question for teams created among multiple high schools
 

Posted by Scott England at 04/29/2001 2:44 AM EST


College Student on team #401, The Hokie G.U.A.R.D, from Virginia Tech/MCPS and Virginia Tech/VBEP.



ok all, we're evaluating how our team should be structured next year, and I have my opinion on this subject, but I'm honestly really curious how other teams deal with it.

For all the teams out there, that have students from several high schools, I'm wondering where the team is physically based(like where meetings occur, and the robot is built). If at one of the multiple high schools involved, or at a seperate shop/space provided by a sponsor or university, or anywhere else I can't imagine. Thanks, there's lots of evaluating left to do trying to figure out how to become one of the big name teams (Chief Delphi, HOT, Huski-Brigade, Buzz, etc the teams that you recognize just from a short name) that really seem to have their ducks in a row.

Please answer....it's a question Ive been harboring too(EOM)
 

Posted by Jessica Boucher at 04/29/2001 8:40 AM EST


Student on team #237, Sie-H2O-Bots, from Watertown High School and Eastern Awning Systems & The Siemon Company.


In Reply to: question for teams created among multiple high schools
Posted by Scott England on 04/29/2001 2:44 AM EST:



EOM = Emancipated Overgrown Machineshops ;)

T69 has two schools
 

Posted by Lora Knepper at 04/29/2001 9:03 AM EST


Other on team #177, Bobcat Robotics - Adoptee, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.


In Reply to: question for teams created among multiple high schools
Posted by Scott England on 04/29/2001 2:44 AM EST:



From 1998-2000 I was a member of T69, that's comprised of the 2 rival high schools in the city. The issue on building was always a rather non-issue, as Quincy High also has the Center for Technical Education attached. There, there is a machine shop that the team is given access to and a place to set up a field for the season. So with those facilities able to be used, it's just understood that the students from the other high school will just travel down.

At the beginning of the season, however, meetings occur at both schools - individual school meetings before the team meets at the Center for Tech Ed (well, this is the way it was, someone from T69 please correct me if I'm wrong). These are primarily brainstorming meetings, and informational sessions such as when fundraisers arise, or travel information is given out.

Good luck to you!
~ lora

Re: question for teams created among multiple high schools
 

Posted by Carrie at 04/29/2001 10:40 AM EST


Student on team #27, Team Rush, from OSMTech Academy and Textron.


In Reply to: question for teams created among multiple high schools
Posted by Scott England on 04/29/2001 2:44 AM EST:





Hey,
OSMTech is a school made up of five school districts, and MTA is a school in side the technical center. We have most of our meetings at Textron ( our sponser) that is where we build our machine and we have our practices. When we have applications and interviews the meetings are held at the tech center.
That's all that I can think of!
~~Carrie team 27




: ok all, we're evaluating how our team should be structured next year, and I have my opinion on this subject, but I'm honestly really curious how other teams deal with it.

: For all the teams out there, that have students from several high schools, I'm wondering where the team is physically based(like where meetings occur, and the robot is built). If at one of the multiple high schools involved, or at a seperate shop/space provided by a sponsor or university, or anywhere else I can't imagine. Thanks, there's lots of evaluating left to do trying to figure out how to become one of the big name teams (Chief Delphi, HOT, Huski-Brigade, Buzz, etc the teams that you recognize just from a short name) that really seem to have their ducks in a row.

We Have Four
 

Posted by Bill Beatty at 04/29/2001 11:23 AM EST


Other on team #71, Team Hammond, from Team Hammond.


In Reply to: question for teams created among multiple high schools
Posted by Scott England on 04/29/2001 2:44 AM EST:



Team Hammond has always been composed of the four Hammond High schools. The intention each year is to select six students from each school, however, it doesn't always balance out.

