Tennessee PTAReflections 101

The theme was submitted through the Reflections Theme Search Contest by

Rachel SperryNorthwood, North

Dakota

2015 – 2016 Theme:

Let Your Imagination Fly

Participation in the arts…

Levels the playing field for underserved students.Develops the whole-child.Nurtures creativity and teamwork.Connects family, schools, and communities.

All children deserve opportunities to explore and be involved in the arts.

Today you will learn about…

1. PTA Reflections®

2. Program Planning and Organizing Your Team

3. Promoting Reflections

4. Program Rules and Eligibility

5. Reflections Program Structure

6. Preparing Your Entries For The State Level

7. Wrapping Up

About PTA Reflections®Since 1969, the Reflections program has allowed millions of students to explore their artistic talents in an educational way.

“The cultural arts are happiness. Happiness is drawing, dancing, finger painting. Happiness is modeling with clay, making music or a poem,

performing a play.”

-Mary Lou Anderson, founder of National PTA’s Reflections Program

Reflect!

Explore!

Celebrate!

Additional Opportunities

Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grants• Applications Available January 4, 2016 at

www.PTA.org/Awards • Applications Due March 11, 2016

Tennessee PTA Arts Enhancement Grants• Applications Available at www.tnpta.org• Applications Due to the State Office March 1, 2016 (this was made available through a grant from Wal-Mart)

Chapter 2 Program PlanningandOrganizing Your Team

Roles and Responsibilities

Create a committee Establish a timeline Communicate with other PTA leaders Represent your Local PTA at statewide

arts-related events

• Announce planning meetings, ask school leaders to make recommendations, extend personal invitations

• Utilize your student leaders• Consider school staff• Assign specific tasks to

volunteers without requiring their attendance at planning meetings

• Cultivate community arts professionals

Recruiting Volunteers

Sources may include working arts professionals or arts

students in local arts organizations, companies and colleges.

Examples: • Newspaper Editors/Arts

Reviewers & Local TV News Producers

• College/university Professors, Graduate Fellows, Undergraduate Students

• Never use a parent or teacher in your school for judging

Recruiting Judges

Chapter 3Promoting Your Reflections Program

Tennessee PTA Reflections

We have National PTA winners every year.

This art work was on display at the National PTA Convention and US Dept of Education.

Award of Excellence◦ Aisha Patel – Music Composition, Primary Division, A.L. Lotts

Elementary PTA ◦ Laney Fowler – Photography, Primary Division, Nolan Elementary PTA

Award of Merit◦ Caroline Henson – Dance Choreography, Middle School Division,

Collierville Middle School PTA◦ Ayush Doshi – Film Production, Primary Division, Northshore

Elementary PTA◦ Charlie Dorset – Film Production, Intermediate Division, Farragut

Intermediate PTA◦ Olivia Gregory – Literature, High School Division, Germantown High

School PTSA◦ Kiersten Morris – Photography, High School Division, L&N STEM

Academy PTSA

National PTA Winners from Tennessee in 2015

Ideas for Promoting ReflectionsStudents & Families

Host assembly

Provide morning announcements

Hang posters and flyers

Post on websites

Post a blog/ newspaper article

Use Facebook/ Twitter

Appoint student leaders

Chapter 4Program Rules and Eligibility

PTA Units can participate in one or more arts categories

• Dance Choreography• Film Production

• Literature• Music Composition

• Photography• Visual Arts

Students can participate in any or all arts categories

Art Categories

• Primary – Preschool through Grade 2

• Intermediate – Grade 3 through Grade 5

• Middle School – Grade 6 through 8• High School – Grade 9 through

Grade 12• Special Artist • Option 1 – Enter in the traditional grade

division most closely aligned with student’s functional ability.• Option 2 – Enter in Special Artist

Division (all grades)

Divisions

Understanding Program Rules

• General Participation Rules

• Arts Category Rules

• Student Eligibility and Entry Guidelines

This information can be found on the Tennessee PTA website – www.tnpta.org

It is very important to understand General and Category Rules.

