![\"Reflections](\"https:\/\/www.pta.org\/images\/default-source\/images\/programs\/reflections\/2019\/hero-2019-ref-reflectionslogo.png\")
<\/h1>\r\nTheme for 2025-26 is <\/strong><\/h1>\r\n“I Belong!”<\/strong><\/h1>\r\nLocal School PTA winners must be submitted to PTACHC by DECEMBER 15th, 2025
<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n![\"2025-](\"https:\/\/www.pta.org\/images\/default-source\/images\/programs\/reflections\/2025\/logo-2025-reflectionstheme.tmb-small.png?Culture=en\")
<\/a><\/p>\r\nReflections is a Nationwide PTA program that is a creative and fun way for all students to engage in the arts. There are 6 categories: film, dance, musical composition, photography, visual arts and literature; with 4 age groups for each category: K-2(Primary), 3-5(Intermediate), 6-8 (Middle) and 9-12 (Senior).<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nStudents submit artwork to their local PTA. Works are judged at the local PTA level and the top three winning entries in each category and age group advance to the Council level by December 15th, 2025.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Students must adhere to participation rules, as well as rules for their specific arts area.
The Reflections Chairperson finds the judges in the community and gets the kids excited through by talking to the teachers about integrating it into their school\u2019s curriculum. Then you watch\/listen in amazement as these talented youth bring you wonderful works of art!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFrom the Council level, the top three winners proceed to the state level.\u00a0 The top winners at the state level in each category and age group proceed to the National PTA.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Each level of judging for the Reflections Program follows guidelines that include:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n- Sending your PTA Reflections Chair’s contact information to PTA Council via email (reflections@ptachc.org)<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Establishing a timeline for your PTA’s Reflection Program<\/li>\r\n
- Remember: Individual school PTAs must submit their school’s winners to PTACHC by December 15th, 2025. Allow yourself enough time to collect and judge winners. PTACHC will submit county-level winners to the State (Free State PTA) by January 26, 2025).<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Promoting the program to your community<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Distributing the rules, deadlines, and entry forms to participants<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Collecting the student’s entries for judging<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Organizing and hosting the judging<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Celebrating the winners<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Submitting winning artwork entries and required forms to the Council level
<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n - Please note: Only PTA’s in good standing may host the Reflections Program<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
For more information about the PTA Council of Howard County program please contact the Reflections Chair at: reflections@ptachc.org.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ptachc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Reflections-Arts.png\")
<\/h3>\r\nGUIDES & MORE INFORMATION<\/a>
<\/strong>2025-2026 Reflections Handbook<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Training Guide<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Leader Checklist<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Reflections General Guidelines<\/a>
2025-2026 Reflections Student Interest Flyer<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Maryland Student Entry Form (.doc)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>
2025-2026 Maryland Student Entry Form (.pdf)<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Rules Sheets for the Six Arts Areas<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Accessible Arts Division Rules<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>
2025-2026 Judging Information<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Local\/Council Participation Form<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Local\/Council Entrants List<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Theme Search Information<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h2>\r\nPromotional Items & Stationary<\/h1>\r\n2025-2026 Reflections Poster (English)<\/a>
2025-2026 Reflections Poster (Spanish)<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Reflections 17 x 22 Poster (English)<\/a>
<\/span>2<\/a>025-2026 Reflections 17 x 22 Poster (Spanish)<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Reflections Thank you Letter<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Reflections Student Certificate<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\nChanges\/Updates For This Year (2025-2026) from Free State PTA
<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n- Accessible Arts:<\/span> Moving forward, the Special Artist division will continue to be referred to as the Accessible Arts division. This change is in response to concern around the term \u201cspecial,” based on feedback gathered from participants, volunteers, and partner non-profit organizations, recognizing the importance of evolving how we talk about disability to align with and be more inclusive of people with disabilities.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
- The division-specific guidelines and student entry forms include updated language and the new title. However, the competition process and structure of the division was not changed. Stay tuned! This enhancement is part of larger, forthcoming updates to the division that will debut in the future.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
- Materials were updated to provide consistent and clearer guidance around the use of technology and copyright materials in entries:<\/span>\r\n
\r\n- Use of Copyright Materials:<\/span> Guidelines were clarified to explain that, while permitted in certain categories, copyrighted material in an entry must be incidental and\/or is a smaller element of a whole and used to create a completely new and different work of art.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
- Use of Technology:<\/span> Guidelines were clarified to emphasize that digital technology may not provide the primary design and\/or concept for an entry and to indicate that entrants must provide a brief description how they used the technology\/software, including any generative elements (e.g., algorithmic techniques, artificial intelligence).<\/span><\/li>\r\n
