Dear TechX Competition Families,

Here the most recent updates:

ROSTER PROPOSAL
Coach Jared and I have had a countless number of conversations, and we have even mulled over many different roster combinations - it felt like doing a logic puzzle! After investing a considerable amount of time evaluating our options, I started thinking about adding 2 of my kids - Jasmine and Joshua - this would enable us to resume the originally planned teams. Before you start thinking why I didn’t add them at the beginning, please review the Proposed Rosters below, and the reasons why they would now be added:

277T - George, Puvitpavee, Jillian

277X - Vihaan, Grayson, Nishant, Jasmine*

277R - Lucas, Swaroop, Joshua**

*Jasmine is a 3rd grader, and I originally intended for her to begin Competition Robotics in 4th Grade. But given the need for Team X to have a 3rd member during the Signature Event, and that she is eligible at her age to compete in the VEX IQ Competition, we could have her be an alternate for Team X as a Loader, enabling Vihaan and Grayson to drive full-time during the Signature Event. This will be a great early experience for Jasmine and she is excited!

**Joshua is an 8th Grader who has experienced VEX IQ with our summer competition bootcamp and other prior VEX robotics programs. We didn’t even know until this past week if his packed extracurricular schedule would include any available time for robotics. To keep his schedule balanced, he is only able to consistently attend every Monday, all tournaments, and the Signature Event. He will only attend certain Friday’s and weekends if his schedule opens up.

APPROVAL FOR ROSTER PROPOSAL
If you have any questions or reservations about this Roster Proposal, then please contact us directly by the end of Tuesday, October 1. We really want to move forward so that we can shift our focus to the October 26 Orchard Hills tournament and the Signature Event in early November. If a family rejects this Roster Proposal, then their child’s team cannot compete in the Signature Event as it would reduce that team to 2 members.

POTENTIAL OCTOBER 5th TOURNAMENT (MOVED TO NOVEMBER 2nd)
The organizers of the October 5th State Qualifying Tournament (announced in the PREVIOUS UPDATE) has rescheduled it to November 2nd. Because of this change, we will likely NOT attend this State Qualifier so that we can focus on preparing for the Signature Event. However, if a team decides to reject our Roster Proposal mentioned above, we would consider the possibility of participating in this tournament instead of the Signature Event.

What if your team wanted to participate in this November 2nd Tournament AND attend the Signature Event? In this particular case, we would leave the option open for each team to decide. Just consider the following details:

• This tournament currently has a small number of teams. However, registration is currently closed but it is likely that it will open again to add more teams.

• This is the weekend before traveling to the Signature Event. In my prior experience, our teams and their families needed the whole prior weekend before traveling to iron out final details with taking team equipment as a check-in baggage. We will be discussing more of these details within the coming weeks.

WHATSAPP
Coach Jared has created our WhatsApp Community and it is Live! It’s called TechX Robotics Competition, and please contact Coach Jared at jared@techxrobotics.org if you are having problems getting connected. As a reminder, please adhere to the following guidelines when using our WhatsApp group.

• Treat everyone with respect and professionalism.

• Do NOT use inappropriate language.

• Do NOT behave inappropriately.

• Do NOT engage in any conflict or arguments in the WhatsApp group.

• Anyone who violates any of these Ground Rules above could become excused from the WhatsApp group upon the discretion of Coach Jared and Mr. Nguyen.

We appreciate the level of engagement you all as parents have had with us and one another with the various items we are working through together. Thank you for your understanding and patience!!!

Mr. Nguyen

Viet Nguyen
TechX Robotics
Competition Coordinator