missions as possible during a series of matches that lasted 2 1/2 minutes each.

In addition to the matches, the team excelled in the technical judging, where the judges questioned the students about how they engineered their robot, the logic of their programming and the trials and tribulations of testing and refining both. The third portion of this award was based on the students' research presentation on Solar Energy, which included the analysis of an energy audit they conducted at their own Berner Middle School. The fourth category was based on how the team worked together and demonstrated the First Lego League values, which include: respect each other in the best spirit of teamwork; behave with courtesy and compassion for others at all times; honor the spirit of friendly competition; act with integrity; demonstrate gracious professionalism, and encourage others to adopt these values.

With the immediate success of the robotics team comes the need for care and feeding of this new entity. "This is where the robotics organization needs help," explained Ms. Thompson. "We would like to expand the Massapequa School District's robotic program next year by adding a second team and soon after, beginning a high school team," she continued. "The teamwork involved in creating a robotics program encompasses so many people."

As Ms. Thompson explained, Massapequa's Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Curriculum and Instruction Susan Woodbury always had the dream of a student robotics program for the district.

Berner Middle School Principal, Steven Scarallo also provided support and encouragement from the beginning, and Massapequa High School's Hall of Fame became the first sponsors of the new robotics team, with a $2,000 grant for a laptop computer and Lego equipment.

A group of Berner Alumni became the second sponsors, surprising everyone by providing the t-shirts for Team Elite. "Robotics is so important for students of today," said Ms. Thompson. "Through this technology, they have the opportunity to solve real-world engineering challenges, to develop important life skills, and to learn to make positive contributions to society."

Individuals, community organizations and companies who are interested in sponsoring the Massapequa teams can contact Susan Thompson at 797-6281.