STEAM TEAM UPDATE

This Week

• April 7 - Regular Practice 3:00-5:15pm
• April 9 - Regular Practice 3:00-5:15pm
• April 11 - Extended Practice 9:00-12:00 (Focus: TSA)
  - Outreach Opportunity - FLL Explore Showcase 1:00-4:00

• April 13-15 - TSA State Montgomery, AL (No practice April 14)
• April 16 - Regular Practice 3:00-5:15pm (TSA Excused)
• April 18 - Regular Practice 9:00-11:00am (Focus: Becoming a Bull & Talladega)

**Rehearsal this Saturday April 11 (9:00am-12:00pm) - come IN UNIFORM!

**Departure Time Update for Monday April 13 9:00am

• Pre-submissions are in! Most students are close to completion on their first project, and starting their second or third.

• Uniforms were distributed before break; see Ms. Snider if you don't have yours yet. Please be shopping for those gray pants, black shoes, and black belts, if needed.

• Do you have a blue suit jacket/blazer in your closet? Our officers wear them at TSA, and we are a little low on smaller sizes (mens or womens S, M).

• Please join the TSA Remind: https://www.remind.com/join/kek7ck2

• Student hotel rooms have been assigned. We are traveling with NCTHS. They will ride our bus, but no student will share a room with a student from another school. We are so excited to be sharing this experience with 7 HCMS alumni!

• Please COMPLETE PERMISSION PACKETS if you haven’t already! If your student might need OTC or prescription medication during the trip, we need those forms completed early. Students are not permitted to self-carry (except for emergency inhalers and epi-pens with proper authorization).

• Please check out the current info packet posted below, which includes permission forms, medical forms, travel schedule, and more.
  

• Adult volunteers needed for TSA. Parents who are coming to Montgomery are invited to apply to be room attendants or judges on either Tuesday or Wednesday. Well will also have a Booster signup to help with our team. https://alabamatsa.rocks/partner/

Our DoubleGood popcorn fundraiser earned nearly $1600 toward TSA Nationals in DC, and Greenpower

Nationals at Talladega Superspeedway! Our top earners were Kenley, Cooper and Brayden. 10 team members participated; thank you for helping your team move forward together! Special thanks to Mrs. Shann Thomas for organizing for us!

FRC Team 10101 is sponsoring a scrimmage opportunity for FTC Teams on Saturday, April 11 from 10-4 at the Von Braun Center (concurrent with FIRST Rocket City Regional and FLL Explore festivals. If students who are NOT attending TSA want to try a just-for-fun robotics event, Ms. Snider is willing to register a team. So far we have 2 members interested; this could be an opportunity for recruiting next year’s team if you invite a friend!

Come join us at Jeffersons on Tuesday, April 21st for HCMS STEAM Team Spirit Night to support Greenpower and TSA!

• Info: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1WqPhUzugw3SA07g8ZjYctSOFh39fFu6WMqo2q23bCsM/edit?usp=sharing
  

• Talladega Championships are scheduled for May 15-16 (Friday-Saturday). Team arrival 8:00am May 15 (option for scrutineering Thursday evening). Friday: practice and one race heat. Saturday: presentation and one race heat.

• Student rooms will be available. Transportation arranged by families. Families wanting to attend will provide their own housing. Travel arrangements and info will be available closer to the event.

• The team needs a $1200 sponsor to obtain a garage space. The sponsoring company name will go on our garage banner. Link to the sponsorship flyer for more information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JJz8512lgIRgIiBEFzk6H_Y3GIBe0r1J/view?usp=drive_link

If you and your student are planning attend TSA Nationals in Washington, D.C. June 22-26, you may want to book hotels as soon as possible. There are not enough rooms available at the Gaylord Hotel to reserve a whole block for our team, so families will need to make individual arrangements. Visit the TSA website for information on approved hotels for the conference. Parents will need to check the hotel reservations link below to choose the hotel that best meets your needs. Be aware that there is a penalty fee for staying in non-TSA approved hotels. The event begins June 22 at 6:00pm and ends June 26 at 11:00am.

We will send additional information as we get closer to the event.

https://book.passkey.com/event/51197763/owner/10407961/home

• FIRST Robotics Championship and FIRST LEGO League Explore events Saturday, April 11
  **Again, if you are competing at TSA, I need you to prioritize rehearsals April 11 from 9-12. Otherwise, there are many opportunities to help out with the high school level Rocket City Regional (April 8-11; several adult and youth roles available) AND the 2nd-3rd grad FLL Explore Showcase (April 11, 1-4pm). Volunteer signup starts with a volunteer account or parent/student account at https://www.firstinspires.org/community/volunteers; Ms. Snider can help you through the process.
  
• Volunteers needed for TSA, April 14 and 15
  Parents who are coming to Montgomery are invited to apply to be room attendants or judges on either Tuesday or Wednesday, (in addition to signing up for a shift helping the team) https://alabamatsa.rocks/partner/
• Planning Committee for Greenpower Talladega Race
  Adults (or students with adult involvement) are invited to participate in planning this year's Talladega National Championship race. Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScfPiXldoY3-vlFXaCalxZVTAPIzDTCvNjvZ4xGpQJ5P-_lwQ/viewform
• STEAM Officers are organizing a Red Cross Service Project to fulfill our TSA Community Service requirement. Plans are under review - details forthcoming.
• STEAM and JS2S plan to partner up for an in-school community service project this Spring
• We are looking for ideas for a spring or summer community outreach STEM event (offering a fun STEAM activity at a library, street festival, etc). Ideas are welcome! Please email Ms. Snider.

The Career Fair will take place from 8:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Participants are welcome to attend for the full time or choose to participate during the first or second half of the event. Students in grades 7–8 will take part in a browse-style session in the gymnasium, where they can explore different careers and ask questions about your industry and experiences.

You can register for the fair using the link below. As the event approaches, our school counselors, Ms. Hunter and Ms. Sockwell, will reach out with additional details and day-of information.

Thank you for your time and continued support of our school and students. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. We truly appreciate your partnership and look forward to working with you!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044DADAE23A2FF2-62618694-hcms#/

Newsletter - Weekly updates about upcoming events, event information, and celebration of team experiences.

Remind - Remind is the primary method of communication between Mrs. Snider, the boosters and the parents. To join the new 2025-26 HCMS STEAM Remind click here https://www.remind.com/join/f23e6ab. Be sure you are signed into link to make sure you are receiving up to date information.

Website - https://member.hamptoncovesteam.com

Currently under construction, but will soon include calendar for all events and helpful information regarding events and fundraising. (If you have skills in updating and maintaining a website we would love your help! Please contact Mrs. Snider, Jennie Maestri or Beth Wright.)

Are you a member of the HCMS Steam Team group on Facebook? This page is

where we celebrate team accomplishments, share the newsletter and share community opportunities.

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DF8dubLKw/