WinterKids Winter Games

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

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

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Schedule

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

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.
In early December, schools will have the opportunity to participate in a pre-competition orientation webinar.
Between January 8 and February 2, 2024, schools can accrue up to 25 points per week based on a rubric of challenges.
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.
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.

What you'll need to apply

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.

Expectations

4 weeks of outdoor competition for the entire student body and faculty (extra points for non-teaching staff)
Weekly submission of rubrics, supporting photos/videos, Moments of the Week, and Wild Card Wednesday photos
Community Involvement
Parent and family engagement
Have fun!

Selection Process

Any elementary school in Maine can apply EXCEPT for previous WinterKids Winter Games GOLD Medal Winners.
All schools selected for the 2024 WinterKids Winter Games are at the discretion of WinterKids
One school per county will be selected to compete in the 2024 WinterKids Winter Games

Preference will be given to schools with:

50% or greater Free and Reduced Lunch
The least access to community resources and supports
Adherence to the instructions outlined on our application.
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.

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.

Christine Bertinet

Principal / Waterboro Elementary School

Win or lose, this has been a wonderful experience for our staff and our community.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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!

Christina Barber

It has been inspirational to watch our community unite around a common purpose of healthy, active kids.

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!!

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.

C. Agreste

School Nurse / Dayton Consolidated School