In today's FIRST LEGO League Oregon Update we will cover these topics:
- How to Complete your National Registration
- Coach, Mentor, and Parent Workshops - time is running out!
- ORTOP Team Financial Support - Over 60 teams awarded!
- Oregon IMPORTANT DATES
- The Importance Working on Inclusion and Diversity
- FIRST LEGO League Paid Coaching Opportunity - Portland
- Showcases and Scrimmages!
Use this link to read this update as a blog post
ORTOP Team Financial Support has been awarding support to teams since mid-July. So far over 60 teams have received award letters and we are eager to continue supporting teams who are working towards FIRST diversity and inclusion goals, while working towards financial sustainability. If this sounds like your team, please apply today! The next deadline for applications is August 20. Applications will be accepted until September 17, or when funds are fully depleted.
If you are new to this email or blog this is the place where you will find all of the OREGON specific FIRST LEGO League information. If you are in the FIRST Dashboard as a team coach of a registered team for INTO ORBIT you will be added to this list every week for the rest of the competition season. Every update this season begins with IO (Into Orbit) and a number, that number lets you know which update it is, if you miss an update you can find it on our blog.
1) How to Complete your National Registration
Are you going to coach a team in the INTO ORBIT season? Now is the time to complete your registration at www.firstinspires.org. To participate in the Oregon competitive season your registration must be fully complete BEFORE 4pm on October 3, 2018!
- Does your team need ORTOP Team Financial Support? - Complete the team financial support application (see topic 3)
- Update your information with FIRST! If you are new, you will need to create a profile, if you are returning you still need to log in and update for this year
- Go to www.firstinspires.org
- Sign-up (if new), Log In if you already have an account
- Sign the 2018-19 Consent Form!
- Make sure you are listed as a coach or mentor for your team - please reuse all the team numbers affiliated with your account before creating a new team number, even if all the kids are new! Make sure all your co-coaches are correct!
- If needed - create a new team and invite your second coach
- MAKE SURE YOUR TEAM ADDRESS IS CORRECT - your Challenge Kit will be shipped here!
- If your last Verified Volunteers background check was in 2014-15 or you are new, complete your background check.
- If you are not physically located in Oregon and are Tax Exempt (school or nonprofit) complete the Tax Exempt process.
- If you have applied for ORTOP Team Support stop here!
- Pay your National Registration of $299, this includes the INTO ORBIT Challenge Kit (it's been 311.95 for most Oregon teams). - DO NOT DO THIS IF YOU ARE WAITING FOR ORTOP TEAM FINANCIAL SUPPORT, your team award letter will have directions.
- Get ready for an amazing season!
2) Coach, Mentor, and Parent Workshops - time is running out!
Coach, Mentor, and Parent Workshops are running through September. Both of the August series have already started and the Medford classes start TOMORROW! It's not too late to join any of them! September classes will take place at Girl Scouts of Oregon and SW Washington in Portland, Intel Aloha Fabs in Aloha, Mountain View High School in Bend, Garmin in Salem, 4-H Extension Office in Hood River, Nyssa Elementary School in Malheur County, and Eastham Community Center in Oregon City.
These workshops are for adults only. They can take any adult from turning the computer on to understanding the basics of FIRST LEGO League. This is a great way for both parents and coaches to prepare for the season. Learn more about our workshops and preview the materials here.
These workshops are for adults only. They can take any adult from turning the computer on to understanding the basics of FIRST LEGO League. This is a great way for both parents and coaches to prepare for the season. Learn more about our workshops and preview the materials here.
All workshops are run by donation!
3) ORTOP Team Financial Support - Over 60 teams awarded!
ORTOP Team Financial Support has been awarding support to teams since mid-July. So far over 60 teams have received award letters and we are eager to continue supporting teams who are working towards FIRST diversity and inclusion goals, while working towards financial sustainability. If this sounds like your team, please apply today! The next deadline for applications is August 20. Applications will be accepted until September 17, or when funds are fully depleted.
We are happy to work with our sponsors, Oregon Department of Education, Intel, Google, Rockwell Collins, Garmin, Juan Young Trust, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and FIRST to provide this opportunity for teams around the state! Thank you to all of our volunteers who take the time to read your applications and help us find the best-fit sponsor for the teams that are applying!
4) Oregon IMPORTANT DATES
GET OUT YOUR CALENDAR AND WRITE THESE DOWN!
