SuperQuest slots available for Newport, Beaverton / Judge Feedback

Wishing everyone a Happy Fourth of July!  Let us know if your team is in a parade!

On the email list/ Off the email list for 2019-2020?????  - click here All changes submitted on/by June 30 have been processed. 

SuperQuest Sessions Many slots open for NEWPORT - July 9 - 11 - REGISTRATION LINK 
Some slots remain for Beaverton July 21 - Aug 2  - REGISTRATION LINK

****YIKES!!! We have not yet met the minimum number of participants for the July 9 - 11 SuperQuest session in Newport. If this is the best session for you to attend please sign up immediately.  Open to teachers and non-teachers. *****

Please let others know about this opportunity. $50 refundable deposit. Show up and get refunded.
Terry Alexander ( Hillsboro HS Technology Teacher) is the instructor.

Outline of the three day session:
DAY 1 
Morning – Introductions and hands-on training bots, Basic navigation using onBot Java and Blocks
Afternoon - FTC Overview, starting a program, or advancing a program, more hands-on with robots, beyond Tetrix - custom parts, sources, COTS.
DAY 2 
Morning – Drive systems, Communication between robot controller and robot, troubleshooting, obstacle course
Afternoon – Robot manipulators, Judging and Engineering notebook, obstacle course, CAD and 3D Printing
DAY 3 
Morning – FTC in classroom settings, clubs, outreach, under-represented students, team visit and demonstration
Afternoon – Time reserved for topics identified by the group, advanced programming topics - Vuforia

ORTOP Team Financial Support Awards
Sine Die! With the final bang of the Oregon State Legislature gavel in Salem, we are confident that ORTOP will be receiving the Oregon Department of Education: FIRST Robotics grant funding. This means to receive funds from ODE for FIRST Tech Challenge, you need to apply THROUGH ORTOP, not ODE.  ORTOP Team Support Award funding also includes funds from corporate sponsors and foundations.  Read all about it here. 

Judge Feedback at tournaments 
If you've been around awhile, you remember receiving written feedback from the Judges at tournaments. That practice was halted about 5 years ago by FIRST. ORTOP continued to fight for the right to give our teams feedback.  Happy News!  It's coming back.... we hope. FIRST has issued Request for Proposals. ORTOP plans to submit one written by our Judge Advisors and Cathy Swider, Affiliate Partner.  We are welcoming your input to our ORTOP proposal. If you have something to say about what would be constructive feedback for your team to receive, please email Cathy Swider. 

Here is the post national FIRST Tech Challenge issued today.  

FTC Mentor Workshops for Mentors

• SuperQuest: FTC MENTOR WORKSHOP ARE HAPPENING!!! 
• Thank you all for your response to our interest survey about FTC Mentor Workshops.  We are happy to announce SuperQuest: FTC Mentor Workshops for Summer 2019. SuperQuest is a program of the Oregon Computer Science Teachers Association.  
• FTC Mentor WORKSHOP AGENDA: Informed by last year's workshop topic survey, the FTC Mentor Workshops will focus on Hardware and design concepts, Programming - Blocks and Java and Electronics- wiring and debugging the phones. For rookies - an overview of basic FTC program elements will be provided. 
• The 3-day workshops provide instruction and in SQ tradition, strive to "meet each participant where they are and provide what they need to go further".  Lots of hands-on time.  Both Veteran and Rookie Mentors encouraged to sign-up. 
• Terry Alexander, HIllsboro HS Technology Teacher/FTC Mentor veteran will instruct the FTC Mentor Workshops. 
• Other 
• WHO CAN ATTEND: SuperQuest: FTC Mentor Workshop is open to adults; teachers and non-teachers, who are or will be mentoring FIRST Tech Challenge teams in the classroom or in an after-school setting in Fall 2019. 
• Three days  --  9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Continental breakfast and a delicious lunch included!
• You’ll earn 21 hours of Professional Development credit (for teachers), and some classes will also offer graduate credit.
• And it’s all free (except for a fully refundable $50 deposit)! Show up and you get your $50 back. 
• Clackamas Community College - Wilsonville Campus - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
• NEXT WEEK!!! June 25 - 27 (Tuesday - Thursday) 
• Newport Middle School - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 
• July 9 - 11 (Tuesday - Thursday) 
• SQ:Pop-up Beaverton @ ORTOP office - Registration link to be posted  
•  July 31 - Aug 2  (Wednesday - Friday) 

Workshops, Activities and Camps! 
We've been adding LOTS of activities to our Summer Activities page. Check it out .

