The following steps will help you run a successful Reflections program. All Participants (schools or individuals) should contact Delaware PTA Board Members Kelly Coffey and Julie Alvarez to be put on distribution list for Delaware PTA Reflection updates.
IMPORTANT DATES:
NOW!: Register your school for the Reflections program and to be included in judging in the state level program and the chance to move to nationals. It is highly recommended that you register and kick off your program as soon as possible in order to have time for a call for entries, submission and your own school level judging. Most schools will kick off their programs in Fall 2023.
February 1, 2025: Deadline to register for Reflections to be included in judging in the state level program and the chance to move to nationals. This is the latest you can register but it is highly recommended that you register and kick off your program as early in the school year as possible in order to have time for a “call for entries”, submission and your own school level judging. Most schools will kick off their programs in Fall 2024.
February 1, 2025: Deadline for non-PTA schools and individuals to join Delaware PTA as a VIP member and contact Delaware PTA Board Members Kelly Coffey and Julie Alvarez to coordinate submission of entries. See special instructions at the bottom of the page for more information.
February 15, 2025: Deadline for PTAs to submit up to 5 entries in every art category and grade division at local PTA/VIP Unit level are due in the state portal.
April 1, 2025: State Winners announced.
Delaware PTA is currently seeking a State Reflections Co-Chair, or individuals interested in joining the State Reflections Committee to assist with setting up judging and the state awards ceremony. If you are interested, please contact Delaware PTA Board Members Kelly Coffey and Julie Alvarez
Running a program in your school (or, for non PTA schools and individuals, participating as a DPTA VIP) and submitting entries in one or more categories and divisions using the current year’s theme.
Delaware PTA’s Reflections program is open to all students in the Delaware, regardless of whether they attend a school with an active PTA or not. The steps below outline how to run a school-wide program. It can be used by PTA and non-PTA schools. If you wish to participate as an individual or your school does not have a PTA please review the Special instructions for Non-PTA Participation/Individual Participation at the bottom of the page
Step 1: Start the Arts
- Register for participation by Feb 1, 2024 to be included in the state program.
- Review materials available from National PTA.
- Review the training for local Reflections chairs
Step 2: Organize and plan your program
- Recruit a committee/team of volunteers to assist with program tasks. Also recruit community arts professionals to review artwork and determine awards.
- Review the Reflections Local leaders guide
- Customize your Leaders Checklist to organize tasks and schedule deadlines (included in leader’s guide).
Step 3: Promote and encourage students to enter
- Reach out to your schools teachers and encourage them to use the theme “Accepting Imperfection” as an assignment for the Visual Arts or Literature category
- Share with your student community the other categories and the guidelines for students to submit their own works in dance choreography, photography, film production and music composition.
- All students must submit a signed entry form along with their artwork. Please note that National PTA will accept typed signatures so digital platforms may be used for entry collection.
- Student Entry Packet – This includes the Reflections Official Rules for Participation and abridged category/division-specific guidelines. The Packet is only available in the the State Reflections Library, please download to share with units in your state.
- Student Entry Form – This includes only the required Entry Form and does not outline program requirements or abridged category/division-specific guidelines.
- Fillable PDF Student Entry Form (en español), also shared to our Start Your Program page
- Customizable Student Entry Form (en español)
- All entries advancing to the national level for review must follow the rules for their specific arts category and division.
- Check out the National PTA’s Reflections page for posters, logos, signs and other resources to use in promoting the reflections program.
Step 4: Organize artwork for judging
First, check-in entries and review artwork for qualification. Organize entries by division and category, then assign them to a judge.
- Welcome judges with a copy of program rules and score card (in your local leader guide). Instruct judges to follow the guidelines spelled out in the program rubric when scoring entries.
- Ensure judges review the student’s artwork title and artist statement included on the student’s entry form, but do not reveal the student’s name.
- Assign awards to all qualifying entries. Award levels may include: Award of Excellence, Award of Merit, Honorable Mention and Participant.
- Submit school winners (up to 5 entries in every category and grade division) online via the National PTA Student Entry Portal by 11:59pm ET February 15, 2025. (Deadline is 11:59pm ET on February 1, 2025 for non-PTA schools and individuals to join Delaware PTA as a VIP member and contact Delaware PTA Board Members Kelly Coffey and Julie Alvarez to coordinate submission of entries. See special instructions at the bottom of the page)
Step 5: Celebrate and recognize your participants
- Start with the Celebrate Guidelines to help plan your event.
