New York State PTA 2014-2015 · 2014-09-15 · New York State PTA Local PTA – Reflections Chair...

Reflections Chair Guide

New York State PTA

2014-2015

Caroline Johnson “An Artists Dream”

H a n n a h

Me t z Jaclyn Portogallo “Believe, Dream, Inspire”

NewYorkStatePTALocalPTA–ReflectionsChairGuide

©NYS PTA® 1 August 2014

Dear Reflections Chair,

The Reflections Guide was written with you and your Reflections needs in mind. As the Chair, you have the opportunity to enhance arts for all children within your school community by participating in the National PTA Reflections Program.

Whether you are an experienced Reflections Chair or a beginner, this guide will help you fulfill your commitment to running Reflections. The guide will explain the tasks and responsibilities associated with being a Reflections Chair. The following pages will help you understand how to run a successful program.

Take full advantage of the Reflections Program and all it has to offer the students in your school. Use the program to recognize and celebrate EVERY child’s talent, courage and artistic expression. Create a school environment immersed in art and celebrate all it has to offer.

One of the most important tips to remember is that a Reflections Chair is not expected to know‐it‐all or go‐it alone. Do yourself a favor; review the guide and all the rules carefully. Surround yourself with a team dedicated to success, delegate tasks and seek expert advice.

On behalf of every child, I thank you for choosing to be the PTA Reflections Chair. Your choice to run the Reflections Program will surely make a difference for all children, enhancing their lives.

Warmest Regards,

Sarah Henris Reflections Specialist New York State PTA [email protected]

IMPORTANT!!!

Throughout this document the phrase “Local PTA” may be referenced. In NYS a Local PTA is a PTA UNIT.

EXAMPLE: the Local PTA Participation Form is the Participation form to be completed by the

Unit Reflections Chair.



Table of Contents

1. National PTA Reflections: Introduction ......................................................................................... 3

About the Reflections Program ....................................................................................................... 3

Program Support ............................................................................................................................. 3

Reflections and Family‐School Partnerships ................................................................................... 4

2. Things to Know Before You Begin ................................................................................................. 5

Art Categories and Grade Divisions ................................................................................................. 5

2014‐2015 Theme: The World Would Be A Better Place If… ........................................................... 6

Reflections Theme Search Contest .................................................................................................. 6

Local PTA Unit Eligibility .................................................................................................................. 7

Student Entry Requirements ........................................................................................................... 7

Maximum Number of Entries Allowed ............................................................................................ 8

Online Registration System ............................................................................................................. 8

3. Reflections Responsibilities .......................................................................................................... 9

Local Reflections Chair: ................................................................................................................... 9

4. Organizing Your Team ................................................................................................................ 10

Tips for Recruiting Reflections Committee Volunteers ................................................................. 10

Tips for Recruiting Volunteer Judges ............................................................................................. 10

5. Promoting the Program .............................................................................................................. 11

Rules, Forms and Deadlines .......................................................................................................... 11

Promoting Your PTA’s Reflections Program .................................................................................. 12

Reaching Students, Teachers and the Community ....................................................................... 13

Sample Messages to Share ............................................................................................................ 14

6. Collecting and Judging ................................................................................................................ 15

Collecting Entries ........................................................................................................................... 15

Addressing Student Ineligibility ..................................................................................................... 15

Judging Entries ............................................................................................................................... 15

7. Advancing Entries ....................................................................................................................... 17

Reporting ....................................................................................................................................... 17

Advancing Entries to the Region Level .......................................................................................... 17

8. Celebrations and Awards ............................................................................................................ 18

Recognizing Students: ................................................................................................................... 18

9. Wrap‐up and Evaluate ................................................................................................................ 20

Recognize Volunteers .................................................................................................................... 20

Return Student Artwork ................................................................................................................ 20

Evaluate Your Program .................................................................................................................. 20



Webinar Training

National PTA will host monthly

webinars, training PTAs to use

the Reflections Online System.

For a schedule, visit:

www.nyspta.org/YourPTA/You

rPTA_Reflections.cfm

1. NationalPTAReflections:IntroductionAll children deserve opportunities to explore and be involved in the arts. The arts play a critical role in student

success, in school and beyond.

AbouttheReflectionsProgramAs a Local Leader of this program, you play a critical role in promoting exploration of arts and culture in the

home, school and community. Familiarize yourself with this Guide along with the rules and forms provided by

NYS PTA at: www.nyspta.org/YourPTA/YourPTA_Reflections.cfm.

The National PTA Reflections program is PTA’s cornerstone arts program. It was developed in 1969 by Colorado

State PTA President Mary Lou Anderson to encourage students to explore their talents and express themselves.

