Time for some fun!

Our penultimate day in LA was reserved for some fun! We got up early to reach Universal Studios before the crowds and managed to get on some fantastic rides with very little queuing. The girls met some famous characters and watched some great shows as well as experiencing some unbelievable 4D films. Most interesting was the studio tour where we saw where films are shot and the 'streets' they use for different movies. We also got to experience some special effects including a flood, earthquake and jaws!

Kayleigh and Mrs Daplyn also managed to get through the house of horrors (unlike the others who refused to go in!). We met up with our Barclay friends at the end of the day and watched an amazing water show with them.

Next stop: Beverley Hills! The Hollywood tour took us to the houses of the rich and famous. We also got to pose in front of LA's most iconic landmark.

We finally got to Santa Monica at 7pm in time for some dinner at Bubba Gump's Shrimp House. Tasha was particularly excited as a Forrest Gump fan and managed to win the Forrest quiz. Mr Benzid was also excited by the restuarant's parafanalia. 

Award time!

We may not have made it to the finals of the competition but we did come away with the judges' award. The judges spoke to the girls on three separate occasions and the head judge described them as 'awesome'! Well done girls for a well deserved win! 

Now for some fun! 

Day 4 - the final part

We competed in 6 matches throughout the day and came 21 out of 52 teams. There were some nervous moments waiting for the top teams to pick their alliances.

We weren't chosen to form an alliance so weren't able to compete in the final, despite much rallying throughout the day. But the girls were proud of how well they, and fellow team mates Barclay school did considering this was their first competition. 

Now the only thing to wait for is the judges' prize. Fingers crossed! 

Day 4 continued - the final match

Due to time constraints some of the matches have been cancelled so the girls are getting ready for their final match. They're also checking out other teams and trying to form alliances. Taylour, the scout, and Amy, the spokesperson, are busy trying to find out who they want to work with if we get into the finals. 

We lost the last match despite our best efforts. The opposition was brutal taking our balls out of the goal and preventing us from scoring goals. We also had a few technical issues. We're hoping to overcome these for the final match of the contest which we need to win if we're to go through to the next part. 

Day 4 continued - the competition heats up!

The first match may have not been in our favour, but as the competition continues, the team are getting better and better. We've won our last three matches and have moved up the scoreboard to 16! 

The girls have also impressed the judges so much that they've come back three times which means we're being considered for a judges' prize. The cadburys have helped as well as the girls' excellent communication skills - they've done their English teachers proud! 

Kayleigh and Tasha are working really well as a team and are staying cool in some very stressful situations. 

They also managed to be part of the first all girls' alliance, another game which they won. 

Kaleigh is also doing really well on the skills test and has improved her score every time she attempts it. 

The girls are also working really well as a team and playing to their strengths. They're supporting each other and congratulating each other on their successes. Stanborough should be very proud of them! 

Day 4 continued - the first two matches

The first two matches went well. The first match was a baptism of fire and the girls learnt a lot. They scored some points thorough the use of their autonomous mode and learnt a lot about how the game works. 

The second match went much better and Kayleigh managed to score a lot of points by getting the balls in the goal. This time we had a win! 

The girls also spoke to the judges who wanted to know all about the robot and the design process. 

There are still 6 matches to go as well as the skills test. The girls are excited and feeling a little more confident after their win. 

Day 4 - competition day

We had an early start ready to get to the competition in time to register and make some last minute changes. The girls met some of the other teams and used their British charm to make friends.

There were some last minute changes to be made as well as scouting and looking for other teams' strengths and weaknesses. 

The venue is amazing with two fields to play on as well as a practice field. We're a little overwhelmed with all the equipment from some of the other schools, but it's how the robot performs on the day that is the true test. 

The first match is coming up at 9.30am (5.30pm UK time). Watch the live stream on www.vewipoint.org to see how we get on. We'll also keep you updated on twitter and the blog as the day progresses. 

Day 3 continued - registering the robot and a trip to the beach

The plan was to head to the beach after lunch but the robot needed a lot of attention. However, by 4.30pm, we were ready to take it to the school where we will be competing tomorrow in order to register the robot and check out the venue. 

We registered the robot and were given some homework tasks to ensure the robot was ready for the competition the next day.    

