Managing Grades and Responsibilities While On A FIRST Team

[garyjune]

For us, managing school and FRC don't really conflict until we hit build season. At that point we're working 4 hours a day, 3-5 days a week. We don't have mandatory attendance every day, but members are encouraged to come out to at least twice a week during build season. It all depends on assignment deadlines in order to decide whether you're coming to FIRST on any given day. Grades are more important!

[JaclynGFC]

We always let the students decide when they need to be at build. No meeting is mandatory except our once a week recaps which are held after school. We also start build in the evenings so more mentors can be there to help (I have two small kids and live thirty minutes away, so I can't stay late for build). This year, I have opened up the option for team members to sit in my room after school to work on homework. This is especially useful for those who ride the bus and can't necessarily get back to build easily. It's also a way to help students stay on track with their grades.

For those team members that I teach, I often give them time extensions on assignments and projects during build.