NYC FIRST Update November 17, 2015

Dear Teams,
 

By now you should be deep into the FLL season. It is time to start thinking about the upcoming qualifiers and other activities. This email is being sent to all coaches and assistant coaches as entered during registration. Please forward to anyone else in your school or organization who might need to be in the loop.

For those who don't know me I am Norm Scott, an NYCFIRST volunteer since I retired as a NYC teacher in 2002. My role is to communicate with the coaches to assist in any way I can. I run the blog Norms Robotics (http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/) and post info on the main page and on the sidebar. Those who make make it to the next round in March will start hearing from me all too often after all qualifiers have been completed with updates on the final round.

We have almost 200 teams and every team MUST compete in a qualifier in order to go on to the finals at Javits Convention Center in March where about 80 finalists of the 200 teams will compete. I included a list of teams, their names, numbers and schools below and also on the blog. If you see something that needs changing let me know. The info is based on what you entered when registering.

IMPORTANT NOTE: THE COST FOR THE QUALIFIER IS $100 AND WILL ALSO COVER THE FINALS FOR WHICH THERE IS NO CHARGE. THIS MONEY GOES TOWARDS PUTTING ON THE QUALIFIER, TROPHY COSTS, ETC.

IMPORTANT NOTE 2: NOTE THE DEADLINES FOR APPLYING - register for FLL Qualifiers in TIMS from Thursday November 19th at 6 a.m. until December 10th at 11 p.m. (There are 2 Manhattan qualifiers.)

IMPORTANT NOTE 3: YOU ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE BOROUGH YOU ARE BASED IN AND CAN APPLY FOR ANY TOURNAMENT IN ANY BOROUGH.

As these can get filled up quickly we urge you to register early (but not often - only 1 qualifier to a team.)

For information on the specific qualifier a key person is the one running that event.  I post that info as I get it on the sidebar of the blog.

Other people to contact for info: Peter Xanthus at pxanthus@gmail.com or Norm Sutaria at norm@nycfirst.org

Note that the latter Norm S is not me - yes Virginia, there is another Norm S - Norm Sutaria who thankfully has picked up many of the tasks I used to do, thus freeing me to bask in the joys of retirement.

Norm Sutaria has more details below.

Dear NYC FIRST LEGO League Coach, 

Welcome to the 2015-2016 Trash Trek season here in NYC! I hope this email finds you and your team making steady progress. 

We are currently slated to have six NYC FIRST Lego League Qualifiers in New York City. 

Registration for these events opens in TIMS on Thursday November 19th at 6 a.m. and closes on December 10th at 11 p.m.

Please register for only one event that is closest to your location. 

Saturday January 16th - CCNY FLL Qualifier - Capacity: 36 Teams

Saturday January 30th - Staten Island FLL Qualifier P.S. 51 - Capacity: 21 teams

Sunday January 31st - Queens FLL Qualifier George Ryan Middle School - Capacity: 36 teams

Saturday February 6th - Brooklyn FLL Qualifier at Xaverian High School - Capacity: 26 teams 

Saturday February 6th - Bronx FLL Qualifier at Horace Mann School  - Capacity: 20 teams

Saturday February 20th - Manhattan FLL Qualifier at the Dalton School - 35 teams.  

FLL Qualifier Registration Process

In order to streamline the registration and billing process this season, NYC FIRST will be handling all billing.  This is also helpful because NYC FIRST has a DOE Vendor Number. 

1) FLL Teams can register for FLL Qualifiers in TIMS from Thursday November 19th at 6 a.m. until December 10th at 11 p.m.

2) Teams will then be sent a quick survey to determine how they will be paying: check, credit card or purchase order. 

3) An invoice will be generated either through PayPal or, in the case of a check or purchase order, via email. 

4) Teams paying by check will have to note their team number and name on the check mailed to NYCFIRST.

5) NYC FIRST will inform all FLL Qualifiers of the teams who will be competing and their payment status. 

6) Teams will not be allowed to compete unless payment has been received. Only under extreme circumstances will teams be able to pay by check on the day of the event. Credit Cards will not be accepted at events. 

7) All teams will receive a receipt indicating payment and which qualifier they will be attending. 

Special NYC FIRST LEGO League Policy 

In order to promote equity at events, no more than seven teams from any one school or organization will be allowed to participate in any one qualifier. 

Questions? Concerns? 

Please contact Peter Xanthus at pxanthus@gmail.com or Norm Sutaria at norm@nycfirst.org

__

Thanks, 

Norm Sutaria

Director of Programs 

NYC FIRST 

(646)580-9749 

norm@nycfirst.org