Already ahead of schedule with all three of its teams qualified for the state tournament after just two competitions, the Newberg High School robotics program’s senior team will take an early crack at qualifying for the FTC World Championships by traveling out of state this weekend.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to compete at more than one state competition like many teams in the northeast do, the Tiger Team will compete at the Northern Nevada FTC State Championships Saturday in Carson City, Nev.

The trip, which will include seven team members, adviser Ted Krupicka and three other parents, was approved by the Newberg School District board of directors at its Feb. 12 meeting.

Teams in Oregon are at a disadvantage with regard to qualifying for the world competition in part due to a disparity between state governing bodies across the country.

Oregon features one of the largest rosters of teams in the country, but with only one governing body, is limited to just two (sometimes three) bids to the world competition.

Other states, like Texas and Nevada, have multiple governing bodies that oversee regions within their state, which hold their own qualifying tournaments to qualify two or three teams despite having far fewer teams in comparison.

As a team from a western state, Newberg cannot easily travel to neighboring states, giving itself multiple chances at qualifying, as those located in more densely-populated areas of the country.

After earning its first bid to the world championships in just its second year as a program last year, Newberg has gotten off to a quick start in 2013.

The Tiger Team earned a bid to the state tournament by winning the first-place Inspire Award at its opening competition in Hillsboro, with Newberg’s other two teams following suit recently.
Tiger Team 2 picked up its bid a week later at a qualifying tournament at St. Helen’s High School on Feb. 9.

Team Aeterna, an-all freshman squad, and the Tiger Team placed third and fourth, respectively, in qualifying, with the Tiger Team being chosen as an alliance partner by Lincoln High School’s runner-up team, the Nanites, for the final rounds.

Tiger Team 2 was selected by the first-place Amity Robo-Warriors and together they defeated Team Aeterna’s alliance in the semifinals.

Ultimately the pair fell in the championship round, but as a member of a finals alliance, Tiger Team 2 earned an invite to the state tournament. And because Newberg receives a pass to the state finals after hosting a qualifying tournament Saturday at the Evergreen Air and Space Museum in McMinnville, Team Aeterna will also compete at state.

School district notes
Lesley Carsely, who was retired for less than a month before she agreed to serve as interim principal at Dundee Elementary School for the current school year, will return to that position for the 2013-2014 school year, Superintendent Kym LeBlanc-Esparza announced.

Carsley spent 11 years early in her career as a first and fifth grade teacher at Dundee Elementary. She served as principal for eight years at Edwards Elementary and seven years at Joan Austin Elementary School. Carsley received the district’s Crystal Apple Award for Outstanding Administrator in 2009.

 “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with the staff, students and parents of the Dundee community,” Carsley said. “I’m looking forward to continuing the great strides we are making to keep Dundee Elementary a good place for learning.”

The school board also approved:
   — A consent agenda, including personnel items, acceptance of donations and a declaration of surplus.
   — Travel to Germany for the GAPP Exchange Program.
   — A construction excise tax exemption for the Deskins Commons affordable housing project.

By: Seth Gordon, Newberg Graphic