Power Play Coach Email Volume 2: 8-24-22 – Help with Control Hubs – even (or especially) if you are NOT participating in FTC, Kickoff and more

Greetings Coaches & Mentors!

If you are new to this email this is the place where you will find all of the Washington specific FIRST Tech Challenge information. Coaches in the FIRST system for the Power Play season will be added weekly. Every email from me will be numbered and that number lets you know which update it is, if you miss an update you can find it on our website.

Here is what I have for you today:

1. Help with Control Hubs even if (or especially if) you are not participating
2. Kickoff Locations
3. Grants & FIRST Wa Registration
4. Event Dates for the 22/23 Season

 

 

Help with Control Hubs even if (or especially if) you are not participating this season

I’m sure you have all received the emails from FIRST talking about the supply issue with the control hubs. In case you have not received communication from FIRST, Rev is experiencing a supply chain issue and as a result rookie teams will most likely not have access to control hubs this season. As a result, we are emailing current and past FTC teams to see if they have extra or un-used equipment that they would either be willing to donate to FIRST Washington or lend to a team in need. When we first sent the email out, we got a few teams saying there was a possibility for some extra control hubs. We are hoping that you all may have a better idea at this point, how many teams you will have. Please follow the link below to tell us if you will (or may) have extra control hubs that we can have access too. We want to give our rookie teams the best chance and appreciate the support we know that you will all give to do that!

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/0337427b3a2d4600bb7b152aba1a779b

FTC Kickoff this year

We are very excited to announce that we have 5 FTC kickoff events happening around Washington this year!

Kickoff is Saturday, Sept 10. Below are the different kickoff locations and a bit of info about what the day will look like at each location. Please take a moment to register. As we get closer to the event, more info will go out to teams that have registered for each kickoff. If you don’t register, you may miss out on critical information.

Auburn High School 711 E Main St. Auburn, WA 98002

8:30 am: Doors open

9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow

12:30 pm: Event ends

Charles Wright Academy 7223 Chambers Creek Rd. University Place, WA 98467

8:30 am: Doors open

9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow

12:30 pm: Event ends

Kamiakin High School 600 N. Arthur St. Kennewick, WA 99336

9:00 am: Doors open, ice breakers

9:45am: Game reveal with Q&A and brainstorming sessions

12:00 pm: Event ends

Olympia High School 1302 N. St SE, Olympia, WA 98501

8:45 am: Doors open

9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and brainstorming sessions to follow

12:00 pm: Event ends

Ridgeline High School 20150 E. Country Vista Dr. Liberty Lake, WA 98019

8:30 am: Doors open

9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow

12:00 pm: Event ends

Fill out this registration form if you plan to attend any of the kickoff events. Note, we are just looking for estimates as far as numbers go for planning purposes.

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/2cfa0b2545744845a93b7b155b659f57

Grants and FTC Registration

Boeing Grant is Open – Any team with a Boeing Mentor

The Boeing grant opened earlier this month. In order to receive a Boeing sponsorship, a team must have a Boeing employee or retiree who commits to volunteering for the team at least 25 hours over the course of the season. Your Boeing Mentor will be able to go in and submit the grant for your team. The information we have is that the grant should remain open until September 30th which is much later than in prior years.

OSPI Grant will open soon! – Washington public school teams only

The OSPI grant should open soon and will close on October 3rd. If you are a Washington public school, be sure to coordinate with the Administrator in your school who is responsible for filling out (or approving) the grant. We learned from OSPI that there were some schools who did not fully fill out the grant in the past few years and therefore were unable to be considered for funding. Be sure to answer all questions completely. Remember FIRST Washington grants show up on your invoice so you will not know what those grants are before the deadline but every team that registers with FIRST Washington by the grant deadline who is interested in a grant will receive funding from FIRST Washington Donors.

FTC Registration in Washington is open!

Our registration form (formerly the FIRST Washington Grant form) is open. Any team planning to compete in Washington needs to fill out our registration form. If you are interested in receiving a grant, you will need to complete the form prior to September 30. Here is the link to the registration form: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/fef251a315a44f02ad73abc987b3f63b

General Event Dates for the 22/23 Season

Here are the general event dates for the season.  Teams will receive more information from their League Coordinator once they have been placed in a league.

Events are only one day but we set the event weekends.  Your League Coordinator will communicate which day your specific league event will be.

First round of league events: Nov 4-6

Second round of league events: Dec 2-4

Interleague Championship events: Dec 17 & 18

Enjoy the last few days of summer break everyone!

Kevin Emery

FTC Program Delivery Partner

FIRST Washington

kemery@firstwa.org

Adrienne Collins

Director of Programs

FIRST Washington

acollins@firstwa.org