Since then, the Reflections Program has inspired millions of students to reflect on a specific theme and create

original artwork. Each year, students in grades pre‐K through 12 bring the Reflections theme to life through

dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts.

Students submit their artwork to Local PTAs for initial judging. In New York, winning entries advance from the

Local PTA to the Region, State and National levels

ProgramSupportYour Reflections Network is a support system comprised of Regional, State and National PTA Leaders eager to

answer your questions and share best practices.

Region PTA – The Region Reflections Chair (RRC) is responsible for the overall implementation of Reflections in

your particular region. The RRC’s main responsibility is to supervise the collection, judging, and advancement of

region level Reflections entries. Another key role of the RRC is to communicate with the units, particularly on

how and when to submit entries to the region level. Some RRCs may even provide Reflections Program training

to PTA units within their region.

New York State PTA – The New York State PTA Reflections Specialist is responsible for the overall

implementation of the Reflections Program in New York State. The Reflections Specialist’s main responsibilities

are to provide training to Region and Local PTAs, as well as support and guidance throughout the year.

MaryLouAndersonArtsEnhancementGrantThe National PTA Mary Lou Anderson Grant Program provides matching‐

dollar funding to local PTAs to support in‐school and after‐school arts

enhancement programs in local communities. PTAs serving at‐risk student

populations are particularly encouraged to apply. Applications will be

available at www.pta.org/Reflections on January 5, 2015 and due Friday,

March 13, 2015.

For more information, visit www.pta.org/Reflections.



ReflectionsandFamily‐SchoolPartnershipsResearch shows that family involvement supports student success. Students with involved parents are more

likely to:

Earn higher grades and pass their classes

Attend school regularly and have better social skills

Go on to post‐secondary education

The arts—and the National PTA Reflections program, in particular—can be a valuable tool for building stronger

partnerships in your school community. Consider all the ways you can apply the following PTA National

Standards for Family‐School Partnerships to your Reflections activities:

Standard 1 – Welcoming All Families into the School Community. Promote PTA Reflections to all

families in the school. Emphasize that every child’s participation is valued, and offer tips for how parents

can support their children’s artistic expression.

Standard 2 – Communicating Effectively. Share Reflections information and reminders through a variety

of ways, including your school or PTA website, newsletters, PTA meetings and more.

Standard 3 – Supporting Student Success. Emphasize that PTA Reflections is designed to support

students’ learning by enhancing quality arts education. Entries can be created in school, and the

program can be used to support curriculum.

Standard 4 – Speaking Up for Every Child. Use PTA Reflections to rally families to speak up for the value

of arts education—to work with teachers, school administrators and legislators to keep the arts in your

school, despite budget cuts.

Standard 5 – Sharing Power. Give students a voice by encouraging them to enter the annual PTA Theme

Search Contest. Invite parents and caregivers to volunteer with the PTA Reflections Program, and

welcome their ideas.

Standard 6 – Collaborating with Community. Seek community partners to support PTA Reflections with

prizes and exhibit space.

For more information

about PTA’s National Standards for Family‐School

Partnerships, including an implementation guide and

assessment forms, visit the National PTA website:

www.pta.org/FamilyEngagement.



2. ThingstoKnowBeforeYouBeginAs Unit Reflections Chair, you should know the requirements that make your PTA eligible to participate in

Reflections: the General Participation rules, the Arts Category Rules, new program enhancements, and the

student entry requirements (including originality and use of copyrighted materials).

ArtCategoriesandGradeDivisionsStudents enter the National PTA Reflections program through one of six art categories and one of five grade

divisions. Your PTA may choose to participate in all or some of the art categories.

The ART CATEGORIES are:

Dance Choreography: The student must be the choreographer.

Film Production: The student must be the director, screenwriter and cameraperson.

Literature: The student must be the author.

Music Composition: The student must be the composer.

Photography: The student must be the photographer.

Visual Arts: The student must be the artist.

The DIVISIONS are:

Primary: Preschool – Grade 2

Intermediate: Grades 3 – 5

Middle: Grades 6 – 8

High School: Grades 9 – 12

Special Artist: Ungraded

Students with Disabilities may participate in the National PTA

Reflections program in one of two ways.

Option 1: The Special Artist Division is an optional division of the Reflections Program, accepting

students in all grades, for students whose physical, cognitive or mental health challenges meet

guidelines set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Qualifying students create their own artwork

but may receive non‐artistic accommodation and assistance from an adult when appropriate.

Option 2: Students who qualify for the Special Artist Division may choose instead to enter in one of the

four grade divisions (primary, intermediate, middle or high school). In this case, students follow all

general rules and arts category rules, but may submit their entries in the grade division most closely

aligned to their cognitive or functional abilities. These students are recognized and awarded as part of

the general student population, without regard to special needs or challenges.

