Fall 2023

The 2023-4

Jeffco Writing Challenge

Prompt is Out!

Start Planning Now for the

2023-24 Jeffco Writing Challenge!

* First Place Winners in Each Grade Win $100

* Second Place Winners Win a $25 Gift Card

* Third Place Winners Win a $15 Gift Card

* Honorable Mention Winners Win $10 Gift Card

Schools win awards based on student entries:

* First Place School Wins $500

* Second Place School Wins $300

* Third Place School Wins $200

* Honorable Mention Wins $100

The Jeffco Writing Challenge is open to

all Jefferson County students in K-12.

Poetry, short stories, non-fiction, or drama are all welcome!

Please no paired grades submitted together. Each writer must do their own work.

Deadline for submissions is

February 16, 2024

K-12 prompt:

What are some positive ways you could inspire change at

your school to spread kindness?

Write a story, poem, drama, or essay that helps people

understand ways kids can make positive choices

that make your school better.

To submit your entry, fill out the Entry Form/Permission Slip here:

https://tinyurl.com/btcp4cbc

Then, 1) send a printed copy of your story and

2) attach a copy of the permission slip/entry form completed online to:

ENC-JWC

Your child’s grade number

P.O. Box 688 Golden, CO 80402

Questions? Call 800-978-4290 or 720-354-1444, or email barbarabanning83@msn.com

Click here to see The 2023-24 Jeffco Writing Challenge Flyer

ENTER THE 2024

"I LOVE TO READ"

CONTEST

Writing & Art Criteria

Please have your students complete the following statement:

“I love to read. . . ” and then create an illustration to go along with their statement. Have students create the illustration on a normal 8 X 11 sheet of paper with only one statement that explains why they love to read.

All grade levels can participate in this contest.

Winners will receive $100 for First Place and a Gift Card for Second, Third, or Honorable Mention!

The winning school will receive an ENC donation.

Deadline: February 16, 2024

To submit your entry, fill out the Entry Form/Permission Slip at:

https://tinyurl.com/5n6tj7ya

Next: 1) Send a printed copy of your illustration and statement and

2) attach a copy of the permission slip/entry form completed online to:

ENC-ILR

Your child's grade number

P.O. Box 688

Golden, CO 80402

Questions? Call 800-978-4290 or 720-354-1444, or email: barbarabanning83@msn.com

The “I Love to Read” Contest is Sponsored by ENC: Education Nonprofit Corporation.

Click here to see The 2023-24 I Love to Read Flyer

Congratulations to the 2023

Jeffco Writing Challenge

& I Love to Read Winners!

Photo of two school kids happy positive smile celebrate win victory fists hands hold rucksack isolated over violet color background

Last school year, over 2,400 Jefferson county students wrote stories and created artwork for the Jeffco Writing Challenge and I Love to Read Contests. The annual contests are sponsored by Education Nonprofit Corporation (ENC) in collaboration with Jefferson county educators. The I Love to Read contest set a new record this year with over 800 entries.

First place winners received $100, and second, third, and honorable mention winners received $25, $15, and $10 Amazon gift cards, respectively. You can see this year's winning entries of the Jeffco Writing Challenge on this online slideshow.

Here is this year's I Love to Read online slideshow.

In 2023, for the first time, ENC partnered with the Jeffco Library Foundation (click here to contact JLF). Jo Schantz, Executive Director of the Foundation, said "We are pleased to be partnering up with ENC [and providing] coupons as an incentive for kids to participate in the Jeffco Writing Challenge and I Love to Read contests!” The coupons will have a redeemable value of $3 at the Whale’s Tale Bookstore in the Colorado Mills mall in Golden, and each winner will receive one.

Last year's Jeffco Writing Challenge prompts asked students to write about wishes they would like to make, or gifts that would change the world. Responses ranged from wishing people would just be nicer to one another, to giving others the gifts of health or self-confidence, to wishing for an unlimited supply of Doritos.

"I was surprised at how philosophical most of my entries were," said Jody Thomas, one of the judges. "I read lots of stories about personal wishes for things like pets or athletic ability, but also lots about solving really big issues like homelessness or global warming. The kids blow me away every year with their sensitivity and optimism."

Teachers joined the contest and competed along with their students. The winning teachers received $100.00 prizes, and their schools each received $500.00 donations.

Schools received the following donations for the highest percentage of winning contest entries:

First Place: $1100.00

Second Place: $750.00

Third Place: $650.00

Honorable Mention: $550.00

Congratulations to all the winners!

Little small smiling happy boy 6-7 years old in green t-shirt try to hear you overhear listen intently isolated on plain yellow background studio portrait. Mother s Day love family lifestyle concept

We Love Hearing from Winners!

