Reflections® is a National PTA and Washington State PTA arts recognition program

YES Reflections is ON this year!

Highline Council Reflections Chair: Melissa.Ebbeson@gmail.com

WSPTA Reflections Chair: reflections@wastatepta.org 

Reflections Artwork Deadline
January 5, 2022
Submissions are virtual this year

Check out these cool things from National PTA!

 reflections-activity-sheet.pdf (pta.org) 

 reflections-coloring-book.pdf (pta.org) 

 all-categories.jpg (5100×3300) (pta.org) 

https://www.pta.org/docs/default-source/files/programs/reflections/reflections-2020-2021/all-categories.jpg

Reflections Ceremony Celebration
TBD

Check the WAStatePTA.org website for all updated info, Entry Packet forms and instructions on registering your school to participate.

• Reflections can look VIRTUAL this year: https://www.wastatepta.org/reflections-kickoff-virtually/
• Reflections Overview for Families and Students:  Reflections Art Program (wastatepta.org) 
• Reflections Program for Leaders:  PTA Leaders - WSPTA (wastatepta.org)
  

The 2022 theme is "I Will Change The World By..." The deadline to submit artwork to the Highline Council PTSA is January 5, 2022 through virtual submission.

Reflections is a National PTA arts recognition program that helps students explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful not only in school, but in life.

Students in pre-K through grade 12 create original works of art in response to a theme. The theme for the 2021-2022 program year is I Will Change The World By… Students submit their completed works of art in one, or all, of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts.

While the primary focus of Reflections is a celebration of creativity through positive recognition, finalists from local PTAs will move on to their council PTA (if applicable), then finalists from councils will move on to the state round. Washington State PTA finalists who receive an “Outstanding Interpretation” award will advance to the National PTA round. National PTA Reflections awards for 2020-2021 can be found here.

Young artists get involved by contacting their local PTA leaders. The deadline for turning in artwork to your local PTA will typically be in late autumn.

Literature -- works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, prose, drama, short stories and lyrics.
Music Composition -- original musical composition, with or without words.
Photography -- color or black and white, including techniques: photogram, retouched, montage, sandwich and multiple exposure.
Visual Arts -- drawing, painting in tempera, oil, acrylic, watercolor & t-shirt paints, computer generated art, two-dimensional collage, printmaking, needlework & leather tooling.
Film/Video -- original works, with or without sound, of animation, narrative, documentary, experimental or music video/film.
Choreography/Dance -- originally choreographed dance composition.

Participation in Reflections is organized by student age and grade levels. Student works are critiqued against others in the same grade division. This allows recognition and judging of artworks by appropriate developmental age and skill levels. The grade divisions are:

Primary -- Preschool - Grade 2
Intermediate -- Grades 3 - 5
Middle/Junior -- Grades 6 - 8
Senior -- Grades 9 - 12

All PTAs/PTSAs in good standing may sponsor the Reflections Program. Students may only submit entries through a PTA/PTSA. Parent groups not affiliated with the National PTA are not eligible to sponsor this program. 

Special Artist Division 
The National PTA special artist division is an option for students with a disability as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Generally, rules and guidelines within the special artists division are intended to ensure accessibility to the National PTA Reflections® program and are modeled after the guidelines outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

Who qualifies as a disabled individual under the law?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines an individual with a disability as a person who:
(1) Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of that person; 
(2) Has a record of such an impairment; or
(3) Is regarded as having such impairment. 

Students who identify as having a disability have two ways to enter the National PTA Reflections® program. 

Option 1. Enter in special artist division: Qualifying students entering this non-graded division create their own artwork, but may receive non-artistic accommodation and assistance from an adult. At the national level, one special artist from across all arts categories will be selected to receive an Outstanding Interpretation award. Up to five additional special artists may be selected to receive national Awards of Excellence. 

Option 2. Enter in traditional grade divisions: Qualifying students follow all arts category rules, and may not receive assistance other than that which is allowed for all children, but do receive accommodation to submit Reflections entries in the grade division most closely aligned to their functional abilities. They are recognized and awarded prizes as part of the general student population without regard to special needs or challenges.

For more information on the Reflections program, click on the Reflections page of the Washington State PTA Website.