12/20 Manhattan FLL Practice Tournament cancelled due to snow.

The Manhattan FLL Practice Tournament scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday December 20th from 9:30 AM to 1 PM has been cancelled due to the snowstorm.

Thank you.

Stuyvesant Robotics Team 694

Schedule of Events for 2009/2010 Season

Click to enlarge

Brooklyn Qualifier Registration Open for Jan. 9th Event

Dear Teams of the borough of Brooklyn,

The Brooklyn Borough qualifier registration is now open! We are going green this year by only having online registration.

Please register at this link: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dG93QXlPZjV6cTVKNjFvNHpwZk9CYkE6MA

The qualifier will be held:

Saturday January 9th, 2010 from 8:30am-3:30pm

@ Polytechnic Institute of NYU, 6 MetroTech Center Brooklyn, NY.

All teams must register in advance- by filling out this form AND mailing in payment.

You must participate in this event to be eligible for the citywide competition being held at the Jacob Javits Center Sunday, March 14, 2010.

Registration date: Dec. 1^ST -Dec 22^ND

Registration Fee: $30 Per Team

Payable to: Polytechnic Institute of NYU/FIRST

Please mail check with team number to:

Polytechnic Institute of NYU

Attn: Susan Hermon

David Packard Center

6 MetroTech Center Room JB 257a

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Team capacity: 46. You will be registered in the order in which payment is received. Registration is not complete until this form AND the check is received at NYU-Poly. Deadline is Dec 22^nd.

IF YOU HAVE DECIDED NOT TO PARTICIPATE THIS YEAR LET US KNOW ASAP. IF YO U PLAN ON PARTICIPATING IN ANOTHER BOROUGHS QUALIFIER PLEASE LETS US KNOW THAT AS WELL.

Tournament Contacts:

Susan Hermon: shermon@poly.edu, (718) 260-3524

Danya Shneyer: dshneyer@usfirst.org

See you there!!!

Susan Hermon

Administrator Coordinator

David Packard Center @ Polytechnic Institute of NYU

718 260 3524

From FIRST Central

Greetings Coaches:

Nervous about an upcoming Tournament or local event? Don't be! These events are celebrations of your accomplishments. Even if your Team can only attempt one Mission on the Robot Game or didn't have time to fully rehearse their Project Presentation... GO! HAVE FUN! And remember the FLL Core Value: "What we discover is more important than what we win."

World Festival

We are pleased to announce the regions which have been selected by lottery to invite their Champion's Award winning Team to the World Festival for the Smart Move Challenge - in Atlanta, Georgia from April 14–17, 2010. You can view the selected regions at http://usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/fll/content.aspx?id=766. Each Operational Partner has the opportunity to nominate one team from their region to attend World Festival whom they believe has embodied FLL Core Values throughout the season. Your Partner will share more information if they are planning to submit a nomination.

2010 Challenge

Lastly, we are excited to have released the name and logo for the 2010 "Biomedical Engineering" Challenge... Body Forward! Visit http://usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/fll/default.aspx?id=970 under FLL Program Updates to read more.

With High 5's and Admiration,

FIRST LEGO League Headquarters

___________________________________

FIRST(R) LEGO(R) League (http://firstlegoleague.org) | fllteams@usfirst.org | +1 603-666-3906, 800-871-8326 | FIRST(R) (http://usfirst.org) - 200 Bedford Street – Manchester NH USA 03101

Registered Teams FLL 2009/10

List of Teams 227 (there will be some modifications)
(include 40 DYCB and 5 Qns library, not listed)

Queens (40)
FLL Number Organization Coach Team Name
320 PS 148 Mike Farrell Mission Masters 1
344 PS 148 Mike Farrell Mission Masters 2
564 JHS 185 PRIMAL DHILLON The Bleeker Stars
733 MS 67 Mrs. Ruta Dave BOOGIE BOT
876 Ms. Iffat Mai Forest Hills Lego Team
1366 IS 230 Sonya Rencher IS 230 Robotics
1414 PS 153 Ms. Michelle Andrews Maspeth Maverics
1424 Ms. Veryl C. Greene Cyberbots
1479 IS 49 Mr. Noah Schumacher Benders
1663 PS 111 Mrs. Brianne L. Jordan P.S.111 Amateurs
1683 RMS @ IS 192 Mr. Eric S. Greene Robo Fusion 192 A
1684 RMS @ IS 192 Mr. Eric S. Greene Robo Fusion 192 B
1732 Cambria Center (CCGC) Ms. sheryl D. liles Warbots
1736 PS 84 Mrs. Maria Tsiros Robotrons
2096 IS 10 Pat Shubitz Best 3000
2280 IS 119 Mr. Chris Dudin Top Gearz
2283 IS 119 Mr. Chris Dudin SuperBotz
2320 IS 125 Rudy Vera Mr Roboto
2382 MS 216 Mr. Peter T. Xanthus Ryan Lions
3240 Baccalaureate School Ms. Melissa L. Hinson BSGE Sting
3241 PS 128 Mr. Michael Zwicker PS 128 Robotics 2
3348 Resurrection Ascension Mrs. Janna T. Carbone Tech Titans
3644 JHS 185 PRIMAL DHILLON Aspires
3645 JHS 185 PRIMAL DHILLON Bleeker Techies
3734 The Garden School Mr. Peter H. Glus Foundations Robotics Team
7356 PS 128 Mr. Michael Zwicker PS 128 Robotics 2
7857 PS 85 Mr. Robert L. Deming STEM 85ers
9046 IS 61 Ms. Marjorie Desir Da Vincinators
9325 Ms. Iffat Mai Forest Hills Team #2
9370 IS 227 Mr. Joshua E. Blum Lamchops I
9371 IS 227 Mr. Joshua E. Blum Lamchops II
9372 IS 227 Mr. Joshua E. Blum Lil' Lamchops
9514 Mr. John Lewandowski Planetary Forces
9882 PS 52 Mrs. Lois Harris PS 52 ROBO TEAM
10176 Cambria Center (CCGC) Ms. sheryl D. liles Middle school
10500 Queens Public Library: Central Leslie L. Taylor
10501 Queens Public Library: Laurelton Leslie L. Taylor
10502 Queens Public Library: St. Albans Leslie L. Taylor
10503 Queens Public Library: Hollis Leslie L. Taylor
10504 Queens Public Library: Far Rockaway Leslie L. Taylor

Brooklyn (48)

Team#	School Number
111	St. Edmunds Elementary School
316	MS 51K
332	MS 51K
462	PS 94 K
471	PS 94 K
528	Genesis at Xaverian
1381	Bedford Academy
2012	IS 318
2223	PS 58 The Carroll School
2224	PS 58 The Carroll School
2444	PS 372 K
2445	PS 372 K
2487	Packer Collegiate Inst.
2488	Packer Collegiate Inst.
2677	Academy for College Preparation and Career Exploration
2679	Academy for College Preparation and Career Exploration
2746	IS 383 K Philippa Schuyler MS
2776	PS 21K Crispus Attucks School
2874	PS 8 K
2875	PS 8 K
2969	Brooklyn Tech HS
3151	Sunset Park Prep MS 821K
4602	Boody MS
5275	Home Schoolers of Brooklyn
5306	Boys and Girls High School
5973	PS 11K  Purvis J Behan School
6505	PS 636 K Young Scholars’ Academy for Discovery and
6513	MS 88 K
6539	PS 233K  Langston Hughes
6754	MS 113K Ronald Edmonds Learning Center
7115	MS 447 K The Math & Science Exploratory School
7289	PS 257k
7601	Benjamin Banneker Academy K
8153	PS 147k
8451	PS 399 K Stanley Eugene Clarke
9017	St. Michael School
9436	PS 261K
9817	IS 318
9844	Packer Collegiate Inst.
9846	Packer Collegiate Inst.
9988	The Eagle Academy for Young men II
10023	Urban Assembly Institute of Math & Science for Young Women
10385	MS 88 K

