A team of seven students, who call themselves The Bee Team, travelled to Adelaide last weekend to participate in the RoboCup Junior Australian Open Championships, blowing away judges and taking out the primary schools dance section.

They will now have the opportunity to represent Australia at the international championships in Germany next year.

It is a big achievement for the small school of  39 students, who only began a robotics program two years ago, led by teacher Sharon Cloete.

The Bee Team, made up of Hugh Sheardown, Tyarna Pavy, Briana McLuckie, Caitlyn White, Edward Southwell, Charlie Southwell and James Calleja, blitzed the competition with their two-minute Save the Bees dance with five robots and group interview.

Their Save Our Bees entry is a culmination of the work of students from years 3 to 6 at the school, who worked together in small groups to program the robots to perform a dance autonomously, design a set and costumes and also choreograph a dance for the students to do alongside their robots to music.

Team leader Charlie Southwell said without the help of the other students to design and help program robots, his team would not have won.

“It was everyone working together [that helped us win], we’re just the few representatives who were chosen. We wouldn’t have won without everyone’s help,” Charlie said.

Students Tyarna Pavy and James Calleja recalled the moment when it was announced they became champions.

“Most of the parents were crying. I couldn’t take it that we’d won. I was thinking, did we really win? I was pinching myself,” James said.

Tyarna added, “My ears were getting burst off by Edward screaming. It was hard to process.” 

Principal Gay Stone said she was incredibly proud of her students’ efforts and said parents, teachers and students alike were still trying to process the win.

Mrs Stone thanked the Rotary Club of Orange and Cabonne Council for sponsoring the students, ensuring they could travel to Adelaide to compete in the championships.

alexandra.king@fairfaxmedia.com.au