2007-2008 Reflections Theme: "I Can Make a Difference By..."
Arts Recognition For Students - The Reflections program is an arts recognition and achievement program. Students in preschool through grade 12 participate in the arts areas of literature, musical composition, photography, and visual arts. Age divisions are preschool through grade 2, grades 3-5, grades 6-8, and grades 9-12. The Reflections program provides a venue for students to create and be recognized for original works of art based on a pre-selected theme, while increasing community awareness of the importance of the arts in education.
The goal of the Reflections program is participation, not winning. Although the program follows a "contest" format, winning should not be the emphasis. All children are gifted and talented; the Reflections program can give children who have never tried creating a work of art a chance to experiment and feel good about their work.
Reflections questions?
Contact your Regional Director or the Idaho PTA Reflections Chairman:
Jana Estes
phone: (208)362.8639
e-mail: jana.estes@boiseschools.org
Frequently Asked Questions
Participation
Who is eligible to participate?
Participation in the Reflections Program is open to any student through a local PTA/PTSA in good standing. It is the responsibility of the local unit to determine each student's eligibility in the Reflections Program.
May students participate through a local PTA not affiliated with their school?
State PTAs may adopt policies regarding this situation. National PTA requires only that national entries come from local PTAs in good standing.
May students no longer attending a PTA school still enter the Reflections Program through their former school?
State PTAs establish their own policies regarding this situation. Some states restrict this practice so it is important to contact the state PTA about its participation policy.
May home-schooled students participate in the Reflections Program?
State PTAs may adopt policies regarding this situation. National PTA requires only that national participants come from local PTAs in good standing.
Under what division should developmentally challenged students participate?
National PTA believes that each child with a disability should be provided a free and appropriate public education. Therefore, the Reflections Program at the national level does not have a special division for students with disabilities. National PTA believes it is the right of parents to place their child in the Reflections Program grade division that best reflects the child's developmental age. However, guidelines for state and local Reflections Programs vary. Check with your state PTA to determine its guidelines.
May developmentally or physically challenged students receive help from a parent or teacher?
Rules or policies regarding developmentally or physically challenged students are left up to the discretion of each state chair and may be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Use of copyrighted material
May students use copyrighted material as a source for their artwork?
Use of copyrighted material is not acceptable in visual arts collages. Photo renderings must be from uncopyrighted material.
Literature
May a student use unacceptable language in an entry?
The Reflections Program makes no restriction on content or subject in the literature area. Students who are submitting entries created in a school setting should be mindful of school and/or local or state PTA standards for writing. Judges should be reminded that entries are to be reviewed for creativity, artistic merit, and interpretation of the theme.
Musical Composition
May a student use notation software for creating musical composition scores?
A student may use composition software. Imported MIDI files or files from other sources are not acceptable.
Photography
May a student submit computer-manipulated photos?
National PTA accepts electronic as well as film photos.
Visual Arts
May a student submit computer-generated visual artworks?
National PTA accepts visual arts pieces generated on a computer.
Student Information Protection
How does a PTA protect student information on artwork?
When artwork is on display, label the back of the piece only with the student's name, school, and town. Do not attach the Official Entry Form to the back of the artwork in a display setting. No one outside of PTA should have access to student information. Develop a system to easily match and reattach Official Entry Forms to artwork for returning to the artist or sending on to the next judging level.
For more information, please visit The National PTA's Reflections Page.