Intro to Reflections

2025 - 2026

Point of Contact

Christine Clerc, Nebraska PTA Programs Chair

• Member of Wake Robin Elementary PTA in Bellevue since 2021
• Programs Chair and Assistant Legislative Chair for Nebraska PTA since 2023
• Why I PTA!
• Email: programs@nebraskapta.org
• For more general questions or information visit our website at www.nebraskapta.org or email board@nebraskapta.org

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Grant Opportunity!

Local PTAs can apply for funding for National PTA programs (including Reflections) and capacity-building opportunities

• Over 650 PTAs will receive $1,500-$5,000 in funding from National PTA �
• No grant-writing experience necessary. �
• New this year! Any high school PTSA/PTA in good standing is guaranteed funding if they apply by Sept. 24.

�The deadline to submit applications is Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. PTAs can learn more and apply at PTA.org/Grants. Reach out to Programs@PTA.org if you have any questions about National PTA grants!

Maintain Compliance & Good Standing

In order to participate in the Reflections program, your PTA must maintain compliance and be in good standing:

• New officers updated in Givebacks by June 30
• Insurance, financial review, and member-approved budget are due by Sept 30
• Proof of filing taxes by Oct 31
• New bylaws for this year due by Dec 1
• Membership should be reported monthly in Givebacks and dues paid

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Forms may be found at www.nebraskapta.org/forms

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Givebacks is FREE to use for local PTA units. Sign in or create an account: https://npo.givebacks.com/users/sign_in?to=%2Fdashboard

What is Reflections?

• National PTA program offered for more than 50 years!�
• Art contest wherein students submit art in response to a student created theme.�
• This year’s theme “I Belong!” was created by Ben Morgan, a then 6^th grader from Lewis and Clark Middle School PTSA in Boise, Idaho�
• Last year’s theme was “Accepting Imperfections”

“Brain Party” by Isaiah Meadows

Art Categories & Judging Divisions

Judging Divisions:

• Primary (Pre-K - Grade 2)
• Intermediate (Grades 3-5)
• Middle School (Grades 6-8)
• High School (Grades 9-12)
• Accessible Arts (All grades welcome)

Students who identify as having a disability and may receive services under IDEA or ADA: Section 504 may enter in the Accessible Arts Division or grade division most closely aligned to their functional abilities.

Visual Arts

NEPTA will only be accepting submissions in the Visual Arts category this year as we work to reboot the program!�

Visual Arts defined:

Visual Arts are any art forms that are visual in nature, ie, architecture (2D/3D), carpentry, ceramics, collages (combined non-photographic and/or photographic elements), digital art and graphics (drawings/paintings/illustration), crafts, design, dioramas, drawing, fiberwork, jewelry, kites, metal etching/punch work, mobiles, painting, printmaking, sculpture and wind chimes.

Getting Started

Find a volunteer to chair the Reflections program at your schools and/or set up a committee��Assemble a panel of judges (any number) that will pick winners in each age division

• Judging will be blind, meaning judges should not have access to any student identifying information
• Volunteer judges can be staff or parents from the school, but you might also consider seeking out local professionals in the community

Register your PTA to participate. Registration open until February 1, 2026

• https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/25-26Registration
• https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections/startyourprogram

Plan Out Your Program

Use resources available at pta.org and nebraskapta.org under the Programs and Reflections tabs

• https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections/startyourprogram�
• PTA Leader Checklist�
• Local PTA Leader’s Guide to Reflections: Five Steps to Program Success

Plan and outline how the program will be run at your school

Promote the program within your school staff!

• Ask art or core teachers to consider integrating the program into their curriculum

Student Participation

Promote the program among families and students

• Promotional Materials from pta.org�
• National Arts in Education Week (September 14-20)
• National Arts and Humanities Month (each October)

Students create art in response to the “I Belong” theme

• Things to think about: What does belonging mean to you? How do you know when you belong somewhere? Why is it important to feel like you belong? How does it affect your happiness? �
• Students must create new, original artwork
• Entries must be the original work of one student only

Student Crafts an Entry

Student participant/guardian should register with National PTA

• https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/25-26Registration

Visual Arts Category Guidelines

• https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections/craft-an-entry#visual
• 2D artwork must not exceed 24x30 inches, including matting. Paper entries must be mounted on sturdy material. Framed artwork is not accepted.
• 3D artwork containing loose materials and/or requiring assembly/repair from transporting is not accepted.
• Entries may not be exclusively created with generative tools (e.g., AI) and/or composed exclusively of elements generated or provided by the technology platform.
• Plagiarized entries will be disqualified. Use of copyrighted material is not acceptable.

