2025-26 Reflections

"I Belong!"  

 

 

ABOUT REFLECTIONS 

 

Reflections is a National PTA art in education program, started in 1969 and is the largest arts in education program of its kind in the United States. 

 

The program gives students the opportunity to use their creative talents by expressing themselves through their own original works created around a theme. Reflections is not “just an art contest.”  It helps kids take risks, be inspired, think creatively and be celebrated for their creativity and work. Studies have shown there is a positive relationship between the arts and wellbeing. Get more information about Reflections Art Program (wastatepta.org).

 

Students submit their works in one or more of the categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts. 

 

While the primary focus of Reflections is a celebration of creativity through positive recognition, finalists from local PTAs will move on to their council PTA (if applicable), then finalists from councils will move on to the state round. Washington State PTA finalists who receive an “Outstanding Interpretation” award will advance to the National PTA round. 

 

 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Forms must filled and submitted electronically. 

 

***Forms submitted in any other format will not be entered 

 

 

Key Resources 

 

  https://www.lwptsa.net/reflections/ 

  https://wastatepta.org/programs/reflections/  

  https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections/startyourprogram#resources  

 

 

KEY DATES 

 

October 27th, 2025 – deadline to submit entries, Get In Early!  
 
Oct/Nov 2025 – PTSA judging process 
 
November 2025 – Winner's announcement (note: scores and judging notes will not be shared) 
 
January 2026 – Lake Washington PTSA Council winner's announcement 
 
March 2026 – WSPTA Reflections competition announced 
 
May 2026 – National PTA Reflections competition announced 

 

 

PROGRAM CHAIR 

Lina Tong (reflections@alcottptsa.org) 

 

 

REFLECTIONS CATEGORIES AND DIVISIONS 

 

Participation is organized by student age and grade levels. Student works are critiqued against others in the same grade division. The grade division for Alcott students is Primary: Preschool – Grades 2, and Intermediate: Grades 3 – 5. 

 

Young artists get involved through their local PTA or PTSA. A student may submit an entry in any of six arts areas. Only original works of art are accepted. The six art areas are:

 
Literature (Literatura) – works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, prose, drama, short stories and lyricss. 

 

Music Composition (Composición Musical) – original musical composition, with or without words.  

 

   Photography (Fotografía) - color or black and white, included techniques: photogram,   negative sandwich, and multiple exposure. 

 

Visual Arts (Artistes Visuales—Solo entradas 2D) - drawing, painting in tempera, oil, acrylic, watercolor, and more. LWPTSA is only accepting 2-D artwork. 

 

Film/Video (Producción Cinematográfica) - original works, with or without sound, of animation, narrative, documentary, experimental or music video/film. 

 

Dance Choreography (Coreografía de Danza) - originally choreographed dance composition. 

 

Accessible Art Division (División de Arte Accesible) - The National PTA accessible art division is an option for students with a disability as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Generally, rules and guidelines within this division are intended to ensure accessibility to the National PTA Reflections® program and are modeled after the guidelines outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Complete details are included in the Accessible Arts Guidelines.

 

 

PREPARING/VERIFYING ENTRIES 
  1. “Content rules” must be followed or the entry is disqualified – if local PTA has questions or can’t determine if the content complies with the rules, you may be asked to submit the physical art piece (for example, if it looks like a painting may have 3-D elements that make it more than ½” thick, or a photograph that might be a collage vs. a photo montage). 
     
  2. “Packaging Rules” (plastic sleeves and labeling of visual arts/photos) will only need to be followed if an entry is selected to go on to National PTA, and some “packaging rules” (multiple printed copies of literature entries, thumb drives for music/film/dance) may not be relevant at all this year! 
     
  3. Please take good care of your artwork as it may be requested/required to be submitted for entries that are advancing! It will need to be in the same form it was in when the digital image was submitted in October! 

 

SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE 2025-26 PROGRAM 
  • Visual Arts – 3D art is not being accepted this year; only 2D entries are allowed. Examples of 3D: architecture carpentry, ceramics, jewelry, kites, dioramas, mobiles, etc. 
  • Visual Arts – 2D: size and thickness 
  •  Maximum size is 24” x 30” (includes matting). 
  •  Thickness is ½” (includes matting) It is no longer 3/8”. 
  • Photography: minimum and maximum sizes of photo 
  • Minimum size is 3” x 5” 
  • Maximum size is 8” x 10” 
  • Photo + Mat is no bigger than 11” x 14” 

 

 

If entries advance to National PTA, the physical artwork will be collected and must meet these criteria! 

  

Music, Film and Dance: Rules still have CDs and DVDs as an option for submitting entry. It is hard to find CD and DVD players these days. So, USBs are preferred.  

 

 

TIPS AND JUDGING 

 

Judges will consider the following criteria: 

 

  1. Interpretation: How closely the piece relates to the theme, based on the work itself and the artist statement. 
  2. Creativity: How creative and original the piece is in its conception of the theme and its presentation. 
  3. Technique: The level of skill demonstrated in the basic principles/techniques of the arts area. 

 

Judges strongly consider the interpretation of the Reflections theme during the evaluation process. It is suggested that students give their submissions a title that stands out and describes how the piece relates to the student’s personal interpretation of the theme. The following guiding questions can be useful when developing a title and artist statement:  

  • How does your work relate to the theme? 
  • What is your personal connection to the theme? 
  • What did you use to create your work (e.g., supplies, technology, instrumentation, props, etc.)? 
  • What/who was your inspiration?