- NATIONAL REGISTRATION DEADLINE - October 3, - 4 PM
- Oregon Qualifying Tournament Application Opens - October 3 - 5 PM (TEAM NAME REQUIRED)
- Oregon Qualifying Tournament Application CLOSES - October 10 - 5PM
- Oregon Expert Nights - OMSI Empirical Theater (free tickets required, info coming soon) - live stream information coming as well, but trust us, you want to be there if you can!
- October 17 - 5 PM and 7 PM
- October 18 - 5 PM and 7 PM
- Last Day to PAY for your Qualifying Tournament Application - October 31, 2018
- FIRST LEGO League Tournament Assignments POSTED ONLINE - November 2, 2018 - 5 PM
- FIRST LEGO League Project Share at OMSI - TBA (October/November)
- FIRST LEGO League Project Share at Cedar Mills Library - TBA (November/December)
- Gathering of Robots - University of Oregon Ford Alumni Center - November 10
- Total Chaos FIRST LEGO League Beaverton Scrimmage - November TBA
- Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO Leauge Qualifying Tournaments - December 8, 9, 15, 16 - see the ORTOP Calendar for confirmed locations
- Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO League Spanish Language Qualifying Tournament - December 8 at Poynter Middle School! If your team or team parents speak Spanish, please consider joining us for this event or if you would like to support this effort!
- Advancing Teams Apply to Championship Event - December 18 - 5 PM to December 20 - 5 PM
- Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO League Championship Tournaments - January 19 & 20 - 60 teams each day.
5) The Importance Working on Inclusion and Diversity
One of the known strengths of bringing a team to a tournament is the exchange of knowledge that happens when kids from a variety of schools and backgrounds get together and share their very different solutions to the exact same problems. We know there is no other way to achieve this because of the way schools only have so many teachers with so many new ideas. However, schools and neighborhoods are FULL of students who have a variety of ideas and experiences that they can bring to a team, especially if they may not self-identify as someone who would be "into" robotics. Those kids are the secret gems of the most powerful and dynamic teams in the world as they are not limited by what has been done before.
However, those diverse kids whether they are from a different family structure, income level, native language, or educational challenges don't just show up at your team meetings. It takes conscious effort and real work to find those students, help them join the team, and prepare your team to value their contributions. Everyone on the team will benefit from a more understanding and inclusive team environment, but it takes planning. FIRST has prepared a set of materials to help us adults make this environment a reality for the young engineers who continually inspire us each year. My favorite lessons were on Hidden Messages and the little things we say that send messages we really don't mean. It was such a powerful time of self-reflection that I encourage all of you to take a few moments to explore these free lessons to help make all our teams the best possible teams.
6) FIRST LEGO League Paid Coaching Opportunity - Portland
Paid position: Buckman SUN Lego Robotics Coach
Where: Buckman Elementary school 320 SE 16th Ave. Portland OR. 97214
When: Tuesdays 3:00-5:30pm at Buckman, and TBD dates/locations.
Pay: $12/hour
Buckman SUN is an after-school program seeking coaches for our two FIRST Lego League teams.
We have participated the past two years in competition and have a strong core of veterans. Last year we ran two classes teaching Lego Mindstorms to new students in our program. We hope to send two teams to competition this season.
The position begins Sept. 10.
Contact Joe at jhannan@impactnw.org for more information
7) Showcases and Scrimmages
Gathering of Robots: FRC team SERT 2521 would like to invite teams from the Eugene/Springfield area to bring a robot to demo on November 5 at Ford Alumni Center at the University of Oregon. Even if your team can't demo your robot, SERT would like to invite you to attend to see what else is going on in all of the FIRST programs. For more information or to join the fun contact SERT 2521 at sert2521business@gmail.com
Total Chaos FIRST LEGO League Scrimmage: FIRST Tech Challenge Total Chaos welcomes all interested FIRST LEGO League teams to a scrimmage at the Beaverton City Library prior to the Oregon Qualifying Tournaments. Total Chaos wants to give FIRST LEGO League teams a chance to experience a FIRST competition, practice their presentations, and get feedback from judges in a learning environment before heading off to a real event. Many of their team members have been successful in FIRST LEGO Leauge in the past and understand what it's like. Coaches, if you're interested in our event, please fill out their form. The date will be set based on interest for mid-late November.
I will be out of the office on Monday and Tuesday. Look for more exciting FIRST LEGO League Oregon News soon! I hope you all get out and see the Perseids this weekend!
Best Wishes,
Loridee
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