Manhattan (39)
926 NYC Parks & Recreation Lisa Brooks Park Eagles
1316 Marta Valle Mr. Gennadiy Dikovskiy Francesca Bates Destructobots
1417 Dalton Charles Forster Annette Marcus Chad Gallant Rob Quatrone Dalton 1
2405 Manhattan East School for Academics and Art MS 224 Elisabeth Castelli Melissa Cancel Yolanda Hernandez Simon Lawrence Urban Scholars
2406 Manhattan East School for Academics and Art MS 224 Elisabeth Castelli Melissa Cancel Yolanda Hernandez Simon Lawrence Urban Scholars
2653 Trevor Day School Steven Schechter The Little Dragons
2919 PS 28M Denise Tinsley Aimee Peguero Team 28
3431 Dalton Charles Forster Annette Marcus Chad Gallant Rob Quatrone Dalton 2
3432 Dalton Charles Forster Annette Marcus Chad Gallant Rob Quatrone Dalton 3
3433 Dalton Charles Forster Annette Marcus Chad Gallant Rob Quatrone Dalton 4
3895 Think Robot, LLC Tom Hershner Yipbotics
4245 LREI Little Red School House & Elizabeth Irwin HS Sherezada Acosta Stephen MacGillivray Red Tide
4706 Mosaic Preparatory Academy Rm218 Lisette B. Caesar Mosaic Preparatory Academy Robotics Team
6011 The School At Columbia U Karen Blumberg The Thundercats
6244 The Gateway School Ed Bringas Jerry Pavlon-Blum
6362 Dwight School Chris Peyser Dwight School Robotics
6598 Friend Seminary FSNYC Timothy Cooper robo friends
7522 PS 51 M Marlyn Buehler Shelley Hauptman
7717 East Harlem Tutorial Gerardo G. Garcia Javier Seda Little Warriors of EHTP
8365 Think Robot, LLC Tom Hershner Hawkbots
8653 LREI Little Red School House & Elizabeth Irwin HS Sherezada Acosta Stephen MacGillivray LREI Knights
8654 LREI Little Red School House & Elizabeth Irwin HS Sherezada Acosta Stephen MacGillivray LREI Squires
8684 Vision Education & Media Laura Allen/Corbett Beder Robofun
8900 MS 328 M Beth Pollak Robotigers
9007 Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy Ms. Ify o. Anako C4 Terminators
9031 The Anderson School PS 334M Carolyn Abbott Judy Kunze The Anderson Dragons
9057 Manhattan Youth @IS 289 M Stephen Husiak Theseus Roche Cecilia Dobbs Cougars
9163 PS/MS 108 Angelo Del Toro Alicia Sotiropoulos Time 4 Change
9199 The Brearley School Annie Cheung-Livhits Luigi Cicala Brearley Beavers
9498 PS/MS 108 Angelo Del Toro Alicia Sotiropoulos Time 4 Change
9587 Dutchman Charles C. Brainerd
9639 TAG Young Scholars Daniel R. McCormick Bernice DeAbreu TAG Robotics
9652 Chelsea Prep Linore Lindy Chelsea Cougars I
9958 PS 189 M Raymond Albino 189 Raiders
10204 Frederick Douglass Academy Megan Wasserman Danielle Nunez Alyssa Rosenbaum Joel Andrew Bianchi Richner Erisnor Andres Alonso FDA LEGO Raidaz
10205 Frederick Douglass Academy Megan Wasserman Danielle Nunez Alyssa Rosenbaum Joel Andrew Bianchi Richner Erisnor Andres Alonso FDA LEGO Raidaz
10252 Chelsea Prep Linore Lindy Chelsea Cougars I

Staten Island (28)
37 IS 24 SI Raymond Cottrell Jane Frangos Knights of 24
67 IS 24 SI Raymond Cottrell Jane Frangos Blast Bots
1255 IS 34 SI Joseph Buro Howie Leventhal Ann Verderber Stell Talons
1256 IS 34 SI Joseph Buro Ann Verderber, Howard Leventhal Carmen Fuoco Techno Eagles
1257 IS 34 SI Joseph Buro Ann Verderber, Howard Leventhal Carmen Fuoco Eagle-Bots
1365 Petrides School Cindy A. Forkowitz Carlos Rodriguez Petrides Panthers
1496 IS 72 SI Randi Huss Bulldogs
1498 IS 72 SI Randi Huss Deric Borrero V Team
1846 Staten Island Tech HS Steve Raile Tech Knows
1851 Staten Island Tech HS Steve Raile Tech Knows
2432 IS 27 SI Bryan Kilgallen Mustangs
2433 IS 27 SI Bryan Kilgallen Mustangs 2
2434 IS 27 SI Prall Bryan Kilgallen Mustangs 2
2497 IS 49 SI Carol Obler Francesco Portelos Drefus Seekers
2526 IS 49 SI Carol Obler Francesco Portelos Movers
2531 IS 49 SI Carol Obler Francesco Portelos Sliders
2823 Coen Patrick Coen Micro Bots
2831 IS 75 SI Donny Swanson Andrew Grandner Denise Carsten Lady Robo-Panthers
2832 IS 75 SI Donny Swanson Andrew Grandner Denise Carsten Powerknights
3073 PS 54 SI Ms. JoAnn Ortega Peter The 54 Robots
3396 PS 57 SI Patricia Lockhart PS 57 Robotics Team
4803 St. Clare School Mary Lee Transformers 1
4814 St. Clare School Mary Lee Transformers 1
4816 St. Clare School Mary Lee Planeteers #3
4825 St. Clare School Mary Lee Transformers 1
8689 St. Jon's Lutheran School Thomas J. Smolka Lego Leaders
8693 NYC Parks Dept. Anthony Traverso Parks Wizards
9446 St. Jon's Lutheran School Thomas J. Smolka Lego Leaders

Bronx (32)
77 PS/IS 123 X Chris Gooding Joanne Urena Technadoes
211 PS 195X Zelma Torres-Rosado Globatia
291 Pablo Casals MS 181x Terry Buchalter Climate Crusaders
666 The Hunts Point Middle School
968 CS 66 X Christopher Blades James Bellon CS66 B.R.A.T.S
1514 CS 102X Neysa Lewis Frank Rivera Tanyua Trezevantte Osei Owusu-Afriyie Brainstorming Knights
1670 PS 76X The Bennington School Russell Heath 76ers
1685 Globe School for Environmental Research Paul Riter Paul Cassidy Barbara Hartnett GLOBE Masters
2562 IS 98 X Herman Ridder Harold Smith Ridder Kids
2606 MS 144 x Michaelangelo MS Victoria Lowe Gregory Defoe GoBots 144
2637 MS 302 X Mr. Peter Armstrong Sharon Shoatz MS302 Tech Squad
2944 PS/MS 194 Christine Bernabei Cynthia Khadaran tevhno
3074 IS 125 X Henry Hudson Carollynley Owens Jover Nunez Stacy Afflick Nunez/Owens/Afflick Henry Hudson Lego Explorers
3720 CS 134 X Edward Taveras Tigers
4161 Bronx Latin MS Eddie Branchaud Mark Leffler Architecti
4393 ESMT IS 190 X Maribeth Whitehouse Lego Mania
5097 East Fordham Academy for the Arts Alice D. Bajana-Vega Fordham Technotronics
6498 Archimedes Academy for Math, Science & Technology Justin Duffy The Boohie Down Bots
6927 Antonia Pantoja Prep Academy Rene Muñoz APPA
7721 PS 103 x Jarret Jackob Linda Matos RoboBeez
7722 PS 103 x Jarret Jackob Linda Matos Robo Stingerz
7752 The Urban Institute of Mathematics Ryan McCabe The Accelerators
7852 Riverdale Country School John Saunders Riverdale Robotics
8197 PS 121 X Kathy Bormann Jean Czarniecki Storm Throopers
8970 Mott Hall Community School 2 Jeremy Dubois
8988 IS 316/ Kappa III Jean E. Colon Brandon Ely KAPPAFORMERS
9164 Mott Hall Community School 2 Jeremy Dubois
9320 PS 153 x Michelle Solomon M Lee Hollman Robotronics
9360 IS 131 X Robert Fishchetto Yankees
9663 MS 302 X Mr. Peter Armstrong Sharon Shoatz MS302 Tech Squad
10097 PS/IS 123 X Chris Gooding Joanne Urena Tech2nadoes
10270 CS 57 X FDAV Christopher Matthews FDAV

