What is the Reflections Program? Reflections is an arts recognition program designed to enhance rather than replace a quality arts education. It provides opportunities for students to express themselves and to receive positive recognition for their artistic efforts. Reflections Program challenges students to create art that relates to a specific theme. Themes are selected from thousands of ideas submitted by students to PTA's Reflections Program Theme Search. Past themes have included “The Magic of a Moment…,” “Diversity Means…,” “Beauty Is…,” "A Different Kind of Hero," "If I Could Give the World A Gift...," "Imagine That...," and "Exploring New Beginnings...." Theme: “The world would be a better place if…””

Students participate by submitting works of art to their local participating PTA. A student may submit entries in any of the six arts areas. Only original works of art are accepted. Help from an adult or collaboration with other students is not allowed. How do students participate?

Five Reasons to Run the PTA Reflections Program 1.Students need more opportunities to create works of art for fun and recognition, and the Reflections Program provides an outlet for students to creatively explore what they are learning in the classroom. 2.The Reflections Program is run by parent volunteers, thereby providing another opportunity to involve parents in their children’s education. 3.Participation in the Reflections Program gives students a chance to experiment in the arts. 4.When children express themselves through words, pictures, music, dance, film, and other art media, they grow intellectually; they learn to analyze their thoughts and feelings. 5.The Reflections Program helps parents recognize, support, and enhance their children’s continuous process of self- discovery.

Arts Areas Students may submit works in any of the six arts areas: Literature Musical composition Photography Visual arts Dance choreography Film production

Grade Divisions Students may enter the Reflections Program in the appropriate division for their grade. Primary: preschool–grade 2 Intermediate: grades 3–5 Middle/Junior: grades 6–8 Senior: grades 9–12 Special artist: ungraded

Special Artist Division New age division added last year (no entries rec’d last year at LCC) Enter in Traditional Grade Divisions Qualifying students follow all general and arts category rules, but receive accommodation to submit Reflections entries in the grade division most closely aligned to their functional abilities. They are recognized and awarded prizes as part of the general student population without regard to special needs or challenges. Enter in Special Artist Division The Special Artist Division is non-graded and limited to students whose physical, cognitive, or mental health challenges meet ADA guidelines. Qualifying students entering this division create their own artwork but may receive non-artistic accommodation and assistance from an adult. At the national level, one Special Artist from across all arts categories will be selected to receive an Outstanding Interpretation Award. Up to five additional Special Artists may be selected to receive national Awards of Excellence.

Who may participate in the Reflections program? Participation in the Reflections Program is open to any student through a local PTA/PTSA in good standing. PTAs in good standing pay membership dues to Ohio PTA and LCC by November 30, 2014.

Key Changes for This Year Reflections Handbook and other materials are available at  Programs  Reflectionswww.ohiopta.org Each chair should print off and review in detail Online entry process is continued this year– (page 9) Entries still get submitted in usual manner Each PTA unit participating must register online Added online entry form for winning entries Return of unit Tally Form for Local Unit in a Council (p. 12) – you to this into LCC with your entries. Information to council is the number of total entries you received at your school. Number of entries you forwarded to council is the number of entries you are submitting to LCC student entry form – double sided (see Ohio packet p 26-27) – DO NOT USE ENTRY FORMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS LCC can forward 60 entries to state (previously 56)

Deadlines – Lake County Council Reflections Program Deadline for submission to the LCC: Dec. 9, 2014 Ways to submit entries: 1.Attend Dec LCC meeting (Holiday Party) 2. Arrange drop off with Michelle Graf

Deadlines – your local unit Entries to LCC are due by Dec. 9, 2014 (bring to Dec. LCC meeting or arrange to drop off at Michelle’s house) Deadline for your unit will need to be prior to this date as well as allowing time for judging Suggested dates: Nov. 14, 17, 21, 24 Consider participation levels at your unit before determining unit deadline

NUMBER OF ENTRIES from units to LCC: Select your entries for each category and division 3 entries per category in each age division can be forwarded to council Review each entry form to see it is completed in full including parent signature and artist statement Your winning entries need to be entered online. The process is similar to last year. Print online entry form and include with work along with other entry form Bottom line: make sure each entries follows the rules or it will be disqualified Submitting Your Entries to LCC

NUMBER OF ENTRIES from units to LCC: 3 entries per category in each age division (Note: elementary schools include multiple age divisions) NUMBER OF ENTRIES that may be submitted to Ohio PTA by Lake County Council: Council with PTA units may submit up to 28 entries to Ohio PTA Council with PTA units may submit up to 60 entries to the Ohio PTA (Lake County Council) Council with 40 or more PTA units may submit up to 76 entries to Ohio PTA NUMBER OF ENTRIES

HANDBOOK REVIEW :Entry Forms Entry form is double-sided this year! Student signature Parent signature Parent Artist statement – this is mandatory!!! Questions Local PTA Information (complete prior to copying for students) – also fill in District 17 and Lake County Council for council name Title of work

Presentation of Work VISUAL ARTS Printmaking, Drawings, Painting, Collage, Computerized Art No larger than 24” X 30” including mounting and matting May not exceed 3/8” thickness No frames Mount artwork on a sturdy backing Tape entry form to back of artwork in a clear plastic sheet protector

PHOTOGRAPHY Color or Black and White Single prints or collage (sequential pictorial) Print, retouched collage, photogram, montage, sandwich, multiple exposures No larger than 11” X 14” including mounting and matting No frames No 3-D entries No slides or transparencies Tape entry to back of photo in a sheet protector