Special Request for FTC Team Member Volunteers 

• Cathy Swider at ORTOP office in Beaverton is looking for a two FTC team member volunteers to help me at the ORTOP office to  prepare for an AAUW STEM Girls Camp in Bend. Needed June 24 or 25. 
• And I am looking for Central Oregon FTC Team members with driver skills to assist at the Camp at OSU Cascades Campus on Friday, June 28th afternoon noon - 4 pm.  
• Email cathy-swider(at)ortop(dot)org 

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• Opting IN or Opting OUT of the FTC Oregon e-mailing list for 2019-2020... moving toward GDPR compliant.   If you haven't already.....
• Click here and enter your email address to let us know your status - opt in or opt out for e-mail lists for the 2019-2020 season. 
• As a side note: Lead Mentors of nationally registered/paid teams will be added to the opt in list automatically per FIRST communication policy as registered mentors.

It's Almost SUMMER!

It's Almost Summertime! 
Before we turn off our attention to fun in the sun, there are a few items requiring your attention. 

• Opting IN or Opting OUT of the FTC Oregon e-mailing list for 2019-2020... moving toward GDPR compliant.   If you haven't already.....
• Click here and enter your email address to let us know your status - opt in or opt out for e-mail lists for the 2019-2020 season. 
• As a side note: Lead Mentors of nationally registered/paid teams will be added to the opt in list automatically per FIRST communication policy as registered mentors.

• FIRST Tech Challenge Mentor training Workshops  - We are in the process of arranging to hold FIRST Tech Challenge summer workshops for mentors in association with SuperQuest (SQ), a program of the Oregon Computer Science Teachers Association. 
• The workshop would cover Java/Blocks programming, a Hardware and Electronics overviews, parts fabrication, the program elements of FIRST Tech Challenge. 
• We need to demonstrate that there is sufficient participation interest before we can be assigned a SQ slot. 
• To help us gauge an interest level in the sessions, if you think you would be interested in attending a FIRST Tech Challenge SuperQuest session, please click here.  

• Summer Camps and Activities - Check them out, and if you know about more, submit and we'll add it to the page.   
• *****FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL--Recently added is the GirlUp Camp in Bend. This week-long  STEM camp for "rising 6th, 7th and 8th graders who identify as female" is a program of the United Nations and sponsored by Intel.  Transportation to Bend, Lodging, Meals and Camp activities are covered by Intel.   Click the link for more information.  Only 25 more slots remained as of yesterday.
• A few links I'm sure will be helpful. 
• Take time to read the ORTOP Team Support Award application information
• National FIRST Tech Challenge Registration is now open!  We have 12 teams!
  
• SITE/VENUE changes are happening! Help needed! 
• Due to school construction, we will not be able to use Madison HS in NE Portland and Tigard HS in Tigard for league meets and tournaments.  ORTOP is actively seeking replacement venues for the Rose City League and the Tualatin Valley League. If your team(s) would like to host, please contact Cathy Swider as soon as possible. 

• JUNE Happenings!
  
  Happy Pride Month! Learn more about LBGTQ+ of FIRST

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS !!! You are now FIRST ALUMNI!   Social media is spreading the good news that our FIRST Tech Challenge Seniors are graduating and moving on.  I've heard that our seniors will be attending Oregon State, University of Oregon, Portland State, numerous Community Colleges across Oregon, Carnegie Mellon, UPenn, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Harvey Mudd, Purdue and MIT and many more! Good luck in your future pursuits. Be sure to come back and visit us on breaks! 

Almost Summer!

This week the FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon Community extended our sincerest condolences to the Castillo Family on the tragic and senseless death of their son, Kendrick Castillo, team member of FRC Team 4418 in Littleton, Colorado. Kendrick died while trying to stop a shooter who entered his classroom. His actions saved the lives of his classmates.   We are touched by the outpouring of support our FIRST Oregon teams have given by expressing their sympathies and raising funds for Kendrick's memorial fund. 
Message from FIRST President Don Bossi.  



This week's topics:

1. On the FTC Oregon email/blog list or Off the FTC Oregon email/blog list? At this point in the season several FTC Oregon people are in transition to move on to new projects or people wanting to join our group or STAY ON THE LIST. Due to GDPR regulations, we will be deleting the entire list and starting with a brand new subscription list at the beginning of fall 2019.   To help me manage this process please click here and fill out our change form.  
2. ORTOP Team Support Award application process is open!   ORTOP has several corporate sponsors, private foundations and  the Oregon Department of Education funding (hopefully) to allow us to provide financial team support awards to teams.   Take time to read the ORTOP Team Support Award application information, decide if you want or need to apply, download the worksheet, collect the needed information, and finally submit the online application. Dates and deadlines are on the info page. 
1. PLEASE NOTE: If your school/organization received an ORTOP Team Support Award Check  last season (Rover Ruckus) , and you haven't submitted a final report yet, you'll be ineligible to apply for funding for 2019-2020. So please submit the report if you haven't already. Unsure if you did or didn't, drop Cathy an email and I'll check.
   CLICK HERE TO ACCESS ONLINE REPORT  
    
