Team 977 Cometbots

08/21/2026

Here is a preview of some of our “Build a Cool Robot” submissions for our Summer Engineering Challenge. Haven’t submitted yet? You still have time! Submissions are due by August 31. Winners receive a LEGO Kit!
Participation is free and open to the community- local pick up only for winning submissions.
Submission link in comments

Halifax County Public Schools_ Virginia CH Friend School FIRST Chesapeake

08/18/2026

Kind of chic to be a student run robotics/impact team....
We've been busy the last 2 weeks:
+ As part of the Rural Robotics Network, we supported and presented at a student led Coding Bootcamp
+ Hosted a community ice cream party
+ Showcased our team and robot during open house
+ Put our summer training into action through design work on a training robot for off-season
+ Started the 2026-2027 school year
And we aren't finished yet!!

Interested in making an impact in the community, connecting with teens from outside of Halifax, and learning and applying real skills for real life?
See us for one of our upcoming interest meetings:
+August 20, August 27, September 3 in Room A219 at 3:30
+September 22 at Halifax County-South Boston Public Libraries (South Boston) at 6pm
or send us a message

Halifax County Public Schools_ Virginia Halifax County High School_HCPS_Virginia FIRST Chesapeake CH Friend School

08/16/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out today to support Team 977!!!! We had a great turn out and enjoyed engaging with our community.
Donations and proceeds from today will go to support Team 977’s outreach and build seasons. If you didn’t get a chance to stop by, you can still donate through our Zeffy link on our main page.
Thank you Pumpkin and Bugg's Bake Shop for allowing us to take over your shop!
Thank you Viny Ruotolo Sarnataro for your donation of sundae toppings!
Stay tuned for more great things coming from 977!
Halifax County Public Schools_ Virginia FIRST Chesapeake Halifax County High School_HCPS_Virginia

08/10/2026

Come celebrate the first week of school with us for a SPECIAL Sunday opening of Pumpkin and Bugg's Bake Shop and the exclusive GALACTIC BLACK CHERRY 🍒 ice cream sundae- only available during Team 977’s Community Ice Cream Party! this Sunday, August 16 from 1-5pm.

50% of all sales will go to support Team 977’s outreach and build seasons!

We will also have:
🧱A chance to win FREE LEGOs with our Engineering Challenge
👾Live Robot Demonstrations
💥Free kids activities
🍦 and of course the full menu of homemade ice cream from Pumpkin and Bugg’s

Halifax County Public Schools_ Virginia Halifax County High School_HCPS_Virginia CH Friend School Halifax County Chamber of Commerce Member Deals & Business Updates

08/07/2026

We are excited to be part of the First Annual Rural Robotics Coding Bootcamp hosted by VectorSpace10257 and supported by The Rural Robotics Network.

Join teams from around FIRST Chesapeake to learn more about FRC Coding. Presenting teams include VectorSpace10257, Team 977 Cometbots, FRC Team 1262 - The STAGS, Botetourt 4-H Robotics - Team 3939, Mech Tech Dragons: FRC 422, CircuiTree FRC 1599

Scan the QR Codes to register or use the link the comments to learn more.

We can't wait to see you there!

08/06/2026

Missed us at open house? No problem! Join us at one of our upcoming sessions:
💥HCHS Interest meetings (open to HCHS students)
3:30-4:30 | HCHS | August 20 (LEAD) August 27 (Technical)| September 3 (LEAD)
💫 Community Interest Meeting (open to any student 8-12th grade)
5:30-6:30 | 1100 Confroy Dr | August 11 or 25
🍦Community Ice Cream Party! (All ages)
1-4 | Pumpkin and Bugg's Bake Shop | Sun. Aug 16

Halifax County Public Schools_ Virginia Halifax County High School_HCPS_Virginia CH Friend School Halifax County Chamber of Commerce Member Deals & Business Updates FIRST Chesapeake Halifax Christian School

08/01/2026

Build. Design. Program. Lead. Create. Travel. Compete.

Find where you belong.

🎉 Team 977 and LEAD Southside is now recruiting for the 2026–2027 season!

