Rough Riders, Excused Absences, Photos, FLL Congrats!

[MSA Admin aka Christi]

McKinney STEAM Academy & Mercenary Robotics

Updates Week of Feb 18, 2024

In this Email:

MSA: Thank you volunteers, Rough Riders

FRC: Google Chat, carpool, Excused Absences 

FTC: Let’s see your photos!

FLL: Congratulations!

 

	McKinney STEAM Academy (MSA) Our “Intro To” FLL and FTC workshops sold out! Thank you to our student volunteers so far. Vidhi Emmit Atharv Cora Amy Madison Nandan Isaac Elliot Shout out to our Library volunteers, Darrin and Emmitt, with 28 people in attendance. Check out our Facebook page for lots of footage from the Dallas regionals. https://www.facebook.com/McKinneyMercs6369  We have been invited to attend the Frisco Rough Riders STEM fundraiser! Every game ticket sold through our link raises funds for our students! We will be there with our robots answering the public’s questions. Be sure to stop by and say “Hi!” while you’re there. Frisco RoughRiders vs. San Antonio Missions May 10, 2024 7:05 PM CDT Riders Field 7300 RoughRiders Trail Frisco, TX 75034, US Purchase Deadline: May 10, 2024 7:05 PM CDT
	FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION (FRC) Logistics notes for this week: We’re running low on paper plates, paper towels, and snacks for these hard working teens. If we have any families willing to contribute these items they would be much appreciated.  Our ability to include parents on our Google Chat has been hampered by Google’s “external account” settings. Therefore we’re offering to create an MSA Parent account to any parent/family that would like to keep track of our day to day more closely. Send Ad...@McKinneySTEAMAcademy.org your request for a Parent Account. Please include your student’s name in the email. Now that we’re in the thick of build season we’re meeting a lot! If you’re interested in sharing car-pooling duties with fellow parents email Ad...@McKinneySTEAMAcademy.org and we’ll help connect families that would like to ride share.  16 days until Belton Competition NOTE: This is ONLY for students in COLLIN COUNTY. Excused Absence from schools in Collin County: The form is linked below. This must be received by Kristy G a minimum of one week before the event. Fill out the first section titled "Parent / Guardian Section" and the last line on the page titled "Name of School and Email Address of Attendance Clerk". Email the form to Kristy Grudza at kristy...@ag.tamu.edu. She will then take it from there. You will always be CCed when she sends something to the school on behalf of your child. One form is needed per child, per event. Form Download: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12eQClo7aXiBNL-OhHJF-AR9Cp8QaieSE/view?usp=sharing This Week: Intake:  No extra meetings Climber: No extra meetings Software: Extra meetings. Days TBD Tuesday - Software 6-9 Wednesday - Whole Team 6-9 Thursday - Whole team except software 6-9 Saturday - Whole team 9-6 Important Dates: March 7-9 FRC - Belton District Event March 28-30 FRC - Amarillo District Event April 3-6 Texas State Championship Helpful Links: Build Season Photos: http://tinyurl.com/yc2s48mz
	FIRST TECH CHALLENGE (FTC) We’re collecting 2023/24 season photos. Please find your team’s album and share any photos you may have taken!  Team: 21743 Mercenary Robotics URL: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZJdjVJoRK9eHW764A  Team: 20195 Metal Mercenaries URL: https://photos.app.goo.gl/qkfCKMRRKe3azexA6  Team: 20166 Mercenary Penguins URL: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QCWMsyWtniU8uX65A  Team: 18121 MiT Mercenaries in Training URL: https://photos.app.goo.gl/YX3HBBLTH2YeLW9y9  Team: 17011 Mercenaries URL: https://photos.app.goo.gl/YytNs897DHHDwgGC6  Important Dates: February 24 FTC Regional - Team 17011
	FIRST LEGO LEAGUE (FLL) Congratulations Venkatavaradhan Ramamurthy on getting the Coach / Mentor Award! Coach/Mentor Awards:  We would be remiss if we did not shout out a coach whose team(s) credit their success to them.  Your teams love your support, enthusiasm, dedication, and belief in their abilities. They love your spirit and appreciate the time you are willing to give them. You’re the real MVP! Congratulations to the following coaches: Congratulations 60690 LEGO Masterminds on the Engineering Excellence Award! Engineering Excellence - This award celebrates a team with an efficiently designed robot, an innovative project solution, and Core Values evident in all they do.  60690 LEGO Masterminds also advanced to State!!! Team 50491 Mercenary Dragons competed Saturday, January 10th. They did an AWESOME job, tying for 10th in the Robot Game with a score of 360 pts!  This Week: We’re collecting 2023/24 season photos. Please find your team’s album and share any photos you may have!  Team: 61724 Mighty Mercs URL: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zkBaZdpYo9iDASGi6  Team: 61002 Mercs Tech Tigers URL: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wJy1uGEiTwYupm9VA  Team: 60892 BrickMercs URL: https://photos.app.goo.gl/bin2SGYQGzVRLQsW6  Team: 60680 Lego Masterminds URL: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wPUU6Cu9WfPYhkvT6  Team: 54586 Brick Mercenaries URL: https://photos.app.goo.gl/jrvawBz7tmxFdERcA  Team: 51620 Mercenary Moon Stormers URL: https://photos.app.goo.gl/dpP66w2VGAiXZjms8  Team: 50491 The Mercenary Dragons URL: https://photos.app.goo.gl/fXardNvsEYfRZpFu8  Team: 29126 Training Mercs URL: https://photos.app.goo.gl/fBxb9gRUXhnq25QA9  Team: 29125 Young Mercs URL: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3Mn81ps7zufvqy198  Team: 28813 Curious Dream Weavers URL: https://photos.app.goo.gl/oe1EDwfLqo6KegVm8  Team: 27183 Mercenaries II URL: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ly6BoohPqbR6mgCc7  Team: 27116 Mercenary Friends URL: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Je4QGQUtEbDDKBdTA

 

Helpful links:
MSA Website: https://www.mckinneysteamacademy.org/
ALL Team Calendars: https://www.mckinneysteamacademy.org/calendar_members.php
FIRST in Texas: https://firstintexas.org/
FIRST Inspires (global): https://www.firstinspires.org/