Please see the message below directly from the Event Coordinator. I have removed the
Dear Teams,
We look forward to welcoming you to the Lancer-Bot-Mania FIRST LEGO League Challenge Qualifier on Saturday, November 22, at Lakeshore High School, Stevensville, MI 49127.
You can find important event information here. This includes:
The Event Specific Guide for event information.
The Michigan Event Guide, which outlines details for all FLL Challenge events across Michigan.
The Michigan Event Readiness for Lancer-Bot-Mania.
Event Day Details:
Doors open to teams at 7:30 AM. Please refer to the Tournament Agenda for the full schedule.
Use the entrance indicated on the Event Parking Map when you arrive.
Upon arrival, the coach should check in at the registration table. The team may then proceed to their assigned team table, where a Team Ambassador will greet and guide you throughout the day.
Overview of the day - This is an overview of how the Lancer-Bot-Mania tournament will run from a team perspective.
Turn in nomination forms for Coach / Mentor Awards. Blank forms will be available at check-in. Forms must be turned into the registration desk no later than 11am. Team members are encouraged to write these nominations.
Good luck as you prepare for your tournament experience!
On November 17th from 5-6:45pm, we will have a FLL Parent Night. Each team will have the opportunity to practice presenting, show off what they've learned, and celebrate with families before the event. Everyone should do their best to attend. If you cannot, please inform your coach.
Who: Anyone who would like to attend! Family members, friends, students from other programs, etc.
Where: Innovation Center and surrounding area. (FLL Challenge presentations in CAD Lab)
When: November 17th, 5:00pm - 6:45pm
Why: Celebrate with Popcorn, some fun activities, and more.
Practice your presentation for family and friends, and run practice matches
See FLL Explore (K-3rd Grade) show off their models and poster
See FTC (Middle School) show off their robot and watch them run matches
What Else: Team shirts will also be available for pickup
Feel free to bring goodies to share! (Cookies, Chips, Juice Boxes, etc.). They can be brought the week before, or at the beginning of our evening. All leftovers will be used as snacks for our final week of practices.
FLL Challenge | Super Joes | 4-5th - Presenting Schedule:
5:05-5:20 -> Super Joes Sapphire
5:25-5:40 -> Super Joes Ruby
5:45-6:00 -> Super Joes Amber
6:10-6:25 -> Super Joes Aquamarine
6:30-6:45 -> Super Joes Amethyst
Location:
CAD Lab - Follow Signage
**If you are unable to attend our celebration event, please notify your child’s coach during practices next week.
The official event site can be found here
WHEN: Saturday, November 22nd
WHERE: Lakeshore High School
5771 Cleveland Avenue
Stevensville, MI 49217
At competitions, our teams function potluck style. All families are asked to bring a dish (or a few to pass), and all family members can eat! No payment, no waiting on food services, and no pre-ordering.
Please sign up to bring food here.
We ask that each family signs up for at least one slot. More slots will be added as the base needs are filled. Thank you for helping out!
7:30 AM - STUDENT ARRIVAL: Team Check-in & Pits Open
8:00 AM - Coach Meeting with Head Referee in the Main Gym
8:30 AM - Judging Begins
9:20 AM - Opening Ceremonies
10:00 AM - Robot Matches Begin & Judging Resumes
12:10 PM - Lunch Break
1:00 PM - Robot Matches Resume & Judging Resumes
5:00 PM - Awards Ceremony
Q: Can parents watch Judging?
A: No. Judging is limited to one coach who is a silent observer
Q: Do I need to stay the whole time?
A: Not necessarily. It is up to the parents to talk to the coach and "transfer" supervision if you do leave. Also, please note you may miss some of their matches depending on when you leave, and they only get 3-4. We reccomend bringing some activities, a comfy bleacher seat, and hang out the whole day.
Q: Can I eat with the team?
A: Of course. Food will be potluck style, and all families are welcome to eat during the lunch break. We just ask that kids are fed first since they are on a schedule.
Q: Does my kid need to stay the whole time?
