REFLECTIONS PROGRAM

The Reflections Program is a National PTA arts recognition program that helps students explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful not only in school but in life. Students in pre-K through grade 12 create original works of art in response to a theme. Students submit their completed works of art in one, or all, of the available arts categories: Visual Arts, Photography, Literature, Music Composition, Dance Choreography, and Film Production. 

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The 2025-2026 Reflections theme is “I Belong!” Themes are selected from student submissions. Students may only submit entries through a PTA/PTSA. Only students that attend at school with a PTA/PTSA may participate. Parent groups not affiliated with National PTA are not eligible to sponsor this program.

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Students may enter in one or more of the available arts categories:

• Literature – works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, prose, drama, short stories and lyrics.

• Music Composition – original musical composition, with or without words.

• Photography: color or black and white, included techniques: photogram, negative sandwich, and multiple exposure.

• Visual Arts: drawing, painting in tempera, oil, acrylic, watercolor & t-shirt paints, computer generated art, two-dimensional collage, printmaking, needlework & leather tooling.

• Film/Video: original works, with or without sound, of animation, narrative, documentary, experimental or music video/film.

• Choreography/Dance: originally choreographed dance composition.

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Participation is organized by student age and grade levels. Student works are critiqued against others in the same grade division. This allows recognition and judging of artworks by appropriate developmental age and skill levels.

The grade divisions are:

• Primary: Pre-school – Grade 2

• Intermediate: Grades 3 – 5

• Middle School: Grades 6 – 8

• High School: Grades 9 – 12

(For artists needing accommodations to participate, see 2024-25 Accessible Arts Rules | en español)

Accessible Arts submissions are judged in two divisions:

• Elementary (Kindergarten – 5th grade)

• Secondary (6th grade – 12th grade)

Entries are judged on creative ability and interpretation of the theme.

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Entries must meet the criteria written in the guidelines, especially file type/format, length, and size. Students should not have their full names displayed in the art piece.

• 2025-26 Accessible Arts Division Guidelines | en Español

• 2025-26 Dance Choreography Category Full Guidelines| en Español

• 2025-26 Film Production Category Full Guidelines | en Español

• 2025-26 Literature Category Full Guidelines | en Español

• 2025-26 Music Composition Category Full Guidelines | en Español

• 2025-26 Photography Category Full Guidelines| en Español

• 2025-26 Visual Arts Category Full Guidelines| en Español

• 2025-26 WSPTA Student Entry Form (fillable) | en Español

• 2025-26 WSPTA Student Entry Form

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Finalists from local PTAs will move on to their council PTA (if applicable), then finalists from councils will advance to the state round. Washington State PTA finalists who receive an “Outstanding Interpretation award will advance to the National PTA round.

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Local PTAs and councils may choose to accept physical or virtual entries. Only virtual submissions will be sent to the WSPTA level for judging.

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The deadline for submissions is Monday, November10th, 2025 at 10:00pm.

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For a list of Reflections FAQs, please click here.

For questions, please contact reflections.woodside@gmail.com