Northwest Middle School

Our 7th grade students are diving into the exciting world of robotics with Dr. Woods through a hands-on VEX Robotics unit that brings learning to life through curiosity, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Using the VEX EXP BaseBot, students are taking on the role of engineers, designers, and coders as they work together to solve a range of real-world challenges. This inquiry-based unit encourages students to ask questions, test ideas, learn from mistakes, and refine their thinking as they discover how robotics and technology can solve problems.

Working in teams, students begin by establishing how they will collaborate effectively, setting group expectations, and planning their approach before building their robot together. From there, they move into designing, coding, testing, and improving their robot as they tackle increasingly complex challenges.

Some of the exciting challenges students will be working on include:

Maze Challenge
Can a robot navigate through a maze without crashing into the walls? Students will use coding and sensors to programme their robot to think, react, and move independently.

Line Following Challenge
Students will investigate how robots use sensors to detect and follow a path—just like technology used in real-world automation systems.

Fastest Lap Challenge
Combining teamwork, strategic thinking, and driver control skills, students will put their robots to the test in a race against the clock.

This type of learning goes far beyond simply building a robot. Students are developing valuable life skills such as collaboration, resilience, critical thinking, communication, and creative problem-solving. They are learning that failure is often part of the design process—and that some of the best learning happens when things do not work the first time.

Inquiry-based learning allows students to take ownership of their thinking by exploring questions, testing solutions, and reflecting on how to improve. We are excited to see our students grow in confidence as they innovate, problem-solve, and bring their ideas to life.

Be sure to ask your 7th grader what challenge they are currently working on—we suspect they will have plenty to tell you!

Celebrating our teachers has been off to a great start! Thank you to our wonderful parents, guardians, and community partners for their help and support! ✏️🧢🌮🍕🎉

⭐ Celebrating our ALL STAR team in style for Teacher Appreciation Week! ⭐

Students, get ready for a fun Spirit Week next week as we celebrate our amazing Northwest All Stars! 🎉

Want to be part of the appreciation efforts? Help us stock the All Star Lounge! Drop off a snack or drink at the Welcome Center this week or next week so we can treat our incredible staff. 💚

Let’s show our All Stars just how much they mean to us! ✨

Grateful for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management teaching our 7th grade students about water quality through demonstrations this week! 🧪

This , 80 eighth-graders from Northwest Middle School revitalized 25 garden beds at a senior living community. The effort was part of the school’s International Baccalaureate (IB) community project, which challenges students to identify a real-world need and take meaningful action. 🌎🌱