CHECK IT OUT!2014‐2015 National PTA

Special Artist Division Rules:

www.nyspta.org/pdf/YourP

TA/Reflections/14‐15‐

Special‐Artist‐Division‐

Rules.pdf



2014‐2015Theme:TheWorldWouldBeABetterPlaceIf…The 2014‐2015 PTA Reflections theme is The World Would Be A Better Place If…

Students are encouraged to create works of art to bring to life the current theme in the following art categories:

Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Musical Composition, Photography and Visual Arts.

ReflectionsThemeSearchContestNational PTA sponsors a Reflections Theme Search Contest annually. This year, students will submit theme ideas

for consideration in the 2016‐2017 National PTA Reflections Theme Search Contest. The overall winner will

receive $100 from National PTA and recognition at the 119th Annual PTA Convention. More information about

the Theme Search Contest packet and form can be found on the NYS PTA Reflections webpage, or ask your PTA

President, or click: Theme Search Packet.

As a Unit Reflections Chair, encourage students to submit an idea!

1. Promote the PTA Reflections Program Theme Search

1. Distribute the 2016‐2017 Theme Search Entry form

2. Collect and mail the completed Theme Search forms to:

New York State PTA

One Wembley Court

Albany, NY 12205

POSTMARK Deadline: October 17, 2014

LEAVE TIMEto collect and mail the theme search

entry forms.

The World Would Be A Better Place If…

This theme was submitted through the Reflections Theme Search Contest by

Mercedes Messer of Puyallup, Washington.

When asked what inspired her theme, Mercedes said, “Our world, because I care about it

and wanted to know other kids’ ideas on how we could make it a better place.”

Mercedes is excited to see and hear what other students come up with when they reflect on

the theme, especially in the music composition category. Mercedes believes Reflections

encourages her to be herself and is inspired by the whimsical glass artist, Dale Chihuly.



LocalPTAUnitEligibilityOnly Local PTAs in good standing may participate in the National PTA Reflections program. There are three criteria for determining if your unit is in good standing:

1. Bylaws are valid and up‐to‐date; 2. Membership dues are paid; 3. Insurance premiums are paid.

If you are not sure if your PTA is in good standing, talk with your PTA President. If he/she is not sure, contact

your Region PTA. *NOTE – Parent groups not affiliated with National PTA are not eligible to host this program.

StudentEntryRequirementsA student may develop their art entry inside or outside of the school.

All student entries must:

Be the original work of one student

Be created expressly for the Reflections program – inspired by the current year’s theme

Adhere to the rules – This includes the General Student Participation rules and the arts category rules:

Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography and Visual Arts.

Be accompanied by a completed and signed Student Entry Form – For PTAs using only the online form,

a printed version must be included with the student art entry.

Include a title and an artist statement – putting into words his/her inspiration for the work and how it

relates to the theme. The statement must describe the content and include at least one sentence, but

not exceed 100 words.

OriginalityEach entry must be the original work of one student only. An adult may not help or alter the creative integrity of

a student’s work.*NOTE – The Special Artist division is the only exception to this rule.

Other individuals may appear in or perform a student’s work, but the work itself – the dance choreography, film

production (i.e., screenplay, camera work and directing), or musical composition (i.e., written score and any

lyrics) – must be the creative product of one student only. Collaboration with other students is not allowed. Only

the student artist will be recognized as the award recipient for each entry.

UseofCopyrightedMaterialsUse of copyrighted material is prohibited in the literature, musical composition, visual arts and photography

categories. This includes the use of copyrighted cartoon characters, copyrighted material from the internet,

advertisements or advertising ideas, musical themes from existing copyrighted compositions, copyrighted

recorded music, copyrighted photographs or stock images.

Use of copyrighted music in dance choreography and film production entries is acceptable when the title,

composer and performer of any music in the submission are cited on the Student Entry Form.



UseofCopyrightedMaterials(continued)Be sure to check the “Copyright” section in each Arts Category Rules pages.

Photography, visual art and film productions may include public places, well‐known products, trademarks or

other copyrighted material as long as that copyrighted material is incidental to the subject matter of the piece

and is a smaller element of the whole.

Visual arts collages may include portions of existing copyrighted works, such as portions of photos, magazine

clippings, internet images and type cut out of a newspaper, as long as those pieces of copyrighted works are

used to create a completely new and different work of art. A collage should be judged for its whole – not its

parts – and its creativity as an original work of art.

Misuse of the above materials constitutes plagiarism – taking and using another’s words, ideas or inventions as

one’s own.