SMART MOVE Challenges

Click to enlarge. Email me for a pdf.

NYCFIRST Update 4: Kickoff Saturday, Sept. 26 Starts at 10 AM

Saturday will be out annual kickoff where a few tables will be set up and Smart Moves missions will be reviewed.

Note the change in the times. We will start at 10am and end around 1pm.

Polytechnic Institute of New York University - NYU POLY
6 Metrotech Center
Brooklyn, NY 11201

• Get Directions

For the Rookies’ workshop the following people will be speaking on the following
topics:

Eric Greene – Team Organization & Management
Veryl Greene – Robot Design & the Robot Inspection
Richard Akalski - Game Preparation Strategies
Josh Blum – Strategies for Teaching Basic Game-related NXT Programming

In Memorium: Glenn Wright

The death of Glenn Wright is one of the sad reports that come about all too often for kids in the inner city. Note comments of FLL Planning committee member Kristian Breton and former FLL coach Danny Peralta. Make sure to check out the Times 2006 story on his teammate that had a happpy ending at that time.

Dear Teams:

It is with profound sadness that I share this news with you: Glenn Wright, a former member and mentor of team 1880 the East Harlem Warriors lost his life this past weekend. Kris Breton, who know Glenn well shared the details below . These articles appeared today in various Media about the unfortunate and sensless incident leading to his untimely and tragic death: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/nyregion/15wright.html. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/09/15/2009-09-15_slain_helping_his_grandma_mistaken_identity_at_root_of_students_killing_on_les_c.html

Glenn was 21 years old. A kind, well-liked, responsible young man, raised in a family of very limited economic means, Glenn was a loving child and brother and a caring team member who bloomed in the midst of EHTP friends and mentors. Glenn graduated in 2008, but never left his FIRST team: he helped as mentor in 2009, and was to be one of its main leaders in 2010. He will be sorely missed. I am sure his positive and sharing spirit will continue inspiring Team 1880 for years to come.

Our thoughts and prayers go to his father, siblings and close friends. East Harlem Tutorial Program is recieving donations to help the family with the funeral services. Donations or flowers and cards can be sent to EHTP/ in Glenn Wright 's memory, and mailed c/o Gerardo Garcia, Robotics Coordinator 2050 Second Ave, NY NY 10029.

Team 1880 will be holding a Vigil at East Harlem Tutorial this afternoon at 5:30, at 2050 Second Avenue near 106th St. Feel free to join us to remember and celebrate his life. His funeral will be held on Saturday at Benta's Funeral Home at 630 St. Nicholas Avenue - at W. 141st Street Harlem, New York .

Ana L Martinez

FIRST Regional Director

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Newark,NJ 07102

Polytechnic Institute of NYU

Six Metrotech Center Room JB 257A

Brooklyn, NY 11201

718 260 3383

917 361 2257 cell

September 15, 2009

Fatal Stabbing of East Harlem Resident, 21, May Have Stemmed From Mistaken Identity

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/nyregion/15wright.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion

By RAY RIVERA

Friends at the small East Harlem high school he attended remembered Glenn Wright as shy, the kind of kid who sat in the back of a room and didn’t say much. But in 2006, when a neighborhood after-school program started a robotics team, Mr. Wright signed up, emerging as one of the leaders in an unlikely run to the national finals.

“In this profession, you’re not supposed to have favorites, but he was probably my favorite,” said Kristian Breton, who coached the 19-member team, which beat the city’s elite schools in a regional competition, then lost in the national competition in Atlanta.

Mr. Wright, 21, stayed active with the team after graduating from Central Park East High School, coaching and mentoring students while he attended community college. Then, on Saturday night, as he was helping his grandmother at her apartment on the Lower East Side, he was attacked by a group of men and stabbed in the neck. He died the next day.

“He was just one of these guys who was so caring,” said Jeff Ginsburg, executive director of the East Harlem Tutorial Program, where Mr. Wright continued to work with the robotics team as a staff member and volunteer. “I know it’s cliché to say it, but everyone loved him.”

The police arrested Joel Herrera, 20, of the Upper West Side on Sunday morning and charged him with murder in connection with the killing. Family members say officers have told them that the attack was a case of mistaken identity, but the police could not confirm that on Monday night.

Mr. Wright, the third youngest of nine siblings, one of whom died as an infant, visited his grandmother at the Baruch Houses every weekend, family members said. On Saturday, he was there to help her wash her windows. He was taking a break outside when a group of three or four men attacked him, relatives said. His father, who was nearby, saw the attack in progress and chased after the men. Mr. Wright, bleeding profusely from the neck, ran back into the lobby of his grandmother’s building and collapsed in his aunt’s arms, said his brother Peter Wright Jr.

He was taken to Bellevue Hospital Center. Over the next several hours, as word of the attack spread on Facebook, friends and relatives poured into the hospital. Doctors delivered the news on Sunday afternoon that he was dead.

Mr. Wright left behind seven siblings, his father, a girlfriend, a love of skateboarding and photography, and a host of unfulfilled plans. On Monday, a to-do list still sat on his mirror in his bedroom in East Harlem, where he shared an apartment with three of his siblings, his brother Peter said. One notation on it read “City College,” one of the places to which he planned to apply. He was also considering Apex Technical School, where he was considering taking up carpentry, his brother said.

Mr. Wright, whose mother died a few years ago, also cared for a younger brother with Down syndrome, said Danny Peralta, another former coach of the robotics team who stayed close to Mr. Wright and hired him to work with children this summer at the Point, a nonprofit community development agency in the Bronx.

“He was one of those kids that honestly ran away from trouble and violence,” Mr. Peralta said, “and for it to catch up to him like that, it’s just the worst thing I can think of.”

The tutorial program plans to hold a vigil for him Tuesday at 5 p.m. at 2050 Second Avenue in East Harlem, followed by a short procession to Mr. Wright’s high school.

Mark Gura Looking for Contributors for LEGO Robotics Book

Dear Colleague –

My name is Mark Gura and I am currently writing a book for ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) on Student Robotics. The book’s working title is “Getting Started with LEGO Robotics” and will feature interviews and other sorts of input from educators who are closely involved with implementing LEGO Robotics practices with students or preparing colleagues to do so.

