The Robotics team is a practical learning team for students interested in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) and robotics. STEAM concepts are found and utilized in planning, designing, building, programming, and operating the robots.

The Oxford Middle School Robotics Team runs from August through April and requires students to be responsible and in good academic standing. We will participate in several events throughout the year, including 1-2 First Tech Challenge qualification events through the FIRST in Michigan Organization.  Oxford FTC Robotics Teams require much effort put forth on your part in order to prepare properly for competitions. Meetings may be held after school, in the evenings, and/or on weekends.  There will be 2-4 meetings each week.

All students will be expected to fill out the application, including those on a team during the 2021-2022 school year. The FIRST organization requires that a team have no more than 15 students.  We want to continue to build the robotics program, so if your child does not make it into the team this year we highly recommend for them to apply again next year.  Any student that does not make a team will also be submitted to the wait-list and may be asked onto a team part way through the season if a spot opens up.

*Students may be dismissed from Robotics due to grades, behavior, or consistent absences (please refer to the Oxford FTC Robotics Program Handbook).


Sincerely,
The Oxford Middle School FTC Robotics Coaches
For all questions regarding this application please email us at:  oxford.mi.robotics@gmail.com

FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is designed for students in middle school to compete head to head, using an alliance format. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in a FIRST-designed challenge. The robot kit is partially reusable from year-to-year and is programmed using Android Studio (Java) or OnBot Java. Teams, including coaches, mentors and volunteers, are required to develop strategy and build robots based on sound engineering principles. Awards are given for the competition as well as for community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.
Students get to:
 - Design, build, and program robots
 - Apply real-world math and science concepts
 - Develop problem-solving, organizational, and team-building skills
 - Document the teams journey for the season
 - Compete and cooperate in alliances and tournaments
 - Compete for a spot in the World Championship

If selected for the Robotics Team, I understand that I will maintain my grades according to the Oxford Board of Education policy for athletics.  Grade reports may be run weekly and if more than 1 failing grade is present, students may not compete that week. Robotics Team members are expected to:
 - Work and behave as a team
 - Work to find solutions with guidance from our coaches and mentors
 - Know our coaches and mentors don't have all the answers; we learn together
 - Honor the spirit of friendly competition
 - What we discover is more important than what we win
 - Share our experiences with others
 - Display Gracious Professionalism™  and Coopertition™  in everything we do
 - Have FUN!

By submitting this application you agree to:
 - Attend all or the majority of the meetings/activities for your role (schedule to be announced)
 - Support the project through innovative and creative thinking
 - Contribute to the team’s engineering notebook
 - Abide by the policies & code of conduct of Oxford Community Schools and the Oxford FTC Robotics handbook
 - Work as a TEAM!
 - Have a positive attitude!