HOW TO APPLY

This is a multi-step process so make sure you complete them all down to the FINAL STEP. 

STEP 1: Coach creates an MCWT profile (if they do not already have one):

• Log in on this page. If you don’t have an SM Apply account, click the  Register  button in the upper right corner.
• Fill out the form.
• Be sure to use a real email address for the username, that is not a school email address. If you do not have an email address other than your school email address, please create one.
  • The password must contain 8 characters, a capital letter, a lowercase letter, a number, and a symbol.
  • Example of a good password: Ch3rrie$.
• Once the form is successfully completed, log in to the email account you used to sign up. Check your email for the message "MCWT SM Apply Account Verification-ACTION REQUIRED" and open the message to click the  CONFIRM EMAIL ADDRESS   box.
• You have successfully completed your MCWT profile!

STEP 2:  Coach completes the application for the competition.

• Look for a message in your email inbox, or SPAM/JUNK, from "noreply@mail.smapply.net"
• Open the message, read the email, and click on the confirmation link.
• The link should take you to your profile page for the MCWT Girls Solve IT Competition.
• Click the  Get Started  button on your profile page.

STEP 3:  Complete & SUBMIT the application for the competition.

• Click the  Start  button on Step 1 and complete the form that loads in order to complete your registration.
• These are sections/tasks to complete.
  1. Complete coach information form
  2. Complete team member information form (two forms, if a team of two)
• Once each task is  Marked Complete , you should  Review & Submit   to view your application in full. 
• The last step is to click  Submit My Application   to complete your registration.

You have successfully registered your team for the MCWT Girls Solve IT Competition!  This Survey Monkey Apply Application will be used to move the team through the Girls Solve IT submission and review process for each Quest.  Please make sure STEP 4 is also completed for each student on your team!

STEP 4:  Forward competition information to parents so they can register their student(s) in the MCWT Neon system.

• Look for an email from "noreply@mail.smapply.net" that contains the Coach Name and SMA Application number for the team.
• Forward that email to the parents of each team member and ask them to register their student(s) in Neon.
• Make sure each parent/guardian successfully registers their student(s) in the Neon system.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

1. Registration fee for each team is $50.  This fee is a deposit and will be refunded when the robot is returned to MCWT after the competition.
2. Grades 4-8 can join a team.
3. Recruit girls from school, your community, or your neighborhood.
4. Adult coach is mandatory (i.e., teacher, parent, mentor).
5. Team size is 2-5 girls.
6. Three virtual quests will need to be completed between Feb 15 and April 19. Teams will have approximately two weeks to complete each quest and the completed deliverable must be completed and submitted by the respective due dates. 
7. Quest information will be sent on the release date. Quests will not be sent out in advance of the release date even if a previous quest has been completed. If you do not complete and submit quests by their respective due dates, you can not compete in the FINAL ROUND.
8. The Final Round runs April 28th through May 17th.
9. First, second, and third place winners notified June 7th and will receive an invitation to an Awards Ceremony (this element TBD).

SOLVE THE QUESTS

Work together in small teams to complete the educational & virtual Quests using the BirdBrain Technologies Finch 2.0 robot. During the course of the competition, students will learn to code the Finch 2.0 robot by having their robot complete a series of pre-defined activities. Each team will receive its own robot.

• 12/1/2023 -- Registration Opens 

• 2/9/2024 11:59 pm -- Registration Closes 

• 2/12 -- Quest kits mailed to Participants 

• 2/12 -- Quest #1 instructions emailed to Coach  

• 3/8 11:59 pm -- Quest #1 Submission due (New Date)

• 2/28 -- Quest #2 instructions will be emailed to teams 

• 3/22 11:59 pm -- Quest #2 Submission Due 

• 3/20 -- Quest #3 instructions will be emailed to teams 

• 4/19 11:59 pm -- Quest #3 Submission Due 

• 4/24 -- FINAL ROUND instructions will be emailed to teams  

• 5/17 11:59 pm -- Submissions due for FINAL ROUND 

• 6/7 -- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners notified 

• 6/15 -- Return Finch 2.0 robot to MCWT

• TBD -- Award recognition for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd 

PRIZES

Teams that complete all three quests, by each due date, qualify to move to the FINAL ROUND.
Winning Team of the competition will receive a $1000 prize, the second-place team will receive $600 and the third-place team will receive $400.

REGISTRATION CLOSES February 9, 2024 (unless 125 teams complete registration prior)

If you have difficulty completing these steps, please email tech@mcwt.org.