It's a long one.... Lots happening.

[MSA Admin aka Christi]

McKinney STEAM Academy & Mercenary Robotics

July 21, 2024

In this Email:

MSA: SWENext!

FRC: Fees Due, Software, NTX

FTC: Fees Due, Start Dates

FLL: Fees Due, Coach Training

Please note Time sensitive action items

Please note No action needed but particularly noteworthy.

 

	McKinney STEAM Academy (MSA) SWENext Our Mercenaries on 6369 are heading an initiative to start a SWENext Club, the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology. This is the youth arm of the Society of Women Engineers. All MSA students, of all genders and ages, are welcome to join.  The first meeting will be July 27, 10am - 12pm. Our students will have a current SWE member as a guest speaker, discuss what the club entails and open applications for Club Officer roles. Join us to learn more about this amazing club! We’ve Expanded - Again! The suite next door to our current location has opened and we’ve been given the opportunity to expand. This is going to give all of our programs some much needed elbow room. Important Dates: July 27 10am-12pm: SWENext, all welcome (see MSA Section) July 27th - 4:00 - 5:30 PM: Open House Helpful Links: MSA Calendars
	FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION (FRC) 2024/2025 Fees (in full or first installment) are due Jul 31, 2024. This not only secures your student’s spot but also ensures we have the ability to order parts ahead of the greatest seasonal demand. FIRST Robotics Competition only Student Fee:  $1,600 Monthly:  $175, 10 payments from July to April FTC & FRC Dual Enrolled  Student Fee: $2,350 Monthly:  $225, 11 payments from June to April You can bring in a check made out to "DMS ABC” or Zelle using "fin...@mckinneysteamacademy.org" or the image at the end of this email. Note that the business name shown in Zelle will be "Dowell Middle School Academic Booster Club." This is the name we originally filed for our 501(c)3 with and we are in the process of updating the name after our expansion to the McKinney STEAM Academy. When Zelle presents you with the "Reason" please enter "FRC - StudentName" so we can correctly assign the payment to your student. CAD Training - We are looking at repeating part 2 virtually. Once we have a date, it will be posted here. Make sure your student has been through the self paced portion first, found here. Part 4 will likely be moved to September.  Software Training - Module 1 and the first section of Module 2 on August 17 and the remainder of Module 2 on August 31. There will be a self paced portion in between these dates. Module 1 is designed for all students and Module 2 is the continuation for those that would like to specialize in software. Information on what will be covered, what your student needs and how to prepare is on the website. NTX Save the Date: We’re still waiting for confirmation of details but this is what we know so far. STEM Gals AND North Texas Tournament of Robots (aka NTX) When: Sept 26-28, 2024 Where: Herman E Utley Middle School 1201 T L Townsend Dr, Rockwall, TX 75087 Event Website: https://www.ntxrobotics.com/ntxtournament This Week: Wednesday 6-9 Whole Team Meeting Saturday 1-5pm Whole Team Saturday 4pm Open house Saturday 10am-12pm: SWENext, all welcome (see MSA Section) Important Dates: July 27 10am-12pm: SWENext, all welcome (see MSA Section) July 27 Open House Aug 10 John and Judy Gay Library Aug 17 Software Training Aug 31 Software Training Sept 26-28 North Texas Tournament of Robots (NTX) Helpful Links: MSA Calendars First in TX Livestreams: https://www.youtube.com/@FIRSTinTexas/streams
