1. PTA Reflections program

2. 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.

3. Basic rules Artwork must be the original work of the student
All artwork must be based on the Reflections theme 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 – some things have changed!

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. Running your program

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. 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. 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

15. Filling out the winner’s log

16. FILLING OUT THE WINNER’S LOG

17. 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.

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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.

21. 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 newsletter – link to MailChimp on the website
Like our Facebook page
National PTA site has online courses and other information

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