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FLL Blog Volume 17

by | Jan 9, 2024 | FLL, FLL Challenge, FLL Explore

January Coaches Chat

Because of the FTC Intertleage prep going on this week, I am moving the coaches chat to Tuesday, January 16th at 7pm.

This Coaches chat is for FLL Challenge teams. We will be discussing the Semifinal Events and the 2 State Championship events. I will also talk about the plans for the 3 different Open Invitationals I have spots for.

To attend the coaches chat, you can click the link below, or find it on the FIRSTWA Calendar.

Coaches Chat Link

Semifinal Team Lists Posted!

The team lists for each Semifinal are posted on the calendar event pages. The links are below in the locations section.

They are also updated on the Awards and Advancement sheet on the website.

I accommodated as many requests as I could, but there were a few I was unfortunately unable to accommodate.

Semifinal Locations

Covington-

Cedar Heights Middle School

19640 SE 272nd St.
Covington, WA 98042

https://firstwa.org/event/fll-picasso-semifinal/

https://firstwa.org/event/fll-bach-semifinal/

Seattle-

Ballard High School

1418 NW 65th St.
Seattle, WA 98117

https://firstwa.org/event/fll-monet-semifinal/ 

https://firstwa.org/event/fll-beethoven-semifinal/ 

 

FTC Blog: Volume 17

by | Jan 9, 2024 | FTC

Inclement Weather Policy: 

We have been watching the weather and know there is some snow predicted. Please read our Inclement Weather Policy below. It will let you know how we handle inclement weather and where to go to get information on your event. 

Below is our policy (This is also posted at the top of the landing page of firstwa.org) 

Inclement Weather Policy  

The safety of teams and volunteers is extremely important to FIRST Washington. Because we live in such a geographically diverse area and weather can vary greatly, we trust our event hosts to decide whether it is safe to hold an event as well as do what is best in compliance with their respective school district’s policy.  For the same reasons, coaches need to look at the conditions in their area, consider the safety of their participants as well as their school district policy (if affiliated with a school) when deciding if they should attend their scheduled event.  

We do not guarantee that a make-up event will be scheduled if an event is cancelled (though we can certainly look into rescheduling if it is feasible) and if a team chooses not to attend a scheduled event, no additional event will be offered. 

Here is what we have done to make communication as easy as possible. 

  • We have put an inclement weather banner at the top of the front page of firstwa.org where you can check the status of your event  
  •  IF there is a change to your event, we intend to post it no later than 6:15 am the morning of your event. (Understand, conditions can always change so we will do our best to give as much notice as possible) 

If your event is happening, but your team chooses not to attend, please notify us right away so we can pass the info on to our hosts. 

If you are a coach email Adrienne Collins at acollins@firstwa.org Include your event and team number in the subject line of the email 

If you are a volunteer email Mara Kealey at marak@firstwa.org  Include your event in the subject line of your email.

    Inclement Weather Updates

    Make Sure You’re Prepared for Your Event This Weekend!

    I hope your team is excited for the event this weekend! Here is what you need to bring to your event: 

    • Roster and paper consent forms for anyone not listed on the roster (these need to be brought and turned in at every event you attend 
    • Extension cord and power strip for your pits 
    • Your engineering portfolio to turn in to the judges  
    • Come prepared to be sent to judging right away! 
    • Your gracious professionalism and energy!! 

    For those of you who are new, Interleague events are a step up from league events. There will be twice as many teams their (2 leagues) AND you will have judging. Come prepared to meet new people, cheer for your team and have a great time! 

     

    Onshape with Kevin

    A new series of tutorials are being posted on YouTube about working with Onshape. Starting at the very basics. The following link is to a YouTube Playlist. Videos are being added constantly so be sure to subscribe.

    Useful for both FTC and FRC, get a jump start in using CAD for you teams.

     

    OnShape Video

    FRC Blog: Volume 14

    by | Dec 14, 2023 | FRC, Uncategorized

    Next FRC Coaches Chat is scheduled for Thursday, December 14 at 7:00 pm

    We will be focusing on what teams need to do to prepare for kickoff during this coaches chat.  I expect the meeting to be short which will allow for either more time for all of you to connect with each other on Teams or we can close the meeting down and let you all get back to your families and preparations for the holidays. 

    To join the meeting click here 

    Make sure your team is prepared for kickoff! 

    Kickoff is just around the corner and there are several things you need to do to be sure that you are prepared!  I know there has been some confusion because teams can opt out of the black tote and drive base but every team will receive a kickoff kit and needs to plan to pick it up from the kickoff Jan 6.   

    Here is what you need to do to make sure you are prepared: 

    1. Secure your PNW FRC Registration so you can pick up your kickoff kit 
    2. If you are attending an event in person: Make sure your students are all registered on your firstinspires dashboard and that their consents have been signed.  You will need to bring a copy of your roster to kickoff and include paper consent forms for anyone who has not signed the electronic consent form. 
    3. Kit pickup:  If you are having someone other than your coach or assistant coach pick up your kickoff kit, you need to fill out a surrogate form.    You can find a link to the surrogate form as well as more information on having a surrogate pick up your kit here.

    Sign Up to be an FTC Dean’s List Interviewer!

    FTC Dean’s List will be remote this year, so you can interview from anywhere. Even if you’re affiliated with a team, you can be an interviewer. We’ll match you with unaffiliated candiddates. All 21+ volunteers are welcome. 

    Provide your availability here! 

    FLL Blog Volume 16

    by | Dec 13, 2023 | FLL, FLL Challenge, FLL Explore

    What a great two weekends of FLL Events! I hope everyone that participated had fun!

    Between Eastern and Western Washington, there were 14 FLL Challenge events and 3 FLL Explore events! 

    I made it to 5 FLL Challenge events over the 2 weekends, and it was great to see the teams excitement!

    We aren’t done with events yet! There are 4 FLL Challenge Semifinal and 2 State Championship events coming up in January and February! All these events are in need of volunteers. 

    In March we have the next round of FLL Explore events with 2, one in Western Washington and one in Eastern Washington. 

    Awards!

    Awards are posted on the website!

    Awards List

    Semifinal Assignments!!

    Semifinal assignments are posted to the far right on the award results sheet. The link is in the button above! 

     

    All advancing teams have been assigned to a semifinal event. I tried my best to make sure schools were placed together. If you are unable to attend on the day you were assigned, please fill out the form at this link to request a switch. I will do my best to accomidate, but I can only switch teams out of an event if someone wants to switch into that event. Flexibility on location helps make it easier. Please indicate in the notes why the date does not work for your team. 

     

    Semifinal Switch Form

    FTC Blog: Volume 16 

    by | Dec 12, 2023 | FTC

    FTC Coaches Chat is Tonight at 7:00pm 

    On this coaches chat, we will be focusing on Interleague Championship information.  Here are some of the things we will cover: 

    • High Level Interleague Schedule (Schedule will vary slightly by event) 
    • What the day will look like 
    • Judging 
    • Interleague Rankings 
    Coaches Chat

    Dean’s List Nominations are due Friday, December 15th 

    We will once again be having a remote Dean’s List event in January.  Submissions are due December 15th.   

    Each team may nominate 2 students for the Dean’s List awards on their dashboard.  For more information on requirements for the Dean’s List Award or how to nominate your students, click here. 

     

    Interleague Event Dates 

    We have gone over this in Coaches Chats and posted it in blogs and on our website but I received several questions recently about the Interleauge Events. You can find the dates, locations and which leagues are attending each Interleague on our website here. 

    Later this week, teams will receive an email from me with some high level information about their event.  More details will come after the first of the year.