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REFLECT on the theme. CREATE art. BE RECOGNIZED!

The Reflections Arts Recognition Program is a national arts recognition and achievement program for students. Since 1969, over 10 million students across the nation have taken part in this popular PTA program.

The Reflection's theme for the 2016-17 school year is "What Is Your Story?" Reflect on the theme and create an original work of art in the category of dance choreography, film production, music composition, literature, photography or visual arts. Fill out a PTA Reflections Entry Form today (En Español) and return to the front office. The deadline for submissions is MONDAY, OCTOBER 3.

Important: Please read the FULL rules for the category you are interested in. Submissions will be disqualified if they do not meet the necessary requirements. Each entry must be the original work of one student only. You can enter as many times as you want in as many categories as you would like. The Special Artist division includes entry in all 6 categories.

ABRIDGED RULES
Special Artist (full rules):
  • Student Eligibility. The National PTA Special Artist Division is an option for students with disabilities who receive services under IDEA or Section 504 to have the opportunity and accommodations they may need in order to participate fully in the program. The Special Artist Division offers modified rules and guidelines to ensure that every student has the chance to be part of the National PTA Reflections® program.
  • 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

Photography (full rules/En Espanol):
  • A photography entry must be an original black-and-white or color image or a group of images printed as one photo , where the student is the photographer
  • MUST BE MOUNTED or MATTED on cardboard mat, poster board, or other sturdy material 
  • Must not exceed 11 x 14 INCLUDING THE MOUNTING OR MATTING

Dance Choreography (full rules/En Espanol):
  • A Dance entry must be an original choreographed dance composition where the choreographer may be a performer, but does not have to be.
  • Use of copyrighted music in dance choreography is acceptable when the title, composer and performer of any music in the submission are cited on the student entry form. 
  • Must not exceed 5 minutes and recorded on a DVD ONLY; submit 2 DVD’s saved as an AVI, MOV, MPG, MPEG, WMV or FLV file, NOT a DVD movie 
  • Costumes are not necessary, however, if used, choreographer must also create the costumes 
  • Submit in a brown envelope with entry form in pocket protector that is stapled to the front

Visual Arts (full rules/En Espanol):
  • A visual arts entry must be an original print, drawing, painting, collage, photographic collage, metal etching or punch work, fiber work, or computer generated
  • Participant's name must not appear anywhere on the entry itself
  • MUST BE MOUNTED OR MATTED and not to exceed 3/8 inch in thickness 
  • Must not exceed 24 x 30 INCLUDING THE MOUNTING OR MATTING 
  • No 3-dimensional (noodles, beans) art work is accepted, including glass or wood 
  • Laminating is strongly discouraged

Musical Composition (full rules/En Espanol):
  • A musical composition entry may be voice, instruments, or a combination of voice and instruments.
  • The composer is not required to perform his/her composition. 
  • Must not exceed 5 minutes and recorded on CD ONLY; submit 2 CD’s saved as a .mp3 fi le, not a CD/DVD movie 
  • Middle/Junior and Senior Entries must include notation (including traditional or electronic) on 8-1/2 x 11 paper 
  • Submit in a brown envelope with the entry form in a pocket protector stapled to the front

Film Production (full rules/En Espanol):
  • A Film entry must be an original work of fiction, non - fiction; with or without sound
  • Can be Animation, Narrative, Documentary, Experimental, or a Media Presentation 
  • Student must be the director, screenwriter, and cameraperson; and storyboarding and editing must also be done by the student 
  • Must not exceed 5 minutes and recorded on DVD ONLY; submit 2 DVD’s saved as an AVI, MOV, MPG, MPEG, WMV or FLV file, NOT as a DVD movie. NO POWERPOINTS accepted. 
  • Submit in a brown envelope with the entry form in a pocket protector stapled to the front

Literature (full rules/En Espanol):
  • Literature entries may be works of fiction or nonfiction, prose, poetry and drama
  • Entries must not exceed 2,000 words and Can be handwritten or typed (one sided only) 
  • Must be on 8-1/2 x 11 paper, ONLY , with 1 original and 2 copies 
  • DO NOT mount, mat or bind into a book 
  • Students for whom English is not their first language may submit literature entries in their own language. An interpretive translation in English must accompany the entry 
  • Submit in a manila envelope with the entry form stapled at the top only to the outside front cover

Questions? Contact Kristin Dabson at (404)578-4649 or kdabson@gmail.com.
Questions? Contact Kristin Dabson at (404) 578-4649 or kdabson@gmail.com.

General Entry Requirements

En Espanol. All participants must also follow Arts Category and Division Rules.
  • Only new pieces of artwork inspired by the 2016-2017 theme: “What Is Your Story?”may be submitted.
  • Each entry must be the original work of one student only. An adult may not alter the creative integrity of a student’s work. Because the program is designed to encourage and recognize each student’s individual creativity, help from an adult or collaboration with other students is not allowed except in the Special Artist Division. Only one student may be recognized as the award recipient for each entry. Other individuals may appear in or perform a student’s work, but the work itself must be the creative product of one student only. See the specific Arts Category Rules for details.
  • Each entry must contain a title and all entries must include an artist statement. The artist statement communicates what inspired the work, how it relates to the theme, and the content of the work. The statement must include at least one sentence, but may not exceed 100 words.
  • Use of copyrighted material is prohibited, except for recorded music in dance choreography and film production entries. Plagiarized entries will be disqualified. Use of PowerPoint presentations are prohibited because most graphic elements are copyrighted.