PVNC Catholic Junior Robotics Central Competition crowns 2026 champions
March 26, 2026
Students from across the Board put their creativity, coding skills, and teamwork to the test at the 2025–2026 PVNC Catholic Junior Robotics Central Competition, held March 26 at the Catholic Education Centre in Peterborough.
The exciting event brought together top teams to compete in a series of fast-paced, hands-on challenges designed to showcase innovation and problem-solving.
After a full day of competition, St. Anthony Catholic Elementary School in Port Hope earned a well-deserved first place finish, followed by St. Alphonsus CES in Peterborough in second place, and Monsignor Leo Cleary CES in Courtice in third place.
A Day of Dynamic Challenges
The competition featured three core events, each testing a different aspect of robotics design and programming:
- Sumo Challenge – Teams programmed autonomous robots to detect and push their opponents out of a ring, combining strategy, sensor use, and precision.
- Obstacle Course – Robots navigated a complex track, avoiding obstacles and completing a full lap as efficiently as possible.
- Home Run Derby – Creativity took centre stage as robots launched balls from a tee, with points awarded based on distance and accuracy.
In addition to these challenges, teams were evaluated on collaboration and teamwork, with judges observing how students worked together, solved problems, and ensured all members contributed.
Building Skills for the Future
The Junior Robotics competition continues to be a highlight for students in Grades 4–6, fostering critical thinking, coding proficiency, and resilience. Throughout the day, students demonstrated not only technical skill, but also perseverance and collaboration—key competencies that extend far beyond the competition floor.