Finally we arrived at Malibu beach. It may have been dark but the girls still managed a paddle. They also saw seals swimming in the shallows. 

We also managed to officially name the robot. KATT stands for Kayleigh, Amy, Tasha and Taylor and embodies the robot's qualities: intelligence, agilty and independence. We think it is a fighting name! 

Day 3 - test the robot.

Day three started with a much needed lie in - breakfast at 8.30am! Then it was into a function room to make last minute changes and practise interview skills for tomorrow. The girls got some much needed advice from Russle has been doing this for many years.

Mrs Daplyn also went through interview skills and tested the girls on the questions they might be asked by judges tomorrow. 

Last minute adaptations to the robot took place and the girls got stuck in with some help from Mr Benzid. 

After lunch we're heading to the school to register and check everything is ok. Then hopefully we'll have some time for the beach! 

Day 2 continued - a trip to Hollywood

After a long day at school the girls got to visit Hollywood and take a walk down the walk of fame. There were many stars they'd never heard of, but they found Mr Benzid's favourite star. 

We had dinner in an American pizza place where Tasha even managed a (non alcoholic) coctail. 

The girls also managed to run off some energy.

They also found some unsuspecting LA cops to have their picture taken with.

Mr Benzid also introduced the girls to the 5 dollar store - the highlight of his trip! 

 

The girls enjoyed the sights and the bright lights, but by the time we got in the car we all fell asleep and left poor Mr Benzid to drive home - we think he probably enjoyed the peace and quiet! 

Day 2 - Viewpoint high school

We started early with a 7am breakfast - the girls declined the offerings of American waffles and maple syrup for a healthy diet of fruit. 

After some cheesy photo opportunities we drove to the school to spend the day as an American student. 

The students were paired up with American students and spent the day in a variety of classes including Chinese, sculpture, artificial intelligence and choir. 

We had lunch with the other robotics students sat out in the glorious Calafornia sunshine (very different from back home!).

The girls loved seeing what life was like for an American teenager, and the teachers enjoyed watching some lessons too (rather than teaching them for once!).

The robot has now arrived and the girls are trying out the field on which they will be competing. They're also checking out the competition and assessing their strengths and weaknesses. 

Our driver, Kayleigh, is also getting in some practise. 

Not your average Thursday! 

Day 1

We have arrived! LA is warm, beautiful and very different from the cold, foggy, grey England we left many hours ago. The flight was fun and the girls enjoyed the in flight entertainment (but not the food). One member of the group even managed some History homework! 

We arrived in LA and after a long wait in immigration we finally got through (with all luggage, robots, laptops, some new friends from Barclay school, and anything else we picked up along the way.)

The girls were excited by EVERYTHING they saw: spotty buses, big trucks, weird diners, the mountains - the list is endless. We had many photos during the long car journey (bad traffic) while the girls tried not to sleep.

When we finally reached the hotel the girls wanted to check out their room and sleep but we made them go to the local diner to experience American food and American portions. 

However, it's early to bed as despite being up for nearly 24 hours we have an early start tomorrow: breakfast at Viewpoint high school at 7.30am! 

The good news is that the robot arrived in one piece - Mr Benzid is unpacking it tonight to check everything is as it should be ready for Saturday's competition. 

Less than 24 hours to go!

The robot is packed and we're all getting ready for an early night ready for a long day tomorrow. LA here we come!! 

Tomorrow!

Taylor and Tasha here (admittedly with last years successes Tom and Matt) It's currently 4:15pm and we are finalising the robot and trying to fix some programming issues. Everything is looking in order and we are ready to set off at the painfully early time of 6:30 tomorrow morning! I can personally say I'm excited but very nervous and I don't think it has sunk in yet that tomorrow is the big day... Our plan of action for the next couple days is to have a field trip to an American High School on Thursday, a building and testing day on Friday before the big climax of the competition on Saturday! Thank you for all your well wishes! The next time this is updated it should be from California!

Sterling Dames are ready!

New team, new competition...Stanborough goes back to LA!

Following the success of our girls team, we are about to head out to Los Angeles, California to compete in this years robotics competition!

Watch this space to see the progress of our new team, Sterling Dames!

So long Sterling Knights, the Sterling Dames are here..

Time for the Sterling Knights to hand over to the Sterling Dames who are competing in Los Angeles this October 2013!