World Class Team Blast #4

Hello teams,

We are well into the first few weeks of school now and I hope all is well in your world.

In this email you will find information on:

1. Training and Kickoff
2. Ask an Expert Calls
3. Team Registration Woes!!
4. Tournament Registration Update
5. Challenge Updates

1. Training day & FLL Ontario Kickoff
Waterloo Kickoff: A reminder that we have a Training day in Waterloo this Saturday.  The event runs from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. and please make sure to RSVP with corneilm3710@gmail.com ASAP.

Toronto Kickoff: On Saturday September 27th we will be hosting our 4th annual FLL Kickoff and Training day in Toronto and this year we will be hosted by Bayview Glen School in Toronto.   Veteran FLL coaches and mentors will help to guide you and your team through a variety of topics.  You can see last year's agenda here to get an idea of the workshops being planned.  If there is something you don't see there that you would like to learn, please email me your suggestion and we'll see what we can do.

2. Ask an Expert 

Don't forget to register for the Ask an Expert webinar series. Upcoming presentations include Engaging Girls in STEM with FLL Partner Camille Sloan-Schroeder on Oct. 1st (register here ) and Judging from a Team Perspective with Global Judge Advisor Skip Gridley on Oct. 15th (register here).

The list of past webinars and links to both the presentations and question-and-answer sessions are located here.  

3. Team Registration Woes!!

Registration for FLL is definitely more challenging this year, but don't let that stop you from a great experience with/for the kids!  If you're struggling through a stage, please let me know so I can assist you through this process.  Please view these videos and ensure you've completed all the steps to ensure you're on the road to success!

Setting up your personal profile: http://screencast.com/t/Dtt8xOXW9U2

Registering your team: http://screencast.com/t/CZ4VTn12

Ordering your materials: http://screencast.com/t/MivMUCPU

Using the Team Roster  http://screencast.com/t/bigyCOnp

4. Tournament Registration Update

Many of you are asking about when events will be available.  We're working to set all the events up and after TEAM registration closes we will make available the TOURNAMENT registration process (likely around Thanksgiving).

5. Challenge Updates

Challenge Updates are under way. As of Monday afternoon, six Robot Game Updates and one Project Update have been posted to teams. We are working on a schedule of posting Updates twice per week on Tuesday and Friday afternoons, beginning the week of Sept. 15.   Updates are linked to from the Challenge page of the FLL website .   

Have fun!

Dave

World Class Team Blast #3: New Screening Process - Again...

Hello coaches,

If you have already been screened then you can ignore this communication.  If you have not yet been screened, the process has changed since the previous communication on screening/registering.

Rather than two phone references (as was the previous process) coaches will now be screened through an automated process through mybackcheck.com.  This should only take a few days to process and then you'll be able to order your materials from Spectrum as indicated in the previous post.

Please note, you still need to have BOTH coaches screened before you can proceed.

Hope that helps!

Dave

World Class Team Blast #2: New Registration Process

NOTE: Some of the videos in this post were created early in the season and your experience may prove slightly different since HQ has made some changes to the system since these were created.  One of significant note would be the screening process which previously involved providing two references per coach who were phoned.  That system has been replaced by the automated police background check system.



**NEW REGISTRATION PROCESS!!**

NB: This is no different than previously communicated - just highlighting it in one place.

FIRST LEGO League Headquarters has created a new system for registration this year which has many changes over previous years.  One of the impetuses for this change was their new Youth Protection Plan which is a great initiative to keep our kids safe while participating in FIRST programs.  We take children’s safety VERY seriously and this is a positive step in the right direction toward that goal.

To help with the registration process we’ve outlined the steps you must follow for successful registration and product ordering this season.

Step 1: Coaches create a profile at this link on May 5th :  https://my.usfirst.org/fll/tims/site.lasso

Here's a video walking you through the process of setting up your user id and password:

http://screencast.com/t/Dtt8xOXW9U2.

You will be asked to login into TIMS with last year's TRE account username and password, or create a new account. There is a process to renew or change your password if necessary. This will require a new profile to be filled out. The profile process may seem somewhat lengthy for FLL teams as we are starting anew in the TIMS system. However, once the user profile is completed for this 2014 season it will carry over to next year where only a verification of the existing data will be required. The former TRE link will direct you to the TIMS system.

Team registration payment questions should be directed to:

Email:                               ar@usfirst.org  

Finance Group:                603-666-3906 x563

Finance Fax:                    603-206-2079

200 Bedford Street, Manchester NH 03101

Step 2: Coach uses the login info created above to register a team.

Here's a video walking you through that process of registering your team.

http://screencast.com/t/CZ4VTn12

NOTE: two coaches MUST be listed on the registration and EACH of these coaches must be screened - once you register you will receive an email requesting that you fill in some information at mybackcheck.com so that you can be screened by the Canadian Police Services.  Coaches may NOT order their Field Setup Kit or their Robot until both coaches’ references have been contacted so please choose contacts that will be able to answer the phone.

NOTE: payment for team registration this year will be made to US FIRST and will be $225 USD.

Step 3: Order your materials through Spectrum Educational

·       Once you have created your profile, registered your team, paid your Team Fee ($225 USD to FIRST HQ), and had two coaches pass the screening process, you will get access to purchasing your Field Setup Kit (FSK) and your FLL Robot through a phone call to Spectrum Educational Supplies. Here's a video detailing how to order your materials

For further information on this, please see this archived Team Blast from HQ.

NOTE: ALL registration issues should be addressed to FLL HQ by phone at +1 (603) 666-3906 OR 1-(800) 871-8326 (US Toll-free).

NOTE: All questions related to ordering materials should be directed to Spectrum at Tel: 905-898-0031 OR Toll-Free Phone: 1-800-668-0600

Any other questions can be sent to Christine Bibic at christine.bibic@firstroboticscanada.org

Step 4: Follow up tasks

1. In the early fall (or sooner if you want) you can update your team roster and get the parents all signed in and consent forms done electronically this year. Ya!  Here's a video outlining how to use the Team Roster  http://screencast.com/t/bigyCOnpJ
2. Register your team for an event and pay the Tournament registration fee.  This registration takes place in the fall in early October.  More details to follow later.

Summary of videos in this email:

Setting up your profile: http://screencast.com/t/Dtt8xOXW9U2

Registering your team: http://screencast.com/t/CZ4VTn12

Ordering your materials: http://screencast.com/t/MivMUCPU

Using the Team Roster  http://screencast.com/t/bigyCOnpJ

Hope all of that helps you to navigate this new process.  Thank you for your patience as we transition through this year.  I apologize in advance for any inconvenience.

World Class Team Blast #1

Hello Ontario FLL Coaches,

I hope you've had a great off season and that you're itching to get going with the new season of FLL, World Class!  It should be a great year of figuring out how we can improve on the way we learn/teach/grow.  

In this email you will find two important items:

1. NEW REGISTRATION PROCESS

1. FLL AMBASSADOR TEAMS 

1. FLL ONTARIO BLOG - FOLLOW US!

• Once you have created your profile, registered your team, paid your Team Fee ($225 USD to FIRST HQ), and had two coaches pass the screening process, you will get access to purchasing your Field Setup Kit (FSK) and your FLL Robot through a phone call to Spectrum Educational Supplies. Here's a video detailing how to order your materials

For further information on this, please see this archived Team Blast from HQ.

1. In the early fall (or sooner if you want) you can update your team roster and get the parents all signed in and consent forms done electronically this year. Ya!  Here's a video outlining how to use the Team Roster  http://screencast.com/t/bigyCOnpJ

1. Register your team for an event and pay the Tournament registration fee.  This registration takes place in the fall in early October.  More details to follow later.

**NEW REGISTRATION PROCESS!!**

FIRST LEGO League Headquarters has created a new system for registration this year which has many changes over previous years.  One of the impetuses for this change was their new Youth Protection Plan which is a great initiative to keep our kids safe while participating in FIRST programs.  We take children’s safety VERY seriously and this is a positive step in the right direction toward that goal.

You may wish to hold off for a few days to register so that we can work out all the bugs with new system but for those who are anxious to get their team registered and want to test the system for everyone else we've created some helpful steps.

To help with the registration process we’ve outlined the steps you must follow for successful registration and product ordering this season.