The purpose of the book is to give essential information and professional insight about how to bring LEGO Robotics into the classroom to teachers who are interested, but haven’t yet begun. As LEGO Robotics continues to distinguish itself as a highly motivating, especially relevant and effective approach to STEM education, I believe this book will perform a much needed service for many members of our profession.

I would like to invite you to use this book as an opportunity to share your experience and expertise in this important body of practice and distinguish yourself as a contributor to this growing field. Your participation may take the form of answering a short email survey; participate in a 10 – 15 minute phone interview, or to write some materials for inclusion in the book. In all cases participants will be fully and appreciatively acknowledged and credited for their contribution in the book’s text.

I strongly urge you to consider participation, as this book’s meaning will in large part be derived from presenting the experience of a broad spectrum of professionals directly involved in implementing LEGO Robotics with students. If you are interested, the first step will be for you to answer a short survey that I will email you. After you have returned the survey and I have had an opportunity to digest its contents, I will let you know about follow-up in the form of an invitation to participate in a phone interview or invitation to submit a lesson plan or other document. All who submit surveys will be fully acknowledged in the book whether or not they accept such invitations. I will keep all participants, whatever form their participation takes, fully informed of the progress of the book which is scheduled to be presented to ISTE in finished manuscript form in March 2010.

Please email me back stating your interest in participating. I look forward to hearing from you,

Mark Gura

PS – This will be my third book for ISTE. Below you will find some links to descriptions of those books and ISTE’s publishing program.

ISTE BOOK STORE: http://www.iste.org/source/Orders/isteIndex.cfm?section=books_and_courseware&CFID=11433269&CFTOKEN=46516133

Making Literacy Magic Happen
http://www.amazon.com/Making-Literacy-Magic-Happen-Technology/dp/1564841758

Visual Arts Units for All Levels http://www.iste.org/source/Orders/isteProductDetail.cfm?product_code=NETART

Mark Gura
Agent Provocateur - Writer - Podcaster - Speaker
www.markgura.blogspot.com
Check out my latest book:
http://markgura.blogspot.com/2009/08/proudly-announcing-new-book-teaching.html

Robotics and Technology News

A newsletter detailing some of he events that the Bronx schools participated in this June.

Bernie DiCristofalo

Robotics and Technology Consultant
Leadership LSO
1230 Zerega Avenue
Bronx, New York 10462

Veryl Greene Robotic Camp at the AMNH

The robotics camp at the American Museum of Natural History seems to have gone
well. On the last day we had a little mini game tournament on the Mars mat. The
parents, nannies, & younger siblings came to see the tournament - the classroom
was packed. Every team was successful at a mission or two, which made the kids &
parents very proud - I received a lot of hugs from the kids and grateful thanks
from the parents; I just wish I had the pamphlets on the FLL, because half of
them want information about getting robotics into their private schools. I did
give them a hand-out of websites to find information about robotics. It was cool
being able to use the Rose Center to learn about Mars & the rovers - it was a
nice experience for me as well.

Brief blurb on www.roboticrealm.blogspot.com


Ms. Veryl Greene
Robotics Consultant
FLL Robotics Planning Committee
www.roboticrealm.blogspot.com <http://www.roboticrealm.blogspot.com/> 

My Gift From Tokyo

In April 2008, I went to Tokyo to assist in the international open tournament they were holding. I was asked to be a referee, my first experience doing that. And this was a high pressure event, so I needed lots of help, which I got from many people, especially a college student named Tomo, who was my partner and spoke excellent English.

The organizer of the tournament, Kamoshida-san, visited NYC last summer and brought me this wonderful gift to show his appreciation. I took it with me to the partners' conf in Manchester this past May to show Noriko Morin (who was also in Tokyo with us) but found she had retired. So Nancy asked Courtney to take these pics. There's a matching pair of shorts that I don't have the nerve to wear for fear I'll be attacked by a samurai.

NYCFIRST FLL UPDATE 1: Registration for Smart Moves is Open

NYCFIRST FLL UPDATE 1: Registration for Smart Moves is Open

June 11, 2009

Keep track of the latest news at: http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/
NYC/NJ FIRST: http://nycnjfirst.org/

54 teams registered. See link on the blog for a list.

Contents
1. New FLL registration system
2. Smart Moves: Transforming Transportation
3. Software Update 2.0
4. NYC’s Department of Youth and Community Development and FLL partner for a special tournament!
5. Why FLL?
6. Morris HS Robotics Team to be honored by NY Yankees

Upcoming

NYC’s Department of Youth and Community Development special tournament!

June 13 at Polytechninc/NYU in Brooklyn from 8 AM-3 PM

These are the 40 teams that never had the opportunity to take part in our tournaments. Here is an opportunity for you to stop by and bring some people to show them what FLL is all about. Performance only. More details below.


FAMIS codes
NYC schools need to register first before they can pay using the FAMIS system. You need to purchase both. One is for the registration fee and the other is for the field setup kit.

Item #: 800055470
Description: FLL TEAM REGISTRATION 2009 - #990305 - MUST INCLUDE TEAM # ON ORDER Cost: $200.00 plus shipping

Item #: 800055489
Description: FLL FIELD SET UP KIT - #991217 - MUST INCLUDE TEAM # ON ORDER Cost: $65 plus shipping.

The vendor's name is PITSCO LEGO DACTA and their phone number is (800) 362-4308.

Renewing My FLL Vows

You have not been getting many updates this past year. I tried to get most of the information up on the blog. I also was using a targeted email list to the teams that went on to Javits.

In May I represented the NYC FLL Planning committee up in Manchester NH at the North American partners’ conference. Most of the states were represented, along with Ontario, Haiti and Colombia. Spending 4 days with so many people committed to FLL put me in touch with the big picture.

As usual, the FLL staff at FIRST treated us royally. Nancy Paul, who has been one of our most precious assets at FIRST, is taking on a different role, more focused on the international partners. I will miss having regular contact with her. Nancy’s skill set is enormous and her people skills are enormous, despite being a Red Sox fan. Luckily, Betsy Daniels will be taking on Nancy’s role, something she was doing before Nancy came on board. Betsy was our original contact at FIRST and has always been very supportive of what we are doing here in NYC.

I was shocked to find that Noriko Morin, who has been so essential to sorting out registration and many other issues, has decided to retire to North Carolina. She was always available to deal with any kind of problem and she will be missed be everyone involved in FLL. She will still be involved in some ways, but I will miss being able to pick up the phone and get answers before I hang up.

Being away from the NYC educational/political scene can be a good thing, especially in the FIRST environment where the focus is on creating wonderful experiences for kids - truly Children First. It is nice to see so many people who understand one of the prime missions in education. There is a great mix of educators, engineers and people from the business community. Many got involved as parents. The Novaks, a couple from Arkansas started out that way and now are handling the FLL in the state. They mentioned that Kris Bretton, one of the former members of an Arkansas high school team called "The Bomb Squad," is now helping us in NY as a mentor. Kris has been invaluable on the FLL Planning Committee. (He called me later that evening to warn me to not corrupt the Novaks with my big city ways.)

FLL is expected to have over 8000 teams in the US and Canada and 8000 more in 45 countries. That's over 16,000, so get your order in early.


1. New FLL registration system
Registration on the brand new system opened on May 4. You should find the process easier and smoother. And I have new capabilities to manage the process, including the ability to see what you ate for lunch. That gang at FIRST has many magical powers.

You will not be assigned a team number until you go through checkout. So if you try to register but don’t have a team number, you didn’t register. Go back in and finish up. Sometimes you will have to start over as the incomplete teams get flushed sometimes.

