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Robotics

 

Designing, Building, Programming, and Driving Robots

At Hewitt, every student gets hands-on experience designing, building, programming, and driving robots. Beginning in lower school, students learn foundational programming skills using VEX 123 and VEX GO, two robotics platforms designed especially for young learners. In middle and high school, students continue to study robotics through their classes and also have the option to join Hewitt Robotics, our competitive VEX EDR and VEX IQ robotics programs. Through robotics, all Hewitt students learn a wide range of critical real-world skills including computer programming, problem solving, iteration, collaboration, and teamwork. 

 

Hewitt is the only girls’ school in New York City with a competitive VEX Robotics program. 

   

Highlights of Our Robotics Program
Two students sit on the floor alongside a Beebot and white grid with pictures of planets in various squares

Lower schoolers explore foundational programming concepts including sequences, conditionals, loops, and debugging using Beebots.

A student lies on her stomach moving a Beebot along a colorful neighborhood map on the floor.

As they engineer bridges and program Beebots to travel through a mock neighborhood, lower schoolers learn how to communicate cardinal directions and navigate their robots in a tactile environment.

Three upper school students stand at the Hewitt Robotics booth with their pink robot, Princess Chainsaw Kitty, on the table in front of them

After earning a spot at the VEX Robotics World Championship, Hewitt Robotics Team Y traveled to Dallas, Texas to compete against the top teams in the world. 

A group of 12 middle schoolers stand clustered together wearing navy shirts with a white %22H%22 logo

Hewitt's middle school robotics teams participate in local VEX Robotics competitions.

A student sits in profile with an iPad and small LEGO train in front of her.

Through robotics, students learn to ask questions and solve real world problems. For example, Hewitt second graders use LEGO robotics kits to build earthquake simulators that test the stability of their mini structures.

Two Hewitt students and two competitors from another school stand near a robotics field during competition

Middle school Hewitt Robotics teams compete against peers from across the city at a VEX IQ qualifying tournament.

Two students sit on the ground holding and looking intently at a tractor tread.

Middle schoolers design and build their own unique robots to exhibit at Robo Expo. These students used a tractor tread to create a miniature amusement park robot that could lift and drop passengers. 

Two students smile as one connects a wire to a small board on the table in front of her

Lower schoolers engineer handmade instruments, then use microcontrollers to activate their Scratch-programmed animations such as sounds, color changes, and a variety of interactive elements.

Three students stand at the edge of the robotics field. There is a robot on the field a large black and yellow sign that says %22VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay%22

Middle schoolers practice in the Hewitt Robotics lab for an upcoming VEX competition.

A student sits at a table working on building a blue robot

As middle school students construct robots using LEGO-like VEX IQ kits, they develop the strong design and building foundation they will need for Hewitt’s high school robotics program.  

Four upper school students stand on the robotics field holding their robot and award

Hewitt Robotics Team X earned the prestigious Think Award for their effective and consistent coding techniques. 

A group of 5 upper schooler stand in front of a robotics field during competition

Upper school robotics teams compete against peers from around New York State at a VEX Robotics competition.

Two students sit on the floor with their robot. One is holding a controller and the other is pulling the spring back on a robotic catapult.

A middle school Hewitt Robotics team tests their catapult robot on a Robo Expo bucket toss challenge.

Hewitt Robotics teams have won awards and recognition at regional, state, national, and world championships.

Hewitt Robotics shield with a blue, orange, and white Hawk graphic

   

Hewitt Robotics Accolades

Since the program began in 2015, Hewitt Robotics teams have earned an impressive list of accolades, including:

VEX State Championships

  • NY VEX V5 Tournament Finalist (2023)
  • NY VEX V5 Excellence Award Winners (2022, 2023)
  • NY VEX V5 Think Award Winner (2022, 2025)
  • NY VEX V5 Amaze Award Winner (2025)
  • NY VEX V5 Teamwork Award Winner (2020)
  • NY VEX IQ Excellence Award Winners (2018, 2020)
  • NY VEX IQ Design Award Winners (2018, 2020)
  • NY VEX IQ Teamwork Challenge Winners (2016, 2017, 2018, 2020)
  • NY VEX IQ Robotics Skills Award Winners (2016, 2020)

VEX United States Open Championships

  • 1 x Tournament Finalists (2022)


VEX World Championships

  • 12 Invitations to the VEX World Championships 
  • Ranked 4th place out of 80 in the Technology Division (2018)
  • Ranked 19th overall out of 3000 teams (2017)
  • 1 X VEX Worlds Sportsmanship Award (2022)