3. National Registration is now open! You can register your team(s) for the 2019-2020 SKYSTONE season.....$275 pays for National Registration.  Participation in FTC Oregon Events is a separate fee. The costs will be the same as last season. 
1. Rookie teams can apply for a national rookie team grant to cover the $275 national registration cost and receive $225 in grant credit toward product.
4. MAKING FIRST LOUD!  Is your team offering a summer camp for  FIRST Tech Challenge kids or FIRST LEGO League kids?  If so let is know about it and we'll add it to the ORTOP Summer Workshop/Activities page    Send an email with all the information and flyer if you have one to cathy-swider(at)ortop(dot)org 
1. Do you know of any new schools or organizations that want to start a FIRST Tech Challenge team?  Please connect them with ORTOP - cathy-swider(at)ortop(dot)org
2. Do you think your school might be a great place to hold a tournament or a league this season? And have your team(s) be hosts?  Send Cathy an email and we can talk about it.
5. Portland Community College - Sylvania Campus Machine Shop Camp - SW Portland -  MANY openings are still available for the All Young Women's Camp - July 8 - 12 - Click here for more information and application    This is an awesome camp for young women in FIRST Tech Challenge. Please pass along this information to the young women on your team(s).  Applicants must be 14 years old by the start of camp. 
6.    
   
   
   SKYSTONE:  FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon Timeline .....Star Wars edition  - kinda makes you want to click seeing that it's the Star Wars edition and all.  This document will be an evolving document this season. I'll be adding more to it as  information and key requirements/activities become concrete. Bookmark it and check it!
7. SKYSTONE GAME ELEMENT ORDERING 

1. You didn't hear it here first. shhhhh..... but full set of SKYSTONE game elements will be $450 plus shipping ---OR---- a half set (red or blue) will be $300 plus shipping.  AndyMark link for ordering Skystone game elements. 
2. Pre-Kickoff - Team Orders must be placed no later than 8/23/2019 to begin shipping on 9/9/2019. Orders will be fulfilled in the order they are received. All Team orders will begin shipping 9/9/2019 (no Saturday deliveries)
3. You can always order a set  after kick-off but it will take a few weeks to ship.
   
   AND FINALLY! 

It's a new FIRST Tech Challenge Season and the Force is with us! 

At the finale of the  FIRST World Championship in Houston FIRST announced that the 2019-2020 season will be in Partnership with Star Wars: Force for Change.  Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker)  made the announcement via a pre-recorded video.  We've created a 2019/2020 national registration information page on the ORTOP website with  links to the videos announcing the partnership and season theme, FIRST RISE: The Force is Building powered by Star Wars Force for Change video. 

Other resources for starting our  SKYSTONE season

• Overview of our 2019/2020 calendar   
• Team resource page 
• ORTOP Information Flyer - please share with others in your community to help start new teams  and interest others in joining yours. 
• ORTOP Team Support Award application process will open on May 15th. Announcements regarding awards cannot be made until at least mid-August.  We will not know the status of our ODE funding until the State Legislature votes on a budget and the governor signs it. 

FIRST World Championship - Houston! 
Yet again Oregon turned in stellar performances. Yes, single alliance scores were over 500 points!  We are very proud of our teams.
A list of results and awards can be found here.  
And a special congratulations to Rispa Vranka Wafula, #7776 – Loose Screws on being named a FIRST Dean's List Winner.  This marks the third time an FTC Oregon student has received this honor. 
If you missed watch teams play Rover Ruckus at it's highest level, you have an other opportunity this week (Wed - Sat) as the FIRST World Championship moves to Detroit.    

ORTOP is working with Dialogues in Action to complete an evaluation study for our program.  Your consideration to participate as an Evaluation Interviewer is appreciated.

David Perry, ORTOP Executive Director,  wants to invite mentors, coaches, alumni, other adults or mature senior team members associated with your team(s) to take part in an unprecedented study of the impact this program has on the young people that participate. ORTOP is recruiting interested adults to conduct interviews with a handful of students on FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition teams during the month of May. No experience with evaluation is needed; we will provide the necessary training and technical support with our partner, Dr. Steve Patty of Dialogues in Action. A small stipend is available for those who attend the training and complete five or more interviews during the month of May.
Please contact David-Perry@ortop.org if you are interested.  Training is scheduled to take place either in-person in Portland and Roseburg or via web training the weekend of May 4 and 5.