- Present the Student Certificate and other awards available at the PTA Store.
- State winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony at the 2025 State Convention.
Step 6: Wrap Up
- Be sure to thank school staff, community partners, PTA members and judges. Consider this template Thank-you Letter for Volunteers / en español.
- Award certificates to school level winners.
- Organize information to share with PTA and school leaders. Consider this Sample Program Evaluation to archive notes for next year.
Special instructions for Non-PTA Participation by Schools and Individual students
Schools and other groups of students ( e.g. homeschool groups):
- School does not have a PTA/PTSA (or their PTA is not in good standing)
- School has a PTO instead of a PTA
- Homeschool or other educational groups
- Identify someone as the Lead for your Program. Set up committees and run your program using all the other materials as they have been presented in the steps above.
- WINNERS should join Delaware PTA as a VIP member. Cost is $10. A parent may join in place of the student. Parents only need to join once if more than one student wishes to participate.
- The Program Lead should contact Delaware PTA Board Members Kelly Coffey and Julie Alvarez by February 1, 2025 to coordinate submission to the state portal of up to 5 winners per category per division. Submission must be completed by 11:59pm ET, February 15, 2025.
- Students who attend a school that has a PTA that is in good standing, but their school is not running the Reflections program:
- Identify someone as the Lead for your Program. Set up committees and run your program using all the other materials as they have been presented in the steps above.
- The Program Lead should contact Delaware PTA Board Members Kelly Coffey and Julie Alvarez by February 1, 2024 to coordinate submission to the state portal of up to 5 winners per category per division. Submission must be completed by 11:59pm ET, February 15, 2025.
Individual students:
- School does not have a PTA/PTSA (or their PTA is not in good standing)
- School has a PTO instead of a PTA
- Homeschool or other educational groups
- Join Delaware PTA as a VIP member. Cost is $10. A parent may join in place of the student. Parents only need to join once if more than one student wishes to participate.
- Follow the instructions, guides and rules above to prepare your entries.
- Contact Delaware PTA Board Members Kelly Coffey and Julie Alvarez by February 1, 2024 to coordinate your submission.
- Students who attend a school that has a PTA that is in good standing, but their school is not running the Reflections program:
- Follow the instructions, guides and rules above to prepare your entries.
- Contact Delaware PTA Board Members Kelly Coffey and Julie Alvarez by February 1, 2024 to coordinate your submission.
If there are more than 5 entries in grade division and category, Delaware PTA VIP submissions will be initially judged as a group by the Delaware PTA. Top 5 winners in each grade division and category will be moved up to the state level for judging.
Delaware PTA is currently seeking a Reflections Co-Chair, or individuals interested in joining the Reflections Committee, at the state level to assist with setting up Judging and the Awards ceremony. Please contact us if you would like to help!
Any other questions? Please contact Delaware PTA Board Members Kelly Coffey and Julie Alvarez
Reflections Theme Search Contest
Every year, National PTA hosts our annual Reflections Theme Search Contest to select one student theme to inspire student artists as they participate in the national Reflections program. Themes are selected two years in advance.
Use these resources to launch your call for student submissions:
- Theme Search Entry Form (en español)
- Theme Search Packet (en español)
- Fillable PDF Theme Search Form (en español)
Theme Search Winners
One winning student’s theme is selected by a team of National PTA volunteers based on originality and creativity. The winning student is awarded $100 and national recognition. Check out the past 50+ years of winning themes – all submitted by students – here.
Special thanks and congratulations, once again, to our previous Theme Search Contest winners and all of the State PTAs who participated in the Theme Search Contest!
- Paige Opaska, from Barbara Bush Middle School PTA in Texas, submitted the winning theme, Accepting Imperfection, that will inspire students during the 2024-2025 program submission. See Paige’s blog feature here.
- The most recent winner of the annual contest is Ben Morgan from Lewis and Clark Middle School PTSA in Idaho! Ben’s submission, I Belong! will be the 2025-2026 Reflections theme. Learn more about Ben and the inspiration behind the theme.
