Yea, at my school, we run right over 3rd quarter, talk about 3rd quarter slump. Plus 3rd quarter ends RIGHT after we get back from compeitions, so it's like "student missing work" and it looks kinda bad. Gonna have to explain that one to the colleges.......
As for sympathetic teachers, I myself usually sucker myself lots of time and some lack of assignments, i talk to a lot of my teachers about the program and we leave our trophies (if we get them, which we have this year) in the offices for everyone to see, so we kinda of get a break, because they know it takes up a LOT of time, last year some of my teachers often even went "oo you actually DO ACADEMIC stuff at this, forget about that homework, you're good" and then i jump up and down that profusly thank them
Plus we invite them all the the local regional, we try and get the word out, doesn't always work, but it helps......
And if they come, when they see what we do, they are amazed and love it, and never stop talking about it!!