	FIRST TECH CHALLENGE (FTC) 2024/2025 Fees (in full or first installment) are due now. This not only secures your student’s spot but also ensures we have the ability to order parts ahead of the greatest seasonal demand. FTC only Student Fee:  $1,000 -OR- Monthly:  $125, 9 payments from June to February FTC & FRC Dual Enrolled  Student Fee: $2,350 Monthly:  $225, 11 payments from June to April You can bring in a check made out to "DMS ABC” or Zelle using "fin...@mckinneysteamacademy.org" or the image at the end of this email. Note that the business name shown in Zelle will be "Dowell Middle School Academic Booster Club." This is the name we originally filed for our 501(c)3 with and we are in the process of updating the name after our expansion to the McKinney STEAM Academy. When Zelle presents you with the "Reason" please enter "FTC - StudentName" so we can correctly assign the payment to your student. CAD Training - We are looking at repeating part 2 virtually. Once we have a date it will be posted here. Make sure your student has been through the self paced portion first, found here. Part 4 will likely be moved to September.  Team Start Dates: These are off season start dates to begin building skills and teamwork. We recognize that families are still traveling for the summer. NewFTC, Coach Hemang: TBD 26295 Coach Dan: July 23 20166 Coach Steve: July 27 21743 Coach Matt: Aug 8 18121 Coach Eric: July 25 17011 Coach Charlie: July 18 20195 Coach Darrin: July 30 2024/25 Photo albums have been created for all teams. See General Parent Chat for links. We encourage you to share photos of your child’s team. Google Chat: A Joint/General FTC parent Chat space as well as parent chat spaces for each team have been created. The parent emails listed on the applications should have received invitations. Student onboarding will continue through the week. Have your student watch the email they provided on their application for sign in information. Parent emails will be in CC. If your student already has an “@McKinneySTEAMAcademy.org” email account then they have already been onboarded. This Week: Tuesday 6-8pm: 26295 Coach Dan Thursday 6-9pm: 17011 Coach Charlie Thursday 6-9pm: 18121 Coach Eric Saturday 10am-12pm: SWENext, all welcome (see MSA Section) Important Dates: July 27 4-5:30pm: Open House July 27 10am-12pm: SWENext, all welcome (see MSA Section) Sept 7 10am - 2pm - FTC Game Release & Launch Party - All teams Helpful Links: MSA Calendars First in TX Livestreams: https://www.youtube.com/@FIRSTinTexas/streams Game Manual 0 FTC engineering design process Game Manual 1 FIRST Standard Game Manual Game Manual 2 is the season specific rules, and available in September.
	FIRST LEGO LEAGUE (FLL) F2024/2025 Fees (in full or first installment) are due now. This not only secures your student’s spot but also ensures we have the ability to order parts ahead of the greatest seasonal demand. Student Fee:  $700 due by July 1st  -OR- Monthly:  $110, 7 payments from July to January You can bring in a check made out to "DMS ABC” or Zelle using "fin...@mckinneysteamacademy.org" or the image at the end of this email. Note that the business name shown in Zelle will be "Dowell Middle School Academic Booster Club." This is the name we originally filed for our 501(c)3 with and we are in the process of updating the name after our expansion to the McKinney STEAM Academy. When Zelle presents you with the "Reason" please enter "FLL - StudentName" so we can correctly assign the payment to your student. FLL Coach Training training July 22 and 29, 6-8pm. Our new and returning FLL coaches will be training these days. If you’ve considered coaching an FLL team but aren’t sure if it’s right for you please consider joining us to learn more. This Week: Monday FLL Coach Training Saturday 10am-12pm: SWENext, all welcome (see MSA Section) Important Dates: July 22 and 29: FLL Coach Training July 27 10am-12pm: SWENext, all welcome (see MSA Section) July 27: Open House Aug 6 - FLL Game Release & Party at the MSA 6-8pm Helpful Links: MSA Calendars

 

Helpful links:
MSA Website: https://www.mckinneysteamacademy.org/
ALL Team Calendars: https://www.mckinneysteamacademy.org/current-members/calendar
FIRST in Texas: https://firstintexas.org/
FIRST Inspires (global): https://www.firstinspires.org/

Payments and Donations:

You can bring in a check made out to "DMS ABC". Payment can be Zelled to “fin...@mckinneysteamacademy.org” or, from within your banking app, you can use the QR code below.

When prompted for a “Reason” please enter “FLL/FTC/FRC - STUDENT NAME”.

Note that you will see “Dowell Middle School Academic Booster” as this was our original 501(c)3 enrollment and we are currently working through the paperwork to get it updated after expansion.