Dec 10th Update
With the holidays coming up, we have posted the holiday schedule below. Also, there are changes to competition dates. So please take note and update your calendars.
All teams are encouraged to take the kits home and work on them during the holidays. Especially comp. teams need to allocate at least 6hrs a week. The best teams usually spend more than 15hrs on average during holidays.
Progress Update
VEX V5 Comp Teams: VEX V5 comp teams completed their 2nd competition this week. Our teams faired very well. Team Pandemonium was placed 5th. This competition provided great insights, as some of the world champion teams participated. Now teams need to go back to their drawing board and figure out their strategy for future competitions.
VEX IQ Comp Teams: VEX IQ competition is coming up on Dec 16th in Chico. And our teams still need to make a lot of progress on their robots. They have set up very ambitious goals. They are working hard, spending more than 10 hours per week. But they are still struggling. So it is very important to understand your capabilities and set weekly goals to meet the deadlines. Hopefully, they can accomplish those goals in a week.
VEX IQ Rec. Teams: The competition on Dec 16th is canceled, as multiple teams are on vacation. Instead, the competition is going to be on Jan 19th. This will also give the teams ample time to update their robots for new strategies. Some of the teams are working on autonomous skills. While other teams are working on completely new designs.
Team Work Challenges: We are observing challenges with few teams, especially in rec teams in working as a team. Working in teams is a challenge for kids due to differing perspectives, communication hurdles, and learning to navigate shared responsibilities. Robotics, inherently collaborative, demands not only technical skills but also effective teamwork, making it a unique challenge for young minds. This is something we observe with most teams, especially in the first year of robotics. At Falkon, we are encouraging open communication, assigning diverse roles, fostering respect for ideas to improve team dynamics and motivation, and turning challenges into opportunities for growth and learning in the world of robotics.
New Projects: Falkon Academy planned to bring unique competitive programs to the Sacramento Area. We are excited to announce that this year we are planning on coaching and hosting Kangaroo Math competition.
Holiday Schedule
| School Name | Last Day Before Break | First Day After Break |
| Rolling Hills Middle School | Dec 19th | Jan 9th |
| Folsom Middle School | Dec 12th | Jan 9th |
| Marina Village Middle School | Dec 14th | Jan 8th |
| Mitchell Middle School | Dec 14th | Jan 4th |
Future Competition Schedule:
For VEX IQ Competition Teams:
December 16th: Chico – Competition Details sent to parents already.
February 18th: Folsom- Sunday. (It’s a long weekend. But parents are suggested to work around the competition date. as this is the last competition of the season.)
For VEX V5 Competition Teams:
League Nights (Middle School): December 13th, January 17th, and January 31st – Competition details sent to parents already.
League Nights (High School): December 14th, January 18th, Feb 1st (Finals). (MS Teams)
Mini League Schedule for Recreational Program:
Location: Marina Village Middle School, El Dorado Hills Dates and Times:
Friday, January 19, 2023, from 5:30 PM to 9:35 PM
Friday, February 23, 2024, from 5:30 PM to 9:35 PM
Facebook Update
Some pictures and videos are posted on the Facebook page. If you have more pictures please feel free to share with us. Please/Like our page:
Wish you a Merry Christmas! – From Falkon Staff.
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