2018-19 School Events

PTA Principal Breakfast July 19th, 2018 Smyrna American Legion 9:00 am

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Aug 1st, 2018

AUGUST TBA Annual General Fall JCC PTA Meeting (#1) Please email if your school would like to host our meeting.

Reflections Campaign

• The 2018-2019 Reflections Theme is: Heroes Around Me

The Reflections Program is a National PTA and Georgia PTA cultural arts competition. Since 1969, over 10 million students across the nation have taken part in this popular PTA program.

The purpose of this program is to provide an opportunity for students to use their creative talents by expressing themselves through their own original works. The excitement and enthusiasm that the program generates for students, parents, schools and communities is unmatched with the majority of Georgia PTAs participating in the program at all PTA levels.

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: Visual Arts Photography, Literature, Music Composition, Dance Choreography, and Film Production.

That's why the Reflections Program provides an excellent opportunity for students of all ages to:

• Unleash their creative talents and be inspired
• Express themselves imaginatively in their artwork
• Experience the joy and fun of making art
• Tap into critical thinking skills to create art inspired by the annual theme
• Receive positive recognition for their original works of art

Using A Checklist To Ensure All Requirements Are Met

Registering, Organizing, and Planning are just the first steps in having a successful Reflections program. Be sure to use the provided checklist to help make sure no steps are left out!

Click Here to Download the Reflections Checklist for 2018-2019

What Is a PTA Reflections Celebration?

The PTA Reflections Celebration is a powerful tool for encouraging students to explore and be involved in the arts. Together, school leaders and families offer positive reinforcement for participation in the National PTA Reflections program.

Parents and community leaders are welcomed into the school to discover the rich culture and artistic skills presented by student artists. An art exhibit with live student performances and an awards ceremony will showcase the importance of arts education in your school.

During the PTA Reflections Celebration, families will:

• Recognize their child’s participation and achievement in the arts.
• Discover new opportunities to stay involved in their child’s learning through the arts.
• Understand how arts programs provide necessary educational benefits and share their positive experiences with school and community leaders.

Click Here to Download the Reflections Celebration Guide

Why Is Student Recognition Important?

Celebrating student learning provides an opportunity for schools and families to connect with each other and to their community. When PTAs and schools celebrate the arts together, all families feel welcomed into the school and are encouraged to take an active role in their child’s learning. Research shows positive recognition and engaged families attribute to higher rates of student success.

Celebration events also serve as a platform for communicating the importance of arts education in your school. Ensure school leaders, policy makers and community leaders recognize the value of learning through the arts.

Judging Artwork

After you collect your artwork, it is time for judging. To aid the judges, provide each judge with the:

Judging Guidelines

Judges Score Card

Submitting to Council/State:

Local Unit Reflections Chairs: As you prepare your student entries to move forward from local unit to council or state level judging, we have a 3 step process we would like for you to follow.

• Step 1 - Complete the Local Unit Participation Form
• Step 2 - Complete the Winners Log. Please note that there are three tabs in the Winners Log Excel Spreadsheet. Please be sure to completely fill out the information on all three tabs (Local PTA Information, Winners List, Special Artist Winners)
• Step 3 - Register your local unit with National PTA. We do not require Local Units to input their student entries into the online database, however, local units AND Councils need to create an account and register their schools in the online system.

Theme Search

The search is on for the 2020-2021 National PTA Reflections program theme! The student who submits the winning entry will receive $100, and his or her theme will be announced at the National PTA Convention and Exhibition in June 2019.

Please review the past themes listed on the form linked below. Repeat themes will not be considered.

Participation in the Reflections Program theme search is optional.

• Theme Search Guidelines
• Theme Search Entry Form 2020 - 2021 (and Previous Years Themes)

State Deadline for 2020-2021 Theme SEARCH Entries: November 2, 2018

Rules and Forms

• Reflections Rules Packet (Does not contain forms.)
• Local Student Entry Form

Special Artists Division

*Be sure to mark the box indicating this is a Special Artist Entry.

• Special Artists Rules
• Special Artist Flyer English
• Special Artist Flyer Spanish

State Deadline for 2018-2019 Entries: December 7, 2018

Promotional Materials

These documents can be used together to create a packet of information to send home with interested students.

• Reflections Poster 2018-2019 (English & Spanish)
• Volunteer Job Descriptions
• Abridged Reflections Rules
• Local Student Entry Form
• Tips for promoting Reflections 2018-19
• Local Unit Reflections Checklist 2018-2019
• Certificate of Recognition (and Other Awards)
• Arts in Education Flyer - English
• Arts in Education Flyer - Spanish

Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant Program

Is your PTA planning a creative Arts Program for students? Each year, National PTA provides up to $1,000 in matching funds for PTA sponsored Arts Programs facilitating sustained involvement in the arts that target populations of at-risk students.

Reflections JCC Deadline OCTOBER 24th @ Belmont Hills Elementary School Media Center

NOVEMBER TBA Reflections JCC General Meeting and Ceremony

MARCH Annual JCC TOTY Luncheon TBA

APRIL TBA D9 Conference

APRIL TBA JCC Last Meeting of the year and Scholarship Presentation