Qualifying Tournament Schedule, Kickoff Details, Tax Credit Donations, Robot Parts and FREE Curriculum!

ARE YOU READY TO MAKE A SPLASH?!?!

 

KICKOFF: September 7: Season Kickoff + Workshops 

NEW LOCATION: Valley Christian Schools K-8 Campus (6101 S. River Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283)

Please plan on attending this event - we will have the new field, as well as numerous workshops that are valuable to both students and adult mentors to help you get started.

A LOT of important updates for this season will be shared at Kickoff. FIRST published an official blog with updates here. Be sure to read the entire game manual, even if you are a veteran team of many seasons for the updates!

7:30 AM: Doors open (auditorium)

8:30 AM: AZ Season updates

9:00 AM: Kickoff broadcast

10:15 AM: Workshops begin

11:15 AM: Lunch break (on your own)

3:00 PM: Workshops end

PLEASE SEE THE KICKOFF WORKSHOP SCHEDULE AND A CAMPUS MAP HERE!

TEACHERS: Earn Professional Development Hours from NAU for your Kickoff Workshops! Click this link to request a certificate.

Four Corners - RezBotics Region

We're excited to announce that due to huge growth in FTC teams in tribal communities in the Four Corners Region that "RezBotics" will be its own official region starting in the 2024/2025 season! Teams located in tribal, reservation schools in the Four Corners area can join this region. 

2024/2025 Arizona Qualifiers - Registration opens Sat. 10 am!

We anticipate opening Qualifying tournament registration by the week of Kickoff. Our pricing structure will remain the same as in the past few years: $250 for two events, $300 for three events, AZ Championship $250 per team. 

This is the schedule that we have for events. Please take note of dates, compare them to your school's events/testing schedules, and choose the dates that work best for your team. Please also note that many dates have multiple tournaments happening on the same day. Teams will be asked to select a Nov/Dec tournament, a Jan/Feb tournament, and then a 3rd event from all the options for teams wishing to play 3 events. Teams will also be asked to select 2 alternates in case a chosen event is full. 

Teams will be put into their first two events in the first round to ensure that everyone has at least two plays, then third events will be added a week later. 

REGISTRATION WILL OPEN SEPTEMBER 7 AT 10:00 AM! 

QUALIFIER SCHEDULE:

• Nov. 16: Roadrunner - Gilbert, Gilbert Christian Schools (24 teams)
• Nov. 23: White Mountain - Show Low, Show Low High School (24 teams)
• Nov. 23: Red Rock - Microchip, Chandler (20 teams)
• Dec. 7: High Country - Flagstaff, Coconino High School (20 teams)
• Dec. 7: Turquoise - Tempe, Valley Christian Schools K-8 Campus (20 teams)
• Dec. 14: Diamondback - Tucson, San Miguel High School (20 teams)
• Dec. 14: RezBotics Qualifier, Chinle (24 teams)
• Jan. 11: Cactus Wren - Estrella, Estrella Foothills High School (24 teams)
• Jan. 18: Desert Vista - Peoria, Glendale Preparatory Academy (20 teams)
• Jan. 25: Palo Verde - Goodyear, Trivium College Prep (20 teams)
• Jan. 25: Saguaro Blossom - Microchip, Chandler (20 teams)
• Feb. 1: Petrified Wood - Phoenix, Brophy College Prep (24 teams)
• Feb. 8: Copper - Queen Creek, American Leadership Academy Applied Technologies Campus

Championship Events: 

• Feb. 8: RezBotics Championship (Dine' College, Tsalie)
• Feb. 22: Arizona Championship (Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott!)

Arizona Tax Credits

To help promote tax credit donations, AZFirst is looking at implementing a page on the AZFirst website. We're hoping by providing all the information in one place, we can get better participation and have Arizona Tax Credit's directed to your teams. We're asking that you please take a couple minutes and complete this form. 

We'll take the info submitted and create a page dedicated to tax credit donations for teams. For questions, please reach out to Annalisa at aregalado@firstpartners.org.

Free Robotics Engineering Explorations Curriculum

Searching for a free curriculum that will provide students with the opportunity to practice 21^st century skills like technical writing, presentation skills, communication, project management, collaboration, and teamwork? Look no further than our Robotics Engineering Explorations curriculum! Created by the FIRST Education Team and designed for grades 7-12, this curriculum allows students to build skills while diving into the world of robotics and FIRST.

Make a splash with TETRIX® this FIRST® Tech Challenge season!

FTC teams can sign up for a chance to win a variety of prizes.

HERE’S WHAT’S UP FOR GRABS: September 9-30 is a giveaway every single day! Prizes will include TETRIX parts packs and spare parts as well as $100 Pitsco.com vouchers. Follow us on our social media channels for tips and tricks, pop-up giveaways, and winner announcements! 

Class Pack No Cost New Team Registration grant (US/CAN)
Registered FIRST^® Class Pack customers can continue the FIRST^® experience by registering a FIRST team (must match their 2024-2025 Class Pack purchase type) individual team using the FIRST Class Pack New Team Registration Grant. With each Class Pack paid purchase, customers are eligible to receive a grant to cover the registration fee of one rookie (first-year) individual team; shipping and applicable taxes still apply.

Arizona Public Service STEM Teacher Grants 

Awards of up to $2,500 for K-12, public and charter school teachers who lead innovative, hands-on activities that introduce STEM concepts to the classroom. A total of $50,000 is available each year. For classroom projects from January through May.

Schools must be in APS territory.
Apply from Sept. 2 to 27.
Apply at this URL:   
https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/F_k5C2GljPcppWGwEInPvnR?domain=aps.com

"Purchase equipment, classroom supplies and/or other items that would
otherwise not be supported by the school or school district and are a part of
the project activities."

SRP Learning grants:

Apply from Oct. 2 to Feb. 28
Apply at this URL:
https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/juHXC3YmkgfppoMQRIqvVG8?domain=srpnet.com

"All educators in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Pinal County, Gila County,
Yavapai County, Page, St. Johns and NGS community chapters are eligible. Grant
applications must be completed by a certified teacher."
"Develop projects and programs geared toward state-mandated competencies. Up
to $5,000 is awarded per school. Funds can be used to support innovative
teaching strategies that improve student performance in math and science."

For the 2024-2025 FIRST® DIVE℠ season, REV Robotics is thrilled to award $100,000 in total sponsorships for FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition teams!

Our sponsorship program is designed for both U.S. based and international teams that excel on the playing field while being model members of their local FIRST community through outreach and sharing their knowledge with others. All US-based and international teams are eligible to apply.

Sponsored teams will become #TeamREV Brand Ambassadors, sharing the values and ideals of REV Robotics through our joint participation in FIRST programs. Teams will engage with the REV Robotics Sponsorship Team, completing activities and challenges to earn rewards and surprises from Fall 2024 through Summer 2025.

Applications are open NOW through September 17, 2024. If your robotics program houses multiple teams, please select one primary team for sponsorship and submit one program-wide application. Keep an eye on our blog, email newsletter, and social media channels in Fall 2024 for the official awardee announcement.

"RezBotics" Year 2

Navajo Transitional Energy Company will be sponsoring new FTC teams on the Navajo Nation again this season. Funding includes season registration with FIRST and robot kits. We will also host a coach training in October on the reservation. Schools can apply using the link HERE.