A: Ideally, yes. They are needed for Judging, Robot Matches, and to be present for the awards at the end. If there is an extenuating reason your child cannot be present, you must discuss that with their coach ahead of time and make arrangements for their absence.
Q: How can I help?
A: Sign up to bring food first. Then, ask your child’s coach if there is any way you can help the day of. Additionally, the program could use some help in the lunchroom to organize all the food, keep the area clean, and restock items throughout the day. You could also volunteer for the event itself!
All parents will be receiving a link to sign their child up for their team. These are expected to be sent out to each team prior to October 15th.
Important - Make sure to sign up your child up for their team! This is required to attend the competition and participate. Links will be sent out as soon as they are available.
Parents & Adults - If you have been helping as a mentor or supervoisor, please sign up for the team too!
DUE OCTOBER 27th!
If you have issues making an account or signing in, you will need to contact FIRST HQ.
Want to order a shirt to match the team(s)? Check out our online store here. ONLY 5 DAYS TO ORDER! - Store Closes on SUNDAY
STUDENTS AND COACHES RECEIVE ONE SHIRT PER SEASON. This is included in the Participation Fee. Only order shirts if you would like more than the one provided.
If the school has a half day, all team practices will occur at the usual scheduled time.
Missed the parent meeting this past Tuesday? Check out the meeting slides here.
If you are willing to help please check out the Ways to Help page under Events/Competitions.
Please be advised that I (Morgan) will be out of office starting on October 17th until the 27th. Please contact your child's coach if you need anything at this time. Emails recieved during this time will recieve a resonse once I return.
Welcome to the first week!
Action Items:
Read the previous blog post(s) - informaiton will not be repeated.
More info about Transportation
More info about Snack
Where the Practices are Held
Important Dates
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the coach for FLL Challenge (4th and 5th grade) team Super Joes Ruby is no longer able to fulfill their position. They extend their deepest apologies to the Ruby families for stepping down so close to season start. We are now in urgent need of at least one person to fill this coaching role.
The team meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:15 to 6:00 p.m.
If your child is currently on another team and you are willing to coach, your child will be moved to the Ruby team.
High schoolers who can help are welcome to stay at school until practice begins.
Middle Schoolers (7th and 8th) can help coach if they have an adult to also coach. Their team would get bragging rights for FLL outreach with the judges.
Please let me know if you are able to take on this much-needed position. Your support would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your consideration!
The schools and the transportaiton department have been notified about all students who are taking the bus. Each adult listed under the child's signup received an email on 9/3 indicating if they are/are not signed up for transportation. They are taking the Red Robot Bus.
More info on the Robotics Bus:
3:45 - EP Clarke Pickup. The bus will park on the opposite side of route buses and will have a red robot on the side of the bus.
4:00 - Brown Pickup. The bus will park behind the route buses and have a red robot on the side of the bus.
4:05-4:10 - Lincoln Pickup. Bus 4 will arrive at Lincoln to pick up.
We ask each family to bring in one snack donation with at least 25 servings. This will be pooled together with the entire program. Each child will receive one snack from the available options during their team practice. This donation only needs to happen once, preferably in the first few weeks.
Please Note: We will also no longer be doing snack at the beginning. This will be managed by coaches during the practice.
All practices are held at the Edward J. Todd Innovation Center. Read here for more info on where it is located.
Fill out St. Joe Robotics' Volunteering form AND St. Joseph Public Schools' Volunteering form if you haven't already.
Family Night - November 17th, 5:30pm to 7:30pm (tentative)
Competition - November 22nd, 7am to 5:30pm (tentative)
We are excited to welcome your child to their team as part of St. Joe Robotics' FIRST LEGO League Challenge (FLLC) Program. Their team is meets based on the schedule below, from 4:15-6pm:
Team | Coach Name(s) | Meeting Days
Super Joes Sapphire | Hank F + Albert P | Tuesday/Thursday
Super Joes Amethyst | Jessa Calderwood | Tuesday/Thursday
Super Joes Aquamarine | Denise Clark | Tuesday/Wednesday
Super Joes Ruby | Brandon Dawalt | Wednesday/Thursday
Super Joes Amber | Brian Kuening | Tuesday/Thursday
Does your child need transportation? Check with mbrunsting@sjschools.org if you have signed them up.
