PTA Reflections�Cultural Arts Program

The Founding of Reflections: Mary Lou Anderson

Mary Lou Anderson served as Colorado PTA President 1964-1966.

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She started the program in Colorado in 1967 and it was adopted by National PTA in 1969.

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For 52 years it has continued to grow, gaining importance as our PTA/PTSAs are called on to support the arts in our public schools.

What is Reflections?

The Reflections Program is a national arts recognition and achievement program for students.

The Reflections Program provides an excellent opportunity for students of all ages to:

• Unleash their creative talents and be inspired
• Express themselves imaginatively in their artwork
• Experience the joy and fun of making art
• Tap into critical thinking skills to create art inspired by the annual theme
• Receive positive recognition for their original works of art
• Enhances arts appreciation

Reflections also increases community awareness of the importance of the arts in education.

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Basic rules

• Artwork must be the original work of the student
• All artwork must be based on the Reflections theme�2024-25 Theme:

“Accepting Imperfection”

• All rules, forms, promotional materials are available on the CO PTA website

Students enter work in six categories

Students create a work of art based on the theme in one

of these categories:

• Visual Arts – Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Jewelry, Textiles, etc
• Photography – Film or Digital
• Music Composition – Instrumental or Vocal
• Film Production – Live Action, Documentary, Animation
• Dance Choreography – Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary
• Literature – Short Story, Essay, Poem

Your school can decide how many of these categories �you want to use.

Students enter in five grade divisions

• Primary (Pre-K – 2^nd grade)
• Intermediate (3^rd – 5^th grade)
• Middle School (6^th – 8^th grade)
• High School (9^th – 12^th grade)
• Special Artist
• All grades
• Students with disabilities who receive services under IDEA or Section 504
• See rules for details on criteria and accommodations; parents & students should decide whether to enter under Grade Division or Special Artist Division

Running your program

Setting up your program

• You must run the program through a PTA in good standing
• Set your deadlines appropriately, leaving time for judging, display, and celebrations
• Register your school with El Paso Council PTA (form on website)
• Deadline to turn in entries: November 21, 2024

Tyler Pratt

Chinook Trail MS PTA

Promote your program

• Enlist teacher help to promote the program to their students
• Ready-to-Print Posters and other materials available on the National PTA site.
• Have rules and entry forms available at the school or on your school’s website (you can link to CO PTA page)
• Send information home with students
• Use school newspapers, Facebook, announcements, PTA emails

Laura Fajardo

Doherty HS PTSA

ALL forms, rules, promotional materials, etc. are available: all you do is plug-in, download, and GO…..!

Receiving Your Entries

Virtual Training and Q&A available for school/Reflections leaders

• September16, 2024 6:30-7:30

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Students turn-in entries to their school where they are judged and celebrated. Top 5 entries in each arts category advance to El Paso Council PTA for judging and winning entries continue to advance to state and national judging.

Celebrations:

• El Paso Council Awards Ceremony:

mid-January, place TBD

• State Awards Ceremony: mid-March

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Turning In Entries/Judging/Celebrations

resources

• El Paso Council Reflections:�epcpta.org/reflections-.html

Email: epcptareflections@gmail.com

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• Colorado State Reflections (for all other council, region or state questions):�Website: copta.org Click “Programs”, then “PTA Reflections”

Email: reflections@copta.org�

• National PTA Reflections:�www.pta.org Click “Programs”, then “Reflections”

https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections