Local Leader’s Guide - 2016-2017 Reflections Program - What Is Your Story?

Sep 12, 2026

Local Leader’s Guide provides practical guidance for running the National PTA Reflections arts program from local participation through judging and recognition. It outlines program purpose, key roles for PTA Reflections chairs, family engagement approaches, and how students connect their artwork to the annual theme. The guide explains theme selection through the Theme Search Contest, Missouri-specific progression to state and national rounds, volunteer and judge recruitment, and steps for organizing submissions, evaluating participation, and reporting results.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time6 min

AccessFree to download

Start the Arts!

About PTA Reflections

Roles and Responsibilities

The Art of Family Engagement

Theme Search Contest

Arts in Education Grants

Organizing and Planning Your Program

Organizing Your Team

Tips for Recruiting Volunteers

Recruiting Judges

Promoting Reflections

Program Messages

Student Recruitment Messages

Ideas for Promoting Reflections

Organizing Artwork for Judging

Understanding Program Rules

Judging Process

Celebrating and Recognizing Your Participants

Recognize Students Locally

Advancing Entries to the Next Round

Regional and State-Level Recognition

National-Level Recognition

Wrapping Up

Recognize Partners and Volunteers

Return Student Artwork

Report Participation

Evaluate Your Program

Local Leader’s Guide TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Start the Arts! 1.1 About PTA Reflections 1.2 Roles and Responsibilities 1.3 The Art of Family Engagement 1.4 Theme Search Contest 1.5 Arts in Education Grants 2. Organizing and Planning Your Program 2.1 Organizing Your Team 2.2 Tips for Recruiting Volunteers 2.3 Recruiting Judges 3. Promoting Reflections 3. 1 Program Messages 3. 2 Student Recruitment Messages 3.3 Ideas for Promoting Reflections 4. Organizing Artwork for Judging 4. 1 Understanding Program Rules 4. 2 Judging Process 5. Celebrating and Recognizing Your Participants 5.1 Recognize Students Locally 5.2 Advancing Entries to the Next Round 5.3 Regional and State-Level Recognition 5.4 National-Level Recognition 6. Wrapping Up 6. 1 Recognize Partners and Volunteers 6. 2 Return Student Artwork 6.3 Report Participation 6.4 Evaluate Your Program [Visit mopta.org/reflections-toolkit for](Visit mopta.org/reflections-toolkit for) Missouri specific tools and resources. Local Leader’s Guide 1. Start the Arts! Participation in arts programs—like PTA Reflections—plays a critical role in students’ success, in school and beyond. PTA believes that all children deserve opportunities to explore and be involved in the arts. 1.1 About PTA Reflections The National PTA Reflections program is PTA’s cornerstone arts program. It was developed in 1969 by Colorado’s PTA President Mary Lou Anderson to encourage students to explore their talents and express themselves. Since then, the Reflections program has inspired millions of students to reflect on a specific theme and create original artwork. Each year, students in Pre-K through grade 12 are recognized for bringing the theme to life through dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts. 2016-2017 Reflections Program Theme: What Is Your Story? This theme was submitted through the Reflections Theme Search Contest by Brianna Eisman of Jacksonville, Florida. Students submit their artwork to local PTAs for initial judging. In Missouri, local winning entries then advance to the state round. Top entries from our state PTA Reflections contest advance to National PTA for the final round of judging. 1.2 Roles and Responsibilities As a Reflections Chair of this program, you will play a critical role in promoting exploration of arts and culture in the home, school and community. Students who participate in the Reflections program may not recognize themselves as artists when they sign up—but by the end of the Reflections celebrations, they will. As the PTA Reflections Chair, you will be responsible for the following tasks: • Recruit PTA Reflections Committee members. • Oversee the PTA Committee’s planning and implementation of the Reflections program. • Communicate with other PTA leaders during online and in-person opportunities. • Represent your PTA’s arts-related activities at school and community events. 1.3 The Art of Family Engagement The arts—and the National PTA Reflections program, in particular—can be a valuable tool for building stronger partnerships in your school community. National PTA developed the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships to serve as a framework Local Leader’s Guide for thinking about, structuring, and assessing family engagement throughout your Reflections program. Visit [PTA.org/FamilyEngagement](PTA.org/FamilyEngagement) to learn more. 1.4 Theme Search Contest National PTA Reflections sponsors a student-focused Theme Search Contest annually to determine a future program theme. The winner will be selected in January and will receive $100 and recognition at the National PTA Convention. Use the theme search form to submit theme ideas. Only signed original forms will be considered and must be submitted to Missouri PTA by midnight, October 31, 2016 (postmarked). Forms can be submitted by mail or email. See the theme search fo

FAQs

What is the National PTA Reflections program and what does it aim to achieve?

It is PTA’s cornerstone arts program designed to encourage students to explore their talents and express themselves through original artwork based on an annual theme.

How do students advance from local judging to state and national recognition in Missouri?

Students submit artwork to local PTAs for initial judging, and Missouri local winning entries then advance to the state round. Top entries from the state PTA Reflections contest advance to National PTA for final judging.

What are the key responsibilities of a Reflections Chair?

The Reflections Chair recruits committee members, oversees planning and implementation, communicates with other PTA leaders, and represents PTA arts activities at school and community events.

Sep 12, 2026

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