Reflections News

IMPORTANT TIPS FOR REFLECTIONS CHAIRPERSONS

 From:   Orange Leaves Reflections Article, October 2009
 By:        Teri Jensen, Fourth District PTA Reflections Chair 2009-2011

• Please fill in your Council Name and 4th District at the top of the Entry Form.  Complete the section on the entry form marked “To be completed by local PTA”.  You can find your “Local Eight Digit National PTA ID #” on your unit’s By Laws or ask your Council President or Council Reflections Chair.

• Double-check the entry form to be sure all required information is completed: age, grade level, name, address, phone and email.  Make sure all information is legible.  Both the student and a parent/guardian must sign the entry form.

• Make sure each entry meets all the stated rules and requirements. 

  • Check the size/running time of the entry.  Photography and Visual Arts have size limitations and entries must be within the limitations.  Playing time for Musical Composition, Dance Choreography and Film production entries must not exceed five minutes.

  •  Literature entries should be submitted in a manila folder with the entry form stapled to the back.  Do not mount Literature entries.

  •  Use of copyrighted material is prohibited.  This includes the use of copyrighted cartoon characters.  An entry must be original work created by the student.

• Cellophane wrap (which you can find in a craft store) the Photography and Visual Arts entries.  It will protect the entry.  Place the completed Official Entry Form in a plastic sheet protector and firmly attach it to the back of the entry on top of the cellophane wrap and leaving an opening in the clear page protector. (No food wrap please).

• Judges should not see artists’ names.  Give a set of rules to each judge.  Remember to send thank you notes to your judges.

• Know your Council’s deadline.  Students must submit their entries to you by your deadline and your unit must submit your selected entries to your Council by their deadline.  (The deadline for your Council to submit entries to Fourth District PTA is Tuesday, December 1st.) 

• Complete FORM A, UNIT - PTA PARTICIPATION FORM and forward it with your entries to your council level of judging.  Council chairs must complete and submit the FORM A, COUNCIL - PTA PARTICIPATION FORM.

• Keep copies and take photos of entries that are forwarded to the next level of judging.

• Celebrate all entries by displaying them at your school.  Make every participant feel like a winner!

National PTA Reflections Theme Search – 2011-2012

 I can make a difference by…;  My Favorite Place;  Wow!  These are all past themes for the National PTA Reflections Arts Recognition Program.  The theme for the 2009-2010 Reflections program is Beauty is . . . Each of these themes was suggested by a student who submitted an entry with their idea to National PTA.

The National PTA is looking for a theme for the Reflections Program for 2011-2012.  Students must submit their original theme idea directly to the California State PTA at the address shown on the entry form.   All entries must be received by November 1, 2009.  The student who submits the winning entry will receive $100, and his or her theme will be presented at the 2010 National PTA Convention.

You will find the National PTA Reflections Program Theme Search for 2011-2012 entry form in the Reflections Program packet or by going to www.capta.org.   Click on Reflections, then on Theme Search Application under Fill-In Forms.

Reflections Art Program 2009-2010

By , Fourth District PTA Reflections’ Chair

You can make a difference by supporting the National PTA Reflections Program to students and families at your units. The theme for the 2009-2010 program is

Beauty is . . .

The National PTA Reflections Program is an Arts recognition and achievement program for students in preschool through 12^th grade.  The PTA hopes to promote participation and appreciation for the Arts through this program which provides opportunities for students to exercise their creative talents in the areas of Visual Arts, Photography, Literature, Musical Composition, Dance Choreography, and Film Production.   Students are encouraged to “reflect” the theme in their works and make a “Required Artist Statement” to explain or connect their work to the theme.

A Reflections Packet was included in the summer mailing to all PTA Unit and Council Presidents.  Please pass this important information along to your Reflections’ Chairperson.  Early communication to students and parents helps make your program successful.  Entries must be submitted by the deadline you establish.  Please allow ample time for all entries to be judged.  Selected entries will advance to your Council based on their established deadline.  All Council entries must be submitted to the Fourth District PTA by Tuesday, December 1, 2009.   Please plan your unit and council programs to accommodate this deadline.   An exhibit of entries that advance to the Fourth District level and a reception for artists and their families will be held in February, 2010. 

Creative expression through words, pictures, music and other art media helps children to get in touch with their thoughts and feelings and to grow intellectually.  Recognition for these efforts is critical to the success of the Reflections Program.  Remember to recognize and appreciate all of the children who participate at your unit.

Additional information on the Reflections Arts Program is available at the California State PTA website at www.capta.org and click on “Programs”.  Go to the National PTA website at www.pta.org to view the 2008-2009 honored student entries.

By , Fourth District PTA Reflections Chairman

Over 12,800 students participate in 2008-09 Reflections contest

FEBRUARY 1, 2009 —WOW! More than 12,800 students from all 21 councils and our one out-of-council unit, Rio Contiguo, participated in the 2008-2009 National PTA Reflections Program. That is an increase of more than 1,000 students over last year. Our unit Reflections chairpersons did a great job promoting the program and encouraging children in all grades to express themselves through art. Students really responded to the theme of “Wow!”

Fourth District PTA received over 300 entries. All of these students and their families have been invited to the Fourth District PTA Reflections Gallery and Reception on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Orange County Department of Education in Costa Mesa. Only 24 of these entries will be selected to receive an Award of Excellence and to advance to the California State PTA to be judged against entries from all over California. Approximately 90 other entries will receive an Award of Merit or Honorable Mention. A complete list of awards will be published in the next issue of Orange Leaves and is available on the web at fourthdistrictpta.org/reflections2009.html.

Awards for students who do not attend this event will be forwarded to their unit Reflections Program chairs through the kindness of their council presidents and council Reflections chairs. Entries will be returned to council chairs by mid-February.

Thanks to our entire group of unit and council Reflections chairs and to all the wonderful people who served as judges. We especially thank all the students who shared their creative visions of “wow” in their worlds and were inspired to participate in the Reflections Program.

Student Artists to be Honored at “WOW!” Reflections Reception

DECEMBER 1, 2008 - Young artists from throughout Fourth District PTA will be honored at the 2008-2009 “WOW!” Reflections Reception and Gallery on Saturday, January 31.

The event will be held at the Orange County Department of Education, Building A, 200 Kalmus Drive, Costa Mesa from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Entries from all of the students whose work advanced to the Fourth District PTA for judging will be on display. Each of these students will receive a Participation Award from the Fourth District PTA. All of the Fourth District PTA Reflections Awards will be announced at this event. One entry from each Art Division and each Age Category will be honored with the Award of Excellence and will advance to the California State PTA for judging.

Everyone is invited to attend and share in the fun and excitement as we celebrate and recognize all of our talented artists. Reflections chairs and PTA presidents are encouraged to come and show support for their students.

For more information, please contact Fran Sdao, Fourth District PTA Reflections Chair [ ] .