JACKSONVILLE, Fla — Communities In Schools of Jacksonville, a local nonprofit that supports struggling students with afterschool programs, case management, literacy tutoring and more, is hosting its first-ever robotics competition this weekend. CIS students from six Duval schools will compete on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Westside Middle School.
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This competition is extra special as it’s entirely made up of CIS students. Most of these kids have faced serious challenges that threaten their advancement in school – from hunger to homelessness. CIS’s Afterschool program gives them a safe place to learn and grow after the bell rings, where they can complete their homework with adult supervision and connect with their classmates through robotics, sports, symphony, and more.
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The robotics programs allow students to practice hands-on STEM learning as they build and program robots to complete tasks as a team – a really neat opportunity for students who may not otherwise have the chance to explore these skills.
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CIS’s CEO, Leon Baxton, who has been with the organization for over 30 years, will also be at the competition.
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