Public School Team from Rio do Sul Earns International Spot at First Lego League Challenge and Will Represent Brazil at Robotics Tournament in Mexico
A team of students from the municipal network of Rio do Sul earned an unprecedented spot in an international tournament after standing out in robotics during the national stage of the First Lego League Challenge, held in São Paulo.
Unprecedented Qualification Puts Brazilian Team in International Competition
Five 9th-grade students from Escola Modelo Ella Kurth make up the team Rio Bots. The group earned qualification after participating in the national stage of the First Lego League Challenge, held last week in São Paulo.
The accomplishment secured the team a spot in the International Open in Mexico, which will take place in Guadalajara in May.
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The team will represent Brazil after achieving notable performance during the national competition.
Among the 100 best regional teams that participated in the national stage, only 14 qualified for international tournaments.
Of those qualifying teams, only two belong to public schools. The Rio Bots team was one of them.
According to Professor Diego Jacomini, responsible for training, the result came after the students’ intense dedication during the preparation process.
He highlighted that the group demonstrated good performance in all the categories evaluated in the robotics competition, showing preparation, study, unity, and commitment throughout the trials.
Municipal Program Involves About 150 Students
The project is part of a robotics program developed in the municipal education network of Rio do Sul. The initiative involves approximately 150 students from 6th to 9th grade.
The Rio Bots team consists of students Karla Daniele de Oliveira Morais, Májhori Valentina Zamoner de Almeida, Julia Maria Biffi, Bianca de Souza de Oliveira, and Tamires Klaumann.
The training is conducted by technicians Diego Jacomini and Gilberto Vendramin Junior, with coordination from Rosinei Raquel Orlandi and Fernanda Stringari.
The Secretary of Education of Rio do Sul, Viviane Knihs Brandt, stated that the main goal of the program is not the acquisition of titles, but the involvement of students in activities that promote learning and collective work.
According to her, robotics projects help develop creativity, critical thinking, and cooperation among participating students.
Path to the National Stage
The team managed to reach the national stage after securing first place among public schools in Santa Catarina at the state phase held at the end of last year.
The national phase took place from Thursday (4) to Sunday (8) at Ibirapuera Park in São Paulo.
During the tournament, teams were evaluated in four different stages, which analyzed technical performance as well as the so-called Core Values.
These criteria consider factors such as teamwork, collaboration, and respect among participants.
Technical Challenges Evaluated in the Robotics Competition
One of the evaluated stages was the Innovation Project. In this stage, teams needed to identify a problem related to the work of archaeologists and present a solution considered creative and viable.
Another assessment occurred in the Robot Design. The students developed a robot with specific mechanisms to fulfill the proposed missions.
During the presentation, they explained to the judges the entire process of building the robot, including accessories, systems used, and strategies applied.
The First Lego League Challenge is a robotics competition aimed at students aged 9 to 15.
In Brazil, the tournament is operated by the Social Service of Industry, Sesi. Each team can have up to ten students, who receive an annual theme to develop robots built with LEGO pieces throughout the season.
With information from NSC Total.

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