Pikes Peak Library District’s annual Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest engages 4th and 5th grade writers in El Paso County.
Poetry creates opportunities for children to explore a variety of topics and emotions through writing. The 2026 contest theme is Remembering Our Past to Inform Our Future. Students in 4th and 5th grade can write a poem and submit it for a chance to win a prize. Poems must be submitted or postmarked by Sat., Feb. 28.
This contest continues local educator Jean Ciavonne’s legacy of connecting children with poetry and writing.
Contest Details
The contest is open to all 4th and 5th grade students in El Paso County.
Theme: Remembering Our Past to Inform Our Future
- Write a poem that tells a story about a person, place, or moment from Colorado’s long history.
Questions to ask yourself as you write your poem:
- How does this topic inspire you ?
- How does this affect you?
- Think about how a trip to a park or museum inspired you or made you curious to know more – and then create a poem about the experience.
Six winners will receive a book and $50 each! The awards ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Sat., April 25, 2026, at Penrose Library (20 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs). Winners will be notified in April ahead of the awards ceremony.
Contest Rules
- One entry per student. Teachers are encouraged to review poems before submitting them.
- Contestants can only submit their own original works.
- Poems will be judged on originality, including poem title and adherence to the theme.
- Submit one double-spaced copy of each poem on 8 ½” x 11” paper (no handwritten submissions or illustrations will be accepted). On a separate piece of paper, please include name, telephone number, home address, school name and address, and teacher and principal names. Poems will not be returned. Please keep a copy.
- Entries must be submitted or postmarked by Sat., Feb. 28, 2026. Submission of a poem constitutes full permission to exhibit, use, and publish the poem for any purpose – printed or electronic media – and to publish the student’s name and school, as well as any photographs and/or videos of the student without compensation.
- Winners will be celebrated at an awards ceremony where they will be given the opportunity to read their poem to the audience.
Entries may be submitted by mail or email:
The Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest
c/o Alli Brooks
Pikes Peak Library District
P.O. Box 1579
Colorado Springs, CO 80901-1579
Or email entries, following guidelines above to: abrooks@ppld.org
Questions?
Call Alli Brooks at (719) 531-6333, x6103 or email abrooks@ppld.org
Congratulations to our 2025 winners!
- Violet Avenarius, 4th Grade, School in the Woods - “Neighborhood Friends"
- Eliana Bellairs, 5th Grade, Ranch Creek Elementary School - “My Beachside Place”
- Dabi Chang, 4th Grade, Woodmen Roberts Elementary School - “These Places, These People”
- Danika Harms, 4th Grade, Howbert Elementary School - “Where I'm From”
- Keri Wouden, 5th Grade, Ranch Creek Elementary School - “Me"
- Aspen Yager, 5th Grade, Homeschool - “Where do I come from?”
Jean Ciavonne Remembered from PPLD TV on Vimeo.