MaximumNumberofEntriesAllowedNational PTA does not limit the number of entries a student can submit. After judging, each PTA is allowed to

submit TWO winning entries in each grade division from each art category.

Example: A Unit can submit:

2 entries for the Primary division;

2 entries for the Intermediate division;

2 entries for the Middle division;

2 entries for the High School division; and

2 entries for the Special Artist division

for each of the six arts categories.

OnlineRegistrationSystemNew York State PTA requires all PTAs participating in Reflections to register using the National PTA Reflections

Online system. Keep in mind you will need an email address in order to create an account and register your PTA.

A detailed instruction sheet, describing how to create an account and complete the PTA Profile and Participation

Form can be found on the New York State PTA Reflections webpage.

ONLY TWO entries per division can advance to the region level!

Online System Linkhttps://ptareflections.myreviewroom.com



3. ReflectionsResponsibilities

LocalReflectionsChair:As a Local PTA Reflections Chair, you are responsible for planning and overseeing the PTA Reflections program in

your PTA community.

Roles and responsible may include:

Organizing a team

o Recruit a Reflections committee

o Recruit Judges

Promoting the program

o Read through the Guide to familiarize yourself

o Obtain the current rules, forms and deadlines

o Establish a timeline to stay organized

o Promote the Reflections Program to parents,

students and teachers

o Distribute the rules, unit deadlines and Student Entry

forms

Collecting the student artwork

Coordinating the judging process

Advancing the student entries

o Register your PTA using the online system

o Submit your PTA’s participation information using

the online system

o Complete online Student Entry Forms

o Prepare your winning entries for submission to the

region level of judging

o Advance entries to the region level of judging

Wrapping up your Reflections Program

o Host recognition ceremony or activities

o Return artwork to students

o Evaluate your program

Represent your PTA at Region and State PTA arts related

events, workshops and training

This is a big job…

Don’t do it alone!

We are here to help! NYS PTA Reflections Specialist [email protected] Region Reflections Chair (RRC)

Find your Region Contact info

Network with Other Local PTAs Connecting with other Local Reflections Chairs can help build your support network. By communicating about challenges and successes, Local Reflections Chairs can help one another with tasks such as identifying community judges, promoting the Reflections Program in the community, locating affordable vendors and finding additional sources for support.



Want volunteers to return?

Always say thank you! There is no better way to influence a volunteer to return than to express your appreciation. Some PTAs recognize their committee members and judges during a Reflections celebration or present them with certificate of appreciation.

4. OrganizingYourTeamRecruit a committee of volunteers to help. Volunteers will enrich the program by bringing a variety of ideas,

talents and skills … and they will make your job much easier and more enjoyable by ensuring that program tasks

don’t fall on your shoulders alone.

When building your committee, keep the PTA’s National Standards for Family‐School Partnerships in mind.

Welcoming all families, communicating effectively, sharing power and collaborating with the community are all

strategies that will enhance your committee and help make your events a success.

TipsforRecruitingReflectionsCommitteeVolunteersBe mindful of the amount of time and energy each volunteer is offering. Some people want to attend planning

meetings, while others are willing to help with a specific task, such as: promoting the program through social or

traditional media, creating a flyer or banners, making phone calls or inputting the online information.

Sources for recruiting volunteers to help with your Local PTA Reflections Program might include:

Ask the PTA President or Principal to suggest parents who might be interested in getting more involved,

and have your board members extend a personal invitation.

Invite a representative of the student council or student government to participate—or ask the student

council to promote the program and host events, with PTA support.

Consider recruiting school staff that have a interest in arts education for your committee. These might

include chorus, band, art, music, media, technology, journalism or creative writing teachers. School

administrative staff might be willing to help, too—for example, by collecting and organizing student

entries.

TipsforRecruitingVolunteerJudgesCommunity members such as arts professionals or teachers might be

interested in participating as Reflections judges. Inviting professionals

in the arts to participate as Reflections judges increases the

credibility of your program and exposure for PTA. All judges should

have a working knowledge of their assigned arts area.

Sources of judges might include:

Art, literature, dance, film, journalism and music educators

Art museum directors or Arts Advocacy Organizations

Professional photographers and local artists

Symphony directors, musicians, conductors or composers

Dance conservatory staff, studio teachers or choreographers

Staff of multimedia/video production companies

Newspaper journalists, editors or photographers



5. PromotingtheProgramOne of the most important tasks is to promote the Reflections Program to students and families, encouraging as

many students as possible to participate. Taking time to promote the program to school personnel and the

community, as well, can help increase participation, enhance family engagement at the school and gain

additional support. Learning about the rules, using the forms and announcing your PTA deadline will go a long

way in preparing you to promote the Reflections program as successfully as possible.

