Hello Manhattan Qualifier Event Organizers,

I hardly have time to write this e-mail as after a tournament week I am knee deep in report cards - but the hard work that was put into pulling off this event warrants it.

What an event! My team and parents are still buzzing over it. The location was perfect. It is easily accessible by car and public transportation, and you can find on street parking! Having the pit and tournament tables in the same room is a great way to have the children interact with other teams and view their progress, and the cuers could more easily announce and find the teams. The research and technical presentations locations were also perfect, and the coordination of the day appeared seamless. Plus the Great Hall itself is simply breathtaking! It was a truly magical "Hogwarts" experience. :)

In terms of lunch for the kids, we were able to access free WIFI at the event and Googled a pizza place that delivered.

I brought three teams from my school (a first) and was very nervous on how I would corral and maintain nearly 30 children from across the grade and age spectrum (3rd - 7th grade). The location helped that immensely. We are from Brooklyn and originally registered for this event when the original December date for the Brooklyn Qualifier was a conflict. We are all glad we were able to keep our slot at this event, and if it is held at CUNY next year, we would be honored to return!

The only disappointment that came from a team member was from his technical presentation rubric. We had only one student who was brave enough to volunteer how the robot was designed, and on one point of his rubric it said something like, "Coach helped," which could not be further from the truth. He and I had a discussion about judging subjectivity (a very important lesson), and he's determined to prove at Javits that the robot is 100% student created. Thanks to Suman for handing me our rubrics, they were a great teaching tool this week!

Thank you all for making this a great experience for our team and team's families.

I have pictures posted from the event here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/robotreilly/RoboticsTournamentAtCityCollege?authkey=FEdJ5y1VtdQ&feat=directlink
and here:
http://www.markdphillips.com/PCI/index.htm

Regards,

Maureen Reilly
Third Grade Teacher and FLL Coach
Packer Collegiate Institute
170 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

PS: We are looking for an after-school LEGO Robotics Teacher to work with a beginner's group on Thursdays from 3:30-5:00 beginning January 29th - we have both NXT and RCX kits and we have one teacher and two high school mentors working the same day for support. Since the news of the Manhattan Qualifier, the registration for our spring program has risen and we are looking to accommodate as many students as possible. If you know anyone who may be interested have them contact me at: reilly.maureen@gmail.com

Kudos for Brooklyn Qualifier at NYU/Polytech

Dear Norm,

I just wanted to let you know what a great time our teams had at
Saturday's tournament at Polytech. Once again, I am amazed by the
professionalism and camaraderie of everyone involved in FLL -
organizers, volunteers, high school and college kids, coaches, and,
especially, team members. Polytech did an outstanding job of hosting
the event and the venue was perfect. Winning a trophy was just the
icing on the cake for us.

Please extend our thanks to everyone involved. Now it's on to the Javits Center!

Sincerely,
Vicki Holland
Teams 1462 and 1463
PS 372K


Hey Norm!

Thanks for another great event today! Our kids (and parents) had a blast! They can't wait to do it again (next year?) I was wondering, do you think there will be any other events for teams that didn't make it to the city-wide championships? Ones that we could organize on our own? We are planning to discuss doing an Expo for our school with the kids sometime in Feb. maybe after the break...but then in the spring...I think they'd really like another chance to compete after taking what they learned from the competition and practicing some more... Do you think this is feasible or possible? Thanks again for all your hard work and commitment to the Robotics Program citywide! It really is impressive how the numbers have grown! (And such a great thing for the kids...and teachers!)


Tracey :)

Kudos for the Manhattan Qualifier at CCNY

MANY, Many thanks to LAESA -SHPE Chapter at City College of NY for their excellent leadership at the 2008 FLL Manhattan Qualifier Tournament held at the Great Hall on Saturday, January 10th! In spite of freezing and snowy weather, the CCNY team accomplished a well attended, terrific Qualifier event! This was a
particularly remarkable achievement given that this is the first time an FLL Manhattan Qualifier tournament is held at this venue! Kudos and thanks to Stuyve Pulse, FRC Team #694 for their significant contribution in making this event a success!

Thanks Mark Sharfshteyn and Liz Almonte for your skillful guidance in running this event. Along with the Jr. FLL Expo wonderfully executed with the support of Keith Wynn, this FIRST celebration at the Great Hall amounted to a true mini festival celebrating our youngsters’ efforts with science and technology in upper Manhattan! Comments from parents and teachers do not cease to commend the new venue, the high quality of the event, the efficiency and friendliness of all volunteers!

Below is Keith Wynn’s excellent analysis of the day's outcome!

None of this would have happened without you.. On behalf of NYC /NJ FIRST, thanks again for giving so much of you for the sake of a better future for our kids and community.

Sincerely,

Ana L. Martinez

Randy Schaeffer

FIRST Regional Directors


From: Keith Wynne
Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2009 4:59 PM
To: LAESA SHPE; Sharfshteyn, Mark; Randy Schaeffer; Elizabeth Almonte;
Elizabeth Vilchis
Subject: It All Paid Off! Some key analysis of today's events!


