BTW if this thread was started anyway, y’all should know that the chidon program is looking to welcome and expand to all frum jews, not just lubavitch, although it is run by lubavitch. (I know there are other great nationwide frum programs that encourage children to learn things on their own time such as shmiras halashon etc and I’m not negating that at all.)
If you think you’re child could benefit from an international, fun, professional, prestigious competition on the knowledge of Sefer hamitzvos, and also the work ethic and the obsession with year wide learning it encourages, on the children’s own time, feel free to lobby your school to join the thousands of participants. To get a feel for it you can Google chidon competition 5778 and watch the gameshow to see these kids in action.
(They have tiered the program with any kids getting a 70% allowed to join the Shabbaton and trip. There are higher lines set to join the international game show, and there is one school representative chosen to compete with the other school representatives to take a much more thorough written test whose winners win gold silver and copper medals.there are also plaques to win.
Every grade learns different mitzvos and competes with their grade members. In the game show, each team is composed of tiered tables with the 4 grades so they altogether complete the 613 mitzvos.)