Step 1: Coaches create a profile at this link on May 5th :  https://my.usfirst.org/fll/tims/site.lasso

Here's a video walking you through the process of setting up your user id and password:

http://screencast.com/t/Dtt8xOXW9U2.

You will be asked to login into TIMS with last year's TRE account username and password, or create a new account. There is a process to renew or change your password if necessary. This will require a new profile to be filled out. The profile process may seem somewhat lengthy for FLL teams as we are starting anew in the TIMS system. However, once the user profile is completed for this 2014 season it will carry over to next year where only a verification of the existing data will be required. The former TRE link will direct you to the TIMS system.

Team registration payment questions should be directed to:

Email:                               ar@usfirst.org  

Finance Group:                603-666-3906 x563

Finance Fax:                    603-206-2079

200 Bedford Street, Manchester NH 03101

Step 2: Coach uses the login info created above to register a team.

Here's a video walking you through that process of registering your team.

http://screencast.com/t/CZ4VTn12

NOTE: two coaches MUST be listed on the registration and EACH of those coaches must indicate TWO references who will be called.  Coaches may NOT order their Field Setup Kit or their Robot until both coaches’ references have been contacted so please choose contacts that will be able to answer the phone.

NOTE: payment for team registration this year will be made to US FIRST and will be $225 USD.

Step 3: Order your materials through Spectrum Educational

NOTE: ALL registration issues should be addressed to FLL HQ by phone at +1 (603) 666-3906 OR 1-(800) 871-8326 (US Toll-free).

NOTE: All questions related to ordering materials should be directed to Spectrum at Tel: 905-898-0031 OR Toll-Free Phone: 1-800-668-0600

Any other questions can be sent to Christine Bibic at christine.bibic@firstroboticscanada.org

Step 4: Follow up tasks

Summary of videos in this email:

Setting up your profile: http://screencast.com/t/Dtt8xOXW9U2

Registering your team: http://screencast.com/t/CZ4VTn12

Ordering your materials: http://screencast.com/t/MivMUCPU

Using the Team Roster  http://screencast.com/t/bigyCOnpJ

Hope all of that helps you to navigate this new process.  Thank you for your patience as we transition through this year.  I apologize in advance for any inconvenience.

**FLL AMBASSADOR TEAMS**

I sent an email out previously asking our FLL teams across Ontario to become Ambassador teams to the international teams competing in our Open Championship event in June.  If you are interested in being one of those teams, please fill in this form and we will connect you with one of the teams.  You can see a list of the teams going to the Open here.

This is a great opportunity for your team to interact with another FLL team from another part of the world and to help them as they prepare to come to Toronto for the Open.  PLEASE consider joining this initiative!

**FLL ONTARIO BLOG - FOLLOW US!**

All email sent by me regarding Ontario details throughout the season will be archived and can be found here:

http://fllontario.blogspot.ca/

Follow us to stay on top of the email archives!

Nature's Fury Team Blast #7

Hello teams and coaches,

Some of you have just completed your qualifying event this past weekend and some of you have yours coming up still in the next couple of weeks.

Congratulations to you ALL for making it this far into the season and providing such a rich experience for the kids on your team.  Win or lose at your event, the kids have all learned so much about teamwork, communication, conflict resolution, time management, decision-making processes, research skills, and most importantly, the impact they can have on their community and/or the world.

Speaking of rich experiences, FLL has an aspect to the season called the Global Innovation Award which is a way to continue to make that research project live on after the event is over.   The winner gets an amazing prize and gets to see their solution protected and brought to the market through huge financial grants.

As many teams' seasons come to a close this is the perfect time to promote the FLL Global Innovation Award to all of you! The website is now open for teams to upload their submissions. The submissions will be private until the competition begins Jan. 17, when they will go public. Go to http://fllinnovation.firstlegoleague.org for more information or watch this teaser.

What have you got to lose?

Dave

Nature's Fury Team Blast #6

Hello teams!!

We start the tournament season in a few short weeks and I thought it was a good time to touch base with final reminders.

In this email:

1. Consent Forms

1. RDES (and Core Values Poster clarification)

1. Coaches' Manual

Consent Forms

Please download this consent form, print for all participants and coaches attending the event and have their parent/guardians fill out and return to you before your event.  Please bring the stack of consent forms in a marked envelope with your team number on the front to the event and hand it in at registration.

