Castle Rock News Press 1211

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December 11, 2014 VOLU M E 1 2 | I SS UE 36 | F R E E

CastleRockNewsPress.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O

A publication of

WHAT’S INSIDE

A signal of the season: You might look for alternate traffic routes if you’re holiday shopping in Castle Rock. See Page 5

In her eyes: Check out the best of show at the annual Lone Tree Art Expo. See Page 12

Spike, the Woodlands Academy Robot, makes his way through the course at the First Lego League Event in Colorado Springs Nov.8. Courtesy photos

Strong showing: Douglas County had nine wrestlers place to finish third overall as a team in a recent wrestling tournament. See Page 22

Students’ robot a real winner The Soaring Owls took the Best Project Presentation award By Mike DiFerdinando

mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com P O W E R E D

B Y

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P L E AS E S UPPORT OUR LOCAL ADVE RTI SER S FOR T HE I R CONTR IBUTION TO K EE PI NG OU R C OMMUNIT Y CONNECTED

Members of th Woodlands Academy robotics team cheer for their classmates during the First Lego League Competition Nov.8 in Colorado Springs.

The robot’s name is Spike. He took months to build, program and train for his first robotics competition. Spike can identify objects in front of him, pick up and drop objects and even throw a soccer ball through a goal. But maybe most impressively, he was built, designed and programmed by a team of elementary and middle school students. “The hardest part about programing Spike was figuring out all the tasks because you had to be very precise,” said Madeline Jones, the student who programmed the robot. “If you went one way a little too short, the handle on Spike won’t hit

the door handle and push it open — and in the competition you would lose point for that.” A team of eight students, ages 9 to 14, from Castle Rock’s Woodlands Academy, 1057 Park St., built Spike to compete in the Southern Colorado Regional Robotics Competition of the First Lego League on Nov. 8 in Colorado Springs. The Soaring Owls team won the Best Project Presentation award, which along with the robotics award, is one of the most coveted prizes. Woodlands assistant robotics coach and retired electrical engineer Michael Martin emphasized just how hands-off the coaches were. “This is all about the kids,” Martin said. “The coaches are there just to facilitate. The kids built the robot. The kids have to come up with the presentation. They have to work together.” First Lego League is a STEM organization for upper elementary and middle school students with more Robotics continues on Page 11

Charter school breaks ground in Castle Rock G ET SOCIAL WITH US

World Compass Academy will open for the 2014-15 school year By Mike DiFerdinando

mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com P LE AS E R ECYCLE T HIS COPY

A new Douglas County charter school, World Compass Academy, broke ground on the site of its soonto-be school building Dec. 5 in Castle Rock. The school will be located on East Frontage road next to Plum Creek Community Church. “Today is really the culmination of three years of blood, sweat, tears and countless volunteer hours from some very dedicated people,” said Casey Kannenberg, a member of the academy board and parent of five children who will be attending the school. World Compass Academy will be

Douglas County’s newest charter school, World Compass Academy, broke ground on the site of their new school building Dec. 5 in Castle Rock. The school will be located on East Frontage Road next to Plum Creek Community Church. Photo by Mike DiFerdinando opening for the 2014-15 school year with 420 students in grades K-4 and 48 preschool students. One grade, which equals 84 students, will be added per year until the school oper-

ates Pre-K through eighth grade. Charter schools are public schools, and like district public schools, they are funded based on enrollment, also called per-pupil op-

erating revenue, or PPR, and receive funding from the district according to the number of students attending. Charter continues on Page 11


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