You still don’t have to pay right away if you use a PO (you don’t have to put in a PO number) or a check.

The purchaser is separated from the coach and can add a coach and assistant coach later. If you pay but have no coach I will list you temporarily as the coach. Shoot me an email when you have somebody.

This year we may use this system to have you sign up for FLL events, including the borough qualifiers and other events.

The last I checked 54 NYC teams registered. (See the blog for the list.) The list includes info as to whether you paid (True/False is the designation on my printout.) If you see a discrepancy contact me.


2. Smart Moves: Transforming Transportation

Can FIRST LEGO League teams transform the way we look at transportation? The key to the 2009 “Smart Move” Challenge is accessing people, places, goods and services in the safest, most efficient way possible. In this journey, teams will consider many modes of transportation beyond their daily routine and streamline their options by making smart moves! Kickoff is September 3, 2009!!

Scott Evans has outdone himself. What a mat! What a wonderfully designed game. What surprises, with one of the most beautifully designed structures I’ve seen. And field set up kit assembly time has been cut drastically. (BY THE WAY, DON’T FORGET TO ORDER AT LEAST ONE OF THESE WHEN YOU REGISTER!)

Scott did his much awaited annual presentation on and it was one of the best I’ve seen, with lost of personal input as to the motivation behind SMART MOVES. Scott presented some very powerful ideas behind Smart Moves. He pointed out that every time you get on the road whether walking, biking or driving, you are putting your trust in the hands of others. Technology is 50 years behind. Railroad crossings are differ little from what they were a hundred years ago.

He was peppered with questions as we went over the rules and this being so early, he will have time to make changes based on the input in time for Sept. 3.

Expect a robust and exciting season.

3. Software Update 2.0
There is an impending release of a software update to the retail MINDSTORMS package. However, this will only bring the retail package to the same 2.0 level that the Education package has, and is already included in the FLL Robot Set. They will have a few features available to them that Education will not have access to, but nothing from a programming standpoint that will impact effectiveness in the FLL competition.


4. NYC’s Department of Youth and Community Development and FLL partner for a special tournament!

When: Saturday, June 13

Where: Polytechnic/NYU on Jay St in downtown Brooklyn.

NYC’s DYCD and FLL have partnered to provide 40 after school programs an opportunity to compete in a local tournament. The tournament will take place from 9:00-3:00 on June 13th at NYU-Poly. This is part of a pilot program that DYCD has undertaken with the generous support of The Wallace Foundation.

Coaches for the teams have attended a training to get familiar with the kit of parts and this year’s challenge, Climate Connections. Teams will be judged on all the categories normally associated with a FLL competition.

We look forward to this tournament and are excited about new students getting to participate in what we know is a beneficial program to garner interest in science, technology, and math.

Sincerely,
The NYC/NJ FLL Planning Committee


5. Why FLL?
Teachers who get involved in FLL say it is the best thing they do all year. Registration is open now. The season runs from the beginning of the school year through mid-March, with borough qualifying tournaments and a citywide at the Javits Center which will take place concurrently with the high school events (FTC and FRC).

Learn about all FIRST events: http://www.usfirst.org/).

FLL is for ages 9-14. Elementary, middle and even 9th graders in high school can take part. We had 150 teams from NYC take part in this past year's Climate Connections game.

Learn more about FIRST LEGO League: http://www.usfirst.org/community/fll/default.aspx?id=970.

Register a team (you can pay later): https://gofll.usfirst.org/.

Follow NYC robotics on my robotics blog.

Training and support are provided. Contact me if your school is interested.


6. Morris HS Robotics Team honored by NY Yankees

By Gary Israel

On Wednesday June 3rd the New York Yankees honored the Morris FIRST Robotics Team on the field at Yankee Stadium prior to the 7:05pm game between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers.

As some of you know the Morris FIRST Robotics team has been honored on the field at the old Yankee Stadium in 2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007and 2008. Of course this year the team members were especially excited about going on the field at the new Yankee Stadium.

While the team was on the field a recap of this year's team accomplishments below was read over the Public Address system.

2009 Morris FIRST Robotics Team

This year the 2009 Morris FIRST Robotics team is celebrating their 10th year competing in FIRST robotics competitions around the country. Over the past 10 years the team has competed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Houston Texas, Richmond Virginia, Atlanta Georgia, Trenton New Jersey, Orlando Florida, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

This past March the team competed at the New York City FIRST Robotics Regional for the ninth consecutive year where they reached the semifinals. The event held at the Jacob Javits Center was the largest FIRST Robotics Regional Competition in world.

Two weeks later the team traveled to Philadelphia for the first time where they won the Philadelphia FIRST Robotics Competition, defeating the # 3 seed in the quarterfinals, # 2 seed in the semifinals and # 1 seed in the finals.

In April the Morris Robotics Team competed in the 2009 FIRST Robotics International Championships in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Morris team is the only New York City FIRST Robotics Team to have competed in the FIRST Robotics International Championships for the past six consecutive years.

This spring the team was highlighted in a Forbes magazine article on FIRST Robotics.

An article on the team appears in the June issue of Popular Science.

The Morris FIRST Robotics team will also be the subject of a book on FIRST Robotics written by NY Times Best Selling author Neal Bascomb.

Gary


Thanks to Gary for inviting me to the game and giving me a chance to see the stadium for the first time. But the Yankees lost. Don’t let it happen again Gary. (And no wise cracks, Nancy.)

Important links:

Lego Team Registration Page
https://gofll.usfirst.org/

The Game (SMART MOVE)


Robotics in New York City
http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/

US First Lego Team Resources
http://www.usfirst.org/community/fll/content.aspx?id=786


Next Update: When I decide to get off the beach

Norm

You are subscribed to the NYCFIRST LEGO League listserve. Type “unsubscribe” in the subject area to be removed. Note: If you have previously asked to be removed and are still receiving these updates, attribute it to the gremlins harassing my computer. Ask again.

FIRST to present at World Science Festival!

Your team is invited to be part of the show.


FIRST has been invited to be part of the second annual World Science Festival in New York City at Washington Square Park in Manhattan on Sunday, June 14th.

Last year this event enabled us to spread the word about FIRST to hundreds and hundreds of families throughout the metropolitan region.

We still have a few slots available for FRC teams that would like to be part of this important outreach event.

If you have questions or would like more information, please click HERE.

Thank you for all you helping to bring the FIRST experience to kids across New York and New Jersey.

Sincerely,

Randy Schaeffer
Regional Director
World Science Festival Street Fair

Sunday, June 14th

Washington Square Park in Manhattan
(near NYU campus)
Set-up -- 7:00am to 8:30am
Demonstrations-- 10:00am to 6:00pm

For information about the World Science Festival, please click HERE

For directions to Washington Square Park, please click HERE

Teams can bring their 2008 and/or 2009 machines
Pit tables, tents and electricity will be provided
Bring balls, tools, batteries, trophies, banners, etc.
Wear your team shirts
Space will be provided for bots to strut their stuff (not an actual game)
The more action the better.
To register, please click
HERE

Back From Manchester

Being away from the NYC ed/pol scene can be a good thing, especially in the FIRST environment where the focus is on creating wonderful experiences for kids - truly Children First. It is nice to see so many people who understand one of the prime missions in education. There is a great mix of educators, engineers and people from the business community. Many got involved as parents. A couple from Arkansas started out that way and now are handling the FLL in the state. They mentioned that Kris Bretton, one of the former members of a high school team called "The Bomb Squad," is now helping us in NY as a mentor. Kris called me later that evening to warn me to not corrupt them with my big city ways.

