Reflections

Tennessee PTA Reflections Deadline is Friday, January 10th, 2025.

The Reflections Program is a Multilevel Creative Contest for students wanting to express their own thoughts, ideas, and unique voice through their own artwork or theme entry. It provides our Tennessee Students (Pre-K to 12th Grade) an opportunity to be creative by getting inspired by this year’s winning student theme (Accepting Imperfection…) and developing artwork in any (or all) of the six main art categories. The Art and Theme Contest has 3-4 levels depending on your area: school (local), council unit (if applicable), state (Tennessee) and national.

The six main art categories include dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts. Additionally, there is a Special Artist category available. We encourage all leaders to read through all of the specific category details/rules below and choose which categories work for your students and program. Leaders may choose to offer one, many, or all categories at their local and council units.

Reflections Art Contest-Get Started By Following The Steps Below:

STEP 1: Register Your School PTA (Local) and Council Unit for Reflections HERE
STEP 2: Name Your Reflections Leader(s) for Your School PTA (Local) and Council Units by emailing the Tennessee PTA at reflections@tnpta.org the name and email address of the point person(s) for your program.
STEP 3: Make Your Plan: Start Your Program by getting All of the Info and this Year’s Contest Promotional Materials on The National PTA Website. You may also purchase theme posters here.
- - Set Your Local Program Dates
  - Verify Your Council Unit Program Dates (If Applicable)
  - Find the Participation Rules for each category to publish to parents below and The Official Rules with Fillable Student Entry Form.
  - Know The State Deadline: Electronic entries from local and council units are due to Tennessee PTA on or before: Friday, January 10th, 2025 via REFLECTIONS:National PTA Student Entry Portal. Don’t forget to hit submit!
STEP 4: Kick Off Your Program at Your School – Best Practice during National Arts In Education Week (September 9-13), but not required as there is still plenty of time!
Announce the theme and your program dates in your school using flyers, through principal announcements (calls & emails to parents too!), and on your social media PTA pages.
Make sure to send out Student Entry Forms and Participation Rules to all parents via email and/or sending forms home with students with a Reflections promotional flyer.
STEP 5: Run Your Contest and work with your Council Unit Reflections Leaders if applicable
STEP 6: Collect All Entries for Judging (Securing 3-4 Judges is recommended)
- - Each entry must have a completed Student Entry Form.
STEP 7: Order for student awards and certificates at Shoppta.com.
STEP 8: Celebrate All Students Artwork and Announce Council or State Qualifiers via School Awards Ceremony
- - Don’t forget to recognize your students on social media, school announcements, and/or principal parent emails
STEP 9: Submit Top 3-5 Winners in each Art Category onto the next level (Council or State)

Reflections Theme Search-Get Started By Following The Steps Below:

STEP 1: Collect Reflection Art Contest Theme Ideas from your students for judging.
- - The Theme Search Entry Form must be filled out by each student.
STEP 2: Identify your winning entry and recognize the student (local, council).
STEP 3: Know the State Deadline: Theme Entry Winner Form from both local or council units are due to Tennessee PTA on or before: Wednesday, November 1st, 2024 via reflections@tnpta.org.

Past & Future Reflections Arts Contests

2025-2026: Reflections Theme: TO BE FOUND
2024-2025: Reflections Theme: Accepting Imperfection
2023-2024: Reflections Theme: I am Hopeful Because…

Additional Reflections Details and Documents:

The Portal Process
Local units and councils must complete the online registration (required annually) along with entering the student information on all entries advancing to the state level for judging. The online registration process may be initiated by completing STEP 1 above. Local units and councils should also upload the students’ artwork though the Student Entry Portal for those entries being submitted to Tennessee PTA for judging. The online registration provides the means to submit artwork online. Submitted entries must be kept by submitting units in case it is a winning submission and needs to be brought to the TNPTA student awards ceremony for display.
Find more information about Local Leaders and the Reflections Portal at https://tnpta.org/reflections/portal_instructions_local_leaders.pdf
NEW: Watch the YouTube Video where the Portal Process is explained at this link.

TNPTA Arts Enhancement Grant
To learn general information on Reflections, please take National PTA’s online eLearning training through:
Reflections Leader Training provided by National PTA Walk through a step-by-step process, gather tools and resources, and learn best practices for encouraging creativity in your school with the National PTA Reflections student arts recognition program. approx. 30 min.To enhance your Reflections program resources, you may apply for a grant through TNPTA Arts Enhancement Grant Application. Grant applications for the 2024-2025 program year are accepted at any time.

More information, questions, or need help? Contact reflections@tnpta.org.