There are some problems with multiple schools. The kids are great. Within a short time it has always become a unified team and you cannot tell which student is from which school. The problem has been more with recognition and identity at the individual school itself. Evidently the individual school administrators and other students do not view this program as their own. With our great accomplishments this year, not one high school had a word about it on their marque signs in front of the school. The team is almost never put in the year book of a school. There seems to be almost a resentment from some of the administrators, perhaps it is because, unfortunately, they are completely out of the loop. We have done a very poor job in getting the schools involved. Other than the team members themselves, there is virtually no school interest.

The meetings have always been at a neutral site, only because of suitability of the facility. The robot in the early years was pretty much built in our shop by our employees, and taken to practice at the meeting place each night. Expensive and a big pain. Now, the school city has provided a wonderful facility at the Area Career Center, which is the old technical-vocational high school. It is centrally located in the city. Now the robot is built almost entirely by students, parents, and volunteers at that location. We have been adding equipment such as a drill press, bandsaw, small sheet metal brake, etc. A few of the more intricate machined and welded components still wind up being made partially in our shop.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I also would be interested in the experiences of other muilti-school teams.

Miracle Workerz has 11 schools represented
 

Posted by John Larock at 04/29/2001 3:26 PM EST


Other on team #365, Miracle Workerz, from DuPont Engineering Explorer Post and DuPont .


In Reply to: question for teams created among multiple high schools
Posted by Scott England on 04/29/2001 2:44 AM EST:



This seaon, Team #365, The Miracle Workerz, is a conglomeration of students from 11 different high schools in three states (Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland). Most of the students are from 4 of the high schools, then we have a smattering of students from other local schools.

Our team started from a program DuPont Engineering sponsored for local high school students through and Explorer Post. This is an arm of the Boy Scouts. The program is co-ed and our purpose was to give high school students a realistic view of the engineering profession. This post has been in existance for over 30 years. Two years ago, our post was approached by a group in DuPont who was looking to sponsor a FIRST team. We jumped at the idea.

Our facility is a workspace on a local DuPont site. The facility has enough space for most of a playing field, workbenches, and a decent machine shop. Students all travel from their respective high schools to the work area each meeting, some travel relatively far (40 minutes), while others are closer.

We have no high school teachers or administrators on our team. Our adults consist of DuPont employees and interested parents. We also have a few adults who are neither, but are interested nonetheless.

Communication is done primarily via e-mail. About 98% of our students have accounts. We also have a hotline phone number that students/parents can call with up-to-date meeting info. Since we are not connected with just one school, making sure that we can communicate in a timely way with students is important.

A few of the represented schools are interested and some could care less. One school advertises only their students in local newspaper articles and makes it sound like the whole team is from their school (taking advantage of our situation). However, the school is very good at promoting our team's accomplishments.

Our goal, since we are one only two teams in our county in Delaware, is to seed high school teams in the area. I personally like the idea of having access to students of a variety of schools. It fits well with the FIRST mission. However, there are times when I could use some school representatives to make contacts and help with various facets of the team.

Please feel free to e-mail me directly if you would like any additional info.

Regards.

John Larock
John.A.Larock@usa.dupont.com

Team 1- anyone from oakland cty.
 

Posted by Erin at 04/29/2001 6:54 PM EST


College Student on team #65, Huskie Brigade, from Pontiac Northern High School and GM Powertrain.


In Reply to: question for teams created among multiple high schools
Posted by Scott England on 04/29/2001 2:44 AM EST:



When I was on team 1 our meetings were always held at the technical center (OTC-NE) and the building season meetings were held at the sponsor building. Most of the students came from Oxford High School (my alma mater!) because Oxford is one of the only high schools in oakland county w/o a FIRST team. We also had students from Lake Orion (301), Rochester (201?) Rochester Adams (245), Pontiac Central (47), Pontiac Northern (65), Avondale or Notre Dame Prep (33), a few from Oakland Christian and pretty much any student who was willing to join from the Oakland County area. It wasn't too complicated, as long as you had a ride to the tech center, the meetings went on.

