FIRST Tech Challenge Kickoff Tomorrow! Please read this message before event

Greetings 2021-2022 FIRST Tech Challenge Kickoff Registered Teams,

We are very excited Kickoff is tomorrow. When we first put the Kickoff Countdown Widget on our www.bostontechinitiative.org website, the count was somewhere at the “60 days and some hours” mark – now it is in the ‘just hours’ time zone – and we can’t wait!!

I have a few key points I want to share with you prior to getting on site.

Health and Safety:

We want to ensure we are as safe as possible at our in-person gathering tomorrow and ask that you read the following and share with your team members.

Face Masks are required. We will have some extra’s available, but we do ask everyone come with their own
There will be hand-sanitizing stations set up throughout the school at key access points – please use them – and use the rest rooms for additional handwashing as needed
Doors handles will be wiped down periodically; the main entry door may be kept open (weather permitting) to reduce interaction with this contact touch point
Please try to keep a safe distance from others – we do not have a ‘footage mandate’ – but ask you apply common sense in gathering around others
We are loathe to ask, but, if you are not feeling well, please stay home. We will truly miss you, but for the health and safety of all, we ask you enjoy the Kickoff remotely on FIRSTinspires – Twitch – and that you feel better soon!

Checking In: One of the reasons we ask your team to “Check In” is to ensure we know who is attending in case it is needed for contact tracing. In the event we do need to contact attendees, we will reach out to the person of record checking in. We will confirm the email address you provided when you RSVP’d to be sure we have your most up to date information. We also ask all mentors keep a list of team members attending the Kickoff so they may be contacted if needed.

Now, on a lighter note, we also ask that your team “Check In” as we have some fun goodies for teams.

You will find the Check In desk in the main lobby as you walk in.

**IMPORTANT MESSAGE**

Please No Posting of Game Details to Social Media until 1:00 pm EST – Thank You!

This request is made by FIRST Headquarters as not every local Kickoff will be playing the Game Animation at the same time. Some local Kickoffs are starting later than we are, and those watching the FIRST Broadcast on-line will not see the Game Animation until after we (and other local Kickoffs) have already shown it.

We will be watching the first part of the Broadcast in the morning and showing the Game Animation at 12:00 noon EST. FIRST will be starting its Broadcast at 12:00 noon EST and will have all Game-related materials posted online by 1:00 pm.

From 1:00 pm EST- post away!!

We sincerely “Thank You” and your team members in advance for exhibiting Gracious Professionalism in honoring FIRST’s, and our, request.

All said, we can’t wait to see you all tomorrow. I don’t anticipate sending additional emails before then, but please check in case there are any new developments or messages we need to share with you.

As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

See you at Natick High!

Warmly,

Deb

Deborah Rose
FIRST Tech Challenge Partner