2012 Code Red Mock Kickoff/News

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Well done with the Mock Kickoff!  Along with several Grand Rapids area teams, we had teams from Newaygo, Cassopolis, Niles, and even Indiana take part in this very cool event.  Code Red was well-represented with students, mentors and even some parents.  So, nice job everyone in helping to advance the engineering principles of hard-work, disciplined thought and innovative idea generation – all with the goal with making a difference!  In addition, we did collect a whole trunkful of supplies needed by the folks at Lutheran Child & Family Services in their service to local families. Way to go FIRST family!

Here is some important information for Code Red members:

Our last team meeting of 2011 will be Tuesday, December 13.  We are NOT having a team meeting on Monday, December 19th as originally planned.

(There will be a Mentor meeting on Tuesday, December 20, as we host the Code Red Mentor Cookie and Coffee Roundtable for area teams, but students will have the night off!)

The next team meeting is Tuesday, January 3 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

The real FIRST Kickoff will be January 7th,  2012, at GVSU’s Eberhard Center in downtown GR.  Attendance is mandatory for students and parents are welcome to participate.

Our Build Season begins on Monday, January 9th with the following schedule:

  • From 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm every Monday through Friday
  • Saturdays, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

That Build Season schedule continues until February 21, the day we lock up our new robot.  After that we’ll drop down to two nights per week as we head into competition season:

           – March 1-2-3   Kettering University

            -March 15-16-17  GVSU Allendale Campus

            -April 12-13-14  Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti

            -April  25-28       Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, MO

As we mentioned, students need to put in at least 12 hours per week with the team while we are meeting on Monday through Saturday.  Our team is absolutely blessed with quality students, parents and mentors and Code Red is going to be part of something special this season.  Please let me know what questions you may have.
Parents are encouragaged to come to the Build Space and get involved in team activities.  We will be publishing a meal calendar so that families can sign up to provide meals during our Build Season.  The students will be working very, very hard and will have a quick dinner together every night.
Code Red families, friends, neighbors and sponsors are all invited to our Open House on Saturday, February 18 to check out the new student-designed and student-built robot, and to encourage the team members as they prepare for intense competition!  Refreshments will be served.
Merry Christmas!
-Code Red