Whether you're interested in engineering, programming, media, business, leadership, or just want to be part of something bigger than yourself, there's a place for you on our team.

💙 No experience required.
You don't have to know how —you just have to show up ready to learn.

📍 Who Can Join?
• FRC Team (Grades 8–12)
• Junior Membership (Grades 6–7)

📅 Upcoming Events
🔹 August 5 – Open House (12:00–4:00 PM) – Halifax County High School_HCPS_Virginia
🔹 August 16 – Community Ice Cream Party – Pumpkin and Bugg's Bake Shop
🔹 August 20 & September 3 – LEAD Southside Interest Meetings – Halifax County High School
🔹 August 27 – FRC Interest Meeting – Halifax County High School
🔹 September 1 – First Official FRC Team Meeting (5pm-7PM) – Team Workshop
🔹 September 10 – First Official LEAD Southside Meeting – Team Workshop

🤖 Fall Competition Schedule
🏁 October 3 – Magna Vista High School
🏁 October 16–18 – Severn, Maryland
🏁 October 24 – Glen Allen, Virginia

🌟 Spring Competition Schedule Coming soon!

Ready to discover new skills, make lifelong friends, travel, compete, and be part of an award-winning robotics team?

📩 Send us a message or stop by one of our upcoming events to learn more. Your journey starts here. Halifax County Public Schools_ Virginia CH Friend School

07/27/2026

🎉 Congratulations to our mentor, Adam Reeves, on stepping into an exciting new role as the manager of SOVA Fab Lab at the SOVA Innovation Hub.
We’re thrilled to see him take on this new opportunity, we're even more excited that he'll continue serving as a mentor for our team. His passion for teaching, problem-solving, and inspiring young innovators has already made a lasting impact, and we know he'll bring that same energy to our community.
As the new FabLab manager, he'll help create a space where students, makers, entrepreneurs, and families can turn ideas into reality. From learning new technologies and building prototypes to collaborating on creative projects, the FabLab will become a hub for innovation, education, and opportunity in our town.
For our team, this means even more opportunities to learn, create, and grow while connecting with others who share a passion for STEM and making a difference.
Congratulations on this well-deserved new chapter! We can't wait to see all the amazing things you'll accomplish for our community while continuing to inspire the next generation of innovators.

Interested in learning more about Team 977 or the Fab Lab? See us at our Community Ice Cream Party on Sunday, August 16 from 1-5pm at Pumpkin and Bugg's Bake Shop

The SOVA Innovation Hub is excited to welcome Adam Reeves as the new SOVA Fab Lab Manager.

Adam will lead the development of the SOVA Fab Lab, a new makerspace that will help people of all ages learn, create, build, and innovate. The Fab Lab is expected to open in late fall 2026, but we are already working to bring hands-on innovation experiences to communities across Southern Virginia.

To learn more, visit sovainnovationhub.com/fablab or contact Adam Reeves at [email protected].

07/24/2026

We had an incredible week at LEGO Camp! 🧱✨
Our campers put their creativity and engineering skills to the test by:
🚗 Building LEGO cars to see whose could travel the farthest
🌉 Designing bridges to see which could span the longest distance and hold the most weight
🏗️ Constructing earthquake-resistant towers that stood strong through the shake test
🌀 Creating marble mazes
🎢 Designing their own amusement parks
🤖 Exploring coding and movement with LEGO Robotics Kits
It was amazing to watch their problem-solving, teamwork, and imagination come to life!
🍦 Next adventure: Join us on Sunday, August 16 for our Community Ice Cream Party at Pumpkin and Bugg's Bake Shop from 1-5pm
Want to learn more about Team 977, support our mission, or get involved? Send us a message—we'd love to connect!
Halifax County Public Schools_ Virginia Halifax County High School_HCPS_Virginia FIRST Chesapeake

07/18/2026

Beat the heat (and the smoke) and come see us tomorrow, July 18, from 12-2 for our July Open House. Activities for kids and adults. Meet the team, see our workshop, and enjoy an afternoon of STEM Fun!