MEDIA ADVISORY: Westlane’s

Westlane Secondary’s Spartonics team has their sights set on Pitsburgh, Pennsylvania,
the site of the 2012 Regional FIRST Robotics competition. Before heading out for the March 8th competition,
students, staff and media are invited to attend a kick-off event at School Support Services in Niagara-on-the-Lake
on Monday, March 5, 2012. (The old Niagara District Secondary school)

Each year, FIRST stages short games played by remote-controlled robots. Students are given six weeks to brainstorm,
design, build and test their robotfor the competition, which is a modified form
of basketball called “Rebound Rumble”. This year, students have given their robot, nicknamed Spartillery, an 1812 theme
to coincide with the bicentennial celebrations. each of the robot’s batteries has been named after important people
who took part in the war.

At Monday’s kick-off event, media will have an opportunity to see the robot in action, as students practice for the upcoming competition.
Several students will be in period costume to commemorate their theme and the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council will
also have re-enactors present.

The Pittsburgh competition is a regional qualifier for the World Championships in St. Louis.

EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Monday, March 5, 2012
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: School Support Services , 1875 Niagara Stone Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake