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FLL Blog Volume 13

by | Nov 21, 2023 | FLL, FLL Challenge, FLL Explore

FLL Blog Volume 13

Hello! 

Please read the entire blog, there is a lot of info this week! 

I hope everyone is ready for the upcoming events! Even if your team doesn’t fee ready, go to your event! The kids will learn so much and have a great time. I would bet you will find teans that are just as far along as you are! 

Teams and volunteers are there to help! Attend the coaches meeting in the morning, make sure the teams take advantage of practicing on the game tables so they know what to expect. The lighting and tables are different then they are at home. 

Our mats are brand new, so they are going to be slick and the robot may perform differently. If they practice on the game tables, the will have time to adjust if needed! 

Trust me, it helps! 🙂

If you have not yet, sign up to volunteer at an event your team is not participating at! You will get to see the judging process fro the other side and will be able to help your team better prepare for judging at future events! I have heard from multiple coaches that it has made them a better coach. Plus, you get a free t-shirt! You can email marak@firstwa.org for more info! 

 

Coaches Chats November 30th!

Tune in Next Tursday at 6:30 for FLL Explore and 7:00 for FLL Challenge for out November coaches chats! We will be talking about events!

Link to the coaches chat- https://bit.ly/novcoacheschat

Coaches Chat
Advancement

Advancement Numbers for FLL Challenge Events

Advancement numbers – *These numbers are subject to change based on team attendance the day of the event

 

Not sure which event you are attending? Check here- https://firstwa.org/fll-challenge-assignments-and-status/ 

FLL Challenge World Festival and Invitationals!

This season we have two slots for World Festival in Houston! One team will advance from each of the Championships!

We are also fortunate to have 4 Open Invitational spots! Two in California and two in Massachusetts! 

How the Invitational spots are decided I have not figured out yet 🙂

^

World Festival

In Houston, Texas April 17th-20th 2024

^

Western Edge Open Invitational

In Long Beach, California May 31st – June 2nd 2024

^

WPI Open Invitational

In Worcester, Massachusetts June 7th- 9th 2024

FLL Challenge Event Checklist!

Robot and attachments

  • Extra robot batteries and charger (if rechargeable)

Laptop computer or tablet for program changes

  • Make sure you know how to update without wifi!

Project Presentation

  • Any materials needed. FIRST WA does not provide any technology for teams to use.
  • If tech is needed, teams are resposible for providing, and must set up withing their 30 minute judging session.

Food, drinks and snacks (unless otherwise noted)

  • Some events have concessions available

Extension cord and power strip

Team Roster

  • Includes Consent  and Release indication for each student

Students registered online by parents in FIRST Dashboard

  • Paper consent forms if not registered online

A positive attitude and lots of enthusiasm to cheer for your team!

FLL Blog Volume 12

by | Nov 15, 2023 | FLL, FLL Challenge, FLL Explore

FLL Blog Volume 12

FLL Challenge Coaches Chat November 30th! 7pm

Our next coaches chat for FLL Challenge will be on November 30th at 7pm! This coaches chat will be for FLL Challenge teams only! We will be talking about all things event, Semifinal, State, Advancement, and answering your questions!

This is the last coaches chat before the December Qualifiers! Link in the next Blog!

FLL Explore Coaches Chat November 30th! 6:30 pm

Our next coaches chat for FLL Explore will be on November 30th at 6:30pm! This coaches chat will be for FLL Explore teams only! We will be talking about all things event, and answering your questions!

This is the last coaches chat before the December events! Link in the next blog!

FLL Challenge Event Assignments!

FLL Challenge event assignments are posted here!

Teams not on this list have outstanding tasks. To see what tasks you have to complete, you can check here.

Teams with outstanding tasks have until Friday 11/17 to complete them.

FLL Explore Event Assignments!

FLL Explore event assignments are posted here!

Teams not on this list have outstanding tasks. To see what tasks you have to complete, you can check here.

Teams that have requested the December events with outstanding tasks have until Friday 11/17 to complete them.

Name Changes!

Multiple teams have reached out about their team names not matching on my lists vs their dashboards.

This is because while my email list gets updated every time I post a blog, the team name section only gets updated once or twice.

If your team names are incorrect, please fill out this form. Please make sure whatever you put on this form matches what is listed on your dashboard at firstinspires.org. This makes it easier for me.

The form!

FLL Blog Volume 11

by | Nov 3, 2023 | FLL, FLL Challenge, FLL Explore

FLL Blog Volume 11

We are one month away from the first weekend of Qualifiers!

Is your team ready? Are you registered?

FLL Challenge and FLL Explore events are starting in one month! If you have not registered for an event or with FIRST Washington you need to do so ASAP!

Volunteers

We need volunteers for the Qualifiers! 

Teams should be providing one volunteer for an event they are not attending. This can be a parent, friend, coach or assistant coach! 

No experience required, we will train you! Judging at an event is rewarding, and you get to see the other side of the events! It will make you a better coach! 

If you have further questions, or need assistance, you can go to https://firstwa.org/volunteer-page/#volunteer-registration or email marak@firstwa.org 

Teams that have received event assignments-

Are you ready?

