Cool Schools
“Cool Schools” Polar Plungers are teams of kindergarten through high school students who plunge, raise funds, and raise awareness for Special Olympics together! Registering as a “Cool Schools” team is a great team-building experience and an awesome way to support Special Olympics athletes within your school community!
It’s easy to form a “Cool Schools” team! Just find your Region and click the registration link below!
Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, Warren
Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming
Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Northern York, York
Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Potter
Berks, Bethlehem, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, Schuylkill
Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Somerset
Bradford, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Union
Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery,
Philadelphia
Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, Westmoreland
There are three elements of Cool Schools:
PLUNGE IN-PERSON:
Here’s how to PLUNGE!
- Choose a Team Captain: A teacher, coach, advisor or other faculty member
- Gather Your Team: Your in-school team can include classmates, teachers, friends, or family members
- Pick a Team Name
- Register Your Team: As “Cool Schools” plungers your registration is FREE! Ask your coach or administrator for a signup link!
- Don’t Stop: Now that your team is registered, challenge a rival school or club within your school to take the Polar Plunge. The team that raises the most money will win the ultimate prize… BRAGGING RIGHTS!
PLUNGE VIRTUALLY:
Take the “Polar Pop” Challenge and participate from the comfort of your school or campus. It’s a great way to participate virtually and still raise funds for Special Olympics.
Here’s how:
- Choose a Team Captain: A teacher, coach, advisor or other faculty member
- Gather Your Team: Your in-school team can include classmates, teachers, friends, or family members
- Pick a team name
- Register your team as “Virtual Polar Poppers”
- Pick a day and assemble your team at-school or on-campus (have a photographer ready!)
- Then… 1-2-3 POP cold water balloons over your heads to show how you’re #FreezinForAReason for Special Olympics
Is your “Cool Schools” team participating virtually? Here’s an idea… Do an in-school challenge between sports teams or clubs within your school. See which team can raise the most money for Special Olympics and win the ultimate prize… BRAGGING RIGHTS!
If your “Cool Schools” team plans on participating virtually, please contact Mike Bovino, at mbovino@specialolympicspa.org
HOST A RAIN RALLY:
The Cool Schools Rain Rally is hosted by a school or university and held on campus or a nearby community site. Most often, the local fire department generously provides support. One or more fire engines are brought to create a rainbow shower of water through which students, teachers, and administrators go through with spirit! While using fire engines is the most popular, you can be creative in how you conduct your own fun and safe event.
- Commit to “Freezin’ for a Reason”: Students come out to a parking lot or large grass area and run, walk, dance or skip through a ‘rainbow water shower’ created from a fire engine
- Enhance the atmosphere: Play music and incorporate other elements to add to the spirit and enthusiasm of the event.
- Fundraise: Special Olympics Pennsylvania sets up a Rain Rally fundraising site through Classy for students to use to register and activate their networks. Funds raised will support Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Unified Champion Schools program.
- Incentivize it! Participants who raise a minimum of $40 receive a Rain Rally tee shirt
- Inspire a Competition: Like other viral fundraising challenges, the students can challenge students from rival schools, as well as others throughout the state.
We encourage schools and colleges to select their own schedule and design a “Cool Schools Rain Rally Event” in their vision.
An Important Caution: Be smart, be safe, and be careful – for you and all who join you in your Rain Rally activity. Please follow all safety and COVID-19 protocols. Have fun with it; but above all, BE SAFE.