FLL is expected to have over 8000 teams in the US and Canada and 8000 more in 45 countries. That's over 16,000, so get your order in early. This was a North American conference and most states were represented, as was Haiti and Colombia.

We got an exclusive look at the new Smart Moves game but are embargoed from revealing details until Kickoff on Sept. 3.

Teachers who get involved in FLL say it is the best thing they do all year. Registration is open now. The season runs from the beginning of the school year through mid-March, with borough qualifying tournaments and a citywide at the Javits Center which will take place concurrently with the high school events (FTC and FRC).

Learn about all FIRST events: http://www.usfirst.org/).

FLL is for ages 9-14. Elementary, middle and even 9th graders in high school can take part. We had 150 teams from NYC take part in this past year's Climate Connections game.

Learn more about FIRST LEGO League: http://www.usfirst.org/community/fll/default.aspx?id=970.

Register a team (you can pay later): https://gofll.usfirst.org/.

Follow NYC robotics on my robotics blog.

Training and support are provided. Contact me if your school is interested.

SMART MOVE

I'm in Manchester and on a break from the presentation on the new game. All I am allowed to say is WOW!

So register on the brand new registration web site early so you can get a team number.

You will no longer be assigned a team number just by starting the process. You must go through checkout before you get the number.

So far 20 NYC teams are registered.

So get on board. Remember, we often do things in the order of team numbers. So the earlier you register the better your options are for pit tables and order of presentation on research.

Partners Conf in Manchester

I'm up at the partners' conference in Manchester. There is a new registration system which I will check out tomorrow. Unfortunately, Noroko Morin has left FIRST and relocated to North Carolina. We will miss her terribly.

On Thurs, Scott Evans will present the new game and I will take some notes, which of course I can't share with you.

More on other events of interest as the week goes on.

NYC’s Department of Youth and Community Development and FLL partner for a special tournament!

NYC’s DYCD and FLL have partnered to provide 40 after school programs an opportunity to compete in a local tournament. The tournament will take place from 9:00-3:00 on June 13th at NYU-Poly. This is part of a pilot program that DYCD has undertaken with the generous support of The Wallace Foundation.

Coaches for the teams have attended a training to get familiar with the kit of parts and this year’s challenge, Climate Connections. Teams will be judged on all the categories normally associated with a FLL competition.

We look forward to this tournament and are excited about new students getting to participate in what we know is a beneficial program to garner interest in science, technology, and math.

Sincerely,


The NYC/NJ FLL Planning Committee

Hi Nerd Herd!: St.Clare Also Going to Atlanta

Hi Nerd Herd!

Congratulations on your wonderful accomplishment and we were happy to see you have been able to secure funds for Atlanta. You are famous!

Our FLL team represented New York last year at the World Festival and it was an amazing experience. We are actullay preparing to return now to the World Championships in Atlanta as a high school team this year in the FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) division. We are actually just a grammar school, and I had four FLL teams competing this year. But I have a great group of older kids who graduated and who always return to help out with robotics and all my after-school science enrichment programs, so I decided to look into starting an FTC team for them. Since we were new and had a lot to learn, we were surprised and thrilled we received a bid! We just learned we got the bid early this week and went crazy trying to get our funds together too. It has been wild, but I guarantee it is worth it!

So I guess we will see you down there. We will look for you and hope you come visit our booth as well. We New Yorkers have to stick together. I love your idea on having a New York spread down there!!! I will try to get something to you soon that you can post (if I can come up for air at some point!). Booking hotels, flights, etc. last minute is no fun!

We are thinking of doing a New York kind of karaoke type of interactive thing at our booth, so come over and be ready to have fun! And I hope you get to go to the finale night in the park. It is unbelievable!

Here is my contact information. Please send me yours if possible. We are staying in the Westin Peachtree Inn because it still had rooms left!

Mary Lee
Science teacher
St. Clare School
151 Lindenwood Road
Staten Island, New York 10308

Nerd Herd in Daily News

Rhode Island School of the Future: Robotics Park 2009

The 17th annual Robotics Park event conducted by the Rhode Island School of the Future (RISF) will take place on Saturday April 25th at Martin Middle School in East Providence. The theme for 2007 is "Change Makes the World Go ‘Round".
Hundreds of RI students will be presenting and demonstrating "Change" robotic projects that they have researched, designed, built, programmed and debugged. To see students of this age (especially those in the primary grades) engaged in doing and presenting this work is a wonderful experience. We therefore invite you to join us for this exciting community event.
For more information about the event go to: http://www.risf.net/RoboPark.htm

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED ONCE AGAIN AND YOU CAN HELP CONTRIBUTE IN TWO WAYS:

1. BEING A JUDGE
2. OR A ROBOTICS PARK VOLUNTEER

RISF needs judges and volunteers to make Robotics Park happen. Judges will be needed to interview and provide feedback on student projects and volunteers are needed to help make this community event run smoothly. Please let us know if you can help and if so, in what way you feel you can best contribute. Judge training will be run at 8:30 am on Saturday, April 25th (the day of the event). Volunteer training will be held on Thursday, April 23rd from 6-8 at Martin Middle School.

To support Robotics Park as a Judge or Volunteer please email Rebekah Gendron at: gendronrj@yahoo.com

On behalf of the students and teachers in the RISF project, let us thank you for your past efforts on their behalf and encourage you to join in the fun once again in 2009. Also, please feel free to pass this email along to anyone else who you think might enjoy being a judge or helping volunteer at Robotics Park.

Sincerely,
Rebekah

Rebekah Gendron
Director Robotics Park 2009

Rebekah Gendron - 508-496-9478
gendronrj@yahoo.com

Morris FIRST Robotics Team Wins Philly Regional

Good morning Alumni and Friends,


This past weekend the Morris FIRST Robotics team won the Philadelphia FIRST Robotics Regional at Temple University and will now travel to Atlanta to compete in the upcoming FIRST Championship, April 16-18 at the Georgia Dome. Click below for more information

http://www.atlanta.net/first/

I am so proud of this extraordinary group of students who showed such determination in defeating the BEST team alliances along the way to win the Championship. In the Quarterfinals the team beat the 3rd seed, Semifinals, the 2nd seed and of course in winning it all we beat the 1st seed

I also want to share with you that many, many members of MOE and team # 56 came over to me to say how grateful they were that we picked them for an alliance.

We will now prepare to compete in our 7th consecutive FIRST Championship in Atlanta. I hope those alumni who live in the Atlanta area will come to show their support.
We are also very appreciative to the New York Yankees for paying our airfare and our four nights at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center while attending the FIRST Robotics Championships in Atlanta.


Regards,

Gary

PS 57 SI students earn invite to Washington

From coach Patricia Lockhart

Update on the trip to Washington
The robotics teams are expected to go to Washington June 5th with Congressman Mc Mahon. They will make a presentation on the sea wall plan to Senator Schumer, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and even President Obama. Even though they did not win a trophy at the citywide - what they have accomplished is priceless....

Update on Jacob Javits Center
Our 2nd grade and 5th grade robotics teams participated in the citywide competition over the weekend at the Jacob Javiz Center. The 5th grade team was able to beat 10 teams citywide and had a high score of 100. They were also commended by judges for their research, technical robot design and work with the Congressman! Our entire 5th grade team came home with medals for their amazing work! Our Jr robotics team was able to present their research project to thousands of visitors. They were outstanding! PS 57 is proud of their hard work.