About the Huskie Brigade having a strong team (which I am glad you recognized!) It is a special thing that can occur when the sponsor and the students are at the equlibrium point- each see things from each other's p.o.v. GM Powertrain gives such great sponsorship to us and we have such great student and teacher leadership that everything falls into place. Also, coming from an urban community with 3 extremely strong FIRST teams (1, 65, 47- all chairman's finalists!!!)doesn't hurt, either. hope this helps...

-erin
"If it was easy, everyone would do it!" -Mike C.

C is for "Ciavaglia"?
 

Posted by Joe Johnson at 04/29/2001 9:02 PM EST


Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.


In Reply to: Team 1- anyone from oakland cty.
Posted by Erin on 04/29/2001 6:54 PM EST:




: -erin
: "If it was easy, everyone would do it!" -Mike C.

Is the THE Mike C. none other than Michael A. Ciavaglia
from Team #47?

In fact our Mike C. says this phrase
often enough. I am just curious how you happened to
hear him say it.

If it is some other Mike C. it is still very strange
that two Mike C.'s would repeat similar phrases.

Do tell.

Joe J.

nope, Cason
 

Posted by Ken Patton at 04/29/2001 10:33 PM EST


Engineer on team #65, The Huskie Brigade, from Pontiac Northern High School and GM Powertrain.


In Reply to: C is for "Ciavaglia"?
Posted by Joe Johnson on 04/29/2001 9:02 PM EST:



Joe-

Erin is quoting Mike Cason, who works on controls on our machine.

Its a great saying, I use it a lot myself!

Of course, theres the modified version: "If it was easy, *I'd* be doing it!"

Ken

Right on the mark, Ken.
 

Posted by Erin at 04/30/2001 9:08 AM EST


College Student on team #65, Huskie Brigade, from Pontiac Northern High School and GM Powertrain.


In Reply to: nope, Cason
Posted by Ken Patton on 04/29/2001 10:33 PM EST:



I actually believe I stole it from both of you (you both listed it). I am sooo glad I handed out those webpage bio sheets!!

-Erin

"Without struggle, there can be no progress." -Jamilah G.

"Life is Suffering"
 

Posted by Joe Johnson at 04/30/2001 9:22 AM EST


Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.


In Reply to: Right on the mark, Ken.
Posted by Erin on 04/30/2001 9:08 AM EST:



"Without struggle, there can be no progress." -Jamilah G.

This remindis me of another great saying

"Life is Suffering" -Buddha

This rather stark first teaching of Buddha is surprisingly comforting at times. At least I find it so.

Joe J.

We band of brothers (and some other good quotes for FIRST)
 

Posted by Scott England at 04/30/2001 3:46 PM EST


College Student on team #401, The Hokie G.U.A.R.D, from Virginia Tech/MCPS and Virginia Tech/VBEP.


In Reply to: "Life is Suffering"
Posted by Joe Johnson on 04/30/2001 9:22 AM EST:



Well, sorry couldn't resist jumping in when I start seeing quotes flying around. Here are some that work quite well for FIRST,

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.
- Theodore Roosevelt (April 10, 1899)
*I believe that was 100 years to the day before the alliance of 122 The NASA Knights(my old team), 47 Chief Delphi, and Honeywell's Iron Eagles entered the tournament and had a good run toward (though cut short of) the finals)*

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers,
For he today that sheds his blood with me, Shall be my brother."
Henry V
William Shakespeare


The tax which will be paid for the purpose of education is not more than the thousandth part of what will be paid to kings,
priests and nobles who will rise up among us if the people are in ignorance.
-Thomas Jefferson


I think it would be a good idea.
Mahatma Ghandi (regarding western civilization)


I think Dean is working on that last one. but anyway, just some of my favorite quotes, some apply to FIRST, directly or not. Eitherway, enjoy all.
~Scott

Re: Quotes: Of precision and beauty.
 

Posted by Kris Verdeyen at 04/30/2001 5:06 PM EST


Engineer on team #118, Robonauts, from CCISD and NASA - Johnson Space Center and Friends.


