Win up to $500 for your school!
We’ve selected one culture-and-climate boosting activity each month. The activities are fun, easy and effective. It’s a win-win!
- Schools that participate could win $500!
- Yearbook staffs that participate could win $150!
Schools across the US and Canada are invited to enter the School Culture Challenges and each month we randomly select three schools and three yearbook staffs to win. Simply do a challenge, take photos or a video of it happening, and enter the sweepstakes by completing the required information in each form. And yes – you CAN enter the sweepstakes every month of the school year if you want! And each time you enter, you will receive a School Culture Builder Award.
Announcing the 2026 School Culture Challenges
Schools can enter any of the Culture Challenges below starting on August 1, 2025.
Back to School
Welcoming Activities
The first day and week of school are an opportunity to make a strong, positive first impression! Seize the chance to help everyone feel supported, appreciated and excited to be back in the building with one another.
October
High Five Fridays
Greet students with high fives as they enter the school building in the morning or between classes. A single school leader can give all the high fives, but is even more fun if a group of people participate. Consider playing music to amp up the vibe!
November
Gratitude Notes
Select a day and class period when every person in your school, from students to Staffulty, can write a note to someone in the school they appreciate. Some of our favorite ideas for sharing gratitude notes can be found here, but creativity is encouraged!
December
Secret Staff Dress Up Day
Create camaraderie with this simple activity. Tell Staffulty (staff + faculty) to dress to a theme on a specific day, but don’t tell students. Will they notice? You can start small or go all in and over the top. The choice is yours!
January
On-A-Roll Recognition
Improvement deserves some positive recognition! Create a simple tradition to recognize students who are on-a-roll for behavior, attendance or grades. The tradition could include things like recognition during announcements, a special breakfast or a ceremony.
February
Spread the Love Day
In this activity, students and Staffulty™ (staff + faculty) are encouraged to look for the strengths in others and recognize them with a pin or small card. The catch? You can only have one at a time, so spread the love by passing it on to another person!
March
B.A.G. Madness
Recognize and reward Behavior, Attendance, and Grades with a bracket-style tournament. Classes will compete against one another to earn a party through this month-long challenge.
April
Name That Song
This idea will feel familiar to those who remember the days of Top 100 radio! Staffulty (staff + faculty) are encouraged to name a song and be one of the first to publicly identify it for a prize (or bragging rights).
End of Year
Senior Walk
Recognize seniors and reinforce graduation as a Big Darn Deal by organizing a parade of seniors, decked out in caps and gowns, down school halls. This Senior Walk tradition truly tugs on the heartstrings!
Get even more recognition!
The Renaissance School of Distinction Award celebrates schools that help teachers and students love Mondays by integrating the Renaissance Results Formula™ into their culture. By doing one Renaissance Playbook activity each month (like the ones from the sweepstakes above!), you become eligible to be recognized as a Silver Tier Jostens Renaissance School of Distinction.