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How Does It Work?

Reflect!

Create!

Celebrate!

Students REFLECT on a common theme and use their imagination to CREATE original works of art.

All participants CELEBRATE and share their artistic works with their family, school and community.

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Program Theme Search

An annual theme is determined by the National PTA Reflections Theme Search Contest.

Students may enter their theme idea by November 3rd, 2025 at 12PM. The theme submitted in 2025 is for 2027-2028 school year.

Students must attend a school with a PTA in order to participate. The winner receives $100 award and national recognition.

Students enter DIRECTLY to the State via

A link on the WSPTA Reflections website

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Entry Form

Complete before distribution - >

Note: “Local PTA ID” = National PTA ID #

Council PTA is a number, as is Region and State PTA

(we don't use 'district' in WA)

Student Information - >

Student & Parent Signatures - >� 2025-2026: These may be typed

Submission Category & Division - >

*new name Accessible Arts Division

Title & Details of Submission - >

Artist Statement - >

Reminder: this is part of the art,

do not modify or correct

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Dance Choreography

File must not exceed 5 min. and 1000MG/1 GB in size.

Accepted formats: MOV, AVI, or MP4.

Local/Council Levels may accept uploads or actual USB drives as they see fit.
WSPTA will only be accepting virtual submissions.

Solo and ensemble works of all dance styles are accepted. Entrant must be the choreographer and may also be the performer, or one of the performers. If background music is used, cite it on the entry form.

Popular TikTok Dances are NOT original choreography and will be disqualified. No visual effect allowed.

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Film Production

File must not exceed 5 min. and 1000MG/1 GB in size.

Accepted formats: MOV, AVI or MP4. Use of a PowerPoint slideshow is prohibited

Local/Council Levels may accept uploads or actual USB drives as they see fit.
WSPTA will only be accepting virtual submissions.

Accepted short film styles include: Animation, narrative, documentary, experimental or media presentation. Entrant must be the screenwriter, cinematographer, editor and producer. If background music is used, cite it on the entry form.

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Literature

Must not exceed 2,000 words.
May be handwritten or typed.
Acceptable format: single sided paper or PDF
Local/Council Levels may accept uploads or actual submissions as they see fit.
WSPTA will only be accepting virtual submissions.

Accepted forms of fiction and nonfiction include: Prose, poetry, reflective essay, screen play and play script, narrative, and short story. Entrants may write in their primary language as long as an interpretive English translation is also attached. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited.

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Music Composition

AUDIO

File must not exceed 5 min. and 1000MG/1 GB in size.
Accepted formats: MP3 and WAV.

NOTATION

Only required for middle and high school divisions.
Score/tablature in PDF format or on paper.
*In place of a notated score a written reflective statement that provides a musically technical explanation of how the piece was composed (100 words or less).
Local/Council Levels may accept uploads or actual submissions as they see fit.
WSPTA will only be accepting virtual submissions.

All music styles and combinations of instrumentation are accepted. Entrant must be the composer and may also be the performer, or one of the performers. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited.

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Photography

Must be no smaller than 3x5 inches and no larger than 8x10 inches.
Accepted print formats: Mounted on mat or poster board no larger than 11x14 inches
Accepted digital formats: JPEG, JPG, and PNG
Framed prints are not accepted.
*Include one digital image of artwork with your submission (Accepted file formats: JPEG, JPG, PNG)

DIGITAL IMAGE

*Dimensions must be at least 640x960 (pixels) and 300 dpi (resolution)
Accepted file formats: JPEG, JPG, PNG

Local/Council Levels my accept uploads or actual submission as they see fit. WSPTA will only be accepting virtual submissions.

Photo must be a single print/digital image. Collages and collections of photos should be entered in the Visual Arts category. Entrant must be the photographer and may use a variety of digital editing techniques including but not limited to, multiple exposure, negative sandwich and photogram.

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Visual Arts

2D WORKS

Mounted on sturdy material.
No larger than 24x30x½ inches with matting.
No framed entries or stretched canvas.
No loose materials.
Must include a digital image of artwork
Acceptable formats: JPEG, JPG, and PNG

3D WORKS (WA State IS doing this category, digital only)

Consists of (3) three digital images of artwork at different angles, mounted on sturdy material no larger than 24x30x½ inches with matting.
Make sure background in photos is clear of clutter, with plenty of light on artwork.

