Grit. Perseverance. Collaboration. Kindness. Patience. Fun. How do RPRY’s eighth graders prepare for success in robotics tournaments? Robotics entails a mix of teamwork, computer coding and engineering/building. However, fundamentally, robotics truly begins with habits of the mind. Students must commit to working hard and to the iterative engineering design process. They have to redo and redesign many times. They have to embrace failure with aplomb and engage with the minutiae of computer coding. When students build, they must ensure that their symmetry is accurate and their foundational platform is solid. Finally, students treat each other with patience, as they divvy up responsibilities and support each other through their journey. Mazal tov on second place at the CIJE Robotics Competition on December 20, 2023.