Reflections

National PTA believes all children deserve a quality arts education and encourages students to pursue artistic expression through participation in its annual arts Reflections Program. The program offers students the opportunity to create and submit works of art in six areas:

• Dance/Choreography
• Film/Video
• Literature
• Musical Composition
• Photography
• Visual Arts (includes art forms such as drawing, painting, print making & collage)

As of 2/8/2008.

The state judging has not been completed yet.  Otherwise, word from the State Reflections Chair is:
 
The State Reflections ceremony and viewing will be during the annual convention.  That is May 2-4, 2008, the convention is being held at the Doubletree Hotel at Seatac.
 
The entries that placed at the state level will be displayed during convention.  The awards ceremony will be Sunday, May 4 2008.  All the students who placed will receive a letter notifiying them of the time, place, etc.  Everyone is able to attend the ceremony.
 
The entries that did not place at state will have been returned to the Region Directors well before convention.

• December 5th, 2007: Up to 20 entries will be taken from Jackson HS to the Everett PTSA Council. Our fellow volunteers at Heatherwood and Gateway PTAs are kindly assisting us this year. The Heatherwood Reflections chairperson, Christa Pederson, will deliver the JHS entries.
• Students should deliver their works to JHS teacher Mr. Wigre before or on December 4th, 2007.
  
• All entries must have a completed entry form signed by parent/guardian and student.
• PTA information for entry form:
• Jackson HS has a: PTSA
• Reflections chairperson: Jeff Heckathorn
• Phone: 425 385-7000
• Email: webmaster@jhsptsa.org
• PTA/PTSA name: Henry M. Jackson HS PTSA
• PTSA address: 1508-136th St SE, Mill Creek, WA 98012
• Local 8 digit PTA ID: 00703095
• Local PTA number: 0703095 National PTA number:00032512
• PTA standing: Good.  Membership dues paid on: 10/22/07.  Insurance paid on: 9/25/07.  Bylawys approved on 9/12/07.
  
• Students, please read the "Protecting Artwork" document and the "Dimensions Template" document.
  
• Visual Art and Photography entries -
  
• are mounted according to rules.
• size and thickness limitations are not exceeded.
• entry form is taped on back in page protector.
• entries are rigid enough for hanging, not floppy.
• label is prepared as described in "Council Guidelines." Reflections chairperson will handle this item.
  
• Literature entries are in manila folder with entry form.
• "Local PTA Participation Form A" is completely filled out front and back or computer generated copy is attached. Reflections chairperson will handle this item.
  
• Electronic file has been submitted via email to Everett Council person. Reflections chairperson will handle this item.

The national PTA organization is looking for a theme for its Reflections Program for 2009-2010. The student who submits the winning entry will receive $100, and his or her theme will be presented at the 2008 PTA National Convention (June 221-23, in San Diego, California). Use the form to submit theme ideas. Only signed original forms will be considered. Please submit entries to your state PTA office.

State Deadline for Theme Submissions: November, 23, 2007
Form:
http://wastatepta.org/programs/Reflections/themesearch09_10.pdf

PTA Info Needed for Form
Local PTA/PTSA: Henry M. Jackson High School PTSA
PTA/PTSA President: Maddie Korver
Address: Henry M. Jackson HS, 1508-136th St SE, Mill Creek, WA 98012
Phone: 425 385-7000
Email: president@jhsptsa.org
Eight Digit PTA ID: 00703095

Good luck!

National Awards
The national PTA organization gives out 18 Awards of Excellence in each arts area - tree for each grade division. Up to five Awards of Merit may be given in each grade division of each arts area.

Award of Excellence recipients receive a $200 cash award and a silver-plated Reflections medallion. Award of Merit recipients receive a silver-plated Reflections medallion. Additional sponsor gifts may be given.

Outstanding Interpretation Awards
Six Outstanding Interpretation Award recipients - one from each arts area - are chosen from among all of the Award of Excellence recipients. The six Outstanding Interpretation Awards recognize the most creative interpretation of the theme in each of the arts areas, regardless of grade division.

The six Outstanding Interpretation Award recipients receive the following:

• An expense-paid trip for themselves and one adult to the PTA National Convention
• An $800 arts education award from the national PTA organization
• A gold-plated Reflections medallion
• Additional sponsor-related awards

In addition:

• A $200 arts eduction award from the national PTA organization to the student's local PTA

Notification to students

• All students whose entries reach the national level of judging will receive a letter of congratulations from the national PTA organization in June.
• Recipients of Awards of Excellence and the Awards of Merit will be notified in writing in May.
• Outstanding Interpretation Award recipients and their state arts chairs will be notified by telephone in April.

Return of artwork

• Entries that receive national awards will be featured in the Reflections Program Gallery on the PTA national website.
• The national PTA office will make every effort to return the photographs and visual artwork in January, following the completion of the gallery. However, the office does not return literature, musical composition, dance choreography, or film/video production entries.
• Contact your state PTA for its artwork return policy.

1. The arts develop higher-order thinking skills.
2. The arts can increase cooperation, tolerance of diverse values and viewpoints, and understanding of cultures past and present.
3. The arts enhance the learning, working, and playing environment.
4. The arts improve low self-esteem, a major factor in learning difficulties, the dropout rate, teenage suicide, violence, substance abuse, and crime.
5. The arts engage a variety of learning styles and offer all children avenues for academic success, including children with disabilities and limited English proficiency.
6. The arts integrate basic neurological functions and aid student learning in other subject areas.
7. The arts enhance students’ creativity and increase creative thinking and problem solving abilities.
8. The arts access a variety of human intelligences.
9. The arts develop skills that prepare students for the work force.
10. The arts assist in developing public images in the corporate world.
11. The arts in the schools and community can attract new business to the area.
12. The arts enrich our souls and free our spirits.

Getty Institute for the Enrichment of the Arts

Washington State PTA Reflections Info Page (Includes rules in electronic format)
http://wastatepta.org/programs/Reflections/reflect.htm#

Heatherwood MS PTA
http://heatherwoodpta.org/

Gateway MS PTSA
http://gatewayptsa.org/

AP Studio Art Information
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_studioart.html

National Portfolio Day
Saturday, January 5, Seattle, Washington, 11:00AM - 3:00PM, Cornish College of the Arts
http://www.portfolioday.net/

Performing and Visual Arts College Fairs
NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling)
http://www.nacacnet.org/MemberPortal/Events/CollegeFairs/PVA/

National Art Honor Society (10th - 12th graders)
National Junior Art Honor Society (7th - 9th graders)
http://www.naea-reston.org/nahs.html

The President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities
http://www.pcah.gov

The Arts Education Partnership
http://aep-arts.org/

Mr. Wigre, Jackson HS Teacher, RWigre@everettsd.org
Jeff Heckathorn, Jackson HS PTSA Reflections Chairperson, webmaster@jhsptsa.org