"I wanted to let you know that our ENC check arrived the other day, and we are already putting it to great use! So, THANK YOU!

Last year, with a couple of my English teacher colleagues, we rebooted our Bear Creek High School National English Honors Society chapter (The BCHS Literati) after a few years off due to Covid. It is both a literary organization as well as a service organization. We ran a book drive, made holiday cards for Meals on Wheels, hosted an African American Read In event, attended events at The Tattered Cover and the Mercury Cafe, went to a play at the Arvada Center, and put on our own poetry slam.

It's our plan to do all that again -- and more -- this year. 🙂 We are already getting ready to participate in our homecoming parade next week. Please know that the money from ENC gives us the opportunity to spread our outreach even further, and we are so grateful. Also, with last year's winnings, our AP Literature program bought a new collection of coming-of-age novels, and the kids are already loving them.

Shala Fjetland

Bear Creek High School

__________________________________________________

"Evan opened his check this morning and was in awe of the amount! Thanks, again, for putting this all together - I know it's a massive effort. I'm excited to check out the JCPL bookstore, too, as I've heard great things, but haven't made it in there, yet. Evan LOVES shopping for books, so that will be another fun surprise to blow his little mind. :)"

Kara Dorobek

____________________________________________________________________

"We received the Amazon Gift card and I forwarded it right on to Miles, and she is delighted. Thank you so much for the opportunity for her to compete with her writing!"

Jessica Justice

____________________________________________________________________

"Love it! This is incredible! We are so proud of our kids. Thank you for this annual opportunity for our JeffCo students. "

Erin Allen

________________________________________________

"How exciting! Thank you for this wonderful news. Anna is absolutely thrilled; she cried tears of joy!"

Anna Higgins

______________________________________________________________________

"Thank you so much for the reward. It is a honor to participate in the contest.🙂I appreciate your time and support!"

Maela Suchan

Tell Us What You Did with Yours!