Rules,FormsandDeadlinesVisit the New York State PTA Reflections webpage to get up‐to‐date rules, forms, deadlines and resources.

RulesBecome familiar with the rules and requirements for each arts area. Each region may establish additional

requirements beyond those of New York State PTA and National PTA. Ask your Region Reflections Chair if there

are any specific requirements for advancement, EX: number of copies. Your PTA is not required to participate in

all six arts categories.

GeneralParticipationRules–describe the general requirements to participate in Reflections, EX:

how to enter, eligibility, entry requirements, art categories, grade divisions, etc.

ArtCategoryRules– describe the rules for participating in a specific art category. Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography and Visual Arts

FormsAll Reflections Chairs must register their PTA for Reflections using the newly improved online system. Using a

paper version of the following forms will help you gather the information necessary prior to completing the

Official National PTA Online Process.*NOTE – An email address and password is required.

OnlineLocalPTAParticipationFormALL units are required to complete the PTA Profile and Participation Form using the online system.

For your convenience, a printable version of the Local Participation Form is available to use as practice.

The printable version allows you to gather the information needed to create your PTA Profile and enter

your PTA’s participation numbers into the online system.

StudentEntryForm*NOTE – Only winning entries advancing to the next level should complete the online Student Entry

form.

For you convenience, the Student Entry Form is available in a printable version. Use the printed version

to distribute to students, collecting all of the required information, including parent/guardian

signatures. You may also use the signed paper version to gather the information needed for the online

Student Entry form. Be sure to check with your region to see which version of the Student Entry Form

they require you to submit with your advancing entries.



Region Deadlineswww.nyspta.org/YourPTA/YourPTA_Refle

ctions.cfm

DeadlinesEstablish a deadline for students to turn in their artwork. A realistic timeframe will allow everyone ample time to

accomplish their responsibilities. Before setting your deadline, consider the answers to these questions:

Is there enough time for students to create their art projects?

How much time does my committee need to collect the art?

How much time will our judges require to examine and evaluate the art?

How much time will I need to prepare the paperwork to advance winners to the region level?

What is my Region PTA deadline?

TIPS: When determining your deadline for student entries, work backwards. Learn your Region PTA’s deadline

for submitting entries to their level of judging, allow at least two weeks for your judging process and another

one ‐ two weeks for preparing the paperwork required for the region level of judging.

RegionDeadlinesRegion PTAs establish their own deadline. A

comprehensive list of each region’s deadlines and contact

information can be found on the New York State PTA

Reflections webpage.

Be sure you inquire with the RRC not only the deadline but also if there are any region‐specific requirements.

PromotingYourPTA’sReflectionsProgramIn order for students to adhere to the rules and deadlines, families and students MUST receive the General

Student Participation rules and Arts Category rules. Provide your committee members and participating teachers

with the rules in advance, so they can be prepared to answer questions.

Promote the Reflections Program to families, students and teachers. Promotional fliers are a good way to let

everyone know what is happening. Remember to include the deadline, current theme, contact information and

location of the rules. English and Spanish versions are available.

Be as creative as you would like when announcing your program. Does your PTA send announcements and

reminders in a PTA/school newsletter or website? Don’t forget that the school’s art, English, music, theater, film,

dance and photography teachers can be strong allies in promoting your program, encouraging all students to

participate.

Consider hosting a kick‐off event with a PTA hosted arts night at which you share the program information.

Make the rules available during PTA or school activities. Hand them out to participating teachers and announce

in newsletters and the PTA/school website where to find the rules.

The following sections expand upon the ideas just introduced in Promoting Your PTA’s Reflections Program.



ReachingStudents,TeachersandtheCommunityUse the following suggestions to kick‐start your PTA Reflections Program and gather support.

…toStudentsandFamiliesUse a variety of way to reach students and families. Consider creating promotional messages and materials in

multiple languages, to reach all families in your school community. Some possibilities include:

Host a school wide assembly to introduce the program. Feature examples of artwork from last year’s

winners at the local, state and national levels.

Include messages in the students’ morning announcements.

Hang posters and flyers in visible locations, and send copies of flyers home to parents.

Post the deadline and reminders on signs near student drop‐off and pickup locations.

Post announcements and updates on PTA and school websites and via social media (Facebook, Twitter).

Write an article about Reflections for a PTA or school newsletter. Highlight prior years’ winners and the

benefits of arts education. Ask a student to write a similar article for the school newspaper.

Appoint “student ambassadors” to talk positively about the program among peers. Willing students

might be found in art or dance classes or clubs, school music programs (choir, band, orchestra) or

creative writing or journalism classes.

