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Dear  Teachers,

Sefirah isn’t just about counting down to Shavuos. It’s a time for personal growth, where students can reflect on their middos and focus on becoming a little better each day. The Growth Contest invites 4th–7th graders to explore the theme of growth - personal, emotional, or spiritual - through writing or artwork. It’s a chance to express their creativity and maybe even win a prize!

My goal for students?
To get them thinking, reflecting, and growing.

My goal for teachers?
To make it as easy as possible.
No sign-ups. No tracking. No prep.
Just ready-to-use materials you can print, post, or share however you like. Students submit directly to me—I’ll take care of the rest.

Who can enter?
Students in grades 4–7 worldwide (school or homeschool) are welcome to enter!
(Prizes will be shipped to a US address. For international addresses, a gift card equivalent will be provided.)
How do my students submit?
Each student, with a parent, should fill out the submission form at the link below (or scroll down for it).
📤 Submit Your Entry
What can students submit?
Writing: A poem, story, letter, or reflection (max 1500 words)
Art: Any medium—just upload a clear photo of the work
What is the theme?
Each entry should answer: "What does Sefirah mean to you?"

Here are some student-friendly prompts you can share:
  • What does growth look like to you?
  • What’s something that was hard but you kept trying at?
  • Is there a middah (character trait) you’ve worked on?
  • What helped you grow?
When is the deadline?
June 8, 2025 at 11:59PM
(Early submissions are encouraged!)
How will entries be judged?
A panel of teachers from around the world will be looking for:
Depth • Effort • Creativity
What are the age groups?
Grades 4–5 and Grades 6–7
There will be a 1st place winner and runner-ups in each group.
What prizes can students win?
First place winners can choose a $75 Amazon gift card, a $75 Judaica store gift card, or 6 DIY Tambourine Kits (for US addresses) from On a Roll Crafts and CampCrates (sponsored by Mushky Yiftach).

Second place winners will receive a custom set of decal stickers (for US addresses) from AlefDecals (sponsored by Noa Miriam Truxton) or can pick one of the third place prize packages.

Third place winners can choose one fun prize package: Art, Baking, Games, or Science Experiments.
Can teachers help?
Yes! You can support your students by discussing the theme, helping them brainstorm ideas, and guiding them through the submission process. Just make sure the final work is their own.
Still have questions?
We're happy to help! Email evergrowingeducator@gmail.com and we'll get back to you.

Mushkie

In the folder, you’ll find:
- Copy/paste messages and images for WhatsApp or email
- A printable contest flyer
- A printable Prize list
- A printable FAQ sheet

It’s all in one place to make it super simple for you!

Click here for allllll the resources

Take me to the student site