Student Submits Artwork to Local PTA

Student Entry Packet includes fillable submission form

• Title and Artist Statement are required
• The Artist Statement is 10-100 words describing how the art aligns with the theme and any important details about the piece. (I think of this kind of like the blurbs you see with artwork at museums.)�
• If digital technology is used, entrants must use the “Additional Details” field to provide a brief description of the tools and method used in the creation process, including any generative elements (10 to 50 words).�
• 2D artwork (e.g., painting) must include at least 1 digital image of artwork for judging and 3D artwork (e.g., sculpture) must include at least 3 digital images of artwork at different angles for judging
• Accepted formats: JPEG, JPG, PNG.

Local PTA Collects & Reviews Artwork

Reflections Chair/Committee Collects Student Artwork and Entry Forms

• Set your submission deadline for students about one month before the deadline to submit to the state for judging (February 1st). I would suggest right before or right after your district’s holiday break.
• Collect 1) physical entries of student art submissions, and 2) physical and/or digital versions of the Student Entry Form, and 3) images of their art
• Consider using a copy of our Google Form (coming soon) as an option to collect submissions and simplify advancing winners to Nebraska State PTA

Prepare Artwork for Review (Review Packet, pages 1-3)

• Organize entries into Category (*we’re only doing Visual Arts this year) and Division
• Verify entries are eligible based on National PTA guidelines
• Ready art submissions for online or in-person review
• Remove/hide any identifying info an assign the submission an entry number
• Provide the Entry Number, Title, Artist Statement and digital copies for judges

Judging Process at Local PTA

Your panel of judges will review the qualifying art submissions

• Review Packet, pages 4-6

Entries are judged on three criteria: 1) Interpretation of Theme (40 pts), 2) Creativity (30 pts), 3) Technical Skill (30 pts)

• Rubric used for scoring on page 5 of the Review Packet
• If two entries are tied, the entry with the higher score for interpretation of theme receives more recognition
• Judges will share their scoring with the organizers who should double check all entries

Assign Student Winners

• You may choose to award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each Division, but only the 1st place winner will be submitted to the state for additional judging
• It’s up to your PTA how you would like to grant awards: ie, ribbon, certificate, etc.

Make Sure to Celebrate!

Different ways to consider celebrating that works for your PTA

• PTA/school website, newsletter, social media
• Awards ribbons, certificates, and/or prizes (potentially from donations from local businesses)
• Showcase submission and winners at PTA or school board meetings, or host a special event with PTA’s Reflections Celebration Guide

Thank those volunteers and any people or businesses that helped support the program!

Submit Winners to State PTA

Communicate with Student Artists

• Return art submissions to students after judging and showcase, and no later than the last day of school

Submit your winners for each Division to Nebraska State PTA for addition judging including PTAs across the state!

• Google Form (coming soon) where you will input entries for the winner of each Division, including an electronic file for their Entry Form, and the required images of their artwork (1 image for 2D, and 3 images for 3D)
• Consider using a copy/edited version of the Google form as an option to collect submissions through your local PTA so make later submission easier

Deadline for submissions to Nebraska PTA is February 1st

NE PTA to Review & Select State Winners!

All local PTA winners should be submitted to Nebraska PTA by February 1st

• Reminder: Google form coming soon for submission

Nebraska will review and judge submissions and pick winners in each Division��We will advance the 1 winner from each Division and 2 of the top scores from the Accessible Arts Division to the National Level!

National Review, Judging, & Awards

National PTA will conduct 2 rounds of blind review by an independent panel of art professionals.��They will announce the national winner on May 1st!

Awards and Prizes:

• Merit Award: Bronze Medal; Certificate of Merit; Work featured in the virtual exhibition�
• Award of Excellence: $200 Young Artist Scholarship; Silver Medal; Certificate of Excellence; Work featured in the virtual exhibition�
• Outstanding Interpretation Award: $800 Young Artist Scholarship; Gold Medal; Certificate of Outstanding Interpretation; Work featured in the virtual exhibition; $200 Prize for Local PTA Unit

Recap

Point of Contact:

• Christine, Nebraska PTA Programs Chair
• programs@nebraskapta.org

Important Resources:

• pta.org/Reflections
• nebraskapta.org/Reflections�

Questions unrelated to reflections can be directed to board@nebraskapta.org

Questions? �

• Type in the Chat
• “Raise Your Hand” at the bottom of the Zoom screen

Thank You!

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programs@nebraskapta.org