The COMMONWEALTH GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL The Award Winning Rappahannock Robotics Team "It is not enough to have a good mind.  The main thing is to use it well." Descartes (1596-1650) The mission of the Commonwealth Governor's School is to provide academically talented and highly motivated high school students with a challenging, differentiated and interdisciplinary academic program of study utilizing non-traditional activities such as video conferencing technology to create a regional community of learners. We strive to provide leadership in developing a model educational program for the new millennium.   Our pioneering school is the first real-time, interactive long-distance-learning governor's school in Virginia.  Our ninth through twelfth grade students from King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford Counties travel to classroom sites at the Spotsylvania Vocational Center, Stafford Senior High School and Colonial Forge High School.  There they participate in a rigorous curriculum covering the four core academic subjects of English, mathematics, science and social studies.   As we enter our fourth year as a functional educational community our motto continues to be "Pioneers for Future Frontiers."  We continue to adjust our curriculum and program to meet the needs of our students and the the expectations of the community.  This year we are excited about graduating the first class to have attended all four years at CGS.   RAPPAHANNOCK ROBOTICS   The CGS FIRST Robotics team demonstrates our use of technology to integrate multiple disciplines into an area of study.  This program brings together a diverse group of risk-taking, self-directed students to obtain financing, plan marketing strategies, design and construct, hen utilize and analyze a robot that could represent a future Mars rover.  All this must be done with limited finances and resources in only six weeks time.  Success depends on students interacting with the business community, and cooperating with them.   Our ultimate goal for this program is to develop students who are life-long learners possessing critical thinking skills as well as individual and team problem-solving skills.  Toward this end we are expanding the program in two ways; first, robotics will be a year round activity with classes in basic robotics, programming and animation; second, we have sponsored four FIRST LEGO League teams this year, at H. H. Poole and Rodney Thompson Middle Schools in Stafford, and Spotsylvania Middle and Thornburg Middle in Spotsylvania.  These teams were mentored and assisted by members of Rappahannock Robotics.  We plan to add two more teams each year to eventually include all middle schools in the three counties.   In 2001 the team received the Xerox Creativity Award at the NASA Langley/VCU Regional in Richmond.     Sponsoring Rappahannock Robotics We are seeking both financial and mentoring sponsors to help us this season.  Our plan is: first, to attend both the NASA Langley/VCU Regional in Richmond and the Nationals in Orlando, then to sponsor two additional FLL teams at the end of this season and lastly, to provide two $1000 scholarships to deserving team members graduating in June.  In order for us to accomplish this we need to raise $47,000.  Some of that will come from student organized fundraisers such as car washes, but the bulk will come from sponsors in the business community.  FIRST, FLL and Rappahannock Robotics are all worthwhile enterprises and strive to put all funding provided by our sponsors into the education of our youth, the business community's future labor force.   What are the benefits for your business? * Join a list of major organizations and US corporations that sponsor FIRST * Promote a real-world learning situation for students and adults who are eager   to learn. * Gain free advertising: your business name or logo will be on the robot; posted in the arena; announced as the CGS Team competes; posted on the CGS website; and printed in all CGS publications for 2001-02. * Donations are tax-deductible. * Participate in a Community/School Partnership.   We are also seeking companies to provide construction materials or equipment in exchange for free advertising on the T-shirt, CGS web site and all CGS publications.   Where will the money go? OVERALL GOAL FOR 2000-2001:  $48,000 REGIONAL COMPETITIONS    $10,000=Registration for two regional competitions @ $5,000 each      $2,000=Sponsorship of FLL teams (four this year, eight next year)       $5,000=Expenses to construct the robot        $500=Marketing Expenses     $2,500=Transportation and lodging for the regional competitions     ______________________________________________________   $20,000=Total for Two Regional Competitions   NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION    $4,000=Registration for the National Competition  $22,000=Transportation and lodging to the national competition in                Florida (30 students)     ______________________________________________________   $26,000=Additional Funding to participate in the National Competition       $2,000=Scholarships for team members.