Apply to Compete in the WinterKids Winter Games COMPETITIVE TRACK

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Your Name *

First

Last

Your Email *

Your Phone Number *

School Name *

If you're not sure whether someone else has applied for your school, please contact Marion Doyle (mdoyle@winterkids.org) to confirm.

Is this your school's first year participating in the Winter Games? *

Are there additional contacts at your school who should receive our email communications throughout this year's Winter Games? *

School Mailing Address *

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City *

State *

Zip *

School County

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What is the lowest grade in your school? *

What is the highest grade in your school? *

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Your school's % eligibility for free & reduced lunch *

Number of students in your school *

Number of teachers at your school *

Why do you want to participate in the WinterKids Winter Games? *

What would winning a cash prize do for your school? *

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.

Please upload your roster video: *

Click or drag a file to this area to upload.

Signature *

By signing this application, I confirm that the information it contains is accurate to the best of my knowledge, and that my entire school has agreed to participate for the entire duration of the Winter Games (January 8-Febrary 2, 2024).

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 Wild Card Wednesday 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.