🗓️ 2026-27 Override Season
Season Calendar of Events
Competitions, game-manual updates, community and family events, fundraisers, and key season dates for Spartan Design. Times and locations are listed where known. Families can also download the district academic calendar for school-closure dates that affect Tuesday/Thursday meetings.
📄 District School Calendar (PDF)
Season span
Apr 2026 → May 2027
Override release through Worlds
First competition
Sep 5, 2026
Stauffer Challenge (MS)
Game-manual updates
8 versions
v0.2 → v4.0 across the season
⚠ Tentative Dates are tentative and may change as the season firms up. Competition dates follow the host events; game-manual update dates follow VEX's published schedule. Check back for updates.
Competition
Game Manual
Fundraiser
Volunteer
Deadline
Break
Apr 27
Initial Game Release Season
Override game unveiled.
May 14
Official Q&A System Opens Season
Submit rules questions to VEX.
May 14
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Jun 4
Game Manual Update — v0.2 Game Manual
Minor typographical / formatting fixes.
Jun 22–26
Summer Camp — Week 1
8:00 AM–12:00 PM · Stauffer Middle School
Jun 29–Jul 2
Summer Camp — Week 2
8:00 AM–12:00 PM · Stauffer Middle School
Jul 2
Game Manual Update — v1.0 Game Manual
May include gameplay / rule changes from Q&A and community input.
Jul 6–7
Summer Camp — Week 3
8:00 AM–12:00 PM · Stauffer Middle School
Jul
Drive Team Certification Released Season
Global release of the VEX driver certification.
Aug 6
Game Manual Update — v1.1 Game Manual
Possible gameplay / rule changes.
Aug 13
School Year Starts
After-school practices on Tuesdays & Thursdays until 5:00 PM (unless notified otherwise).
Aug 20
Family Meeting — Challenge Prep
6:30–7:30 PM · Online (Zoom)
Aug 27
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Sep 1
Leadership Advisory Meeting
3:00–5:00 PM · Stauffer MS (RM 14) · prospective parent coaches welcome
Sep 3
Game Manual Update — v2.0 Game Manual
May include changes inspired by early-season events.
Sep 3
Back to School Night
5:30–7:00 PM · Stauffer MS (RM 14)
Sep 3
VEX Foundation Drive Team Certification Season
Target date for completing driver certification.
Sep 4
Stauffer Challenge — Setup Volunteer
4:30–8:00 PM · Stauffer Middle School
Sep 5
Stauffer Challenge (MS) Competition
7:00 AM–5:30 PM · Stauffer Middle School
Sep 10
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Sep 12
Saturday Practice
8:00 AM–12:00 PM
Sep 12–13
robotics is ez @ Maker Faire Orange County (MS/HS) Competition
Optional event · registration deadline Aug 31.
Sep 18–20
FRC SoCal Showdown Competition
Teams encouraged to support the FRC program.
Sep 22
Family Meeting — Challenge Prep
6:00–7:00 PM · Online (Zoom)
Sep 26
Saturday Practice
8:00 AM–12:00 PM
Oct 1
Engineering Notebooks Due — Stauffer Challenge Deadline
Notebook submission deadline for the event.
Oct 2
Stauffer Challenge — Setup Volunteer
4:30–8:00 PM · Stauffer Middle School
Oct 3
Stauffer Challenge (MS) Competition
7:00 AM–5:30 PM · Stauffer Middle School
Oct 8
Game Manual Update — v2.1 Game Manual
Clarification / minor update.
Oct 10
Rio Hondo League — Event #1 Competition
7:30 AM–12:30 PM · The Steam Academy @ Burke
Oct 15
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Oct · TBD
Spartan Design IQ Blended Open Volunteer
8:00 AM–3:45 PM · Stauffer MS (Gym) · student volunteers needed
Oct 31–Nov 1
FRC Beach Blitz Competition
Teams encouraged to support the FRC program.
