"BEAUTY IS"

Entry deadline to SMMPTA Council: November 20, 2009.


Reflections Program Chair
Miriam Billington, 310-829-7998, billingtons@earthlink.net

Download pdf file of Reflections Program Information (coming soon)

Download guidelines, rules, and entry forms at:
http://capta.org/sections/programs/reflections.cfm

The National PTA Reflections Program is an arts recognition and achievement program for students. The Reflections Program provides opportunities for students to express themselves creatively and to receive positive recognition for original works of art inspired by a pre-selected theme, while increasing community awareness on the importance of the arts in education.

Participation and appreciation for the arts is the Reflections Program's goal. Although the Reflections Program follows a "contest" format, winning should not be the emphasis.

Six Arts Areas are

• Musical composition
• Photography
• Visual arts
• Dance Choreography
• Film/Video Production
• Literature

Four Grade Divisions are

• Primary – Preschool – Grade 2 or up to age 7
• Intermediate – Grades 3-5 or ages 8-10
• Middle/Junior – Grades 6-8 or ages 11-13
• Senior – Grades 9-12 or ages 14+

Please remember that

• All entries submitted must be original works and must relate to the annual Reflections Program theme.
• Each entry must be the work of only one student. Assistance from teachers, parents or friends is not permitted except in special cases (such as for those with disabilities)
• Participation encourages creativity and exploration. Students should do their best, but crooked lines, incorrect musical notes, or misspelled words do not disqualify anyone!

To Do List for Reflections Chairperson

• Familiarize yourself with the materials on the California State PTA Web site—the web address is http://www.capta.org/sections/programs/reflections.cfm. Read the materials but I recommend that you do not overwhelm your students and their families with too many forms or too much information—create one page that highlights the most important info, like your school’s deadline for entry, the categories, and theme, plus the Reflections chair’s contact info.
• Submit a Reflections Program budget to the budget committee for approval.
• Explain the Reflections Program to the principal and school staff; teachers can encourage students to participate. Share information about the Reflections Program at a PTA/PTSA meeting, share examples of last year's entries and have current entry forms and rules for distribution. Publicize the Reflections Program, theme and deadline dates in your school or PTA/PTSA newsletter.
• Select impartial, qualified judges. Inform judges of the criteria to be used in evaluating/judging Reflections Program entries. (Refer to the rules for each art category.) Remember to accept the judges' selections of winning entries. IMPORTANT: Do not show student information (name, address, etc.) on entries displayed for judging.
• Make certain each entry meets all judging criteria with regard to size, mounting, etc. See rules at http://www.capta.org/sections/programs/reflections.cfm.
• Please make sure your school has a large art portfolio in which to transport your entries.
• Be sure the Official Entry Form (Forms Section) is completely filled out, signed by both student and parent, and attached securely to each entry, according to the National PTA rules.
• After the program, give each participant a certificate of participation.
• Return entries to students whose work was not selected for the next level of judging.

Recommended Activities

• Hold a Reflections Program workshop or a Family Arts Night on Saturday, after school or at lunch for students to work on their projects and provide supplies. Make sure to include this in your PTA budget.
• Display local entries in school (e.g., hallways, display case, library), at PTA functions, in local community buildings (e.g., libraries, museums, banks, hospitals, nursing homes)
• Organize a special program/reception/assembly where Reflections Program photography and visual arts entries can be displayed, musical composition entries can be performed and literature entries can be read aloud.
• Make all Reflections Program entrants feel special. Consider awarding students with certificates, ribbons, medallions, buttons, plaques, trophies, or other items than encourage future participation in the arts. Send congratulatory letters to students.