WinterKids Winter Games 2020 Logo

Apply to Compete in the WinterKids Winter Games, January 8 – February 2, 2024

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    1 elementary school in each of Maine’s 16 counties will be selected to compete in our Competitive Track!
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    Four weeks of competition! ALL competitive schools earn cash and prizes!
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    Applications Open: October 1-October 23, 2023

Sign up for email alerts:

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    October 1-23, 2023 – Competitive Track Application Window
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    November 10, 2023 – Competitive Track Schools Announced
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    Early December, 2023 – Winter Games toolkits delivered to Competitive Track schools
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    December 1, 2023 – Play-Along Track registration opens
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    January 8-12, 2024 – Winter Games Week 1 (focused on outdoor physical activity)
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    January 16-19, 2024 – Winter Games Week 2 (focused on nutrition)
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    January 22-26, 2024 – Winter Games Week 3 (focused on family engagement)
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    January 29-February 2, 2024 – Winter Games Week 4 (focused on Winter Carnival)

If your entire school cannot compete for the full duration of this schedule, we invite you to register your class for our Play-Along edition instead, where you can participate at your own pace and enter to win weekly prizes! Registration for the Play-Along track will open on December 1.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

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    ALL Competitive Track schools will win cash and prizes regardless of where they rank in final results. Top cash prizes go to Gold, Silver, and Bronze medal-winning schools.
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    In early December, schools will have the opportunity to participate in a pre-competition orientation webinar.
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    Between January 8 and February 2, 2024, schools can accrue up to 25 points per week based on a rubric of challenges.
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    One school per week will receive one bonus point for the winning moment of the week submission, as judged by an independent panel of WinterKids sponsors.
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    Any schools tied for first place at the end of the competition will submit a “snow principal” likeness – judged by an independent panel of WinterKids sponsors.

All Maine schools with students in grades Pre-K through 8th are eligible to apply (excluding previous gold medal-winning schools).

We ask that you only submit ONE APPLICATION PER SCHOOL, so please communicate with all teachers in your school to identify a lead contact who will be responsible for filling out the application.

Be prepared to answer the following application questions:

    • Lead contact & school info
    • You may add up to five additional contacts who should receive communications throughout the Winter Games. This will be strictly for Winter Games communications, and will not subscribe them to our general email list.
    • School County
    • Grades in your school
    • What is your school’s % eligibility for free and reduced lunch
    • Number of students enrolled in your school
    • Number of teachers at your school
    • Why do you want to participate in the 6th annual WinterKids Winter Games? (limited to 250 words)
    • What would winning a cash prize do for your school? (limited to 250 words)
    • Finally, you’ll need to prepare a brief video introducing us to your school. Please see below for important instructions on what it should include.

YOUR SCHOOL’S ROSTER VIDEO

This video is an important part of your application. Please provide us with a 30-second introduction to your school campus, students, and faculty, and share with us what makes your community special.

KEY ELEMENTS TO INCLUDE:

  • Begin the video with a warm welcome and introduction to your school.
  • Show a quick tour of the school or campus, focusing on key areas and facilities.
  • Highlight students and faculty, showcasing their diversity, activities, and interactions.
  • Express enthusiasm and excitement for the 2024 WinterKids Winter Games by giving a shout-out or displaying supportive signs/posters.

TIPS TO PREPARE YOUR VIDEO:

  • If using a mobile phone, record and take photos with your phone in HORIZONTAL (wide) format.
  • Use video editing software (Canva, iMovie, etc.) to compile and edit your footage.
  • Review the edited video to ensure it meets the 30-second time limit and effectively represents your school.
  • Confirm that the video includes all necessary elements, including the WinterGames shout-out.
  • Save the final video in a compatible format (e.g., MP4)

PLEASE NOTE:

Your video may be featured on the WinterKids website and social media channels. Please ensure all children appearing in your video are approved to do so.

