Fourth District PTA, California State PTA

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Reflections

2009-2010 Theme:

"Beauty is..."

Entries should be submitted to your local Council. Entries from Councils are due to Fourth District by Tuesday, December 1, 2009.

A great learning experience

When children express themselves participating in the Reflections Program is an opportunity for students to explore and learn about various art forms. It does not matter whether an entry created for the Reflections Program has been created as a classroom assignment or independently at home. Artistic exploration and expression enhance and develop intellectual, social, and physical skills. Creating art is a valuable learning process.

The program is designed to enhance rather than replace a quality arts education. It provides opportunities for students to express themselves and to receive positive recognition for National PTA's Reflections their artistic efforts. Parents, teachers, and community members all play a critical role in fostering a positive learning environment for children.

Participation

Young artists participate in the Reflections Program through their local PTA or PTSA. A student may submit an entry in any of the six arts areas listed below. Only original works of art are accepted.

Arts areas


Literature	Musical Composition

Visual Arts	Dance Choreography

Photography	Film/Video Production

Participation in the Reflections Program is organized by school grade. 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.

Grade Divisions

Primary (preschool-grade 2)
Intermediate (grades 3-5)
Middle/Junior (grades 6-8)
Senior (grades 9-12)

The Reflections Program is structured for PTAs to recognize students at the local, council, district, state, and national levels. Entries are first judged at the local level, where selected works, are chosen to represent the PTA at each subsequent level-council, district, or state-depending on each state PTA's structure. Once entries reach the state level, the state PTA may select entries to submit to the National PTA. Awards of Excellence and Awards of Merit are recognized at the annual National PTA Convention and are displayed as a part of the program's traveling exhibit.

Possible judging levels

Local - this is your school's association or "unit"
Council - this your unit's council; usually by school district - see our Council/Unit directory
District - we are the Fourth District PTA (of the California State PTA)
State - California State PTA
National

Fourth District PTA Recognition and Honors

Professionals working individuals in the literature, musical composition, photography, and visual arts fields volunteer to judge student entries at the district level. Awards of Excellence, Merit, and Distinction are selected in each grade division for each of the six arts areas.

Awards will be given at an awards reception that will take place at the opening of a show of the works that make it to the Fourth district level, for public viewing, sometime in January.

General Rules

Please remember that:

Students may submit entries only through a PTA or PTSA in good standing
All entries submitted must be original works and must relate to the annual Reflections Program theme
Each entry must be the work of only one student. Assistance from teachers, parents, or friends is not permitted except in special cases (such as for those with visual or physical disabilities)
Participation encourages creativity and exploration. Students should do their best, but crooked lines, incorrect musical notes, or misspelled words do not disqualify anyone.

More Information on the Reflections Program, Arts Education and Advocacy

If you would like to know more about the arts, arts education, and arts advocacy, the National PTA website is a good source of information.

How Your PTA Unit Can Sponsor the Reflections Program

Reflections Program rules and deadlines for each state PTA are different. Contact your Council or District Reflections Chairman if you have questions/comments.

Questions

If you have further questions, such as who is your Council Reflections Chair, contact us -

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