Robot Season 2013

From JaSun:

Hello OctoPiRates,

  The FIRST robotic challenge is being announced this year on January 5th (3 days away).  We the OctoPiRates have fundraised $23,000 dollars to build an robot entry.  We know right now it will be <120 pounds and smaller than 28" x 38" x 60" (last years details), the rest will be unveiled in a few days.  

  We will be meeting at SAIL this Saturday 10-6pm to see the game release, brainstorm solutions, and general team bonding.  Parents are required and we will be having a information and question session to talk about what to expect.  

Big Dates:

• January 5th Kick Off 10am-6pm (Parents 10-12)
• We will be meeting every day after school 2:45 for juggling, 3: with required home work/reading time and 3:30 will start our meeting and sub team projects.
• You will need to attend meetings of your group/sub team talk to your lead mentor and large group meeting every Monday.  If your motivated you can be part of multiple groups. 
• Stop Build is February 19th is our last day and the robot has to go into a sealed bag before midnight. 
• March 6-9th Orlando Regional 
• We will be taking the ~18 most dedicated team members.  Based upon work hours and skills.
• Mar 11-15 Intensives
• Mar 18-22nd Spring Break
• Mar 28-30 South Florida Regional (Drive team and 2 Pit crew)

Parents:

• We will be at school every day till dark thirty (qualitative term for late).  As the season wears on we will host longer hours, weekends, and possibly over nights.
• I have Hungry Howies on speed dial and will organize food if we stay past 6pm.  Last year we had a great parent support that organized food several times a week, we will try to make happen again.
• Their are some costs associated with the team.  
• $5/shirt and $150/regional (These costs are waived with 40 hours of robot time logged) which some of your young people already have.

Students:

• I hope everyone learns a lot.  Makes a lot of great friends.  These seeds of learning will provide many rewards in your future.  
• Stay focused.  Keep pushing around obstacles, and ask for lots of help.
• I hope your excited and that you got lots of sleep over break.  
• If you have any time before Saturday read through our website. https://sites.google.com/site/sailoctopirates/
• During build I would like you to take ownership of a page and keep it updated.
• Everyone should also be reading their area on http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/portal.php
• lots of game hints and other fun reading.

~JaSun