Team Meetings will start next week - the week of September 8th on your assigned day(s) listed above!
What's Next To Do?
1. Please bring a healthy snack to share. About ~25 servings minimum, and preferably no nuts. Write your child's full name on the snack so we know who brought it.
(We pool all the snacks together, and let the children pick one from the snacks we put out. Bring the snack donation in the first few weeks of practice.)
2. Mark November 22nd on your calendar. This is the tentative date for Lancer-Bot Mania. The culminating all-day event for all FLL teams! Everyone should plan to attend.
3. Please pick up your child within 5 minutes of the practice ending.
4. Read the blog posts as they come out. There is important information and signups in them!
Morgan's Hours: If you would like to chat with me in person, I am available until 8:30pm on Tuesdays, and 5:30pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. To arrange another time, please reach out via email to coordinate. My personal cell is for emergencies only.
Videos to watch to get excited for this new season:
FLL UNEARTHED Season Premiere.
FLL Challenge specific:
FLL Unearthed Season Welcome Video
Get familiar with your robot missions
Thanks!
Morgan
Welcome to the 2025-2026 season of FIRST LEGO League Explore - FIRST Age at St. Joseph Public Schools! I hope this email finds you well.
If we have not met yet, my name is Morgan Brunsting and I am the Robotics Coordinator for St. Joseph Public Schools.
The following email will contain lots of information regarding the upcoming season for:
FLL Challenge | Super Joes | 4-5th Grade.
To make the parent meeting accessible to all, check out the following links. Make sure to watch the videos to have all the information necessary about the program. Links to the slides are also available to help reference information, with the script used in the meeting notes.
Welcome to St. Joe Robotics (Video)
Welcome to St. Joe Robotics (Slides)
About FLL Challenge Pt. 1 (Video)
About FLL Challenge Pt. 2 (Video)
About FLL Challenge (Slides)
Questions?: If you have any questions from the videos, please feel free to do one of the following:
Reply to this email with your question(s).
Come to the Innovation Center between 6:30 and 8pm on Tuesday, July 22 or Tuesday, August 12th.
Send me your preferred phone number, and a few times and dates when you would be available for a call (available most times M-F, 9am-3pm).
Send some days and times available to meet in the Innovation Center (Available most times M-F, 9am-3pm)
All communications will be sent via blog updates. These contain:
New information that pertains to the program
Signups
Events/Important information
We will also send abbreviated blog updates, usually once a month.
All information in the email - no links required
Signups only - no extra details
Who: (Strongly encouraged) for anyone who plans or is considering helping out in any way.
What: Virtual meeting for those thinking about Coaching, Co-Coaching, or mentoring to provide basic information about expectations and what it looks like, and answer any questions.
Where: Online - Google Meet
When: TBD
Why: To talk about the different support opportunities available to parents and community members, what it entails, and introduce the onboarding resources.
Will have a recording of the meeting available.
Will send out meeting information once determined.
Plan to commit? Sign up as a volunteer through St. Joe Robotics and fill out the SJPS Background Check
The participation fee is DUE July 31st. Failure to pay will result in your child being removed from the roster.
Families have the opportunity to inform us which days (and possibly times) work best for their family. Team assignments will be published late August.
Teams are determined by coaches available, facility space, and ages.
Families who Coach their child’s team will receive their preferred slot.
After signups close, you will receive an email with:
Instructions for communicating preferred days of the week
Signing up as a Coach/Mentor
Confirming child’s information
All FLL programs will tentatively start the week of September 2nd
Teams will meet on their assigned day (Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday)
Get ready for an awesome season! Keep an eye out for the confirmation email early August, day availability, and Coach/Mentor Sign Up.