…amongTeachersandAdministratorsInvite arts teachers to serve as Reflections co‐chairs, committee members or volunteers. The more involved they

are in planning, the more likely they will be to serve as “champions” of the program among other faculty and

staff, as well as to students and parents. Other ways to engage school staff:

Request time at a staff meeting to present the Reflections Program to teachers. Highlight the benefits

of arts education and invite their ideas about how they might encourage their classes to participate.

Provide suggestions for how this year’s theme might be linked to curriculum. Ask a teacher volunteer to

create a sample lesson plan and share it with peers.

Engage school staff in planning the awards ceremony/celebration. The school might be willing to hold a

school‐wide assembly or host a special lunch for participants and winners.

…intheCommunity:When reaching out to potential community partners, focus on the impact of the Reflections Program on

students, schools and families. For example, share how a local PTA showcases students’ artwork and brings

families together to celebrate. Here are some ways to reach your community and get them involved:

Invite community members to serve as judges.

Reach out to gathering places (neighborhood centers, shops, restaurants) to exhibit student artwork.

Local businesses might be willing to support fundraisers for Reflections (for example, a local restaurant

might host a “dine out” night, with a portion of receipts benefitting the program). Proceeds might help

pay for trophies, ribbons or certificates for student participants; food for the celebration; or supplies for

students who might not otherwise be able to participate.



…intheCommunity:(continued) Other businesses might provide in‐kind contributions: ask a local art supply or craft store for donations

of paintbrushes, paper or paints; a local library or print shop might allow students to use their

computers and photo‐editing software for entries.

Work with school officials to customize media releases to invite local coverage. Don’t forget smaller,

local media outlets such as neighborhood association blogs and newsletters.

Community bulletin boards can be good places to promote the program or announce student winners.

SampleMessagestoShare

…abouttheProgramBelow are some important messages to emphasize as you spread the word about the PTA Reflections Program,

especially through the media or to school and community partners:

This year’s entries should reflect upon and interpret the theme: Believe, Dream, Inspire. Entries should

represent the students’ unique creativity—adults are welcome to encourage students but are asked

not to assist in any way with their interpretation of the theme or artistic expression.

All children deserve opportunities to explore and be involved in the arts. The arts play a critical role in

students’ success in school and beyond, enhancing their reading and language skills, mathematics skills,

thinking skills, social skills, motivation to learn and positive school environment.

The National PTA Reflections program is PTA’s cornerstone arts program. It offers students the

opportunity to earn local, state and even national recognition for original artwork they create in

response to a specific theme.

Students who participate in the Reflections Program get an opportunity to explore the arts and culture,

develop creative thinking and problem‐solving skills and recognize themselves as artists.

Families can support their children’s participation. Create time, make space for students to work on

their entries, provide encouragement, needed materials, and volunteer to help the Reflections Program.

…aboutinspiringstudentparticipationBelow are some sample messages to promote the PTA Reflections program. You may find these messages work

best within a school newspaper, during morning announcements, and at activity fairs promoting school clubs.

The world needs to know your inner artist! Choreograph a dance, produce a film, write a poem or story, compose a song, take a picture or create a piece of visual art and tell us your interpretation of the theme: “The World Would Be A Better Place If…”Pick up a PTA Reflections Entry Form today from <INSERT NAME> and return by <INSERT DUE DATE>.

Discover your world! Explore new cultures or your own through dance, film, literature, music,

photography or visual arts. No experience is required to participate in Reflections! Choose the arts

category you are interested in, create an original piece of artwork based on the theme: “The World

Would Be A Better Place If…” and be recognized as an artist in your community.



6. CollectingandJudgingThe process of judging student entries for the Reflections Program includes collecting artwork, determining

eligibility and hosting judging.

CollectingEntriesNow that students received the rules and deadline, they will begin creating art. As the artwork is submitted,

catalog or group the entries for judging. Some PTAs group the entries by arts category or even by division.

Check for obvious disqualifications, such as entries that do not conform to the rules pages. Remember your PTA

should recognize all students who participate in the Reflections Program regardless of eligibility, but ONLY

entries that meet all the requirements may advance to the region level of

judging.

AddressingStudentIneligibilityOccasionally, entries submitted to the Reflections Program are ineligible.

Common reasons for ineligibility are plagiarism, resubmission, and non‐

conformity to the rules.

*NOTE – ONLY Units held in good standing, as determined by New York State PTA, are eligible to participate. It is

very important that you ask your PTA President for the membership payment date, insurance payment date and

bylaws expiration date to prove your PTA is a unit in good standing.