From SI Advance
Fifth-graders dream of meeting President in the near future
Thursday, March 05, 2009
By DIANE LORE
ADVANCE STAFF WRITER

STATEN ISLAND, NY -- CLIFTON -- Fifth-graders at PS 57 may be headed for a visit to Washington, D.C., with an eye on their dream of catching a glimpse of President Obama, thanks to an invitation from Rep. Michael McMahon.

McMahon visited the school last week to attend a presentation put on by students involved in the robotics program. He also spoke at a school assembly about his work in Washington.

The congressman was greeted by a swarm of students waving American flags in the entrance hallway. During the assembly, members of the Student Government presented a Power Point demonstration recapping McMahon's contributions to the school while a member of the City Council.
http://ads.silive.com/RealMedia/ads/click_nx.ads/www.silive.com/xml/story/si_advance/z/zonee/@StoryAd?x

Members of the robotics team presented the Congressman with their research on how to protect Staten Island from hurricane surge waves and floods, predicted to increase as a result of global warming. Students proposed building a sea wall around the borough's low-lying coastal areas. Second-grader Dominick Lewis proposed surrounding the Island shoreline with a trench to protect it from surge waves.

Fifth-grader Abdul Basil said he'd like to bring the sea wall project to Washington to seek federal funding from President Obama. His classmates, Mamicor Davies and Gloria Kakia, told McMahon that while the sea wall might be costly, it would be worth it to protect the lives and homes of Islanders living in the beach areas. They noted that PS 57 is designated as shelter for families under the New York City Hurricane Evacuation Plan.

The Student Government passed a resolution urging McMahon to bring President Obama to visit PS 57 so that students could present the President with their research in person.

McMahon responded by inviting the fifth-grade classes to visit him in Washington. "I welcomed all students to come down to Washington and visit my office there. There is nothing greater than seeing the seat of democracy in action," the he said.

Teacher Patricia Lockhart, who serves as faculty mentor and coach of the robotics program, said she is working to make the trip a reality.

Meanwhile, PS 57 robotics students are gearing up for the weekend's Lego robotics competition at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.

The school has been running a successful robotics program for several years, modeled after the program run out of St. Clare's School in Great Kills. (Ms. Lockhart, an Advance Woman of Achievement, is the sister of Mary Lee, the robotics coach at St. Clare's.)

Select fourth- and fifth-grade students at PS 57 prepare year-round to enter the Lego expo to compete against intermediate and high-school teams. The 10- and 11-year-olds learn the basics of computer programming and engineering to build a robot out of Lego blocks; they then program the robot to complete simple tasks.

This year, the older students began working with second-graders who formed a Junior Robotics Team. The junior team participates in the YMCA's after-school program at PS 57.

As part of the program all students must prepare and present a research project. This year's project involved climate change, and how to protect the environment from damage caused by global warming.

As part of their research, Ms. Lockhart explained, students reviewed actual blueprints of homes built in flood zones, and various sea-wall designs. They researched the New Orleans levee system. They'll be presenting their research and making their case for a Staten Island sea wall over the weekend during the competition at the Javits Center.

FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST LEGO® League and FIRST Tech Challenge

Thousands of Students to Compete in Three Robotics Competitions Under One Roof

Start Time:	Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 9:30am
End Time:	Sunday, March 8, 2009 at 6:00pm
Location:	Jacob Javits Center
Street:	655 West 34th Street
City/Town:	New York, NY

Description

The event is an opportunity for New York City students to showcase their engineering prowess and learn invaluable life and career skills.

“As we face an increasingly-complex global economy, we need to prepare our youth to be innovative problem-solvers,” said FIRST Regional Director Randy Schaeffer. “FIRST provides our students with experience in hands-on engineering challenges, allowing them to hone their skills and prepare for successful futures.”

At the New York City FIRST event, 66 FIRST Robotics Competition teams, 72 FIRST LEGO League teams and 48 FIRST Tech Challenge teams will compete to advance to the FIRST Championship at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, April 16-18. This is the 9th year of NYC FIRST Robotics Competition, 8th year of NYC FIRST LEGO League and 2nd year of FIRST Tech Challenge.

New York City FIRST Robotics Competition

Saturday, March 7 & Sunday March 8
9:00am to 4:00pm

In January, all high school teams were shown this year's FIRST Robotics Competition game – called “LUNACYTM” – for the first time and received a common kit of parts - but no instructions. Working with mentors, students now had just six weeks to design, build, and test their robots to meet the season's engineering challenge. In LUNACY, students custom-design their robots to pick up dodge ball-sized balls and steer, scoop, shoot or otherwise thrust the balls into trailers on their opponents’ robots to score.

New York City FIRST Tech Challenge Championship
Sunday, March 8
9:30am to 4:00pm
The FIRST Tech Challenge, provides high school students with the same challenge as the FIRST Robotics Competition, but with a more accessible and affordable robotics kit. Students get to test their technological and strategic skills in this year’s challenge – Face Off!

New York City FIRST LEGO League Citywide Championship
Saturday, March 7
9:30am to 4:00pm

The FIRST LEGO League teams students ages 9-14 to build competitive robots out of LEGO components. Every year, FLL works with experts in the field to create a Challenge that relates to a significant real-world issue. The end result is a two-part Challenge that requires research to complete The Project, and science and engineering to master the complex missions of The Robot Game. It’s a fun and exciting way to encourage kids’ minds. This year’s challenge is called Climate Connections. The teams participating at Javits qualified from among 230 middle school teams at qualifying tournaments in the five boroughs

In the 2009 FIRST season, more than 196,000 students are participating in 50 countries on more than 17,000 teams in hundreds of regional competitions around the world and one Championship.

Video and photos are archived at:
FRC - http://www.usfirst.org/community/resourcecenter.aspx?id=648
FTC - http://www.usfirst.org/community/resourcecenter.aspx?id=744
FLL - http://www.usfirst.org/community/resourcecenter.aspx?id=814

ABOUT FIRST
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With the support of many of the world's most well-known companies, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge for high-school students, the FIRST LEGO® League for children 9-14 years old, and the Junior FIRST LEGO League for 6 to 9 year-olds. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org.

ABOUT NEW YORK CITY/NEW JERSEY FIRST
New York City / New Jersey FIRST is a regional headquarters of the FIRST (For Recognition and Inspiration in Science and Technology) student robotics program and is based at New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, New Jersey.

The New York City /New Jersey FIRST regional program is growing, with 105 FIRST Robotics teams, 334 FIRST LEGO League teams and 60 FIRST Tech Challenge teams. We also host a variety of team support activities that foster and support the development of the FIRST Robotics, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST LEGO League teams.

The competitions, tournaments, programs and activities of FIRST in New York City / New Jersey are made possible by the efforts of Planning Committees made up of dedicated volunteers who want to make a difference in kids’ lives. For more information please visit our Web site at http://nycnjfirst.org.

FLL Program Guide for March 7, 2009

We have copies for all team members and attendees.

Norm Email to Teams March 4, 2009

Javits Update: Pit Table Assignments and Rules
March 4, 2009

This is the first of a series of updates I will be sending in the next 2 days.
A schedule in xcel to follow tomorrow.

Most info is being posted on Norms Robotics, including maps of layouts.
http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/

See below for your assignments. Lower numbers will be first up for research and tech and we go in that order. I tried to take into account your requests but generally did it in team number order to maintain what little is left of my sanity.

You must check in with Teri Bader and me at the registration desk. You are not present officially unless you do that. If there is a line and you have “stuff” and are there early, let us know.

I am attaching a form for you to fill out for each team.

