Family Practice with an

Jackson, Laning and their teammate, third grader Penn Reynolds, make up the Flaming Cheetos, and they shared points during their competition with Robert E. Willis Elementary School’s Kreative Kaos, which consisted of fifth graders Landon Cuervo and Zachary Danalu.

The Flaming Cheetos and Kreative Kaos were among 160 teams from 37 School District of Manatee County

CHALLENGE AHEAD

After competing in the School District of Manatee County’s VEX competition Feb. 14, these East County teams are headed to the North/Central Florida Region VEX IQ Elementary State Competition:

ELEMENTARY

Robert E. Willis Elementary School: n Kreative Kaos

Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School n Slap and Slide n Rainbow Surprise n Flaming Cheetos n Green IQs

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Dr. Mona Jain Middle School: n Robo Warriors elementary and middle schools participating in the districtwide VEX IQ competition Feb. 14 at the Bradenton Area Convention Center.

Jennifer McManis, the STEM coordinator for the School District of Manatee County, said the VEX robotics program started in the district five years ago in a few elemen-