DIXFIELD — Dirigo Middle School students gathered around a box of Legos this week, choosing the right pieces that could be turned into a computer-programmed robot.

Kim Dailey, leader of the robotics after-school program, said heading up the program is something he has always been interested in. And so are the boys.

“I’m really good at Legos and building things. I thought it would be cool to do a Lego robot,” seventh-grader Trevor Bellegarde said.

His partner, sixth-grader Cameron Gray, agreed.

“I get to program a robot,” he said.

Dirigo High School freshman Kyle Morrison was more than happy to help the younger boys. He likes robotics, too, and had participated in the after-school program last year while in middle school.

Some interest is being shown in starting up a high school robotics team, too, although solid steps have not yet been taken.

Dailey said the boys in his class are not only learning math and physics, but they are also learning how to be a team.

“So everyone’s voice is equal,” he said.

Plans are to take 10 students to the Augusta Civic Center on Dec. 14 to compete in the middle school robotics competition.

Dailey said the Dirigo team is one of 74 robotics teams statewide. Many will be at the competition.

Although all the students like working with Legos and computers, some are also taking the after-school class to earn their Boy Scout merit badge in robotics.

Sixth-graders Jacob True and Sean Gould are two of them.

“It’s amazing how humans can come up with stuff like this,” True said.

Dailey said he plans to offer another after-school class in robotics in January.

In the meantime, students will work on building a Lego robot until the December competition. The group meets weekly from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

This will be the team’s first time going up against others from across the state.

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