Post Season Mentor Meetings

[Taylor]

After every major event, we hold a pluses and deltas discussion with the entire team. Focusing on the team and situations, not external forces or individuals, keeps it productive.

[Kevin Ray]

We, as well hold "after action" meetings after each competition and one at the end of the season.
The topic which surfaces each and every year and always seems to be a work in progress is the manner/criteria by which students are selected to attend away competitions including the worlds. We've been blessed to have made it to the worlds 10 years in a row and each and every year it is horrible to have to let some students know that they won't be able to attend. By directive of the superintendent of schools we are limited to 20 students attending the worlds. We have a rubric which is modified annually and all students know in advance how it is formulated but there nebulous or subjective aspects which cannot be objectified and those become the sticking points.
In all, these meetings are where our team makes its greatest growth. Although most people just want to take a break and relax after the arduous season, now is the time to sit down and do the hard work. We have made tangible changes from the design of the pit and projected purchases for the lab, to strategic and policy changes as to how the team will be run and organized. In 2010 we happened to share a hotel with Team 341 Miss Daisy. They had just won National Chairman's award and spent 30 minutes in the lobby telling us how they organized their team. Two days later we were home implementing many of those ideas and have been modifying them since. They were very gracious and helpful in sharing anything and everything with us, especially this idea of reason reviews.
I cannot emphasize enough the value of sitting down with the entire team (maybe not all at once) to evaluate the positives and negatives of the season.

[rich2202]

Originally Posted by Kevin Ray

By directive of the superintendent of schools we are limited to 20 students attending the worlds.

It is open to the public, so anyone who can get there on their own ...

Maybe the "official" team are students under 18. The 18+ students (who can travel on their own), and students who's parents come with them, can be the unofficial part of the team.

[Kevin Ray]

Originally Posted by rich2202

It is open to the public, so anyone who can get there on their own ...

Maybe the "official" team are students under 18. The 18+ students (who can travel on their own), and students who's parents come with them, can be the unofficial part of the team.

If the students are missing a day of school to attend when they are not officially given a "school field trip" absence, it will be counted as a cut for each of the days missed.