🗓️ 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 12, 2026
Maker Faire OC (MS/HS)
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. Team splits into VRC and VIQRC; captains choose their teams.
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. Very few rule changes expected.
Jun 22–26
Summer Camp — Week 1
8:00 AM–12:00 PM · Stauffer Middle School · mentors & parent coach invited
Jun 29–Jul 2
Summer Camp — Week 2
8:00 AM–12:00 PM · Stauffer Middle School · mentors & parent coach invited
Jul 2
Game Manual Update — v1.0 Game Manual
May include gameplay / rule changes from Q&A and community input.
Jul 2
Drive Team Certification Released Season
Global release of the VEX driver certification.
Jul 6–7
Summer Camp — Week 3
8:00 AM–12:00 PM · Stauffer Middle School · mentors & parent coach invited
Aug 6
Game Manual Update — v1.1 Game Manual
May include gameplay / rule changes from Q&A and community input.
Aug 13
School Year Starts
Mandatory after-school practices on Tuesdays & Thursdays until 5:00 PM (unless notified otherwise).
Aug 20
Family Meeting — Stauffer 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
6:30 PM · Online (Zoom) · prospective parent coaches welcome
Sep 3
Game Manual Update — v2.0 Game Manual
May include changes inspired by early-season events.
Sep 3
VEX Foundation Drive Team Certification Season
Teams complete driver certification.
Sep 3
Back to School Night
5:30–7:00 PM · Stauffer MS (RM 14)
Sep 9
Rio Hondo League — Coaches' Meeting
3:30–4:30 PM · El Rancho District Office · Mr. T attends
Sep 12
7:50 AM–5:00 PM · OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 · 2822C, 2822D & 2822F compete
Sep 18
Progress Report Deadline
Grading checkpoint. Robot V1.0 target: CAD & build complete — focus shifts to driving & programming practice.
Sep 18–20
FRC SoCal Showdown Competition
Teams encouraged to support the FRC program.
Sep 22
Family Meeting — Stauffer Challenge Prep
Sep 24
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
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
7:00 AM–5:30 PM · Stauffer Middle School
Oct 8
Game Manual Update — v2.1 Game Manual
Clarification / minor update.
Oct 10
7:30 AM–12:30 PM · The STEAM Academy @ Burke, 8101 Orange Ave, Pico Rivera, CA 90660 · all six teams compete
Oct 13
Femineers Kickoff
Griffiths Middle
Oct 15
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Oct 17
8:00 AM–5:15 PM · McBride High School, 7025 E. Parkcrest St, Long Beach, CA 90808 · Teams A, E & M competing
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
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
7:30 AM–12:30 PM · The STEAM Academy @ Burke, 8101 Orange Ave, Pico Rivera, CA 90660 · all six teams compete
Nov 23–27
Thanksgiving Break Break
No school. Parent coach may host a meet-up.
Dec 3
Game Manual Update — v2.2 Game Manual
Clarification / minor update.
Dec 4
Griffiths Gauntlet — Setup Volunteer
4:30–8:00 PM · Griffiths Middle School
Dec 5
7:00 AM–5:30 PM · Griffiths Middle School, 9633 Tweedy Ln, Downey, CA 90240
Dec 10
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Dec 11
December Milestones Due Deadline
Team milestone check-in.
Dec 12
7:30 AM–12:30 PM · The STEAM Academy @ Burke, 8101 Orange Ave, Pico Rivera, CA 90660 · all six teams compete
Dec 18
End of Semester
Last day before winter break. Robot V2.0 drivetrain target: CAD & build complete — V2.5 CAD & build begins.
Dec 21–Jan 1
Winter Break Break
No school. Parent coach may host a meet-up.
Jan 9
Possible tournament · Foothill High School, 19251 Dodge Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705 · MS only
Jan 14
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Jan 16
Beach Brawl @ McBride High School Competition
7:00 AM–5:30 PM · possible tournament for volunteering or competing
Jan 17
Beach Brawl @ McBride High School Competition
7:00 AM–5:30 PM · possible tournament for volunteering or competing
Jan 20–21
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, 7000 Kalahari Dr, Sandusky, OH 44870 · Signature Event · priority reg opens Sep 30, deadline Dec 31
Jan 23
Doty Knight Tournament Competition
7:00 AM–5:30 PM · Doty Middle School · all six teams compete
Jan 29
Game Manual Update — v3.0 Game Manual
May include changes inspired by mid-season events.
Jan 30
7:30 AM–4:30 PM · The STEAM Academy @ Burke, 8101 Orange Ave, Pico Rivera, CA 90660 · all six teams compete
Feb 4
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Feb 5
February Milestones Due Deadline
Team milestone check-in.
Feb 6
Possible tournament · Foothill High School, 19251 Dodge Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Feb 11–12
Bristol Motor Speedway, 151 Speedway Blvd, Bristol, TN 37620 · VEX V5 MS Signature Event · registration deadline Jan 22
Feb 12
Progress Report Deadline
Grading checkpoint. Robot V2.5 drivetrain target: CAD & build complete — possible WorldsBot design begins.
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 · student volunteers needed
Mar · TBD
Open House
5:30–7:00 PM · Stauffer MS (RM 14) · student volunteers needed
Mar 4
Applications Open — New Members
Spartan Design Robotics applications released for 2026-27.
Mar 11
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Mar 18
Femineers Gala
4:00–6:00 PM · Downey 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.
Spring · TBD
Saturday School Scrimmage / Practice
8:00 AM–2:30 PM · Stauffer Middle School
Apr 8
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Apr 16
Progress Report Deadline
Grading checkpoint.
Apr · TBD
Saturday School Scrimmage / Practice
8:00 AM–2:30 PM · Stauffer Middle School
Apr · TBD
2027 VEX Robotics World Championship Competition
8:00 AM–2:30 PM · 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.