Students have known about the coming Olympic and Paralympic Games for years. The fact that the 2010 Winter Games are being held right here, in our own province, has given BC teachers access to a wealth of unique educational programs and resources. There are so many opportunities to harness the interest and enthusiasm our students feel as the 2010 Winter Games approach.

This is an incredible chance to further engage our students in a meaningful learning experience they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. The 2010 Spirit School program allows schools to show the world the amazing activities that are happening and gives schools a chance to win great prizes!

It’s as easy as 1 – 2 – 3 Register your school! Register your school! * The first 100 schools will receive a free class set of 2010 Winter Games Pedometers! Submit a 2010 Spirit School entry on your community’s GamesTown 2010 page -> Head to the GamesTown 2010 website, find your community, and create a ‘2010 Spirit School’ entry for your school (select 2010 Spirit School ‘entry type’ on the online entry form, then type in your school name) These entries can be written stories, pictures or videos showing your school’s excitement about the 2010 Winter Games and your engagement with the three pillars of Games: sport, culture and sustainability. If text, photos, and/or videos of students are included in your entry, parent consent is required. We have a consent form available for download, so make sure to get them signed by parents and keep them on file at your school. Once your school’s first entry has been submitted, your school’s principal will be contacted with additional information about the 2010 Spirit School program. All entries must be submitted by teachers or administrators. Continue to submit your school’s stories to show BC and the world your 2010 spirit. As you submit more entries you can receive a bronze, silver or gold designation. If your community is not entered in the GamesTown 2010 database, you only have until October 31st to make your first entry, so don’t wait! All 2010 Spirit Schools with entries received by October 31st are eligible for great early bird prizes!
Take the ActNow BC Healthy Living Pledge Take the ActNow BC Healthy Living Pledge Take the World Healthy Living Challenge Pledge. Do your part in honour of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and step up to your own podium and pledge three simple things that you can do to make the world a healthier place. The number of people in your school who take the Pledge is automatically tallied online. This is just another way to demonstrate your commitment to healthy living and the spirit of the 2010 Games. Take the Pledge
Participate in 2010 Winter Games Educational Programs Participate in 2010 Winter Games Educational Programs Participate in the many education programs and opportunities related to the 2010 Winter Games, such as: Adopt-a-Country Student Reporter Program Sharing the Dream Lesson Starters Sharing the Dream Webcast Series Canadian Olympic Committee Olympic Education Program Canadian Paralympic Committee Schools Program 2010 Legacies Now programs Programs and activities in your school related to the three pillars of the 2010 Games: sport, culture and sustainability. 2010 Games-themed events at your school (such as a Paralympic School Week, Torch Relay celebration, or an Olympic “fun day”) For a more complete list of 2010 Winter Games-related educational programs, view the 2010 Education Overview Chart or visit the Sharing the Dream website.

Don’t forget…Share Your Stories!

• Document your participation in these programs and share your stories on your community’s GamesTown 2010 page! Be sure to identify these as a 2010 Spirit School entry (select 2010 Spirit School ‘entry type’ on the online entry form, then type in your school name)
• By showing your spirit and posting your stories, your school can achieve a bronze, silver or gold designation, as well as the chance to win some great prizes!

There will be prizes awarded to 2010 Spirit Schools, with all schools who have achieved gold, silver and bronze designations eligible to win a grand prize draw package. These grand prizes, to be awarded January 15, 2010, include Olympic themed fun events involving ActNow BC Athlete Ambassador visits, 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Mascot visits, and other Winter Games-related prizes.

All 2010 Spirit School registered by October 31st are also eligible for the Early Bird Prize Draw, with one lucky school earning their school and community a stop on the ActNow BC Road to 2010 Community Tour, where you can meet the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Mascots, meet ActNow BC Olympic and Paralympic Athlete Ambassadors, play interactive games and more!

All bronze, silver and gold 2010 Spirit School schools will also receive a certificate commemorating their participation in the program.

In order to receive a gold, silver or bronze designation, members of your school community must participate in Vancouver 2010 education programs and document their activities online. Go for the gold and get every class in your school engaged in using the 2010 Winter Games as an educational opportunity!

Bronze Medal schools must:

• Participate in the ActNow BC Healthy Living Pledge
• Participate in at least one (1) 2010 Winter Games educational program or activity
• Document their participation in each of these programs/activities by sharing their story on their community’s GamesTown 2010 page!

Silver Medal schools must:

• Participate in the ActNow BC Healthy Living Pledge
• Participate in at least five (5) 2010 Winter Games educational programs or activities
• Document their participation in each of these programs/activities by sharing their story on their community’s GamesTown 2010 page!

Gold Medal schools must:

• Participate in the ActNow BC Healthy Living Pledge
• Participate in at least ten (10) 2010 Winter Games educational programs or activities
• Document their participation in each of these programs/activities by sharing their story on their community’s GamesTown 2010 page!

For a detailed prize schedule and contest rules, click here for more information.

Questions? Contact us: sharingthedream@gov.bc.ca