Tours are still being offered on Friday, Mar. 6. Contact Ana anayz@aol.com

Javits is a big place
Stick-on badges (10 per team) are being printed which the kids will stick on their shirts. Each badge will identify the pit #, Team # and maybe school and team name.


Javits FLL General rules:
1. Remember to attend the Coaches meeting.

2. Robot inspection will be done at the game tables by the referees before matches start.

3. Please keep your PIT stations clean. This is your home for the day.

4. Please be aware that this is a public event and you need to keep your
pit secure.

5. Please remind the students that the Javits arena is very large and
not to wonder off.

6. Please remind the students about safety during the event. Pick a
meeting spot in case of emergencies.

7. Please remind the students not to go under the pipe & drape. This can
be a safety hazard.

8. Any students visiting the FRC Pit or any other part of the Arena must
be accompanied by an adult.

9. Remind parents that game arena & judging area are for students only.

10. Get to know your Performance Queuer & Judging Queuer. They are your helpers.

11. At your pit table you will have a sheet of printed name tags.
Please place one tag on the shirts of each team member for easy
identification throughout the competition.

12. Please make sure that you stop by the team registration desk upon
your arrival to the event in order to check-in and hand in your registration form (attached.)


Javits-FLL Judging rules:
1.There is no make up time scheduled into the judging schedule,
therefore teams should pay close attention to their scheduled time and
arrive to their judging sessions early.

2.There is no recording or picture taking in the judging area.

3.Coaches, mentors and parents are prohibited in the judging area.

4. Five minutes will be allowed for each judging session, start with
setup setting up.

5. Make sure the students for both Research and Technical presentation
come together when they are scheduled for Judging. Research and
Technical judging is scheduled back to back for each team.

7. Notify the Judge Coordinator early if the team has special
requirements for Research or Technical.

8. Power will not available in the Technical booth. Power will only be
available in the Research booth.

9. We expect to have time for 4 competition rounds. A 5th competition
round may be played depending on the timing of the event.

10. Performance rankings will be based on the highest individual round
score. If ranking ties occur, the second highest performance score will
be used as a tie-breaker. If additional tie-breakers are needed,
subsequent highest performance scores will be used to break the tie.


FLL Performance rules-
1. If you miss your match, please notify the Game Coordinator or Head
Referees to get on the make-up list.

2. After a team leaves the game table, please speak with the Head
Referees if you have any questions (instead of going back to the
referee).

3. Please remind your students to sign off on the scoresheet after each
match before they leave their game table.

4. Questions about the performance score after posting will be handled
by the Game Coordinator or Referee Coordinator.

5. Know your pit table number.


Field Set-Up Kits will be distributed upon breakdown on Sat at around 3 PM

We will try to deliver them to your pit tables. But check with me.

Aviation HS Michael Koumoullos
Dalton Chad Gallant
Beth Sugarman
2 0199 IS 24 SI Raymond Cottrell
Jane Frangos
6 0363 Think Robot, LLC
Tom Hershner
7 5624 The Anderson School PS 334M Judy Kunze
34 2179 IS 72 SI Randi Huss
46 3475 Arthur S. Somers Middle School John Uske
Clair Vassell-Williams
56 5762 MS 51K James Hoffman
57 5909 PS 103 x Jarret Jackob Linda Matos
58 5910 PS 103 x Cathy Daly Mike Murphy
59 6182 Archimedes Academy for Math, Science & Technology Justin Duffy
61 6388 MS 144 x Michaelangelo MS Victoria LoweGregory Defoe
64 6528 PS 123M Mahalia Jackson Scholars Academy John William King, Jr. Levette Alexander


Pit table assignments –

Pit Team # School Team name
1 109 PS/IS 123 X Technados
2 199 IS 24 SI Knights of 24
3 202 IS 24 SI Blast Bots
4 232 MS 67Q Globorobo
5 275 Cambria Center Cambria Warbots
6 363 Think Robot, LLC Think Robot
7 5624 The Anderson School PS 334M AMS Dragons
8 1215 P.S. 139Q RoboTech
9 1335 IS 27 SI Mustangs 1
10 1636 ESMT IS 190 X Lego Mania
11 1667 IS 34 SI Stell Talons
12 1730 Trevor Day School The Little Dragons
13 1784 St. Clare School Planeteers #3
14 901 MS 101X Maritime Academy The Electos
15 1462 PS 372 K Tropic Thunder
16 1463 PS 372 K Thunder Shocks
17 778 MS 216Q George Ryan Ryan Lions
18 1956 IS 75 SI Panthers 3
19 5119 IS 49 SI CyberSoldiers A
20 853 PS 121 X Storm Throopers
21 1341 Coen Micro Bots
22 1172 MS 302 X MS302 Tech Squad
23 584 Pablo Casals MS 181x Climate Crusaders
24 1739 Kezner Academy @IS 192 X Ro-bit-ics
25 1775 Packer Collegiate Inst. Packer Climate Institute
26 895 Bronx Latin MS Architecti
27 1827 PS 193 The Gil Hodges School NXT 193 1
28 1836 IS 119 Q TopGearz A
29 7756 IS 119 Q TopGearz B
30 1925 IS 318 Blood, Sweat, and Gears!
31 523 PS/MS 194 Rising Tigers
32 2019 PS 257k Minds at Work
33 1979 PS 58 The Carroll School The Thermolinas
34 2179 IS 72 SI V Team
35 2266 PS 76X The Bennington School 76ers
36 2380 Staten Island Tech HS Tech Knows
37 2386 Staten Island Tech HS Tech Knights
38 2393 PS 11K Mission 11
39 2491 RMS @ I. S. 192 Robo Fusion 192 A
40 2545 Globe School for Environmental Research GLOBE Masters
41 2656 IS 98 X Herman Ridder Ridder Kids
42 2707 PS 21K Crispus Attucks School Panthers
43 2708 PS 57 SI PS 57 Robotics Team
44 3057 PS/MS 108 Angelo Del Toro Time 4 Change
45 3076 Benjamin Banneker Academy K V-Bot
46 3475 Arthur S. Somers Middle School Rising Star
47 3575 PS 233K Langston Hughes The Extreme Engineers
48 3951 PS 399 K Stanley Eugene Clarke Knights
49 3958 MS 267K Climate Crusaders
50 3991 MS 88 K Masterminds A
51 3993 MS 88 K Masterminds C
52 4764 Resurrection Ascension RA Titans
53 5496 The Brearley School Brearley Beavers
54 490 St. Edmund Elementary School Nerd Herd
55 5721 NYC Parks & Recreation Park Wizards
56 5762 MS 51K Generals
57 5909 PS 103 x RoboBeez
58 5910 PS 103 x RoboStingers
59 6182 Archimedes Academy for Math, Science & Technology The Boogie Down Bots
60 6368 PS 153 x Robotronics
61 6388 MS 144 x Michaelangelo MS 144 GoBots
62 6425 Frederick Douglass Academy FDA LEGO Raiders
63 6426 Frederick Douglass Academy FDA LEGO Raidaz
64 6528 PS 123M Mahalia Jackson Scholars Academy MJ Legos
65 7175 LREI LREI Squires
66 7177 LREI Little Red School House LREI Knights
67 7417 Louis Armstrong IS 227 Q Lamchops A
68 7418 Louis Armstrong IS 227 Q Lamchops B
69 7509 PS 108X Philip J. Abinanti School Energy All-Stars
70 1910 MS 328 M Robotigers
71 7780 IS 125 X Henry Hudson Henry Hudson Lego Explorers
72 7836 The Gateway Schools Stratolab LLC The Weather Savers