MUSICAL COMPOSITION Original Composition with or without words Not to exceed 5 minutes CD in plastic case must be submitted Acceptable file formats: MP3, MP4, WMA, WAV, ACC, FLAC CD (properly labeled) must be in a plastic container (properly labeled) then placed with manuscript in a 9”X12” envelope Tape entry form in a clear sheet protector to outside of the 9” X 12” envelope Be sure to answer the required questions on the entry form

LITERATURE Fiction or non-fiction Prose, poetry, drama, song lyrics, and short stories Do not exceed 2,000 words Grade appropriate grammar, punctuation, and spelling No larger that 8 1/2” X 11” May be illustrated Must be in a manila file folder Secure official entry form in plastic sheet protector to a manilla envelop with literature entry inside Include original and one other copy

DANCE COREOGRAPHY Original work of one student to create the choreography Up to three dancers can perform Costumes not necessary but if used created by choreographer Any music must be credited and documented Not to exceed 5 minutes Acceptable formats: AVI, MOV, MPG, MPEG, WMV, FLV Both DVD and plastic case must be properly marked and placed in a large envelope Secure the Student Entry Form inside a plastic sheet protector to the outside of the envelope with masking tape

FILM/VIDEO PRODUCTION Animation, Narrative, Documentary, Experimental, Media presentations Original work of one student Not to exceed 5 minutes Acceptable formats: AVI, MOV, MPG, MPEG, WMV, FLV Maximum upload size: 1 GB Any music must be credited and documented Both DVD and plastic container must be properly marked and placed in a large envelope Secure the Student Entry Form inside a plastic sheet protector to the outside of the envelope

If using teachers as judges it is better to invite teachers from another school to judge. Otherwise blind judging should be used. Recognize and thank your judges. Some PTAs provide each judge with a small gift or certificate of appreciation. Discussion: Judges

Art, literature, dance, film, journalism, and music educators or college/university professors Teachers from other schools participating in the Reflections Program Art museum directors, docents, curators, or historians Professional photographers and local artisans Local symphony orchestra or choral directors, musicians, conductors, or composers Local dance conservatories, dance studios, ballets, or theaters Local multimedia/video production companies Newspaper journalists, editors, or photographers Local television stations Arts advocacy organization presidents or directors Finding Judges

LCC follows the judging rubric suggested by Ohio PTA: Interpretation of theme (The world would be a better place if…) = Max 20 points Artistic Merit /Creativity = Max 10 points Mastery of Medium = Max 10 points This criteria works well and is suggested you use this at the local unit for consistency (not required) LCC Judging Rubric

Announcement of Winners LCC: Winners will be announce at LCC meeting in February(non-winning LCC entries will be returned at this meeting as well) Ohio: Winners will be announced in ~March and will be on display at Ohio PTA Convention (April 2015) National: Winners will be announced shortly before the National convention (June 2015)

Return of Entries LCC: Entries that have not won at county level will be returned at LCC meeting in February Ohio: Entries that have not won will be returned in ~May 2015 from Michelle Graf National: Entries that have not won will be returned until late 2015, early 2016 Note: Literature, Music, Film, and Dance are not returned at State and National Level. We encourage students to make their own copies for their archives.

Consider participating in the theme selection search Another opportunity to promote your Reflections program at your school Entry form is included on page 24 of Ohio PTA Reflections book or directly on Ohio PTA’s website Student completes, turn in form to office, Reflections chair sends directly to Ohio PTA by Nov. 7, 2014 deadline Winning student will receive $100 and theme will be presented at Annual National PTA Convention and Exhibit in Charlotte, NC, June 24-26, 2015 Theme Search

Reflections Handbook from Ohio PTA Ohio Reflections booklet is available if you did not receive from your president – under Programs then Reflections – At School – Reflections Arts Programwww.pta.org ItemNumber=510http:// ItemNumber=510 All forms and instructions can be downloaded (many forms available in Spanish) Downloadable fliers and logos Lake County Council Resources

Reflections Chair Duties Download and print Reflections Handbook from Ohio PTA’s website. Review it in detail. Determine your unit deadline for entries. You will need to collect entries, judge them to select your winners, register your winners online and turn in your entries to LCC by Dec. 9. Print out student entry form, fill out the LOCAL PTA INFO prior to copying Suggest you have copies of the detailed rules for each category available to the students; if need rules get from OHIO PTA only Make sure unit pays LCC and Ohio PTA dues by Nov. 30, 2014 in order to be eligible to participate Register your unit online at If you did so last year, you can log in using the same information. Choose your due date, arrange for judges Enter your winning entries online Turn into Michelle Graf by Dec. 9, 2014

Common Mistakes Not using current year entry form = disqualification – we did have entries disqualified this past year for this – for this reason if not using current form the entry will not be forwarded to Ohio PTA Not submitting winning entries online – this is mandatory Using poor quality tape to attach entry forms to artwork – do not use painters tape No title or artist statement = greatly diminishes chances of winning as this is factored significantly in judging rubric Photography vs. visual arts – review photography and visual arts rules in detail Local PTA information not completed on entry form; creates extra work for council Not submitting entries in proper format (follow submitting instructions) All artwork must be the work of one student. Multiple students can appear in film, etc., but only one student on entry form. Not filling out PTA unit info on entry forms If dropping entries at Michelle’s house, please be sure to label bag

Photography vs. Visual Arts These are all photography entries. They are all printed as a single photograph. Multiple images were manipulated digitally and created as a single image.

Photography vs. Visual Arts These are all visual arts entries. They either contain text on the image or is a collage made up of multiple individual photographs (printed separately).

Summary National PTA is still in the process of finalizing/communicating information –Michelle needs address for Reflections chairs to effectively relay information as it becomes available Consider setting your deadline a little earlier than previously used For the most part, the rules for the individual categories are the same

Lake County Council Reflections Chair: Michelle Graf Ohio PTA Contact Us