Below are suggestions for identifying and addressing ineligible entries:

Check entries to ensure they are original and have not been submitted to Reflections before.

Alert judges and encourage them to bring to your attention any entries that may not be original.

Always follow your PTA’s procedures if an entry is determined ineligible.

Talk with the PTA President and school personnel about ways to address ineligible entries.

Consider having a talk with the student and family, sharing why the piece is ineligible to advance

and suggest ways to avoid the situation.

JudgingEntries

EstablishJudgingDatesThe first step of your judging process is to establish the dates that judging begins and ends. Find out when your

winning entries are due to the region level of judging. Anticipate needing at least two weeks to facilitate the

judging process and another two weeks to prepare the paperwork using online process and drop‐off the artwork

to your Region PTA.

IMPORTANT!Only entries that meet the rules advance to the region level!



RecruitJudgesAll judges should have a working knowledge of their assigned arts area. Once judges are selected, provide them

with the general student rules and relevant arts category rules. Click here for the National PTA Reflections

Rules.

Sources of judges might include:

Art, literature, dance, film, journalism and music educators

Art museum directors or Arts Advocacy Organizations

Professional photographers and local artists

Symphony directors, musicians, conductors or composers

Dance conservatory staff, studio teachers or choreographers

Staff of multimedia/video production companies

Newspaper journalists, editors or photographers

Inviting professionals in the arts or influential community leaders to participate as Reflections judges increases

the visibility of PTA and the credibility of your Reflections Program. Always recognize judges in promotions and

thank them for their participation.

SampleJudgingRubricThe following is a judging rubric your PTA may find helpful in evaluating

entries and assigning awards.

All entries should be judged on artistic merit/creativity, mastery of

medium, and, most heavily on interpretation of the theme.

Interpretation of Theme

(20 Points)

How closely the piece relates to the theme, based on the artwork itself and the artist statement

Artistic Merit/Creativity

(10 Points)

How creative and original the piece is in its conception of the theme and its presentation

Mastery of Medium

(10 points)

The level of skill demonstrated in the basic principles/techniques of the arts area

With this rubric, each entry may receive a total of no more than 40 points from each judge. Add the points from

each judge and rank the artwork accordingly. In the event of a tie score, use the Interpretation of Theme score

as the tiebreaker.

REMEMBER!Always maintain integrity! Consider using a blind judging process and select judges who will not recognize a student’s work.



7. AdvancingEntriesDoes your PTA provide students with the opportunity to advance their artwork across the state and nation?

National PTA Reflections is a multi‐layered competition that has local, region, state and national levels of

competition. In New York, all local PTAs are encouraged to participate and advance their student winners to the

region level.

ReportingNew York State PTA participates in the National PTA Online System for Reflections to track the advancement of

student entry forms along the path to the National PTA level. The Online System makes the administrative

process easier for each PTA level, providing in depth reports.

PTARegistrationandParticipationFormsIn New York State, all Local Units must register and complete the PTA Participation Form using the online

system, before advancing entries to the next round. Use the paper version of the Local Participation form as a

guide to enter information online.

To register and complete the Local Participation Form using the online system, visit

https://ptareflections.myreviewroom.com.

StudentEntryFormsKnowing that most PTAs require students and their families to complete the paper version of the Student Entry

Form, New York State PTA recommends you check with your Region

PTA to determine which form (paper or online) is required for

advancement to the region level. Keep in mind ONLY entries

advancing to the next level will need to be entered into the Online

System.

To complete the Student Entry Form using the online system, visit

https://ptareflections.myreviewroom.com.

AdvancingEntriestotheRegionLevelMost Region PTAs establish a drop off date for receiving advancing entries, others provide a shipping deadline.

Contact your Region PTA to learn more about your drop‐off date and location. If your Region PTA allows entries

to be shipped, we recommend that you ship it with a company that offers online tracking capabilities.

IMPORTANT Things to Remember:

The maximum number of entries allowed to advance is TWO entries per division, per arts category.

Submit the original artwork and completed Student Entry form together.

Carefully follow the Region PTA requirements and meet their deadlines.

Online StudentEntry Forms

ease the burden of hard‐to‐read handwritten forms, especially when creating certificates!



AdvancingEntriestotheRegionLevel(continued)Find out if your Region PTA has any submission requirements specific to your region. Some regions may require

additional actions such as: copies of the Student Entry Form; copies of the artwork, etc. Contact your Region

PTA for more information.

IMPORTANT Things to Ask your Region:

How many copies of the Local Participation Form are required?

How many copies of the Student Entry Form are required

Are there any additional items/forms required to accompany artwork?

How does your Region PTA want the artwork packaged for drop‐off?

