DYER BROOK, Maine — Students from RSU 50 (Southern Aroostook) are participating in the WinterKids Winter Games for four consecutive weeks beginning the week of Jan. 17.
The opening ceremony takes place Friday, Jan. 14 and students will compete in a series of outdoor physical activity and nutrition challenges designed to help them be active in the winter and learn healthy habits.
Each school that participates in the WinterKids Winter Games is encouraged to involve volunteers, parents, healthy eating and active living organizations in their community, and hold a winter carnival to close out the month’s events.
This year’s WinterKids Winter Games theme is the Winter Olympic Games.
Schools applied for entry into the Winter Games, in hopes of earning the top prize of $10,000. All elementary schools in Maine’s 16 counties were eligible to participate. This year, 22 schools reaching 3,805 children and over 900 teachers and staff, will be competing.
RSU 50 is one of the Aroostook County schools for 2022. Schools competing in the WinterKids Winter Games receive a toolkit full of resources and incentives to help students earn points, including the brand new WinterKids Learn Outside Guide- an easy to use resource to help kids move, learn, and explore outdoors while meeting education standards.
This opportunity is spearheaded by SACS elementary gym teacher Ryan Pelletier with the support of the elementary principal April Bates.
“Southern Aroostook is thrilled to be selected to participate in the WinterKids Winter Games,” Bates said. “This is an exciting opportunity to showcase healthy behaviors with our students, and to work toward earning prizes for our school! We have a series of activities planned this month, including tracking steps, good nutrition and winter carnival.”
Schools participating in the WinterKids Winter Games accrue points for cash prize awards: $10,000 Gold Medal School; $7,500 Silver Medal School; and $5,000 Bronze Medal School. The remaining 19 schools will also receive cash awards based on their place at the end of the competition.
A total of $50,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded by WinterKids this year.
For more information about RSU 50’s involvement in the WinterKids Winter Games, contact Ryan Pelletier or April Bates at 207-757-8206 or email at ryanpelletier@rsu50.org or abates@rsu50.org.
For a complete list of participating schools or questions regarding the WinterKids Winter Games, please visit www.winterkids.org.
