Re: TIme off?
 

Because robotics is educational, my high school treated it like a field-trip. You have to get signatures from teachers and the like. Also, students who aren't doing so hot in school are generally told they can't go by parents anyways.

If you can convince your high school to treat it thusly, you're in good shape. Also, many sports-teams members (at least in my state) have to miss school for State Competitions (or even normal competitions). If that's a similar story, mention it... any respectable school administration shouldn't say that sports can miss class, but something like robotics can't.