PTA Reflections

PTA Reflections is a nationally acclaimed student recognition program to encourage artistic creativity in the classroom and at home. Students of all grades and abilities may participate and explore the arts based on the annual theme.  Participation in the Reflections program requires that one family member, for the student entering the Reflections contest, have a PTA membership for the school year.

Entry Form and Rules: http://bit.ly/3Y9jOnU

Additional information is below.

PTA Reflections Art Program

"Accepting Imperfection" is the theme for 2024-2025.

Every year our students participate in the National Reflections Art Program. Students create original works of art in as many of the categories as they choose: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music, Photography and Visual Art.

Entry Deadline: November 15th, 2024 (midnight)

Entries must be submitted digitally using the entry form linked below. Please keep your original work to advance to District judging. See the entry forms and rules below.

Prizes, certificates and ribbons are given to top entries. Award of Excellence entries move on to Plano ISD Council of PTAs Reflections. From there, a small percentage move on to the Texas PTA (State) and National PTA levels.

All entrants must have a current PTA member in their household for this school year. Click HERE to renew or join the PTA.

Intro to Reflections

how to enter digitally

What Is The Reflections Art Program?

The National PTA Reflections Program is America's oldest and largest arts education program of its kind. Reflections welcomes students of all grade levels (Pre-K to 12th) and abilities to explore and be involved in the arts. Students are encouraged to reflect on the common theme and create original artistic works in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts. 

Key Points:

• There is no limit on the number of entries per student as long as the rules are followed.
• Program Rules: English | Spanish
• Each entry must be accompanied by an official entry form linked above.
• You can type directly into the pdf.
• Reflect the current theme in each entry.
• In the Artist's Statement space provided, explain your art so that the judges understand what you are trying to communicate in your entry.
• Guidelines and requirements must be met or the entry will not be judged (see the program rules above).
• Submit completed entries ONLINE at TBD.
• Entry Deadline: November 15, 2024
• Please email reflections@ottopta.org with any questions.

 What do we win? Is this a contest?

Judging:

• This is not technically a contest. It is truly a program hosted by PTAs (local, council, state and national), run by volunteers, created to give students a forum to explore the arts and expand their interests and talents.
• Entries are judged by local professionals volunteering their time and talents.
• Entries are divided into Art Categories. Judges base decisions on the artist statement explaining how well the concept fits the theme, mastery of the medium (or how well students used the materials) and the overall creativity. *A well developed concept is more important than technique.*
• Students are individually judged on their entry and not in comparison to the other students so there can be multiple awards given within the groups.

Awards:

• Art prizes, certificates and ribbons are given to top entries!

What’s next:

• Local Award of Excellence entries advance to Plano ISD Council of PTAs judging in December every year.
• If the entry was submitted digitally, it will need to be turned in physically for Council judging.
• A small percentage of entries are awarded at Council; then one entry per age and category (no more than 30 total) advance to the Texas PTA State level. From there they may move on to the National PTA level.

   

  To learn more about the judging processes or anything related to the National PTA Reflections Program, visit the Plano ISD Council of PTAs Reflections website.. 

 Reflections Theme Search 2026-2027 (DUE 11/5/24)

Every year, National PTA’s Reflections Program adopts a new theme that students use when creating their artwork. Theme ideas are submitted by students from across the country. The student who submits the winning entry receives $100 and his/her theme is used as the foundation for Reflections in a following year. For additional information, please visit the Texas PTA Reflections Theme Search page. 

For questions, contact:

Katherine Clowes, Arts in Education Chair

reflections@ottopta.org