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VULCAN ADVOCATE
WEDNESDAY,JANUARY 9, 2013
New high school program gets big boost Simon Ducatel Reporter County Central High School (CCHS) is trailblazing the Town’s technology brand. The school started in September an introductory robotics program through the Career and Technology Studies (CTS). There are about 10 students at CCHS enrolled in the robotics program. The robotics course comes down to problem solving, says CTS teacher Bill Brandley. “They (students) work independently as much as they can and when they encounter a problem, they work together to solve the issue,” he said. There are several components involved in the program, including theory, electronics and programming, said Brandley. After reading over the theory, students then build a robot to meet certain requirements and perform certain challenges, which are timed. From getting a robot to scoop
Without the grant, the program was really limited — Bill Brandley, Career and Technology Studies teacher something up to following a black line on the floor, students have many challenges set before them. The school has two robotics sets, Tetrix and Lego Mindstorm. Launching only with the Tetrix set, the robotics course was able to acquire the Lego Mindstorm thanks to grant funding that Brandley had applied for. “Without the grant, the program was really limited,” he said. It was so limited the teacher worried students would eventually lose interest in the course. The grant that gave the new robotics program a boost is offered by
PUBLIC NOTICE BOW RIVER IRRIGATION DISTRICT SEEPAGE CONTROL PLAN Pursuant to Section 164 of the Irrigation Districts Act, The Bow River Irrigation District will be filing a subsequent seepage control plan with the Irrigation Secretariat on March 21, 2013 This subsequent five year seepage control plan contains the following projects: • Lateral C (West Block) in NW 10-14-18-W4M • Lateral M (Hays Block) W½ 2-13-13-W4M • Lateral K-11-A (Vauxhall Block) in SE 5-15-17-W4M Copies of the subsequent seepage control plan are available to the public at Bow River Irrigation District’s office,704– 7Ave.N. Vauxhall, Alberta during the regular business hours. Comments about the plan will be received by the district from any person until February 11, 2013. Any owner of land on which seepage damage may have occurred may appeal this seepage control plan to Irrigation Council by filing a notice of appeal within 30 days of March 21, 2013, if: i) the land on which seepage damage may have occurred is not included in the seepage control plan, or ii) in the opinion of the owner, the plan does not contain adequate measures to control the seepage. P. Eng., General Manager Bow River Irrigation District MPSSCS4579495MPSE AD{CS4579495}
MPSSCS4579324MPSE AD{CS4579324}
Photos by Simon Ducatel Vulcan Advocate County Central High School recently got a $10,000 to boost its new robotics program. Left, Ian Armier watches a robot track a path. Right, Lindsay McLean works on assembling a robot.
Skills Canada and Lowe’s Canada. “The fact we got it was pretty exciting,” said Brandley, adding that he ordered the new equipment the next day. CTS courses allow students to find something they’re interested in and teaches them plenty about problem solving, communication and teamwork, said Brandley. The CTS courses help prepare students for any career they choose by improving their problem solving and teamwork skills, said Brandley. The robotics program provides many problem solving challenges, especially now that there are two robotics sets to work with. Having the Tetrix and Mindstorm systems takes the program to the next level, said Brandley. While Brandley said it’s unlikely students will take part in any official competitions, there will still be the odd robot skills competition held at the school. The teacher hopes to organize about five challenges throughout the year. These would include getting a robot to follow a track, lift an item or react to sound. “Every challenge will test a different problem,” said Brandley. The school has so far held two competitions. One was an agility test to pick up a chocolate bar and put it in a container, and the other was to knock a block off another robot. The CTS program offers a variety of courses such as welding, photography, cabinetry, computer assisted design and now the robotics course.