2023

JEFFCO WRITING CHALLENGE

WINNERS

Kindergarten

1st Place - Jackson Dyer

2nd Place - Anthony Lambert

3rd Place - Wyatt Cobb

Honorable Mention - Andrew Jenkins

Honorable Mention - Sydney Bastien

Fairmount Elementary School

Red Rocks Elementary School

Fairmount Elementary School

Red Rocks Elementary School

Fairmount Elementary School

First Grade

1st Place - Julianna Giaquinto

2nd Place - Kennedy Bresnyan

3rd Place - Roosevelt Feehery

3rd Place - Austin Pham

Honorable Mention - Francesca Bernhardt

Devinny Elementary School

Dutch Creek Elementary School

Red Rocks Elementary School

Fairmount Elementary School

Red Rocks Elementary

Second Grade

1st Place - Evan Dorobek

2nd Place - Annie Geister

3rd Place - Whitey Moreland

Honorable Mention -Jamison Graff

Honorable Mention - Eleanor Nieberding

Kyffin Elementary School

Ralston Elementary School

Third Grade

1st Place - Reese Enners

2nd Place - Maya Slockers

3rd Place - Heidi Johnson

Honorable Mention - Maela Suchan

Honorable Mention - Franny Rooney

Fairmount Elementary School

Lincoln Academy Charter School

Ralston Elementary School

Fourth Grade

1st Place - Anna Higgins

2nd Place - Lillian LaBryer

3rd Place - Ashim Welch

Honorable Mention - Katy Dobransky

Mitchell Elementary School

Parmalee Elementary School

Red Rocks Elementary School

Van Arsdale Elementary School

Fifth Grade

1st Place - Willow Hartman

2nd Place - Jackson Spielman

3rd Place - Abrianna Marquess

3rd Place - Samantha Schiel

Honorable Mention - Wyatt Steffen

Mountain Phoenix Community Schoo

Red Rocks Elementary School

Woodrow Wilson Academy

Red Rocks Elementary

Sixth Grade

1st Place - William Higgins

2nd Place - Lucy Hobbs

3rd Place - Barrett Anderson

Honorable Mention - Lauren Garamy

Manning Middle School

Wayne Carle Middle School

Excel Academy Charter School

Drake Middle School

Seventh Grade

1st Place - Lauren Nguyen

1st Place - Max Wheeler

1st Place - Kaylee Vested

2nd Place - Jake Miller

2nd Place - Olivia Ottke

2nd Place - Bryn Duran

2nd Place - Devyn Coble-Unker

2nd Place - Mia Gallgher

3rd Place - Amelia Imker

3rd Place - Izzabella Jones

3rd Place - Riley Weeks

3rd Place - Grace Guirguis

3rd Place - Alyssa Ruhl

Honorable Mention - Zachary Lowry

Honorable Mention - Katelyn Blaser

Honorable Mention - Ashlynn Diebel

Honorable Mention - Sophia Ganong

Drake Middle School

Oberon Middle School

Wayne Carle Middle School

Drake Middle School

Wayne Carle Middle School

Oberon Middle School

Woodrow Wilson Academy

Wayne Carle Middle School

Oberon Middle School

Wayne Carle Middle School

Eighth Grade

1st Place - Indigo Lily Olivenza

2nd Place - Miles Justice-Eck

3rd Place - Gabriella Generose

Honorable Mention - Fallyn Bowlen

Honorable Mention - Dominik Eafanti

Mountain Phoenix Community School

Oberon Middle School

Woodrow Wilson Academy

Ninth Grade

1st Place - Alexa Le

2nd Place - Sophie Hacke

3rd Place - Amelia McGee

Honorable Mention - Jessica Necanas

Dakota Ridge High School

Lakewood High School

Jeffco Virtual Academy

Tenth Grade

1st Place - Fiona McDermid

2nd Place - Chloe Davis

2nd Place - Kaye Athins

3rd Place - Hannah Stauffer

Honorable Mention - Gunner Forsythe

Conifer High School

Eleventh Grade

1st Place - Monserrat Esparaza

2nd Place - Lauren Hacke

3rd Place - Scarlett Kitzman

Honorable Mention - Alexandrea McKindle

Honorable Mention - Jolie Pedersen

Bear Creek High School

Lakewood High School

Bear Creek High School

Twelfth Grade

1st Place - Michael Cordova

2nd Place - Nia Marlangoutsos

3rd Place - Ian Harlan

Honorable Mention - Jordan Hughes-Gehrke

Honorable Mention - Luke Johnson

Bear Creek High School

JWC Winning Schools - Percentage of Winners vs Enrollment

1st Place - Red Rocks Elementary

1st Place - Wayne Carle Middle School

2nd Place - Bear Creek High School

2nd Place - Fairmount Elementary

2nd Place - Oberon Middle School

3rd Place - Woodrow Wilson Academy

3rd Place - Conifer High School

Honorable Mention - Kyffin Elementary

Teacher Winners for The Jeffco Writing Challenge

1st Place - Emily Sullivan

1st Place - Samantha Gorenstein

Dakota Ridge High School

Jeffco Remote Learning Program

CHECK OUT THE 2023 JEFFCO WRITING CHALLENGE SLIDE SHOW

Bear Creek High School's 2023 Jeffco Writing Challenge winners!