Dear Elizabeth V, Elizabeth A, Mark, and Randy,

Congratulations on pulling off another great venue this season!
The FLL Tournament was fantastic. Even though I was busy running the
JrFLL Expo. Everything I saw clearly indicated that the children,
coaches and parents were having a fantastic experience! Whatever
challenges we faced in putting things off in inclement weather, we
overcame and none of the parents, children, or visitors would have
even been aware of it!

Thanks for all of your hard work, cooperation, collaboration and
support! Today Jr.FLL welcomed 9 teams from seven different schools
or programs. The 2 of the teams were repeaters from last year.

Two schools had teams of more than 6 children so they created two
presentations and two models! Three of the programs were from
community based organizations or home-schooled children. One of
the schools also had a team participating in FLL via Staten Island
borough qualifier. (same teacher) Our schools came from Staten
Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Yonkers, and Bergen County,
N.J. (WHERE WAS THE BRONX THIS YEAR?!)

The children were ages 6-9 in grade 1,2, and 3. The smallest
team had 2 members and the largest teams had 6. Three of the 26
FLL teams participating came to visit the JrFLL Expo. Thanks to the
Little Red Schoolhouse, Packer Collegiate, and
Brearley!

I heard comments ranging from, "This was the best experience I have
ever had!", "I had so much fun today!" "The event was really well
organized.." "The event was really well planned!." "I loved the way
the kids were able to see both events taking place and participate in
the opening ceremonies." All of the teams were invited to join us at
the upcoming EXPO at Javits. Many already said they would be there.
I told them I'd be in touch with them mid-February... The joint
opening ceremonies as well as time for the children to go across and
observe the actual event really helped solidify the true meaning,
mission and values of FIRST for all who attended. The young children
were so excited to stand on the stage in front of everyone and have
their school recognized!!!

The time for the children to observe during our judging also
accomplished our goal of showing the children what they had to look
forward to as they grow up!

I made some great technology and engineering connections for the
students at my school. Met a producer at NBC TV on my way up to the
tournament. She asked me about the photos I had taken as I was
reviewing them on my camera in the subway! Also one of the volunteer
judges David works for ASME. He wanted to help further promote
interest in engineering and may be coming to visit P.S. 58 during
Engineer's Week/Month in February.

What a fantastic day capping off an amazing weekend full of
adrenaline, sleep deprivation, and incredible energy, love and support
from the entire FIRST Community!
Way to go:)

I'm off to get some rest. Take care, and I'll catch up with you
all at the next planning committee meeting!

All the best,
Keith

Manhattan Qualifying at CCNY - Jan. 11

Champions Award
1st Place Team# 7177 LREI Knights
2nd Place Team# 363 Think Robot

Research
1st Place Team#: 1730 Trevor Day School Little Dragons
2nd Place Team# 1910 MS 328 Robotigers
3rd Place Team# 1775 Packer Collegiate Institute

Judges Award
Team# 6425 Fredrick Douglas School Lego Raiders.

Teamwork
1st Place Team# 3057 PS/MS 108 Manhattan Time 4 Change
2nd Place Team# 425 Columbia Secondary School Robocubs

Robot Design
1st Place Team# 7836 The Gateway Schools The Weather Savers
2nd Place Team# 7175 LREI Rookies
3rd Place Team# 6528 PS 123M Mahalia Jackson

Robot Performance
1st Place Team# 363 Think Robot
2nd Place Team# 1730 Trevor Day School Little Dragons
3rd Place Team# 1910 MS 328 Robotigers

Teams that did not get an award but that have been invited to compete at the FLL Citywide March 7th Event are:

Team# 5624 The Anderson School PS 334 AMS Dragons
Team# 5496 The Brearley School
Team# 6426 Fredrick Douglas School Lego Radaz.

Brooklyn Qualifier Results - Jan. 10 at NYU/Polytechnic

Champion Award
Team # 1925 IS 318
Runner Up
Team # 1463 PS 372K

Teamwork
Team # 1462 PS 372K

Robot Design
1st Place Team #490 St. Edumund Elementary School
2nd Place Team #3958 MS 267K
3rd Place Team #3475 Arthur S. Somers Middle School

Research
1st Place Team 5762 MS 51K
2nd Place Team 1979 PS 58 The Carroll School
3rd Place Team 1827 PS 193 The Gil Hodges School

Performance
1st Place Team #1925 IS 318
2nd Place Team # 3076 Benjamin Banneker Academy K
3rd Place Team #3575 PS 233K Langston Hughes

Judges Award
Team 3575 PS 233K Langston Hughes

Teams that didn't get an award but have been invited to compete at the FLL Citywide at Javits on March 7th.
2707 PS 21K Crispus Attucks School
2393 PS 11K
3951 PS 399K PS 399 K Stanley Eugene Clarke