Nov 6
Stauffer Challenge — Setup Volunteer
4:30–8:00 PM · Stauffer Middle School
Nov 7
Stauffer Challenge (MS) Competition
7:00 AM–5:30 PM · Stauffer Middle School
Nov 12
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Nov 14
Rio Hondo League — Event #2 Competition
7:30 AM–12:30 PM · The Steam Academy @ Burke
Nov 22–23
One World VEX Robotics® MS Signature Event Competition
UC Berkeley · MS Signature Event · registration deadline Nov 14
Nov 23–27
Thanksgiving Break Break
No school. Parent coach may host a meet-up.
Nov · TBD
Engineering Notebooks Due — TUSD Push Back Deadline
Notebook submission deadline for the event.
Dec 3
Game Manual Update — v2.2 Game Manual
Clarification / minor update.
Dec · TBD
TUSD Push Back (MS) Competition
Middle school tournament.
Dec 10
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Dec 12
Rio Hondo League — Event #3 Competition
7:30 AM–12:30 PM · The Steam Academy @ Burke · all six teams compete
Dec 18
End of Semester
Last day before winter break.
Dec 20
1_MELEE in LA: VEX Push Back Competition
7:00 AM–5:30 PM · Irving STEAM Magnet · registration deadline Dec 5
Dec 21–Jan 1
Winter Break Break
No school. Parent coach may host a meet-up.
Jan · TBD
Doty Knight Tournament — Setup Volunteer
4:30–8:00 PM · Doty Middle School
Jan · TBD
Doty Knight Tournament (MS) Competition
7:00 AM–5:30 PM · Doty Middle School · all six teams compete
Jan · TBD
Doty Knight Tournament (HS) Competition
7:00 AM–5:30 PM · Doty Middle School · parent & student volunteers needed
Jan 14
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Jan · TBD
robotics is ez @ Discovery Cube OC (MS) Competition
7:00 AM–5:30 PM · Discovery Cube · all six teams compete
Jan · TBD
ROBOLYMPICS Volunteer
7:00 AM–3:30 PM · Stauffer Middle School · all six teams volunteer
Jan · TBD
Knight City Challenge "Push Back" Competition
7:00 AM–5:30 PM · Bill Notley "Chick" Peterson Gymnasium
Jan 29
Game Manual Update — v3.0 Game Manual
May include changes inspired by mid-season events.
Jan 30
Rio Hondo League — VRC MS Finals Competition
7:30 AM–4:30 PM · The Steam Academy @ Burke
Feb 4
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Feb · TBD
Spartan Blended Invite — Setup Volunteer
4:00–7:00 PM · Stauffer MS (Gym) · student volunteers needed
Feb · TBD
Spartan Blended Invite Competition
8:00 AM–3:45 PM · Stauffer MS (Gym) · student volunteers needed
Feb · TBD
California Region 4 — VRC MS Regional Championship Competition
Date & location to be announced.
Mar · TBD
Future Spartan Design Meeting
5:00–5:30 PM · Stauffer MS (RM 14) · for prospective members
Mar · TBD
Open House
5:30–7:00 PM · Stauffer MS (RM 14)
Mar 4
Applications Open — New Members 2026-27
Spartan Design Robotics applications released.
Mar 11
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Mar · TBD
Femineers Gala
4:00–6:00 PM · Warren High School
Mar 25
Game Manual Update — v4.0 Game Manual
Critical clarifications for the VEX Robotics World Championship.
Mar 29–Apr 2
Spring Break Break
No school.
Mar · TBD
Saturday School Scrimmage / Practice
8:00 AM–2:30 PM · Stauffer Middle School · all teams invited (optional)
Apr 9
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Apr · TBD
Saturday School Scrimmage / Practice
8:00 AM–2:30 PM · Stauffer Middle School · all teams invited (optional)
Apr · TBD
2027 VEX Robotics World Championship Competition
All teams invited (optional).
May 13
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
May 20
Team Selection for 2027-28
Roster planning for next season.