2023 "I LOVE TO READ" CONTEST

WINNERS

Kindergarten

1st Place - Sophia Strait

2nd Place - Jonathan Zaleski

3rd Place - Oliver Pham

Honorable Mention - Fallyn Kenny

Honorable Mention - Nour Mielad

Hackberry Hill Elementary School

Parmalee Elementary School

Green Gables Elementary School

Shelton Elementary School

First Grade

1st Place - Beckett Kruger

2nd Place - Miller Pickett

3rd Place - Audrey Addy

Honorable Mention - Susan Geurts

Red Rocks Elemntary School

Red Rocks Elementary School

Mountain Phoenix Community School

Second Grade

1st Place - Eleanor Nieberding

1st Place - Colt Lyman

2nd Place - Liliana Brown

3rd Place - Story Sussman

3rd Place - Zoe Piala

3rd Place - Dylan Herzberg

Honorable Mention - Ivy Sprague

Ralston Elementary School

Shelton Elementary School

Green Gable Elementary School

Lincoln Academy Charter School

Kyffin Elementary School

Woodrow Wilson Academy

Third Grade

1st Place - Katherine Allen

2nd Place - Ilana Greenberg

3rd Place - Keaton Sudar

Honorable Mention - Kendall Jacobs

Honorable Mention - Natalie Wolfe

Meiklejohn Elementary School

Parmalee Elementary School

Coronado Elementary School

Green Gables Elementary School

Elk Creek Elementary School

Fourth Grade

1st Place - Emmaline Zaleski

2nd Place - Sadie Yetman

3rd Place - Kassidy Korb

Honorable Mention - Lyon Krieger

Parmalee Elementary School

Green Gables Elementary School

Powderhorn Elementary School

Green Gables Elementary School

Fifth Grade

1st Place - Tesla Schafer

2nd Place - Matthew Allen

3rd Place - Fiona Yetman

Honorable Mention - Louis Casamento

Green Gables Elementary School

Meiklejohn Elementary School

Green Gables Elementary School

Sixth Grade

1st Place - Mishelle Raph

2nd Place - Haven Enser

3rd Place - Kennedy Johnson

Honorable Mention - Carly Higgs

Falcon Bluffs Middle School

Dunstan Middle School

Falcon Bluffs Middle School

Falcon Blufffs Middle School

Seventh Grade

1st Place - Shayden Tenorio

2nd Place - Kaylee Vestad

2nd Place - Emery Seidel

Honorable Mention - Emery Gerlach

Honorable Mention - Leah Seeley Slepakoff

Falcon Bluffs Middle School

Wayne Carle Middle School

Dunstan Middle School

Wayne Carle Middle School

Dunstan Middle School

Eighth Grade

1st Place - Simone Enser

1st Place - Leah Hwang

1st Place - Lilian Woulfe

1st Place - Veronica Puga

1st Place - Ashlyn Bruce

1st Place - Briley Schroeder

2nd Place - Rebecca Ruth

2nd Place - Isaiah Santistevan

2nd Place - Avery Henninger

2nd Place - Eiley Carrell

2nd Place - Avery Roese

2nd Place - Chayce Hess

3rd Place - Hadley Funk

^{3rd Place - Charis Drumm}

3rd Place - Amberlin Warns

Honorable Mention - Taylor Guenther

Honorable Mention - Larsen Buchman

Honorable Mention - Haylee Yutzy

Honorable Mention - Sydney Turner

Honorable Mention - Cameron Johnson

Honorable Mention - RyLee Morben

Honorable Mention - Isaac Stong

Dustan Middle School

Wayne Carle Middle School

West Jefferson Middle School

Wayne Carle Middle School

Dunstan Middle School

ILR Winning Schools - Percentage of Winners vs Enrollment

1st Place - Green Gables Elementary

2nd Place - Wayne Carle Middle School

2nd Place - Dunstan Middle School

3rd Place - Falcon Bluffs Middle School

Honorable Mention - Red Rocks Elementary

THE 2023 I LOVE TO READ SLIDE SHOW

About ENC

Education Nonprofit Corporation is a small grassroots organization formed in 2008 to advance education by providing additional funds for schools and educational programs. ENC programs include the Jeffco Writing Challenge and Read Connect Jeffco (RCJ).

ENC has donated over $341,600 directly to public schools since May of 2009.

Volunteers:

Barbara Banning - Director, Office and Games Manager

Marcy Hoefner - Director, Co-Founder of ENC, Jeffco Principal

Linda Rediger - Director, Co-Founder ENC, President of B&B Publications

Jody Thomas - Creative Consultant

Blanche Kapushion - Global Education Enterprise Educational Consultant

Roger Dowd - Retired Director of Jeffco Gifted Education

Willow Seely - Gifted and Talented Jeffco Teacher

Paula Bonneau - Retired Gifted and Talented Jeffco Teacher

Mike Carrol - Shining Bear Art Studios, previous Jeffco Art Teacher

Mike Seely - Jeffco High School Teacher

Connie Brown - Retired Gifted and Talented Resource Teacher

Lorraine Bowen - Retired Jeffco Teacher

Ann O'Brien - Retired Jeffco Teacher

Susan Zinanti - College Counseling Adviser

Christopher Smith - Read Connect Jeffco Volunteer

Lalitha Chittoor - Read Connect Jeffco Volunteer

Rebecca Smith - ENC Volunteer

Joanne Kissler - ENC Volunteer

Allen Golden - Director of Gifted Programming, Jeffco Schools

Thank you to all of our volunteers!

Join Our Cause

ENC- Dedicated to the Advancement of Education

Education is the gift that keeps on giving. It develops a person

into a strong member of society. We strive to assist school programs that shape young lives. Education Nonprofit Corporation's goal is to raise money for schools to promote and advance education at all levels. We also host educational seminars for all ages. There are two ways you can help.

Volunteer at ENC!

If you have a student, scout, or youth group member with a volunteering requirement to fulfill, we would love to hear from you! Everything we do is about bringing communities together to help public education. If you are interested, please contact Barbara at 720-354-1444.

Donate to ENC and get Tax Deductions.

Donations to ENC are tax deductible. ENC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. If you've already donated, thank you! We appreciate your generosity. If you've been meaning to make a contribution, it's never been easier. Click here to make a secure donation through our website, or fill out, print, and mail the form below to ENC.

Yes, I want to help education in my community!

Here is my gift of:

____$5 ____$10 ____$20 ____$35 ____other amount

ENC

PO Box 688

Golden, CO 80402

Thank you!

Education Nonprofit Corporation

P.O. BOX 688

Golden, CO 80402

720-354-1444 or 800-978-4290

https://enceducate.homesteadcloud.com/