Monday, February 20, 2017

State Championships and FIRST news

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon

In this post you will find:

  1. Youth Innovation Showcase opportunity - email only
  2. FIRST LEGO League State Championship News
  3. FIRST Tech Challenge State Championship News
  4. WGBH Middle School Coaches survey
  5. Demonstration Teams Needed for FIRST LEGO League Jr.

1) Youth Innovation Showcase opportunity - email only
By request of FIRST and NBC this announcement is only available in the email version of our newsletter.  Don't see our emails, you can sign up here!  Your team does not need to be going to state to apply.

2) FIRST LEGO League State Championship News
The Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO League Championships presented by Rockwell Collins will be happening on March 4 & 5 at Glencoe High School. These events are open to the public and a great way for your team to see what 3 more months have allowed these teams to accomplish (thanks to the snow). Starting a new team for the 2017 season? Come see what a competition looks like and meet other teams from your local area!  Opening Ceremonies will be at 9:00am in the Main Gym. Matches will run until ~2:30pm each day. Each day will conclude with an award ceremony. The 1st place Championship team each day, will represent Oregon at the World Festival in Houston, TX in April. 

We are looking for volunteers for several roles. If you are interested in working behind the scenes at a FIRST LEGO League event, we need judges, practice table monitors, queuers, scorekeepers, and many others. Please sign-up using the FIRST system.

Even if your team is not competing please consider attending the tournament. It is a great way to see how others have solved the same challenges, keep inspired, and share the program with your principals and potential supporters.

If you are attending the championship, please look for an email tomorrow with specific details just for your team!

3) FIRST Tech Challenge State Championship News
This coming weekend, February 25 & 26 is the FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon State Championship tournament. This is a great opportunity to see the next level of FIRST competition. Watch live play from 9:30am on the 26th, until 5pm (there will be a lunch break midday) in the main gym of Benson Polytechnic High School, Portland.

If you are an adult who available to volunteer we are still looking for referees and a variety of logistics role help on Sunday. Please sign up in the FIRST Volunteer System.

4) WGBH Middle School Coaches survey
WGBH Education, a National FIRST Affiliation, is looking for feedback about the use of engineering and coding in your school. Help them learn more about how computational thinking might be best taught in middle school classrooms, and you’ll also have a chance to win a $50 gift card! Share your feedback by taking this survey by February 23rd.

5) Demonstration Teams Needed for FIRST LEGO League Jr.
We are in need of 4-8 teams to demonstrate FIRST LEGO League, both the robot game and share your ANIMAL ALLIES Project and of course your Core Values. If your team is available to share at OMSI on March 18 and/or 19 for the morning and/or afternoon expos. 

If selected, your team would bring their robot, prototypes (if you have one) and posters to share during the expo. Team members should be prepared to talk with FIRST LEGO League Jr members about the challenge and differences in the programs. Two coaches are encouraged to talk with FIRST LEGO League Jr coaches about the program.  Demonstrating team members will receive OMSI wristbands. Complete the online form to volunteer!  You will be notified the week after the State Championship.

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