Transitions

Tonight we held our first leadership meeting with our new captains and co-captains.  Due to the growth of our team, we have expanded to 3 captains, and 3 co-captains.  They are already starting with some great ideas for our team.  I am really looking forward to working with them.  It is an exciting time.

We worked our reviewing our handbook and varsity letter requirements.  A few tweaks here and there did the trick.  We talked about what is working and what needed to change.  Again, more great ideas.  I am not going to reveal them all yet, because I want my captains to be able to break out their ideas to the team, but I cannot wait to share them.

We discussed which events we wanted to attend next year, ideas for worlds,and the conflict our marching band kids will have if we qualify for worlds.  Every four years our marching band travels to march at Disney World.  But, it was decided that if we qualify, we will go to worlds.  So, if we make it to worlds, we will be going with about half of our team.  This will be an important factor in our driver try-out procedure this year.

Our outgoing captains didn't leave us hanging.  While we were discussing next year, they were busy putting some final touches on our summer camp program.  We are hosting, for the second year, 2 summer camps.  One will be in the mornings for JFLL aged kids, and one in the afternoon for FLL/FTC aged kids.

We put our 2013-2014 applications out early this year, and are very excited that we already have 7 new applicants for our team, and 62 applicants for our JFLL, FLL, FTC programs.  Last year, we hadn't even opened them yet by this time.  Thursday we will host an information night for anyone wanting to find out information on K-12 FIRST robotics programs in our school district, or elsewhere!

Finally, we may be one step closer toward hosting our Bedford District Event this year!  I am hoping for more good news or an official announcement soon!

Transitions are always a tough time.  It is so sad to not have our seniors, but so I am so excited for their graduation ceremony on Sunday.  At the same time, it is so exciting to hear the ideas of the new leaders who are stepping into their moment to lead us to our next great adventure with this outstanding program.

This year is especially tough because my youngest daughter is graduating.  This coming season will be the first year in my 13 previous years of coaching, that one of my daughter's will not be a student on my team.  I am so thankful that the 13 years of FIRST robotics that they have been exposed to has led them to have a strong desire to stay a part of FIRST experience!  It will definitely be a different experience without them here!  Some things I am looking forward to ("she only got that because she is the coach's daughter", anger at me taken out on my kids), and somethings I will greatly miss (the opportunity to participate in the program together with them, seeing them work so hard to make our team strong, watching their excitement, seeing FIRST robotics impact their lives in such a positive way).   I also know that though they are not students on my team anymore, they will both be heavily involved in FIRST Robotics!   I know that this program will help me survive my new "Empty Nest" which I will be experiencing soon, and will help them survive their college and life experiences ahead of them.  It is just one more transition that will offer new and wonderful chapters in our lives.