PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
PDSB's All-Girls Team Becomes First Canadian Champions at World Robot Olympiad

With determination and teamwork, a team of four female Grade 9 students from Peel District School Board (PDSB) has made history by becoming the first Canadian team to ever win first place at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) Open Championship, Future Innovators Junior event in Brescia, Italy.

The students, who qualified for the competition earlier this year while attending Darcel Avenue Senior Public School, competed against 42 countries from September 26 to 28, proudly representing Canada on the world stage.  

Under the coaching of their Grade 8 French Immersion Teacher, Priya Parekh, these PDSB French Immersion students, Chathak Kaur, Rubanya Anand, Melanie Rose Ramcharran, and Chitra Sekhri began their journey at the FSL Future Innovators regionals on April 24, 2024. Presenting their project in French, they secured first place, which qualified their team called the "Forest Guardians" to compete at the national finals in Montreal, where they placed second, earning them a spot in Italy at the World Robot Olympiad. 

The Blaze-Bot takes first place  

The winning project is a solution designed to combat wildfires, a significant Canadian issue during the project's inception in Spring 2024. The Blaze-Bot uses coded sensors to closely monitor its environment and take preventive action to stop zombie fires and wildfires from spreading by communicating with a main control system and local fire stations. 

Building a future for success 

This victory aligns with PDSB's Multi-Year Strategic Plan, which focuses on student achievement and expanding learning beyond traditional classrooms. The success of the World Robot Olympiad team exemplifies how the Leading Education Innovation Project (LIEP), led by the PDSB Empowering Modern Learners team, contributes to positive outcomes in both student achievement and well-being. By providing students with hands-on, innovative learning experiences, they are equipped with the future-ready skills that prepare them for success. 

PDSB continues to support and empower young female students to break barriers and become future leaders. Their diverse contributions are vital to shaping the future of STEAM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics).  

Quotes 

"It was incredible to see all the diversity in the competition. Hopefully I will be able to enroll in another competition alongside my schoolmates, but even if it doesn't happen, I will never stop developing my passion for this field." 

Rubanya Anand, PDSB WRO student winner

"Cette expérience m'a non seulement donné des compétences techniques et m'a aidé à poursuivre ma passion, mais aussi la confiance nécessaire pour penser comme un innovateur et relever tous les défis qui se présentent à moi est comment bien travailler en équipe." 

Chathak Kaur, PDSB WRO student winner 

"My students not only learnt to code but also develop critical digital literacy skills, understanding how technology works and how it can be used to solve real world complex problems. STEAM offered my students a multi-disciplinary approach making learning more fun."  

Priya Parekh, PDSB FI teacher and Head coach for WRO winning team  

"The French as a Second Language Future Innovators - WRO initiative integrates STEAM education within Grades 6 to 8 French Immersion and Extended French programs. It enhances language proficiency and student engagement by linking French language learning to real-world challenges. This initiative highlights how French Immersion can extend beyond the classroom, empowering students to apply their language skills in innovative ways and inspiring future careers in science and technology."  

Erin Coulson, PDSB Instructional Coordinator FSL & International Languages 

"We are incredibly proud of team Forest Guardians for their outstanding first place finish at the World Robot Olympiad in Italy, an incredible feat grounded in teamwork. They have set a shining example of how some of the world's biggest challenges can be tackled effectively when we work together. Their ambition, creativity and collaborative spirit are testaments to the exceptional guidance of their teachers and mentors as well as the support from the Peel District School Board community. Congratulations to the team of young, female innovators for inspiring us all!"  

Rashmi Swarup, Director of Education, Peel District School Board