Back home safe

Landed, baggage collected, all safe but v tired!

Sunday or Funday

So we all set off very early for Universal City to start our day at Universal Studios. Such amazing rides - special effects were something else. Checked out the sets of Jaws, Pyscho, King Kong and many more. Mr Benzid could also be found screaming in the House of Horrors!

Then we set off to see the Hollywood sign. We navigated our way along Beachwood Drive to get the best view and joined other tourists in dodging traffic to get the best photo! Photo obtained, we decided to head back into Hollywood and get a tour of the rich and famous. Two hours later, some wind swept staff and students were dropped back off having seen some celebrities homes, a tour of Santa Monica hills, Mulholland Drive, Rodeo Drive, Beverley Hills and Bel Air. Leo managed to spot Jackie Chan parking his car in his driveway! We now also know the coolest bars and clubs to hang out; Laughs, Viper room. We also saw the Magic Kingdom where David Copperfield and others studied.

Back on the strip, some shopping and eating later, we eventually made our way back home...

Award Winners

Sterling Knights win the prestigious 'Sportsmanship' award!

The judges were highly impressed with the team, their ideas, the robot and most of all their overall sportsmanship. They stood out miles above the other teams and were also just pipped to the post to the Creative Award and the Design Award.

Way to go Sterling Knights!

Cheerleaders

Sterling Knights got their very own cheerleaders who were only too happy to cheer on the UK team!

Matches

Match 1
Power cut mid match!!! Gameplay reset and off they go. Sterling Knights grab two yellow high scoring bags, place them in the trough and....win!! Yes we won our first game!

(The below is copied from Twitter)

Match 2
We have our own cheerleaders!! Leo is well happy! They are screaming for the team! And we win again

Match 3
Not so good. Sacks jammed the motors. Driver is v frustrated. We lost that match.

Match 4
Lost this one

Match 5
Yes! Another win. We are 17th out of over 70 teams before adding this win to our score. Judges are impressed with the team!

Final qualifying match
Lost. Gutted. Small robot that couldn't score blocked us.
Rank 21st out of over 70. Fantastic achievement for SK tho.

We have made it into the quarter finals in an alliance with John Warner School and an American school!

Made it to the semi-finals!!

Sorry guys semi finals we made finals just a whisper away!

YES we were highly commended in 3 categories...

JPL Pasadena

Off to NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory! To meet the guys that send things to Mars!!

Building the robot commences...

Breakfast done! Waffles and maple syrup demolished.
Now attention turns to building the robot. If we get it built in time then we're going to head to Malibu beach.

6am UK time and we are about to eat dinner before heading to bed!

Phone home

Last call home before take off

On board

On board and ready to take off!!

Arrival at T3

Hoping for an upgrade...

The Start!

Cold and snowy start to the trip but hey.. here we come LA!!