Jacobsen Middle School Robotics Meeting

The Jacobsen Middle School Robotics and Research Teams will have a 2016 Robotics program introduction meeting on Monday, August 22 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the JMS cafeteria. All parent’s and JMS students who wish to participate in the 2016 Robotics season should attend. The season runs from early September to December 4.

Team member application packages will be handed out and are due no later than Tuesday, August 30. It is highly likely that only a limited number of students will be able to participate and late application packages will not be accepted.

JMS participates in the FIRST LEGO® League which uses LEGO® Mindstorms EV3 robotics system. This is an international program that teaches real-world problem solving through engineering design and teamwork. The Tehachapi High School Cyber Penguins participate in the next level of competition, the FIRST Robotics Competition.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an international Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) competition that inspires young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting, mentorbased programs that build STEM skills. The FIRST program believes that children learn best when they overcome challenges through hands-on learning, project design, and experimentation. It gives them the opportunity to view science as a process, rather than merely an end result.

This year’s team challenge is themed “Animal Allies” and teams will choose and solve a real-world problem having to do with our furry, feathered, and finned friends. Teams will also build, test and program an autonomous robot to solve a set of missions in the Robot Game - See more at: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/challenge#blockblock-19 or Google “FLL Animal Allies”

Tehachapi has traditionally been a powerhouse at FIRST LEGO® League competitions with JMS being represented by the Teslabots, the Trash Gladiators and the Toxic Virus and Valley Oaks Charter School being represented by the Tehachapi Turbines and the Tehachapi Knights. Last year the JMS advanced team (The Teslabots) won third place at the Los Angeles Region, Championship Tournament. The LA region had 349 teams from San Luis Obispo to Temecula and 34 of the best teams participated in the Championship Tournament.

Coaches, assistant coaches and parent volunteers are desperately needed to make this volunteer run program succeed. An experienced mentor (past year’s coach) will provide help to all coaches and will attend team meetings throughout the season. Teams typically meet twice a week for two hours either after school or a time that best suits the team’s schedule. There will probably be two tournaments in Palmdale and teams that qualify will attend the Championship tournament in Los Angeles. Please come to our meeting and volunteer if you can!