If you do not see your team on this list, that means you are missing something! Either a form has not been filled out, or you have not paid your FIRST Washington fee yet! Before you email me-

Click Here

This will show what you are missing 🙂

FLL Explore Invoices!

FLL Explore invoices go out next week! Watch your inboxes for them! 

FLL Blog Volume 10

by | Oct 25, 2023 | FLL, FLL Challenge, FLL Explore

FLL Blog Volume 10

FLL Challenge Invoice Information!

Four rounds of FLL invoices have gone out so far!

We are sending 1-2 per week to teams that have registered with FIRST and filled out their FIRST Washington registration!

If you have not received one, check here for your teams status. If only FIRSTWA Paid is red, check in with the person that should have received your invoice, check spam and junk folders. If you do not find it, please email accounting@firstwa.org

FLL Challenge Registration Update

We are chugging along, but still have a long way to go!

Registration numbers as of 10-25

Team registration with FIRST Inspires- 480

FIRST Washington registration- 365

Event registration- 334

Paid FIRST Washington- 196 🙁

If you have not yet

  • Paid FIRST Inspires
  • Registrered with FIRSTWA
  • Registered for an Event
  • Paid FIRSTWA

Please do so ASAP! I need to balance events and order awards!

FLL Explore Invoice Information

Invoices for FLL Explore have not yet gone out. They will go out at the end of October. These are only sent to the person you indicated on your FIRST Washington registration.

FLL Explore Registration Update

 

We are chugging along, but still have a long way to go!

Registration numbers as of 10-25

Team registration with FIRST Inspires- 88

FIRST Washington registration- 37

Event registration- 18

Paid FIRST Washington- N/A

FLL Blog Volume 9

by | Oct 17, 2023 | FLL, FLL Challenge, FLL Explore

FLL Blog Volume 9

First round of FLL Challenge Invoices went out this week!

The first round of FLL Challenge invoices for the FIRST Washington fee were emailed out yesterday. These went to teams that have registered with FIRST Inspires and have filled out the FIRST Washington registration. They were sent to the person you indicated on your FIRST Washington registration as the one that should receive your invoice. 

If you have not received an invoice, before you emeil me, STOP!

  • Have you checked with the person you indicated on your FIRST Washington registration?
  • Have you checked your SPAM/JUNK folder?
  • Have you completed your registration with FIRST Inspires?
  • Have you completed your FIRST Washington registration?

If you are unsure of the last 2, you can check here. 

If you have done all of these things, and all of your registrations are current and you still do not have one, you may email me on FRIDAY, 10/20. We will be sending out a second batch of FLL invoices soon, and then should be sending 1 batch per week until all have been sent out. 

 

Registration

Registration Information and Help

Registration still seems to be an issue for the programs, so I am going to share the same thing from last weeks coaches chat.

 

1. Your first step is to do your Team Registration with FIRST Inspires (firstinspires.org). You will need to log in on the website and go to your dashboard to register.

Then you are going to want to go complete the FIRST Washington registration and the Event Registration on firstwa.org.

FIRST Washington registration for both Challenge and Explore is similar, but for this I am only going to show Challenge.

Challenge registration is here- https://firstwa.org/challenge-registration/ 
Expolre registration is here- https://firstwa.org/explore-registration/ 

2. When you click the FIRST Washington registration button, it takes you to a page that looks like this-

3. When you click on the event registration button, it takes you to a page that looks like this- 

When you fill out the FIRST Washington registration and the event registration, you are going to want your team number from your FIRST Inspires dashboard. If you have not paid yet and are a rookie, this number will start with 2023.

Not sure if you have registered of filled out the registrations with FIRST Washington? 

4. Make sure you are checking the Team Status Sheet

Both Challenge and Explore have the same registrations forms, type of links and status sheets. Make sure you are checking them if you have questions. 

They are updated once a day manually, so keep that in mind when you are checking please 🙂

Event Assignments!

I have started to make tentative event assignments for the teams that have paid their FIRST Washington registration fee! Look for those to be posted by the end of the week!

Assignments are made on a first come first served basis, so don’t wait! Events will fill up!

FLL Blog Volume 8

by | Oct 10, 2023 | FLL, FLL Challenge, FLL Explore

FLL Blog Volume 8

Coaches Chat this Thursday!

Join us on Thursday October 12th at 7pm for our October Coaches Chat!

Join Meeting
Registration!

Many FLL Challenge and Explore Teams have not Filled out their Registrations!

^

FLL Challenge

If you have not done so yet, teams are required to fill out both the FIRST Washington registration and the Event registration. 

Challenge Registration
^

FLL Explore

If you have not done so yet, teams are required to fill out both the FIRST Washington registration and the Event registration. 

Explore Registration
^

Team Status Reports

If you are unsure if you have filled out the required registrations- Status reports for both programs are posted online!

Challenge Status
Explore Status

FIRST Washington Invoices

For FLL Challenge– Invoices for the $350 FIRST Washington fee should go out the 3rd week of October. They will be sent to the person you indicated should receive your invoice on your FIRST Washington registration.

For FLL Explore– Invoices should go out the end of October. They will be sent to the person you indicated should receive your invoice on your FIRST Washington registration.

If you have not filled out the FIRST Washington registration, you will not receive an invoice, and will not be eligible to attend any events.