Reflections

an Arts Recognition and Achievement Program for Students

2003 - 2004 Theme - "I Am Really Happy When"

Awards Ceremony February 29th - details

Important Dates & Deadlines

2003-2004 Forms, Rules, Guidelines, Flyer

(Note:need login & password from back of membership card)

Reflections is an arts recognition and achievement program for students based on the belief that all children deserve a quality arts education. When children express themselves through words, pictures, music, and other art forms, they grow intellectually and increase their self-confidence. They learn to analyze their thoughts, feelings, and ideas. They learn to look at things, people, and experiences in a fresh and exciting way, and they become more interested in the ideas and works of others.

are on the National PTA Website, members only section. You will need the members only login & password which may be found on the back of your membership card.
Colorado PTA adds new dance category. This is a statewide category. Winners do not go on to National PTA competition. Rules
*Reflections* Meet State Model Content Standards for Visual Art, Music, Reading and Writing. View content standards for:
Visual Arts	Music	Reading and Writing
Participation is organized by school grade. 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.

Eric's 1999 Award Winning Entry - Best Interpretation, Photography, National PTA

Participating in the Reflections Program is an opportunity for students to explore and learn about various art forms. It does not matter whether an entry created for the Reflections Program has been created as a classroom assignment or independently at home. Each student may enter in any of the four arts areas: literature, visual arts,

Students enter the Reflections Program through their local PTA/PTSA. Awards are given at the local, council, state, and national levels.

Arts Areas

Literature
Musical Composition
Photography
Visual Arts
Dance (Colorado PTA only)

Grade Divisions

Primary (preschool-grade 2)
Intermediate (grades 3-5)
Middle/Junior (grades 6-8)
Senior (grades 9-12)

Important Dates & Deadlines:

Boulder Council	Denver Council
El Paso Council	Jeffco Council
Region Units
State Awards Ceremony	February 29, 2004
Seawell Grand Ballroom Denver Center for the Performing Arts* 1245 Champa St. Denver, CO 80204-2104 2p.m. - 4 p.m. They are graciously hosting the ceremony for Colorado PTA. DCPA is historically one of Colorado ’s leading organizations in advocating for arts education and a pioneer in the arts-to-career field www.denvercenter.org

photography and music. Students may submit more than one entry in any or all of the four arts areas.

General Rules:

Students may submit entries only through a PTA or PTSA in good standing
All entries submitted must be original works and must relate to the annual Reflections Program theme
Each entry must be the work of only one student. Assistance from teachers, parents, or friends is not permitted except in special cases (such as for those with visual or physical disabilities)
Participation encourages creativity and exploration. Students should do their best, but crooked lines, incorrect musical notes, or misspelled words do not disqualify anyone.

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Reflections and Colorado Model Content Standards

To view a complete listing of state content standards, visit the Colorado Department of Education's web site.

Visual Arts

Standard 1: Students recognize and use the visual arts as a form of communication.

Each year the National PTA has a theme for the contest. For example, the 2002-2003 theme is “Signs of Courage.” Participants are encouraged to create works that embody and communicate this theme. They must:

Select and use visual images and ideas to communicate their interpretation of the theme (Grades K-4)
Select, organize and employ visual images and ideas in works of art to express an intended meaning as it relates to the program theme (Grades 5-8)
Research and synthesizing visual images, and ideas to create works of art which reflect personal experiences and intended messages to communicate the theme (Grades 9-12)

Standard 3: Students know and apply visual arts materials, tools, techniques, and processes.

The Reflections program provides the opportunity for students to create works of art in a variety of mediums: pencil, ink, paint, photography, etc. Students are able to decide what materials and techniques will be used. Participants

Use materials, tools, techniques, and processes to make works of art (Grades K-4)
Select and use materials, tools, techniques, and processes that enhance communication of the theme through art (Grades 5-8)
Demonstrate skill with a variety of materials, tools, techniques, and processes resulting in the creation of works of art (Grades 9-12)

Music

Standard 1: Students sing or play on instruments a varied repertoire of music, alone or with others.

Reflections participants in this category must demonstrate their ability to sing or play an instrument. While the composition can be authored by one person only, the piece may be played with one or more instruments in ensemble.

Standard 2: Students will read and notate music.

Notation, including traditional, tablature, or electronic, is required for middle/junior and senior high school students. The quality or accuracy of the notation and performance supports the musical idea. Primary students are not required to use notation but are encouraged to use iconic notation. Iconic notation is “made-up” notation; a written or drawn analog to the sounds in the composition.

Standard 3: Students will create music.

The Reflections Program theme is used as a starting point for students who which to compose a musical piece for the competition. Compositions are judged on music theory and on presentation as they relate to communicating the theme.

Reading and Writing

The Literature category of the Reflections Program focuses on written compositions by participants. Participants can submit poems (of all kinds), stories, essays or other written materials that incorporate their interpretation of the current year’s theme.

Standard 2: Students write and speak for a variety of purposes and audiences.

The written compositions submitted are presented to a variety of audiences: judges, parents, artists and the general public.

Standard 3: Students write and speak using conventional grammar, usage, sentence structure, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.

Winning entries generally are those which are well structured, grammatically correct, creative and neatly presented.