RDES (and Core Values Poster clarification)

The Robot Design Executive Summary (or RDES) can be downloaded here.  Please download and follow the instructions in the attachment to prepare your team for their Robot Design Judging session.  Basically, this is a framework for your Robot presentation which should help to guide the students' discussions with the judges.

As a coach, you also receive email from FLL HQ in the US.  You may have read a message with information about a "Core Values Poster".  You can ignore that comment because we are not using the optional CV Poster in Ontario.

Coaches' Manual
You should have received a Coaches' Manual with your Team Registration.  If you don't have a hard copy of it you can download it here: 

http://firstlegoleague.org/sites/default/files/Challenge/TeamResources/NaturesFury/FLL%20HANDBOOK%202013%20PDF%20For%20Download.pdf

This is a GREAT resource for coaches and should be read cover-to-cover if you are just starting out this year or even last year.  In that manual you'll see tips and tricks of running your team, a season schedule of what should be accomplished each week, and a sample tournament schedule (among other things).  

Don't forget about the training calls we have scheduled.  The last one available is on November 21st and is covering final preparations for your tournament.  The link to register is here: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/421809654

Dave

Dave Ellis

Director, FLL Ontario
FIRST Robotics Canada
www.firstroboticscanada.org

Nature's Fury Team Blast #5 - Tournament Registration, Practice Tournaments, & Training

Hello coaches, we are approaching the halfway mark of the season in the next few weeks and I hope all is going smoothly.  In this email blast I'm happy to announce that the Nature's Fury Qualifying Tournament Registration system is live!  Below are the two topics for this email.

TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION

PRACTICE TOURNAMENTS

TRAINING

------------------------------------------------------

Tournament Registration

Please note that Ontario is divided into two distinct regions based on numbers and geography.   The short story is that if your team is based west of Toronto you will register for a Western qualifying tournament which will feed into the West Provincial Championships at the University of Waterloo on January 11th, 2014.  If your team is based IN* Toronto or East of Toronto you will register your team for an Eastern Qualifying Tournament which will feed into the East Provincial Championships at UOIT in Oshawa on January 18th, 2014.

Links to register for qualifying tournaments in both divisions can be found on our website here: http://www.firstroboticscanada.org/main/fll-tournament-registration/

You'll notice a tab on the page that says "East Championship Qualifiers" and one that says "West Championship Qualifiers".  Please click on the appropriate tab and then register your team using the link provided in the appropriate box.  There is a PDF of the questions you'll be asked which you should download and read through before registering so you have the necessary information at your fingertips for actually registering (i.e. food order from the kids, etc.).   Please see attached screen shot for further clarification.

Teams may only register for one event at this time.  If space allows we may open up a second round of registrations.  In this case, the 2nd event attended would be simply for fun and no awards or advancement would be provided to teams attending their 2nd event.

Deadline: Please register your team by Friday, October 25th at the latest.

Tournament Fee: The tournament fee is in addition to the Team Registration fee you paid to FIRST HQ/Spectrum.  These fees help to cover the cost of running the event.

Practice Tournaments

Practice tournaments are one of the most valuable ways you can prepare your team for your qualifier.  I HIGHLY recommend attending one if there is one in your area.  Currently we have 3 events planned...don't know if there is one in your area?  Check out this page to see!  

Training

We had a great turnout at both the FLL Kickoff in September and the Swatposium (last Saturday).   If you missed these opportunities, plan to attend next year.  There is information prepared for all stages of teams from rookie to advanced.  For those of you who want more...we have been hosting our online webinars in the evenings and you can see the upcoming workshops here: http://www.firstroboticscanada.org/main/fll-ontario/training-resources/

You'll also note that all of our webinars are recorded and posted on this same page for you to review in case you can't make it live.

Make sure to tune in on October 15th for our next webinar where we will be discussing the Research Project.  To register for this webinar specifically, click here.

Take care,

 Dave

* The exception to this rule being one TDSB tournament which will be in the West Division to help even out the numbers on each side of the province.  TDSB teams will be contacted directly by their Tournament Directors to indicate which tournament they should attend.

Dave Ellis
Director, FLL Ontario
FIRST Robotics Canada
www.firstroboticscanada.org

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