It's STILL TOURNAMENT WEEK!!!

Follow-up on last weekends events and registering for Super-Qualifier Weekend. 
We had some great action last weekend. 

• ALL Judged Award results and advancements for both weekends will be posted on Monday, Jan 28.  
• If your team was announced as an advancement team to Super-Qualifier Weekend, the mentor will be sent a link by email to submit an online preference for SQ dates. This will happen on Tuesday, January 29th. 
• SQ Events: SQ-Delta-Feb 9-Roseburg / SQ:Theta-Feb 9-Hillsboro / SQ:Pi-Feb10-Hillsboro 
• Please do not email me with your preferences or reasons. There will be a spot on the form  for that.
• Match results and final rankings are posted here. Be sure to read the "Please Note" about the rankings on ftcscores.com

__________________________________________________________________________
ARE YOU ROVER RUCKUS READY??? 

Schedules FOR JAN 26 and JAN 27 !

BEND - HILLSBORO - JUNCTION CITY - TIGARD- SATURDAY  --- TIGARD-SUNDAY

Our final weekend of qualifying tournaments are here!!!  We've been super busy preparing for the events this weekend and I almost forgot to send an email. 

You've all worked hard. I hope the robots are put together and ready to roll.

If you have a tournament on Jan 26 or Jan 27  and have not directly heard from your Tournament Director, please email me. 

A few reminders!

• Download your copy of the 2018-2019
   QUICK GUIDE to Preparing for your League or Qualifying Tournament
• Folder of helpful documents for preparing for the upcoming tournaments 

• Team Check starts 7:45 am and ends at 8:15 am 
• Mentor must arrive with the official printed Team Roster from the Dashboard with an additional signed consent and release forms. Every team must do this.
• Be prepared to surrender you Team Engineering Notebook at the Team Check-in Desk. 
• Question from the Judge Certification Test: 
• Q: Engineering Notebooks may not be considered for deliberation if a team has not put their team number on the cover.  True or False 
• A: TRUE THAT! Arrive with team numbers on the front cover! 
• Have your robot ready for inspection. 
• The morning of the event is not the time to be building your robot. Show up ready to roll.
• Robot Form / Field Form
• At Team Check-in teams receive an official Inspection form, complete the left column again prior to going to Robot Inspection. 
• Rookie Teams - Judging is different from Inspection. Teams do both. Judging session time is inflexible. Inspection time is more flexible.  See schedules above. 
• Pack a copy of Game Manual 1 and 2 - latest forum - in case you end up in the question box. 
• Remember your gracious professionalism!  
• And last but not least - this is the hardest fun you'll ever have while wearing safety glasses. Bring them! Wear them over your eyes! 

LET'S DO THIS!
---Cathy Swider

FIRST Tech Challenge Affiliate Partner, Oregon

It's TOURNAMENT WEEK!!!

ARE YOU ROVER RUCKUS READY????

SCHEDULES
PHILOMATH-Sat - PHILOMATH-SUN - ROSEBURG - PENDLETON - TILLAMOOK!

Yes, the time is finally here. We've been super busy preparing for the events this weekend and I almost forgot to send an email.

You've all worked hard. I hope the robots are put together and ready to roll.

If you have a tournament on Jan 18, 19 or 20 and have not directly heard from your Tournament Director, please email me. 

A few reminders!

• Download your copy of the 2018-2019
   QUICK GUIDE to Preparing for your League or Qualifying Tournament
• Folder of helpful documents for preparing for the upcoming tournaments 

• Team Check starts 7:45 am and ends at 8:15 am (except Tillamook which is earlier) 
• Arrive with the official printed Team Roster from the Dashboard with an additional signed consent and release forms. Every team must do this. 
• Be prepared to surrender you Team Engineering Notebook at the Team Check-in Desk. 
• Question from the Judge Certification Test: 
• Engineering Notebooks may not be considered for deliberation if a team has not put their team number on the cover.  True or False 
• TRUE
• Have your robot ready for inspection. 
• The morning of the event is not the time to be building your robot. Show up ready to roll.
• Robot Form / Field Form
• At Team Check-in teams receive an official Inspection form, complete the left column again prior to going to Robot Inspection. 
• Rookie Teams - Judging is different from Inspection. Teams do both. Judging session time is inflexible. Inspection time is more flexible.  See schedules above. 
• Pack a copy of Game Manual 1 and 2 - latest forum - in case you end up in the question box. 
• Remember your gracious professionalism!  
• And last but not least - this is the hardest fun you'll ever have while wearing safety glasses. Bring them! Wear them over your eyes! 

LET'S DO THIS!
---Cathy Swider

FIRST Tech Challenge Affiliate Partner, Oregon