Summary of Rules and Eligibility• Students must be affiliated with a PTA/PTSA in good standing,

as determined by Tennessee PTA • Students may submit entries in more than one arts category• Artwork must be original and created for the purpose of this

contest and this year’s theme• Only one student may create the work and be recognized as the

award recipient, but other students may appear in the artwork itself

• General participation, specific arts category and Special Artist Division rules must be followed at all levels

Tennessee PTA/PTSA'sin Good Standing

To be in “Good Standing” with Tennessee PTA:

1. You must submit a current membership report, along with general membership dues paid by December 1, 2015

2. You must have current Bylaws, approved by Tennessee PTA

3. You must have at least 20 members.

Visual Arts has two changes: Two dimensional work no longer is restricted

to 3/8-inch thick maximum. Three dimensional artwork is now accepted:

◦ Must be able to be moved for display purposes. ◦ Must include 3 photos of the entry (a combination

of angles) for judging, ID and exhibition purposes (entries that require assembling/repairing from transporting will be disqualified).

New for 2015-2016

Sample Student Entry Form

Students ages 17 and under MUST have parent’s signature – All student info must be provided.

Local unit information MUST be complete, including contact person, email and PTA Local Unit ID #

Entry MUST show the title of the artwork and include an artist statement (10-100 words)

Chapter 5Reflections Program Structure

Reflections Program Structure

1. Set your DEADLINE dates for turning in Reflection Entries. Check with your Council for their deadline dates and set yours accordingly.

2. Collect your Reflection Entries, along with the original entry form and participation form. Put forms inside a protective sleeve and attach to the entry.

3. Sort your entries by category and have them ready for your judges.

4. When judging is complete, return your non-winning entries to the students.

5. Be sure to recognize your winners and your judges.

6. Now it is time to prepare entries to move to the next level of judging.

Registering your Local Unit/Council Online1. Fill out the paper PTA Participation Form

2. Go to: www.pta.org/Reflections

3. Click on: National PTA Reflections Online Registration (yellow box) “Register Now” Button

4. Follow directions as you go through the process to enter information from your form.

5. A webinar for Online Registration may be found at: www.tnpta.org

Chapter 6Preparing your Entries for the State Level

Entries Submitted to the State1. The DEADLINE for Tennessee PTA Reflection Entries is January 22, 20162. All entries sent to the Tennessee PTA State Office must include the original artwork

with the original student entry form. (For 3D visual arts, send three photos and student entry form. Do NOT send in original 3D artwork.)

3. You must also include the “Participation Form” (total number of students that participated, in each category)

4. You must also include the “Local Unit/Council Inventory Form” for all entries sent to the state level.

5. Each Local Unit and Council may send up to five (5) entries for each category, including the “Special Artist” division. Accordingly, you should send NO more than thirty-five (35) entries total. (Exception – when a local unit covers more than one school, then follow guidance for each school as if a local unit, i.e., up to 35 entries per school.)

6. Ensure that all digital files are in the proper format. Please send original plus one copy of all Literature entries.

7. You must enter registrations using the online system, as well, and enter student entry information, including uploading student entries, for all entries advancing to state.

Tennessee PTA - Reflections1905 Acklen Ave.Nashville, TN 37212

Ship/Mail entries to:

Chapter 7 - Wrapping It Up1. Complete online registration and student entry form

for advancing artwork.2. Verify that all paperwork is included before mailing

entries to the state level (Student Entry Form with the artwork, Registration Form and Inventory Form for your unit/council).

3. The deadline for state entries is January 22, 2016.4. Don’t forget to thank your judges!5. Celebrate with your students for accomplishments.6. Thank your principal, teachers and parent volunteers.

We are Always Here To Help You

Tennessee PTA Reflections®www.tnpta.org

Lida Whitaker-Sheppard, lida@tnpta.org

National PTA Reflections® PTA.org/Reflections

(800) 307-4782Reflections@PTA.org