Two days before the parade we decorated a small utility trailer for the parade. We are already thinking of better ways to decorate it for next year!

Students sat in chairs on the float and waved the team flag and held up posters. One student walked beside the float to hand out candy and information pamphlets to the spectators.

We set up our tent at the festival after the parade. We gave out more candy and pamphlets, and talked to spectators about the robot and the team. It was very hot and not many spectators visited our display, so we packed up early and ended the day.

The Grade Level Orientation Sessions were Thursday and Friday. Students and parents went to the session in the cafeteria, then picked up their schedules, and then were supposed to go to the small gym to sign up for clubs or sports.

Not many came to the gym to sign up (they left after getting their schedules), but we did get a few. Meanwhile we had fun driving the robot around the gym and visiting all the tables and chasing Mr. Bradford around. He was a willing participant.

We once again wowed all the little kids attending STEAMfest by letting them drive our robot around. 

Our friends the Gigawatts were unable to attend, but another friend, Team 34 The Rockets, were there. In addition, there were several FIRST Tech Challenge teams there, including:

• 20979 Redstone Robotics from New Century
• 24180 Blue Bananas from Big Cove
• 7842 Browncoats from Huntsville
• 14491 Nerdettes from Owens Cross Roads

Several FIRST Lego League teams also displayed their robots.

​Our students had fun handing out buttons, Halloween candy, and supervising the children who got to drive the robot. The robot was in almost constant use for several hours, and overheated a few times. That's what happens when you have 4 tanks for compressed air - as pressure rises, the temperature rises. We also went through three fully charged batteries. 

​The students are already thinking ahead to next year -- first of all bring more batteries. Second - we should have a swerve chassis to display! Until next year!

We didn't participate in the parade, but did set up a booth for the after-parade activities. We had our robot, buttons, and recruitment materials at our table.

When they lit the bonfire, our team members and a few other students had fun tossing around one of our "cube" game pieces from last season.

We were invited to display our robot at the Pathfinder Symposium for the second year. This year it was held in the East Hall of the VBC in Huntsville. We loaded up our robot and driving supplies, and 10 students for the event this year. 

The students engaged with the symposium attendees and demonstrated the robot's capabilities.

In addition to demonstrating our robots, all the students had the opportunity to visit all the exhibits. Some took the opportunity to try a flight simulator, others were able to build model airplanes. 

The students also presented our robot in an auditorium in front of all of the symposium attendees, and many of the exhibitors. 

Today we participated in the Festival portion of the Celebrating Education Parade & Festival. Several students came out to school on Saturday to help out. 

We set up on the other side of the track/football field as we have in the past. The concrete pads we used to use for driving the robot now have bleachers on them. We had to find a spot near electricity so we could use the wifi to talk to our robot. We spread out a tarp so as not to destroy the robot wheels on the asphalt.

Several people stopped by to either drive the robot or watch. We also had buttons, bookmarks, keychains, and candy to hand out.

We did have to compete with the free fried fish sandwich line, which attracted almost everyone at the Festival.

As lunch was wrapping up we decided to pack up and take everything back inside. Our robot wasn't cooperating (as sometimes happens) and instead of troubleshooting in the heat we decided to leave. Most of the other booths had also left by that time anyway. We did have a good time, and awed many of the attendees with our robot. 

Several students spent the day at Rolling Hills Elementary School to help with Field Day. They assisted the younger students with activities such as bouncy houses and slides. Everyone had a fun day, and the robotics team members enjoyed working with the younger students.

Most of the team was at another activity, but that didn't stop us from giving a tour of the Robotics Lab, College Academy, and Advanced Manufacturing facility at Jemison today. This group hosted by Global Ties Alabama is from Oman, and they enjoyed seeing all that Jemison has to offer. A team member was able to break away from class long enough to give the College Academy/Robotics Lab part of the tour, and he explained several things about our robot.

Mr. Whaley, the Advanced Manufacturing teacher continued the tour with his CAD room, 3D Printing room, Carbon Fiber room, and the Welding building. The group was impressed that a high school had those types of facilities that students can use, and even earn certifications in class.