Event Registration Details

• The assigned home event list will be posted on October 6 and event registration – where you will confirm that you accept your home event or request to be moved to one of a ranked list of alternates if possible – will open on October 8. All event registration information is linked from the Michigan FLLC Events page, including a link to the Event Registration page with all details about event registration.
• There are several things you can do now to be prepared for event registration:
  • Ensure you have the two registered, screened coaches needed in order to participate.
  • Visit the links at the top of the Michigan FLLC Events page for the Michigan Event Guide and the Event Registration page. Reading through the information will help you understand the registration and event process!
  • Make sure your team is deciding on a name now so that it is final in the FIRSTinspires.org Dashboard by October 12 when event registration closes. A list of names will be pulled the next day and then no name changes will be updated after that time even if you change it in the Dashboard.
• All teams should plan their season to be ready to compete by November 8, as the majority of teams will compete in November. (If you have an event in your school district, you should plan to attend that date.)
• Remember that we cannot use the FIRST Dashboard to register FLLC teams for events, so you won’t see events listed there.
• If you have not yet registered your team for the season, you may be receiving this email but you will not be placed into an event. If you need help registering or have any barriers or questions, please reach out right away so that we can make sure you are assigned to an event! Teams who register after the home event list is posted will be placed into events after registration closes in any spaces which are left.

Coach Meetings

Adding a few optional training opportunities for Michigan coaches. Sessions will not be recorded. Both are 7:30-8:30PM with time for Q&A after. More information and sign up info at the links:

• New coach information (Oct. 2): This session will cover information found on the Run-a-Team page but in a more interactive format
• Coaching the project (Oct. 8): For new coaches or anyone who wants to improve their team’s project experience, a walk through of the project process plus tips gathered from experienced coaches with successful projects last year

Project Resources

• You can find project resources for this year’s UNEARTHED challenge at the FLL Challenge Resources page under the ‘Project Resources’ heading.
• This one is coming up quickly! Check out the Archaelogical Institute of America ‘Ask an Architect’ webinar on September 29th at 4PM.
• And another webinar for teams: Society for American Archaeology ‘Exploring Archaeological Challenges’ webinar on October 1st at 5PM.
• The Michigan History Center in downtown Lansing is hosting Archaeology Day on Saturday, October 18, from 10 am – 4 pm. Learn about Michigan’s history, meet with Michigan archaeologists and have a great day in Michigan’s capitol.

Team Paperwork

• Now is the time to start getting your team’s “paperwork” in order. It can take time to get coaches screened and consent forms signed, so start now. Rosters will be due the Monday before your event. You can find directions for completing your team’s required roster and consent forms at the Event Readiness page. If you have any questions on this process after reading through the Event Readiness page fully, please let me know.
• If you have 3rd graders on your team, you will not be able to register them through the FIRST Dashboard with this usual process. Email angela@firstinmichigan.org for alternate instructions for those students (because FIRST’s process has changed for this year, you cannot use last year’s instructions/form.)

Participation Reminder

• In Michigan, we run a slightly different progression of programs from FIRST. In Michigan, FIRST LEGO League is an elementary school only program with teams comprised solely of elementary school aged/grade team members. To attend an event or receive any grants, teams must be aligned to the FIRST in Michigan progression of programs, consisting ONLY of: All students in grades 4-5, as well as students in grade 6 (maximum) IF they attend an elementary school, and individual students in grade 3 who are “playing up” because it is a better fit for them.
• FIRST LEGO League Challenge team size is capped at 10. No exceptions are made, and smaller teams than this are highly encouraged (6-8 students.) Multiple teams out of a given school/organization are welcome, and we have grants which can fully fund additional teams at a school. Let me know if you would like more teams!
• If you have middle school students who would like to participate in robotics, please reach out the Tammy Damrath at tammy@firstinmichigan.org for more information about FTC teams.

Register Your Teams

• Get your team registered now to be ready for event registration! When you register a team located in Michigan with FIRST, you are automatically a part of the FIRST in Michigan (FIM) team family! There is no additional registration required until October when event registration begins.
• Teams keep their number from year to year, so please re-register all current teams before registering a new team at your school/district. Rookie status for grants or other purposes is not determined by team number.
• Each team will need two registered, screened coaches in order to register for events in Michigan. Coaches can be registered to multiple teams. All email communication will be sent to the two registered coaches, as well as the team admin if there is one registered.

Grants

• We still await news on the MDE 99h grant! Watch for details later this fall.
• Donors Choose:Through generous support from 3M, FIRST® related DonorsChoose project funding is now available to any US-based full-time educators and school district employees who work directly with students at least 75% of the time from Public Schools, Public Charter School, Head Start Centers, and Bureau of Indian Education Schools. FIRST educators will create a project on DonorsChoose and once the project is live, they must complete this form to be considered for this selective funding opportunity. Projects will be reviewed to ensure they meet donor intent and partial funding will be allocated accordingly. For more information, please visit this page.

MICHIGAN RESOURCES

These four important pages have all the information you need to run a Michigan FIRST LEGO League Challenge team each year:

• Resources page – annotated, organized list of links to everything for running a team and this season
• Events page – important pages linked at the top to help you register for an attend an event
• Run-a-Team page – step-by-step guide to running a team from registration to attending an event
• Grants page – information about all grants available to new or returning teams

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