🗓️ 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 Community & Family Fundraiser Volunteer Deadline Break
April 2026
1 event
Apr 27
Initial Game Release Season
Override game unveiled. Team splits into VRC and VIQRC; captains choose their teams.
May 2026
2 events
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
June 2026
3 events
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 Community
8:00 AM–12:00 PM · Stauffer Middle School · mentors & parent coach invited
Jun 29–Jul 2
Summer Camp — Week 2 Community
8:00 AM–12:00 PM · Stauffer Middle School · mentors & parent coach invited
July 2026
3 events
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 Community
8:00 AM–12:00 PM · Stauffer Middle School · mentors & parent coach invited
August 2026
4 events
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 Community
Mandatory after-school practices on Tuesdays & Thursdays until 5:00 PM (unless notified otherwise).
Aug 20
Family Meeting — Stauffer Challenge Prep Community
6:30–7:30 PM · Online (Zoom)
Aug 27
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
September 2026
11 events
Sep 1
Leadership Advisory Meeting Community
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 Community
5:30–7:00 PM · Stauffer MS (RM 14)
Sep 9
Rio Hondo League — Coaches' Meeting Community
3:30–4:30 PM · El Rancho District Office · Mr. T attends
Sep 12
robotics is ez @ Maker Faire Orange County — Day 1 (MS/HS) ↗ Competition
7:50 AM–5:00 PM · OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 · Teams C, D & F competing
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 Community
6:30–7:30 PM · Online (Zoom)
Sep 24
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Sep 26
Saturday Practice Community
8:00 AM–12:00 PM
October 2026
13 events
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 Only Saturday ↗ Competition
7:00 AM–5:30 PM · Stauffer Middle School
Oct 8
Game Manual Update — v2.1 Game Manual
Clarification / minor update.
Oct 8
After-School Practice — Guest Leaders Community
3:00–5:00 PM · Led by Leslie Dominguez & Zeus Flores, Math Inventionists
Oct 10
Rio Hondo League — Event #1 ↗ Competition
7:30 AM–12:30 PM · The STEAM Academy @ Burke, 8101 Orange Ave, Pico Rivera, CA 90660 · all six teams competing
Oct 13
Femineers Kickoff Community
Griffiths Middle
Oct 13
Leadership Advisory Meeting Community
6:30–7:30 PM · Online (Zoom)
Oct 17
Beach Brawl @ McBride High School ↗ Competition
8:00 AM–5:15 PM · McBride High School, 7025 E. Parkcrest St, Long Beach, CA 90808 · Teams A, D & M competing
Oct 22
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Oct 24
Saturday School Practice Community
8:00 AM–12:00 PM
Oct 27
After-School Practice — Guest Supervisors Community
3:00–5:00 PM · Supervised by Leslie Dominguez & Zeus Flores, Math Inventionists
Oct 31–Nov 1
FRC Beach Blitz Competition
Teams encouraged to support the FRC program.
November 2026
8 events
Nov 6
Stauffer Challenge — Setup Volunteer
4:30–8:00 PM · Stauffer Middle School
Nov 7
Stauffer Challenge — MS Only Saturday ↗ Competition
7:00 AM–5:30 PM · Stauffer Middle School
Nov 14
Rio Hondo League — Event #2 ↗ Competition
7:30 AM–12:30 PM · The STEAM Academy @ Burke, 8101 Orange Ave, Pico Rivera, CA 90660 · all six teams competing
Nov 16
Femineers — Prototype & Build Workday Community
8:00 AM–2:41 PM Pacific · Room 14 · Stauffer Middle School
Nov 17
Griffiths Gauntlet — Volunteer Recruitment Meeting Community
Tuesday · 6:30 PM Pacific · Online (Zoom) · Join Zoom Meeting ↗
Nov 19
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Nov 21
Rumble in the Jungle — V5 Override ↗ Competition
Granada Hills Charter High School, 10535 Zelzah Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91344 · Teams A, D, E, F & M competing
Nov 23–27
Thanksgiving Break Break
No school. Parent coach may host a meet-up.
