Reflections is a National PTA arts recognition program that helps students explore their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful not only in school but in life.
While the primary focus of Reflections is a celebration of creativity through positive recognition, finalists from each school will move on to Bellevue PTSA Council, then finalists from councils will move on to the state round. Washington State PTA finalists who receive an “Outstanding Interpretation” award will advance to the National PTA round.
Entries are due November 16!
Dance choreography, film production, and music composition entries must be submitted digitally.
Visual arts, photography, and literature can be submitted in hard copy along with an entry form.
Digital submissions and accompanying entry forms should be emailed to reflections@highlandptsa.org by Nov. 20.
Download and complete the entry form (en español)
Program Details
A student may submit an entry in any of six arts areas. Only original works of art are accepted.
Literature – works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, prose, drama, short stories and lyrics.
Music Composition – original musical composition, with or without words.
Photography: color or black and white, included techniques: photogram, negative sandwich, and multiple exposure.
Visual Arts: drawing, painting in tempera, oil, acrylic, watercolor & t-shirt paints, computer-generated art, two-dimensional collage, printmaking, needlework & leather tooling.
Film/Video: original works, with or without sound, of animation, narrative, documentary, experimental or music video/film.
Choreography/Dance: originally choreographed dance composition.
Participation is organized by student age and grade levels. Student works are critiqued against others in the same grade division. This allows recognition and judging of artworks by appropriate developmental age and skill levels. The grade divisions are:
Primary: Pre-school – Grade 2
Intermediate: Grades 3 – 5
Middle School: Grades 6 – 8
High School: Grades 9 – 12
(For special artist information, see Special Artist Division below)
Entries are judged on creative ability and interpretation of the theme.
Student Entry Rules
Special Division Artist
The National PTA special artist division is an option for students with a disability as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Generally, rules and guidelines within the special artists division are intended to ensure accessibility to the National PTA Reflections® program and are modeled after the guidelines outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We are asking local PTA chairs and council chairs to verify that artists meet this criteria before judging.
Complete details are included in the 2023-24 Special Artist Rules | en español.
Washington State PTA will be judging the special artist submissions in two divisions:
Elementary (Kindergarten – 5th grade)
Secondary (6th grade – 12th grade)
2022-23 Washington State PTA Reflections winners
Click here for a list of the 2022-2023 WSPTA Reflections winners.
Grown-ups, consider volunteering to help us with this program at Highland. Experience is not necessary.
Email hello@highlandptsa.org for more information or sign up at https://signup.com/go/DkqgvZi