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    4 weeks of outdoor competition for the entire student body and faculty (extra points for non-teaching staff)
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    Weekly submission of rubrics, supporting photos/videos, Moments of the Week, and Wild Card Wednesday photos
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    Community Involvement
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    Parent and family engagement
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    Have fun!
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    Any elementary school in Maine can apply EXCEPT for previous WinterKids Winter Games GOLD Medal Winners.
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    All schools selected for the 2024 WinterKids Winter Games are at the discretion of WinterKids
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    One school per county will be selected to compete in the 2024 WinterKids Winter Games

Preference will be given to schools with:

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    50% or greater Free and Reduced Lunch
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    The least access to community resources and supports
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    Adherence to the instructions outlined on our application.
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    Proposals that include the improvement of students’ health and the school environment.
The community has been super excited, the whole school, there's been a different atmosphere and we're just really happy to be chosen to be part of this, this year.
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Hillary Hoyt
Teacher / Leroy H. Smith School
Kudos to you and this organization for mapping out such a wonderful program for Maine schools. I have been blown away by every aspect of this initiative.
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Christine Bertinet
Principal / Waterboro Elementary School
Win or lose, this has been a wonderful experience for our staff and our community.
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Ben Tripp
Principal / Ash Point Community School
Of course we want to win! But I feel like we've already won... It's an immediate result. You can see the difference in the kids."
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Crystal DaGraca
Principal / Swan's Island School
Ok, first and foremost, this is the COOLEST program.  The amount of thought that has gone into it is incredible.
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Sam Person
PE Teacher / Waterboro Elementary School
I am SO thankful for the impact this Winter Kids competition has on our kids. In this short time, the changes in attitudes, physical activity, even the helpfulness of students was very heart-warming.
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School Nurse
Piscataquis Community Elementary School
Because of this competition, my family is now rethinking our snack choices and making healthier ones, our kids and community have formed a wonderful bond coming together for one goal, and you managed to get a Mom, who hates winter and the cold, outside embracing the beauty of Maine having fun with her kids.
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Dayton Consolidated School Mom
How do you combine a community, school, home, nutrition, exercise, team, kids, parents, teachers, school spirit, awareness, and fun? Participate in WinterKids Winter Games!! Seriously had no idea how amazing this would be and what our community was capable of! The support and Camaraderie is incredible. What a positive experience this has been for our kids and all the parents too!
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Christina Barber
It has been inspirational to watch our community unite around a common purpose of healthy, active kids.
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Sarah Maxwell
Assistant Principal / Waldo T. Skillen School
Let's just say several parents told me their students were sleeping better at night and at school we've had much less behavior issues this week! Two very big positives for WinterKids Winter Games challenge week #2!!
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C. Ellis
Principal / Miles Lane Elementary
This was truly an inspiration to the kids, staff and families to embrace the winters here in Maine, more than they already have.
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C. Agreste
School Nurse / Dayton Consolidated School

Recent Winter Games News & Updates

WinterKids Announces Gold, Silver and Bronze Prize Winners in the 6th Annual WinterKids Winter Games!

The 6th annual WinterKids Winter Games wrapped up last week, with 16 schools competing statewide to win cash prizes for their schools!

2023 WinterKids Winter Games COMPETITIVE TRACK RESULTS

The 6th Annual WinterKids Winter Games wrapped up on Friday, February 3rd, and Things got Seriously Wild! Helpful Links: Our 16 Competitive Track schools across Maine finished WEEK 4 of […]

2023 WinterKids Winter Games Week 4 Recap + Moment of the Week Winner

Week 4 of the 2023 WinterKids Winter Games was focused on a wild winter carnival, and check out how much fun these competitive track schools had! Our 16 Competitive Track […]

2023 WinterKids Winter Games Week 3 Recap + Moment of the Week Winner

Week 3 of the 2023 WinterKids Winter Games was focused on Family Engagement, bringing classrooms and families together outside! Week 3 of the 2023 WinterKids Winter Games had our 16 […]

2023 WinterKids Winter Games Week 2 Recap + Moment of the Week Winner

Week 2 of the 2023 WinterKids Winter Games was focused on NUTRITION, and our Competitive Track participants HAD A DELICIOUS TIME! Week 2 of the 2023 WinterKids Winter Games had […]

2023 WinterKids Winter Games Week 1 Recap + Moment of the Week Winner

Week 1 of the 2023 WinterKids Winter Games was focused on Outdoor Physical Activity, and boy, did our Competitive Track participants get WILD! Our 16 competitive schools from across Maine […]

MEDIA COVERAGE

February 23, 2023

WinterKids names Winter Games winners

via CentralMaine.com
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February 15, 2023

Topsham takes silver in Winterkids Winter Games

via Portland Press Herald
Read More
February 2, 2023

Perry WinterKids

via Fox 22 WFVX Bangor
Read More
January 23, 2023

WinterKids is back

via WABI
Read More

SPONSORS ARE THE NEXT ROW!

THE 2024 WINTER GAMES ARE MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM:

Presented by:

Weekly Sponsors:

Contributing Sponsors:

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