December 2026
10 events
Dec 1
Griffiths Gauntlet — Tournament Walkthrough Community
Tuesday · 6:30 PM Pacific · Online (Zoom) · Join Zoom Meeting ↗
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
Griffiths Gauntlet — December Invitational (MS Only) ↗ Competition
7:00 AM–5:30 PM · Griffiths Middle School, 9633 Tweedy Ln, Downey, CA 90240
Dec 7
Femineers — Build & Test Workday Community
8:00 AM–2:41 PM Pacific · Room 14 · Stauffer Middle School
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
Rio Hondo League — Event #3 ↗ Competition
7:30 AM–12:30 PM · The STEAM Academy @ Burke, 8101 Orange Ave, Pico Rivera, CA 90660 · all six teams competing
Dec 18
End of Semester Community
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.
January 2027
9 events
Jan 9
Roundtable Robotics Challenge — Override ↗ Competition
Foothill High School, 19251 Dodge Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705 · MS only · Teams A, C, E, F & M competing
Jan 14
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Jan 17
Beach Brawl @ McBride High School ↗ Competition
Possible tournament (compete or volunteer) · 7:00 AM–5:30 PM · McBride High School, 7025 E. Parkcrest St, Long Beach, CA 90808
Jan 23
Doty Knight Tournament ↗ Competition
7:00 AM–5:30 PM · Doty Middle School · all six teams competing
Jan 25
Femineers — Integrate & Redesign Workday Community
8:00 AM–2:41 PM Pacific · Room 14 · Stauffer Middle School
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, 8101 Orange Ave, Pico Rivera, CA 90660 · all six teams competing
Jan 31
Beach Brawl & SCA @ McBride High School ↗ Competition
Possible tournament · McBride High School, 7025 E. Parkcrest St, Long Beach, CA 90808
February 2027
8 events
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
gg ez — MS ↗ Competition
Possible tournament · Los Angeles Valley College, 5800 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 · MS only
Feb 7
Innovate with Robotics @ UCI (VRC) HS/MS Blended ↗ Competition
Sunday · 8:00 AM check-in & robot inspection; awards conclude at 5:30 PM Pacific · UC Irvine, Division of Continuing Education, Building CE1 (Building 8), 510 E Peltason Dr, Irvine, CA · Parking: Anteater Parking Structure · All six Spartan Design teams competing: 2822A, 2822C, 2822D, 2822E, 2822F & 2822M · Digital engineering notebooks due Feb 3 at 5:00 PM PST; in-person team interviews
Feb 12
Progress Report Deadline
Grading checkpoint. Robot V2.5 drivetrain target: CAD & build complete — possible WorldsBot design begins.
Feb 13
Beach Brawl @ McBride High School ↗ Competition
Possible tournament · McBride High School, 7025 E. Parkcrest St, Long Beach, CA 90808
Feb 14
Windowboy Extravaganza @ McBride High School ↗ Competition
Possible tournament · McBride High School, 7025 E. Parkcrest St, Long Beach, CA 90808
Feb 22
Femineers — Gala Ready Workday Community
8:00 AM–2:41 PM Pacific · Room 14 · Stauffer Middle School
March 2027
10 events
Mar 1
Stauffer Femineers Gala — Time TBD Community
Time TBD · Stauffer Library
Mar 4
Applications Open — New Members Community
Spartan Design Robotics applications released for 2027-28.
Mar 11
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Mar 13–14
California Region 4 VEX V5RC Middle School Championship ↗ Competition
Qualification required / invitational · Spartan Design participation not confirmed · Montgomery High School, 3250 Palm Avenue, San Diego, CA 92154
Mar 18
District Femineers Gala Community
4:00–6:00 PM Pacific · 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.
Mar · TBD
Future Spartan Design Meeting Community
5:00–5:30 PM · Stauffer MS (RM 14) · for prospective members · student volunteers needed
Mar · TBD
Open House Community
5:30–7:00 PM · Stauffer MS (RM 14) · student volunteers needed
Spring · TBD
Saturday School Scrimmage / Practice Community
8:00 AM–2:30 PM · Stauffer Middle School
April 2027
4 events
Apr 8
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
Apr 16
Progress Report Deadline
Grading checkpoint.
Apr 23–30
2027 VEX Robotics World Championship ↗ Competition
Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV · MS division days TBA · all teams invited (optional)
Apr · TBD
Saturday School Scrimmage / Practice Community
8:00 AM–2:30 PM · Stauffer Middle School
May 2027
2 events
May 13
Shakey's Fundraiser Fundraiser
5:00–9:00 PM · Shakey's Pizza Parlor
May 20
Team Selection for 2027-28 Community
Roster planning for next season.
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