TSA (VEX) Regional Conference info for Sat. 2/7

All TSA students attending this Saturday's Region 5 competition must meet at the school at 6AM for bus departure to Quakertown, PA at 6:10AM.  Please give Mr. Koehler a call on his cell phone if you are running late (see the permission slip).  Lunch has been paid for all those who turned in permission slips.  Please make sure you have completed as necessary paperwork or met submission requirements for your particular competition. http://patsa.org/conferences/regionals/region-5

See below, a message from the TSA Region 5 Director, Chris Weaver:
I hope that everyone is as excited as I am for Saturday!  It looks like the weather is cooperating with us.Here are a few reminders:

SECURITY & HEALTH CONCERNS
There will be a security detail throughout the day to help students find rooms and prevent undesirable behavior.  We ask all advisors to remind their students that school rules still apply at this event.  We want students to be active participants; not congregating in the bathrooms and hallways.  There will not be a nurse on duty.  Please dial 911 in case of an emergency.

LABELING OF PROJECTS
All work must be labeled with the proper ID numbers.  For team events, use the chapter ID followed by 901, 902, etc  (Ex: 1062-904).  For individual events, use the chapter ID followed by the individual ID of the student participant (Ex:1062-012).  Entries without proper ID labels will be disqualified.

FEEDBACK FORM
A judges feedback form is available for download on the region 5 page.  Students should include this when turning in their projects or performing speeches.  The judges will provide helpful tips if time permits.  Please refer to the important messages at the bottom of the form.

ARRIVAL
Please check in at the registration desk in the lobby upon arrival at Strayer MS.  You will receive an envelope containing pre-printed name tags and programs for each of your members.  Your chapter should then go to the auditorium to establish their home base.  There is no seating chart; open seating only.

JUDGES
We were able to fill all events with judges.  Please sign in at the judges table if you are acting as a judge.  Thankfully, nearly every advisor will be taking on the dual role of judge and coach for the day.  The judges meeting will begin promptly at 8:30am.

PARADE OF PRESIDENTS
Please have a student representative ready to participate at the start of the opening ceremony.  This student will walk to the microphone and announce the name of your school.

LUNCH
A pizza, salad, cookie and drink lunch is provided for all registered members at no extra cost.  You must have your  name tag to receive the free lunch.

SPEECHES OPEN VIEWING
The following events will be open for viewing to INVITED SPECTATORS ONLY.  MS Challenging Tech, MS Prepared Speech, HS Prepared Presentation, HS Extemp Speech..  This is new for this year and we are only allowing this for ADULT (parents/advisors) spectators.  The student participant may allow or disallow anyone from entering to watch their presentation.  Adults must be invited by the participant.

AWARDS & RESULTS POSTING
Ribbons will be given to 1st through 5th places.  However, there may be more state qualifiers.  The results will be posted on the Region 5 page before the end of the day on Sunday.  Any team or individual listed on the posted results has earned a qualifying spot at the State Conference.  These qualifying spots may allow your chapter to exceed the posted entry limits at States.  No substitutions in individual events will be allowed at States.

I wish your team success but even more simply a rewarding experience!
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Christopher Weaver
PA-TSA Region 5 Coordinator- Technology & Engineering Education
Welsh Valley Middle School/Lower Merion School District