Reflections

PTA Reflections Program

National Awards
The national PTA organization gives out 18 Awards of Excellence in each arts area - tree for each grade division. Up to five Awards of Merit may be given in each grade division of each arts area.

Award of Excellence recipients receive a $200 cash award and a silver-plated Reflections medallion. Award of Merit recipients receive a silver-plated Reflections medallion. Additional sponsor gifts may be given.

Outstanding Interpretation Awards
Six Outstanding Interpretation Award recipients - one from each arts area - are chosen from among all of the Award of Excellence recipients. The six Outstanding Interpretation Awards recognize the most creative interpretation of the theme in each of the arts areas, regardless of grade division.

The six Outstanding Interpretation Award recipients receive the following:

• An expense-paid trip for themselves and one adult to the PTA National Convention
• An $800 arts education award from the national PTA organization
• A gold-plated Reflections medallion
• Additional sponsor-related awards

In addition:

• A $200 arts eduction award from the national PTA organization to the student's local PTA

Notification to students

• All students whose entries reach the national level of judging will receive a letter of congratulations from the national PTA organization in June.
• Recipients of Awards of Excellence and the Awards of Merit will be notified in writing in May.
• Outstanding Interpretation Award recipients and their state arts chairs will be notified by telephone in April.

Return of artwork

• Entries that receive national awards will be featured in the Reflections Program Gallery on the PTA national website.
• The national PTA office will make every effort to return the photographs and visual artwork in January, following the completion of the gallery. However, the office does not return literature, musical composition, dance choreography, or film/video production entries.
• Contact your state PTA for its artwork return policy.

1. The arts develop higher-order thinking skills.
2. The arts can increase cooperation, tolerance of diverse values and viewpoints, and understanding of cultures past and present.
3. The arts enhance the learning, working, and playing environment.
4. The arts improve low self-esteem, a major factor in learning difficulties, the dropout rate, teenage suicide, violence, substance abuse, and crime.
5. The arts engage a variety of learning styles and offer all children avenues for academic success, including children with disabilities and limited English proficiency.
6. The arts integrate basic neurological functions and aid student learning in other subject areas.
7. The arts enhance students’ creativity and increase creative thinking and problem solving abilities.
8. The arts access a variety of human intelligences.
9. The arts develop skills that prepare students for the work force.
10. The arts assist in developing public images in the corporate world.
11. The arts in the schools and community can attract new business to the area.
12. The arts enrich our souls and free our spirits.

Getty Institute for the Enrichment of the Arts

Washington State PTA Reflections Info Page (Includes rules in electronic format)
http://wastatepta.org/programs/Reflections/reflect.htm#

Heatherwood MS PTA
http://heatherwoodpta.org/

Gateway MS PTSA
http://gatewayptsa.org/

AP Studio Art Information
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_studioart.html

National Portfolio Day
Saturday, January 10, 2009. Seattle, Washington, 11:00AM - 3:00PM, Cornish College of the Arts
http://www.portfolioday.net/

Performing and Visual Arts College Fairs
NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling)
http://www.nacacnet.org/MemberPortal/Events/CollegeFairs/PVA/

National Art Honor Society (10th - 12th graders)
National Junior Art Honor Society (7th - 9th graders)
http://www.naea-reston.org/nahs.html

The President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities
http://www.pcah.gov

The Arts Education Partnership
http://aep-arts.org/