PTA Reflections program

What is reflections? The Reflections 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 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 As an added bonus, in showcasing and celebrating student talent, the Reflections Program increases community awareness of the importance of the arts in education.

Basic rules Artwork must be the original work of the student All artwork must be based on the Reflections theme 2017-18 Theme: Within Reach Student entry form, signed by a parent, must accompany each piece Rules for each category, including size/length limits, are available on the Jeffco PTA website Please read rules for 2017-18 – some things have changed!

Students enter work in 6 categories Students create a work of art based on the theme in one of these categories: Visual Arts – Drawing, Painting, Sculpture 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.

New rule at jeffco National PTA does not mention any limit of entries per student, but defers to state and district rules. Because we have gotten many complaints about students winning multiple awards in the same category at Jeffco, we are limiting students to ONE entry per CATEGORY. This will also encourage critical thinking – “What is my BEST interpretation of the theme?” Students may enter multiple categories, i.e. one visual arts piece and one literature piece, etc.

Students enter in 5 grade divisions Primary (P – 2nd grade) Intermediate (3rd – 5th grade) Middle School (6th – 8th grade) High School (9th – 12th 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

Local chairperson duties Market the program & collect entries Arrange for judging Display entries & celebrate in your school Turn winning entries in to the district Coordinate a volunteer for one district-level task Pick up entries after they are displayed for the district and/or state level program Communicate results of district, state, and national program to your school’s participants Return entries to students

Setting up your program You must run the program through a PTA in good standing Register at Jeffco PTA through the webpage (no need to register on the National PTA site) Sign up for the Jeffco PTA Reflections newsletter and “Like” our Facebook page Set your deadlines appropriately, leaving time for judging, display, and celebrations Jeffco turn-in: November 4, 2017 Reserve space at the school for display and awards Recruit volunteers

Promote your program Posters and other materials available on the Jeffco site. Buy a $3 poster to benefit our scholarship fund. Have rules and entry forms available at the school or on your school’s website – or connect to Jeffco Student page Send information home with students Enlist teacher help to promote the program to their students Use school newspapers, Facebook, announcements

Judging your entries Judges should be recruited from outside the school Use professionals, retired teachers, teachers from other schools, local college programs Judging needs to be unbiased and anonymous Judges choose up to 3 entries from each category in each grade division to move on

Display your entries Use school bulletin boards or display cases to display all entries Great way to promote the program for next year

Celebrate your winners Get ribbons and print certificates for either all participants or just your winners – certificates and ribbon orders available on the Jeffco site Have an awards evening to present certificates Include special guests or school personnel

Move on to the next level Use the Winner’s Log (Excel sheet) on the Jeffco website to enter all student information for those students moving on. Email it to us. Volunteer for at least one time slot at Jeffco – signup on the Jeffco website Prepare your entries for turn-in Bring entries to turn-in day Invite your winners to the Open House Pick up your entries on take-down day

Filling out the winner’s log

FILLING OUT THE WINNER’S LOG

PREPARING YOUR ENTRIES All artwork must be prepared as instructed on the “Entry Packaging Guidelines” on the Jeffco website. Include entry form with each piece. (New - no more name sheets) Jeffco cannot accept 3D works – mount 3 photos of the work on a mat and prepare the same as other visual arts and photography entries.

Jeffco deadlines Turn-in: Nov 4 Judging: Nov 11 Hang Day: Dec 2 Open House & Awards: Dec 3 Take Down/Pickup Artwork: Dec 10 All events held at Red Rocks Community College

Reflections program overview Individual School Reflections Program: All entries are collected, judged, displayed Up to 3 Awards of Excellence are given under each category/division and advanced to Jeffco PTA Reflections during Turn In Day Other entries returned to students Jeffco PTA Reflections accepts and judges all entries. All entries are on display during Open House Jeffco PTA selects 5 Awards of Excellence and 1 Award of Merit; these winners are invited to the Awards Reception All entries not advancing to State are picked up on Take Down Day and returned to students Awards of Excellence only are advanced to State PTA Reflections

Reflections program overview State receives entries from Jeffco, El Paso, Boulder, Denver, & Regional Units 1 Award of Excellence and 2 Awards of Merit are given in each category/division. Awards ceremony in March. Colorado PTA sends one entry per category/division to National PTA. National PTA selects 3 Award of Excellence winners, and 5 Awards of Merit in each category/division and one Outstanding Interpretation Award in each category. Jeffco PTA will inform all local unit chairs of winners at each stage. We ask you to inform your students who advanced of the results.

RESOURCES Check out the “How to Run Your Program” or “New for Jeffco 2017” on the Jeffco website for detailed requirements and helpful suggestions Be sure you are signed up for our email newsletter – link to MailChimp on the website Like our Facebook page National PTA site has online courses and other information

resources Jefferson County Reflections: jcpta.org/programs/reflections Cindy Vaughan-Sanger jeffcoreflections@gmail.com Jeffco Reflections Facebook Community facebook.com/JeffcoReflections “Like” our page National PTA Reflections: www.pta.org Click “At School”, then “Reflections” Colorado State Reflections: copta.org/reflections