Kick off and more!

[McKinney STEAM Academy and Mercenary Robotics ADMIN]

McKinney STEAM Academy & Mercenary Robotics

Updates Week of Jan 8, 2024

In this Email:

FRC Game Video, Rules Quiz, Photos

FTC  Semi regionals and regionals

FLL Safety policy

MSA STEAM Night, Rotary Flags

	FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION What an inspiring kick off weekend. Watching all of our students and mentors come together to absorb and digest this year’s game speaks volumes about how far our team has come. This is a sizable team that is already coalescing around a common goal. I HIGHLY encourage all parents to watch this year’s game video linked below.  2024 Game Video: https://youtu.be/9keeDyFxzY4?si=rd1prbDGeEu2Z8aR ALL FRC students will be required to take a game rules quiz in the next couple weeks. Students, make sure you understand the Game Manual linked below. This is a graded quiz, 80% is a pass. We want everyone to understand the rules of the game. If you don’t pass, read the game manual again, ask questions and try again. The results of this quiz will be taken into account during drive team selection. 2024 Game Manual: https://firstfrc.blob.core.windows.net/frc2024/Manual/2024GameManual.pdf 2024 Season Materials: https://www.firstinspires.org/resource-library/frc/competition-manual-qa-system 6369 Kick Off Weekend Photos (please add yours): https://photos.app.goo.gl/FnGKcJdK9a341ZWeA This Week: Software team is meeting virtually this Tuesday Jan 9. The following week will be an in person meeting. Wednesday team meeting hours are 6-9pm. Saturday is 9-6pm. Important Dates: March 7-9 FRC - Belton District Event March 28-30 FRC - Amarillo District Event April 3-6 Texas State Championship
	FIRST TECH CHALLENGE This Week: Slow news week for FTC. All teams are on break this week unless your coach specifically says otherwise.  Important Dates: January 13 Library Outreach February 10 FTC Semi Regional - Teams 18121, 20166 February 24 FTC Regional - Team 17011
	FIRST LEGO LEAGUE Parents, please remind your students, FRC is in season now and we will be very strict about not allowing FLL students in the back workshop without a mentor for ANY REASON. This is to maintain safety for everyone. All snacks that you have brought for your team should be LABELED with your team’s number and stored in the office. Items, including snacks, in the back workshop are for FRC use only. There will be a second water cooler in the front classroom area soon. Your student should have a LABELED water bottle to use. This Week: Jan 13 - Competition 60892 BrickMercs Important Dates: Jan 20 - Competition 50491 The Mercenary Dragons 51620 Mercenary Moon Stormers 54586 Brick Mercenaries 60680 Lego Masterminds 61002 Mercs Tech Tigers 61724 Mighty Mercs February 24 - still awaiting final confirmation from all teams 27116 Mercenary Friends 27183 Mercenaries II 28813 Curious Dream Weavers 29125 Young Mercs 29126 Training Mercs
	McKinney STEAM Academy Parents, please join us on Thursday, January 11, at 6pm for a Rotary Flag program interest meeting. The Rotary Flag program is one of our biggest fundraisers every year.  Last year we placed 2,860 flags for national holidays through this program. We need an accurate gauge of parent and student commitment to ensure that we can fulfill our commitment to McKinney Rotary. Students that participate in this program are eligible for registration discounts the following year. If you’re at all able, please join us for the January 11 meeting. If you have any questions please contact dan.ga...@mckinneysteamacademy.org. As always, spread the word about STEAM nights!

 

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/