8. CelebrationsandAwards

RecognizingStudents:AttheLocalLevel

Your Local PTA determines the number of awards and occasion it will use to celebrate your students. There are

many ways Local PTAs celebrate Reflections participants and winners. Be as creative as you would like to be.

Some PTAs present students with special recognitions, such as certificates of participation, ribbons and plaques,

others coordinate special events and even host recognition and award ceremonies.

Celebration ideas may include:

Formal award ceremony at school award nights, banquets or luncheons

Ice cream social

Art exhibit in a community art gallery or library

Special presentation at PTA and School Board meetings

Publish entries in local newsletters or Create an online art gallery

Print a special publication of award‐winning entries (calendar, brochure, booklet, etc.)

The PTA Reflections Program offers opportunities for PTA visibility throughout the year. Announce the student

celebrations happening within your PTA and community. This will help increase the visibility and support for

your PTA and Reflections Program.

Write an article for your local newspaper.

Invite your school’s radio/television station or the media to your celebration!

Use your PTA’s social media channels to announce these events.

Certificate of Participation Sample located at: www.nyspta.org/YourPTA/YourPTA_Reflections.cfm



AttheRegionLevelYour Region PTA determines the number of awards and occasion it uses to recognize students within your

region.

After the completion of the New York State PTA level Reflections judging, Region PTAs are provided with a

Reflections Recognition Packet containing the list of Award recipients, congratulatory letters, certificates and

ribbons. Each Region PTA can determine how it will announce, recognize and celebrate the state level winners

from its region.

AttheNewYorkStateLevelNew York State PTA recognizes the following awards:

Award of Excellence to the entry with the highest score for each arts category in each division. These

entries will advance to the National PTA level.

Award of Merit to the next four entries with the highest scores for each arts category in each division.

New York State PTA announces the state level Award recipients after the Legislation/Education Conference. The

students are celebrated during the Awards Session at the annual New York State PTA Convention in November.

Hundreds of attendees from across the state gather to enjoy the students’ artwork exhibited in the New York

State PTA Reflections Art Gallery at Convention.

AttheNationalLevelNational PTA recognizes the following awards:

Outstanding Interpretation Award to the entry in each arts category that best interprets the theme

Award of Excellence to the top three scores for each arts category in each division.

Award of Merit to the next five highest scores for each arts category in each division.

The National PTA announces the national level Award recipients via news releases and articles posted to

www.pta.org/Reflections. State PTA Presidents and State PTA Reflections Specialists are notified via email. The

National PTA Outstanding Interpretation Award recipients are honored at the National PTA Convention Awards

session and Arts in Education Luncheon.

New York State PTA makes every effort to contact the students who have received national recognition.

National PTA notifies Outstanding Interpretation Award recipients directly and coordinates their travel to the

National PTA Convention.



9. Wrap‐upandEvaluateYou’re almost done! It is essential to remember the importance of recognizing volunteers, returning artwork and

evaluating the program.

RecognizeVolunteersAfter your Reflections Program concludes for the year, one of the most important tasks is to thank those who

helped make it a success. Be sure to include all of the following groups in your recognition plan:

Students who helped to promote or administer the program

PTA volunteers

School personnel

Judges

Community partners that provided donations, such as prizes or exhibit space

ReturnStudentArtworkNational PTA recommends that original artwork be returned to student artists as soon as possible after judging

and recognitions are finished. When possible, return artwork by the end of the school year. Be sensitive to

secondary students wanting their artwork for college admission. If student artwork advances, it will be returned

according to State and National policy.

ReturningNewYorkStatePTAArtworkNew York State PTA returns all student artwork through the Region PTA. Following the state level judging,

artwork that does not receive a state level recognition is returned during the Legislation/Education Conference.

All artwork receiving New York State PTA Award recognition is held for display during the NYS PTA Annual

Convention. At the close of Convention, any artwork receiving National PTA recognition is forwarded to the

National office and all others are returned.

NationalPTAPoliciesNational PTA’s award‐winning entries are featured online at www.PTA.org/Reflections. They are displayed

throughout the National PTA headquarters, exhibited at National PTA special events and returned within three

years following their submission to National PTA.

EvaluateYourProgramEvaluation is a critical part of wrapping up your Reflections Program. It is important to understand what worked

and what didn’t, so that you can plan for an even more successful program next year.

Survey the Reflections students, parents, school and PTA volunteers, and community partners. Meet with your

Reflections Committee and other team members to reflect on the program, gather feedback and document

successes and areas needing improvement. Sharing this information with next year’s team will provide a smooth

transition from one Reflections Chair to another.

New York State PTA 2014-2015 · 2014-09-15 · New York State PTA Local PTA – Reflections Chair...

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