Reflections 101What is it? How to facilitate it.

Kay EatonPCCPTA - Reflections Chair reflections@pccpta.orgTheresa ThomanPCCPTA – VP of Education education@pccpta.org

Founded in 1969, National PTA Reflections encourages all students in

prekindergarten through grade 12 to explore the arts for fun and

recognition.

▪Reflections is a student recognition program that encourages creativity in school and at home. It welcomes students of all ages and abilities to reflect and think critically about how their world applies to the annual theme. Through exploring and creating original art, without help from adults, students gain confidence in their abilities and engaged in their own learning.

Reflections encourages students to unleash their inner artist to be more creative, reflect deeper and have more fun while learning. One could argue that students gain critical thinking and problem solving skills necessary for overall academic success.

But What is Reflections?

Grade Divisions

▪ Primary (Preschool through Grade 2)

▪ Intermediate (Grade 3 through Grade 5)

▪ Middle School (Grade 6 through Grade 8)

▪ High School (Grade 9 through Grade 12)

▪ Special Artist ( All Grades)

Arts Categories

▪ Dance Choreography

▪ Film Production

▪ Literature

▪ Music Composition

▪ Photography

▪ Visual Arts

Winning Entries forward to County Judging!With the possibility of forwarding to State and

Finally National Judging

▪ 3 Entries, from each Arts Category can forward to County for each Grade Division (on even playing field once it goes to County) 36

▪ Students can enter ONE entry in every Arts Category, but not multiple entries in one Art Category

▪ Entries that actually pertain to the theme will have the greatest possibility of forwarding on each tier of judging

▪ If your student’s entry wins at the County Level, it will automatically be forwarded to State Level – you only need to make sure the family knows

▪ At the State level, only ONE “Award of Excellence”, in each Arts Category for each Age Division, forwards on to National Judging.

▪ 6 other “Awards of Merit” are named in each Category/Division. These are displayed every year at the Florida PTA Convention in July.

Now Let’s Get Started

Resources Available

Websites with Reflections Information

National – pta.org/reflections“Register My PTA” - Register as soon as possible – you will need to know the

following information when registering• PTA ID # • Number of Students• Title 1 Status• Percent of free and reduced lunch• 2 other contacts – PTA President and other committee member suggested

“Reflections Toolkit”Various materials from posters, to Reflections images, to thank you letters

Spend a little time to explore

Websites with Reflections Information

State – floridapta.org/reflections

Currently under construction

Unsure what information will be there

Websites with Reflections Information

County – pccpta.org/reflections

Everything you need!

This is the best place to print off any materials because there are some specifics to Pinellas County

Google Reflections

YouTube Reflections

Other Reflections Chairs

Previous Reflections Chairs

ME!

Other Resources

Leader’s Checklist

But First, Supplies You Will Need

▪ First Year – Binder to keep yearly information in

▪ Envelopes – 9X12 Brown Envelopes

▪ Sheet protectors

▪ Masking tape

▪ Flash drives – on loan to students if need be

▪ Certificate Paper

▪ Ribbons or Awards

▪ Thank you Notes

▪ Keep a Reflections Box to transfer supplies from previous chair to the next

Leader’s Checklist Helpful HintsGetting Started

▪ You will need to know when first check was written for membership dues, what date insurance was paid, and when bylaws were approved last – find out information from President/Treasurer – fill in on every entry form before giving to students

▪ Budget – Basic for ribbons and supplies - $100 to $150 – MS and HS less - If you are doing a reception, may be more – spend all money in the budget

▪ Where to get student materials? December 7th is County Turn in Date

▪ Volunteer Sign Up Sheet - can one person handle it all?– Publicist

– Judging Coordinator

– Computer Wiz

– Celebration Coordinator

Leader’s Checklist Helpful Hints (2)Getting Started

Who to use for judges? Keep judges anonymous.

Should you only offer certain categories?

Timeline

Month to 2 months from announcement to due date

Collect entries and judging within the following week

One to two weeks to display artwork for entire school and to make sure all entry forms forwarding are 100% correct and fully filled out

School Awards ceremony before County turn in

Turn in to County December 7th and/or 9th

County Winners Announced in January

State Winners Announced in May/April

National Winners Announced in May/June

Leader’s Checklist Helpful HintsPromote Your Program

Distribute (Make sure top box is filled in prior to distribution)– Rules and Entry Forms

– Have available at PTA meetings

– Put copies on School/PTA website

– Have copies available in front office / teachers

Promote– Advertise on Morning News

– Posters in Hallways

– Advertise to Parents also so they understand program

– Work with student leaders to hang posters and to promote program to their friends. They may even create a Reflections commercial announcing a call for entries.

– Connect with school teachers and leaders in support of classroom lessons and after school activities based on the theme.

– Think out of the box!

Create Excitement!

Create Fun!

Make it Special!

PROMOTE

Leader’s Checklist Helpful HintsCoordinate the Review of Student Submissions

▪ Great time to fill in Participation Log numbers – don’t worry about missing information on entry forms (except for Title and Artist Statement – these are important for judging) at this time. Once entries are judged and are going to forward, make sure forms are fully complete. What to do if Artist Statement is off?

▪ After you receive entries, good idea to create a quick spreadsheet just to document what you have received. May want to take pictures of all entries.

▪ After all entries are in, order ribbons right away. How do you want to place your entries? Make sure parents know all are entries are considered equal when forwarding to County judging.

▪ Fold entry forms for judging, even if handing off to a judge. Make sure judge understands that interpretation of the theme ways more than a pretty picture. Make sure to write thank you to all judges.

Leader’s Checklist Helpful HintsCelebrate Your Student Participants

▪ Holiday Program, Paws Assembly, Morning News, Hang paper ribbons on winners that are on display

▪ At a PTA meeting, Tea Party, evening ceremony – may want to create a simple PowerPoint to showcase child’s work when called up –Create invitations to invite

▪ Forwarding to County – how to package and entry forms – flash drives - Reflections Chair is the one accountable for final check on corrected and completed entry forms – DO NOT send someone from your school with incomplete forms and does not know what to do

▪ Do not enter any of your forwarding entries on the PTA website. May change next year.

▪ Why Local Unit Award Log?

▪ Why Participation Log and Feedback?

Leader’s Checklist Helpful HintsWrap Up and Report Program Success

▪ Easy Return, after awards ceremony, take your entry home with you if you are not forwarding to County

▪ But you are still not done! Invite to County Reflections ceremony. After winners are announced, make sure you email results to all forwarded students. If you have County winners, announce to school.

▪ But wait! If you have County winners, let them all know about State Reflections ceremony and follow up email with results.

▪ But wait! If you have State winners…same story.

▪ Report student participation and program success at pta.org/reflections

▪ Create a Reflections notebook to pass to future chairs and do a recap at the end of every year of what worked and what didn’t work. Keep notes in Reflections book. All programs are more successful if you set your successor up for success!

Reflections 102Rules and Round Table

Kay EatonPCCPTA - Reflections Chair reflections@pccpta.orgTheresa ThomanPCCPTA – VP of Education education@pccpta.org