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Robotics
Belmont Hill Robotics offers a rigorous and forward-looking STEM experience for Middle School and Upper School students interested in engineering, programming, and high-level competition. As an active participant in the VEX Robotics Competition, the program provides a structured pathway for students who wish to design, build, and compete with advanced robotic systems.
 
Founded in Spring 2022, Belmont Hill Robotics has rapidly distinguished itself at both the state and international levels. The program has earned numerous judged and performance-based honors and has qualified for the VEX World Championships every year since its inception. Students join a culture defined by technical excellence, strategic thinking, and collaborative problem-solving—skills essential to both academic and professional success.
 
Throughout the year, students work in the Bolles Makerspace during X Blocks and after-school Club Blocks under the mentorship of Mr. Ziff and Dr. Courtney. During the Winter Sports Season, robotics is offered as a full Competition Team, allowing students to satisfy their winter athletic requirement while training and competing at an elite level. Competition Team members participate in one to two tournaments per month across Greater Boston from November through March, with the final schedule released at the start of the season.

Form III students enter through a dedicated Form III Robotics Team within the Upper School league, gaining foundational experience that prepares them for advancement into tournament and varsity-level teams.

Program Structure

Belmont Hill Robotics is open to all interested students, with approximately 45 participants across both divisions. Teams are grouped by grade level, experience, and competitive readiness.

Team expectations vary by level, with clear pathways from entry-level participation to competitive varsity placement.

Varsity Team Selection:
Students seeking placement on a Varsity Team participate in the annual Upper School tryout process. Due to team size and annual graduation turnover, only a limited number of varsity positions open each year.
Primary Team Roles
  • Builder
  • Coder
  • Project Manager / Strategist
Participation in winter athletics does not preclude robotics involvement.
A group of students are gathered around a robotic device, examining and discussing it intently in what appears to be a classroom or workshop setting.
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A young man in a black jacket is intently focused on assembling a complex mechanical device on a cluttered workbench, surrounded by various tools and equipment in what appears to be a workshop or laboratory setting.
A group of people, likely students, gathered around a large, colorful structure made of metal and plastic, which appears to be some kind of engineering or robotics project.
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A group of young men are gathered around a robotic device, examining and working on it intently in what appears to be a workshop or laboratory setting.
The image shows a group of young people, likely students, gathered around a large robotic device, examining and discussing it intently.
Two young men, one in a white shirt and the other in a striped shirt, are working on a complex mechanical device on a cluttered desk in what appears to be a classroom or workshop setting.
A group of people, likely a robotics team, posing in front of a banner for an %22EXP Robotics Competition%22 event, with various trophies and awards visible in the foreground.
A group of young people in matching team uniforms are gathered around a table, examining and discussing a complex mechanical structure, likely a robot or other technical project.
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A group of six young people, likely students, standing in front of a backdrop with the %22VEX Robotics Competition%22 logo, suggesting they are participants in a robotics competition.
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Program Awards & Honors

The Belmont Hill Robotics Program has qualified for the State and World Championships each year since its founding.

2024–2025 – High Stakes

  • 3× Excellence Awards
  • Tournament Champion
  • Tournament Finalist
  • Innovate Award
  • 2× Design Awards
  • 2× Judges Awards
  • Excellence (MS), Think (HS), and Build (MS) Awards at States
  • 2× World Championship Qualifiers (1 MS, 1 HS)
  • Judges Award @ Worlds — Design Division
  • 35075A ranked Top 40 worldwide in Skills

2023–2024 – Over Under

  • 3× Excellence Awards
  • Tournament Champion
  • 2× Tournament Finalist
  • Judges Award
  • Design Award (MS) @ States — Worlds Qualifier
  • 2022–2023 – Spin Up
  • Excellence Award
  • Tournament Finalist
  • Think Award (MS) @ States — Worlds Qualifier

Comprehensive awards summary
 

Robotics Team Rankings & Results

Click below to follow along and learn more about our past performances and upcoming events.

Upper School

Varsity A

Varsity B

Tournament K

Tournament C

Middle School

Tournament X

Tournament Z

Club G

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Matthew Ziff is the Director of the Bolles Makerspace. In the spring of 2022, he formed the first Belmont Hill Vex Robotics Team. The team earned its first invitation to the Vex Robotics World Championships in the spring of 2023, returning again in 2024. Mr. Ziff is the 2024 recipient of the VRC Mentor of the Year for the Southern New England region. He is also the coach of the National Championship-winning Belmont Hill Drones team, which participates in the Drones in Schools competition league.  

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Dr. Courtney teaches four sections of science and coaches robotics. Dr. Courtney joined the Belmont Hill faculty with 17 years of upper school teaching experiences including biology, chemistry, neuroscience, human anatomy and physiology, psychology, and robotics with levels ranging from introductory to Advanced Placement. Dr. Courtney has taught at the Cambridge School of Weston,  Hill School, and Rivers School. She has served as a department chair, has published many scientific papers and is a health and wellness speaker on topics including vaping, drug and alcohol awareness, and video and social media addiction. She holds a Ph.D. in psychological and brain sciences and an M.A. and B.A. in psychology all from Boston University.

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Robotics Team Schedules 2025-2026

Middle School Schedule

Date Tournament Location Teams Attending
11/1 Framingham School Based Scrimmage Walsh Middle School, Framingham X, Z
11/23 Belmont Hill VEX V5 MS Push Back Tournament Belmont Hill X, Z
1/18 Framingham V5RC MS Push Back January Tournament Walsh Middle School, Framingham X, Z
2/8 Framingham VEX V5 Competition MS Push Back February Tournament Walsh Middle School, Framingham X, Z

High School Schedule

Date Tournament Location Teams Attending
10/16-18 Lobstah Bowl University of Maine, Orno, Maine A, B
11/1 Framingham School Based Scrimmage Walsh Middle School, Framingham A, B, C, K
11/22 North Andover High School V5RC Push Back - HS Qualifier North Andover High School A,B,C,K
12/ 4-6 Wave @ WPI WPI, Worcester A, B, K
1/17/26 Framingham V5RC HS Push Back January Tournament Walsh Middle School, Framingham A,B,C,K
1/31 South High VEX V5 Tournament South Commuity High, Worcester A,B,C,K
2/7 Framingham V5RC HS Push Back January Tournament Walsh Middle School, Framingham A,B,C,K
2/21 Bancroft VEX V5 HS Push Back Tournament Bancroft School, Worcester A,B,C,K

 

Robotics

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Two young men in suits are examining a complex electronic device on a table in what appears to be a classroom or workshop setting.
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