In Reply to: We band of brothers (and some other good quotes for FIRST)
Posted by Scott England on 04/30/2001 3:46 PM EST:



When I am working on a problem, I never think about beauty … but when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.
-R Buckminster Fuller (On the purpose of aesthetics in engineering)

In total desperation, I called over to the engineering building, and I said, “Please cut off a nanosecond and send it over to me.”
-Grace Murray Hopper ( On using a piece of wire to represent maximum distance that electricity could travel in a billionth of a second)

We're not building a watch here.
-Gerald Miller, My Dad, and me. (On the dangers of overprecision)

You ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Posted by Carolyn Duncan at 05/02/2001 9:08 AM EST


Student on team #495, The Pack, from Jamestown High School and VBEP/Raytheon/Saic.


In Reply to: We band of brothers (and some other good quotes for FIRST)
Posted by Scott England on 04/30/2001 3:46 PM EST:



: "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers,
: For he today that sheds his blood with me, Shall be my brother."
: Henry V
: William Shakespeare

Anyone who can use a Shakeseare quote to relate to something as great as FIRST is AWESOME!!!!!!! It amazes me that someone can use one of his quotes for anything outside of an English class!!!
:"Gentlrmen in England now abed shall think themselves accursed they were not here"
St. Crispin's day speech
Carolyn

Re: You ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Posted by Scott England at 05/02/2001 2:21 PM EST


College Student on team #401, The Hokie G.U.A.R.D, from Virginia Tech/MCPS and Virginia Tech/VBEP.


In Reply to: You ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Carolyn Duncan on 05/02/2001 9:08 AM EST:



Thank you thank you *bows*

: :"Gentlrmen in England now abed shall think themselves accursed they were not here"
: St. Crispin's day speech

nice quote but I'm more a fan of
"There shall always be an England!"
~Winston Churchill

gee I wonder why
~Scott England

Our plan is to have no plan...
 

Posted by P.J. Baker at 04/30/2001 4:13 PM EST


Engineer on team #177, Bobcat Robotics, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.


In Reply to: "Life is Suffering"
Posted by Joe Johnson on 04/30/2001 9:22 AM EST:



Joe,

Try this one the next time someone at Delphi asks you for a project plan:

"Our plan is to have no plan. Flexibility is key. In that one thing, we are rigid"

- Tom Paterno, my best friend and distant relative (so he claims) of Joe Pa

On peace (and alliances? GP?)
 

Posted by Jessica Boucher at 05/01/2001 8:28 AM EST


Student on team #237, Sie-H2O-Bots, from Watertown High School and Eastern Awning Systems & The Siemon Company.


In Reply to: "Life is Suffering"
Posted by Joe Johnson on 04/30/2001 9:22 AM EST:



"Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice."

-Baruch Spinoza


Just pondering on this fine morning....

-Jessica B, #237

observations from a one-school team
 

Posted by Ken Patton at 04/29/2001 10:47 PM EST


Engineer on team #65, The Huskie Brigade, from Pontiac Northern High School and GM Powertrain.


In Reply to: question for teams created among multiple high schools
Posted by Scott England on 04/29/2001 2:44 AM EST:



We have for the last five years sponsored one school, so I am somewhat off topic for your question. But, our solution would work for a multiple-school team, I think.

Our engineering team (all the engineers, roughly one half of the students) meets at GM Powertrain during the season. Since all of the work on the robot is done there, it makes it easier on everyone to be close to our shop. We have a room that is about 12 ft by 12 ft, plus a playing field in an open area in the building. We do not always have enough room, but we do have *some* room. The students spend a minimum of 14 hours per week there, but that grows as the ship deadline gets closer. There is always engineer supervision.

We have weekly "all-team" meetings at GM Powertrain also - I personally think it puts everyone on good behavior, since we are in a place of business. Not that we behave badly....:))

The non-engineering team tends to work at the school, but its pretty common to find a couple of the students working late at one of the engineers' desks at Powertrain - they can stay there later.

Hope this helps,
Ken

108: Two HS...
 

Posted by soap108 at 04/29/2001 11:29 PM EST


Engineer on team #108, SigmaC@T, from Dillard & Taravella HS and Motorola.