Works of both fine and design arts are accepted, including but not limited to:

architecture (2D/3D), carpentry, ceramics, collages, photographic collages (multiple photos cut/pasted), 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.

Reproductions or enlargements of other artwork are not accepted.

WSPTA will only be accepting virtual submissions. Local/Council Levels may accept uploads or actual submissions as they see fit.

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Promote the Accessible Arts Division�

WSPTA (not National) separates into 2 age divisions!

Elementary PK-5th

Secondary 6^th-12th

Accessible Arts

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Accessible Arts Division

This Accessible Arts Division welcomes students from all grades and offers non-artistic accommodations for students to participate fully in PTA Reflections. Student recognition and awards are announced as part of the Accessible Arts Division. WSPTA breaks the Accessible Arts into 2 divisions: Elementary (PK-5^th) and Secondary (6^th-12^th grade)

ACCOMODATIONS

Non-artistic accommodations (e.g. adaptive technology; transcribing; holding a camera)
Assistants must refrain from being involved in the artistic process (e.g. developing an artist statement, choreography, music lyrics, storyboards, etc.)

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

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Accessible Arts Division

Tips:

Find out how many Accessible Arts entries you are allowed – it will be in addition to other divisions.
Reach out to Special Education staff/faculty.
Ideas for support:

Have theme-related props for photography.
Tablets – Photo Booth app for photography or film production.
Artist Statement –

Use visual word or sentence cards.
Ask student to tell a story about what they created.

Celebrate their success.

Highlight students and share their creations!

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Council Submission

Each local PTA is allowed up to 20 entries from the 6 primary categories.

Plus up to 6 entries from the Accessible Arts category.

Scoring: Interpretation (40%), Creativity (30%) and Technique (30%)

Deadline: November 25th by 11:59PM PST

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Helpful Hints

Take a great photo of the art by laying it flat and photographing from above.
Find an area with lots of indirect sunlight
Lay down a plain table cloth to make the art pop
Give yourself room to crop
GOOGLE “Take a photograph of art with a phone” to find tons of guidance
A camera can be used too, even better with a tripod.

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Helpful Hints

Turn on the “Grid” on your phone (helps you tell when your phone is level)
Crop your picture with the “up” toward the top.
Reminder, the art may or may not be square, so give yourself grace!
GOOGLE “take a photograph of art with a phone” – tons of guidance

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Timeline Overview

September-November 2025: Local PTA program.

November 3, 2025: Due date for Theme Search Contest.

November 25, 2025: Due date for local PTAs to turn in to their council.

January 14, 2026: Council Celebration at CRC, sign up for time slots closer to the event.

January 14, 2026: WSPTA due date for councils and local PTAs without a council.

March 2026: WSPTA announces state finalists.

April 2026: WSPTA Annual Recognition Ceremony for state finalists.

May 1, 2026: National PTA announces national finalists.

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Everett Council Key Dates

November 25, 2025: Everett Council Turn-in Date

PER PTA: 20 (+ 6 Accessible Arts) pieces TOTAL
Any mix of Category (can be all visual arts, e.g.)

MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE TO: Council’s Submission Portal

https://tinyurl.com/yc233h4p
When naming the file to upload onto the submission portal, please follow this format:

ArtsCategory_Division_ArtworkTitle_phonenumber_StudentInitials. For example: Photography_Primary_MyDog_4253371234_AGM.jpg
Entry form - ArtsCategory_Division_ArtworkTitle_StudentInitials_SchoolName. For example: Photography_Primary_MyDog_AGM_Gateway.jpg

MAY ALSO BE TURNED IN PHYSICALLY (Nov 25)

PTA office at the CRC between the hours of 11AM - 3PM
Special arrangements by request: reflections@everettptsacouncil.org

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Everett Council Key Dates

Art Display Dec 4 – Jan 14 at CRC

ALL ART will be displayed, regardless of turn in avenue
Virtual art will be printed on plain paper if physical art is not submitted
Join us Dec 3 from 9AM - 6PM for the Art Hang Party

https://tinyurl.com/4es8xh3h

January 14, 2026: Everett Council Celebration!

Community Resource Center (CRC) – 3900 Broadway, Everett WA
Two Time Slots - sign-up via link: https://tinyurl.com/2c92d6t7
Who’s invited?

All PTA Leaders & Chairs
Students whose was forwarded to Council
Their Families and Friends - so pretty much anyone
School admin and District staff
Note: This is different from the WA State Celebration, which is reserved for the folks whose art is recognized in the top 3 for the state.