In Reply to: question for teams created among multiple high schools
Posted by Scott England on 04/29/2001 2:44 AM EST:



108:
Motorola is centrally located, 20 min due south of Taravella HS and 20 min due west of Dillard HS. All team meetings there. Sometimes Marketing, PM, and SOAP meet off-site. Its easier for us to not be behind a firewall. :) Animation meets on Saturday, but they don't stay long. Most of that work gets done at DHS or a student's house.

~All robot fabrication done onsite...large machine shop. There's too much liability stuff with Mot allowing students to operate most machinery, but they do get to assemble the bot and work on it in the Pit. We've been very fortunate to get factory floor space (~30'x40') for the playing field each year. 3 major sectors of Mot have manufacturing lines and it always happened that one of the factories has some temp space that we can use from Jan-April. Each year we talk to the respective GM's about permanent space year-round but no dice...yet.

Students from the two schools get along very well, although they usually don't hang out together beyond the events. The teachers work well tegether too. One even "interned" at motorola last summer and should be back again in June. Each year anywhere from 3-7 students will land internships largely due to their performance on the team (in 1997 about 15 made it in!). I believe each of the Val's from DHS since 97 have interned upon graduation. This year the Sal interned during his Sr year (OJT) and the Val was on the team last year.

Broward's school board is well aware of our partnership and supports us to a degree. The schools' principals and other staff members go to Nationals and like to here reports from our regional affairs.

Some bugs this year were in travel and hotel. The schools booked seperately and some confusion arose. Just one those miscommunications most teams have anyway. But to their credit the schools do video conference each other during Oct-Dec timeframe to do some planning for the upcoming season. In the past DHS and Motorola tried out the video conferencing and that went okay, but its better to have the kids and teachers in person.

Hope this helps,
KA ;~)

: ok all, we're evaluating how our team should be structured next year, and I have my opinion on this subject, but I'm honestly really curious how other teams deal with it.

: For all the teams out there, that have students from several high schools, I'm wondering where the team is physically based (like where meetings occur, and the robot is built). If at one of the multiple high schools involved, or at a seperate shop/space provided by a sponsor or university, or anywhere else I can't imagine. Thanks, there's lots of evaluating left to do trying to figure out how to become one of the big name teams (Chief Delphi, HOT, Huski-Brigade, Buzz, etc the teams that you recognize just from a short name) that really seem to have their ducks in a row.

Team 495
 

Posted by Carolyn Duncan at 04/30/2001 7:45 AM EST


Student on team #495, The Pack, from Jamestown High School and VBEP/Raytheon/Saic.


In Reply to: question for teams created among multiple high schools
Posted by Scott England on 04/29/2001 2:44 AM EST:



Hey Scott,
Team 495 started the season as a 2 school team. We had all the meetings at Jamestown because that was the school with the original school sponsor, we have to have an adult from the school to have an activity. By the middle of the season we were down to one school, not very many of us as you know.
C-ya,
Carolyn

We come from 3 schools
 

Posted by Lewis Sussman at 04/30/2001 12:32 PM EST


Coach on team #95, Lebanon Robotics Team, from Lebanon NH HS, Hanover NH HS, Hartford VT HS and CRREL/CREARE.


In Reply to: question for teams created among multiple high schools
Posted by Scott England on 04/29/2001 2:44 AM EST:



In a rural area, it's a necessity. We meet in a workshop provided by a sponsor, also in a classroom at one of the schools. We have worked hard to eliminate cliques and overcome rivalry, and we are proud to say it's hard to tell where the students come from by looking at the way they interact. We are not an "official" school activty. We get some administrative support from one of the schools, but are an independent "club" with our own board of directors, including some students. I feel that a multi school team is very feasible and would encourage you.

BTW, we have experienced some of the same puzzling lack of public support mentioned by Bill Beatty. Only one science teacher (who is very involved) out of three schools seems to take any real interest in what we are doing. We're working on it.