- The category-specific guidelines and student entry packet\/form reflect these changes. In addition, the category-specific guidelines also reflect language adjustments, especially the following:<\/span><\/li>\r\n
- Visual Arts:<\/span> Category-specific guidelines now specify “digital art and graphics (drawings\/paintings\/ illustration),” rather than “computer-generated images.”<\/span><\/li>\r\n
- Literature:<\/span> Category-specific guidelines now specify dictation is permissible based on the student being able, rather than their age.<\/span>\r\n
\r\n- Special note for Free State PTA entrants:<\/span> Submissions may not be created using artificial intelligence software (such as ChatGPT, DALL-E rotor, hotpot AI, deep AI, Craiyon, nightcafe, or other text-to-art software tools) to generate any part of the content or composition. Content generation, including composition and arrangement, must be the result of student exercise of skills and tools. This does not preclude the use of image painting and editing software such as photoshop, gimp, paint or similar software tools for any entries.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n
- Students can participate in the following divisions:<\/span> primary (pre-K\u2013grade 2), intermediate (grades 3\u20135), middle school (grades 6\u20138), high school (grades 9\u201312), or accessible arts (all grades) through the PTA associated with their school.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
\u00a0
Shareable Promotional Materials<\/a>\u00a0 from National PTA – (Scroll down page below US map)<\/p>\r\n********************************************<\/h3>\r\nStudent Certificate Sample<\/a>
Volunteer Thank You Letter<\/a><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nNational PTA Reflections Logo<\/a>
Past Program Themes<\/a>
<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nArt Grants<\/strong>
Howard County Arts Grant<\/a> – available after Jan. 15
National PTA Mary Lou Anderson Art Grant<\/a>-Apply in January<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Theme for 2025-26 is “I Belong!” Local School PTA winners must be submitted to PTACHC by DECEMBER 15th, 2025 Reflections is a Nationwide PTA program that is a creative and fun way for all students to engage in the … Continue reading
Local School PTA winners must be submitted to PTACHC by DECEMBER 15th, 2025
<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<\/a><\/p>\r\nReflections is a Nationwide PTA program that is a creative and fun way for all students to engage in the arts. There are 6 categories: film, dance, musical composition, photography, visual arts and literature; with 4 age groups for each category: K-2(Primary), 3-5(Intermediate), 6-8 (Middle) and 9-12 (Senior).<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nStudents submit artwork to their local PTA. Works are judged at the local PTA level and the top three winning entries in each category and age group advance to the Council level by December 15th, 2025.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Students must adhere to participation rules, as well as rules for their specific arts area.
The Reflections Chairperson finds the judges in the community and gets the kids excited through by talking to the teachers about integrating it into their school\u2019s curriculum. Then you watch\/listen in amazement as these talented youth bring you wonderful works of art!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFrom the Council level, the top three winners proceed to the state level.\u00a0 The top winners at the state level in each category and age group proceed to the National PTA.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Each level of judging for the Reflections Program follows guidelines that include:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n- Sending your PTA Reflections Chair’s contact information to PTA Council via email (reflections@ptachc.org)<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Establishing a timeline for your PTA’s Reflection Program<\/li>\r\n
- Remember: Individual school PTAs must submit their school’s winners to PTACHC by December 15th, 2025. Allow yourself enough time to collect and judge winners. PTACHC will submit county-level winners to the State (Free State PTA) by January 26, 2025).<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Promoting the program to your community<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Distributing the rules, deadlines, and entry forms to participants<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Collecting the student’s entries for judging<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Organizing and hosting the judging<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Celebrating the winners<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Submitting winning artwork entries and required forms to the Council level
<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n - Please note: Only PTA’s in good standing may host the Reflections Program<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
For more information about the PTA Council of Howard County program please contact the Reflections Chair at: reflections@ptachc.org.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/h3>\r\nGUIDES & MORE INFORMATION<\/a>
<\/strong>2025-2026 Reflections Handbook<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Training Guide<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Leader Checklist<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Reflections General Guidelines<\/a>
2025-2026 Reflections Student Interest Flyer<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Maryland Student Entry Form (.doc)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>
2025-2026 Maryland Student Entry Form (.pdf)<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Rules Sheets for the Six Arts Areas<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Accessible Arts Division Rules<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>
2025-2026 Judging Information<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Local\/Council Participation Form<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Local\/Council Entrants List<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Theme Search Information<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h2>\r\nPromotional Items & Stationary<\/h1>\r\n2025-2026 Reflections Poster (English)<\/a>
2025-2026 Reflections Poster (Spanish)<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Reflections 17 x 22 Poster (English)<\/a>
<\/span>2<\/a>025-2026 Reflections 17 x 22 Poster (Spanish)<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Reflections Thank you Letter<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Reflections Student Certificate<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\nChanges\/Updates For This Year (2025-2026) from Free State PTA
<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n- Accessible Arts:<\/span> Moving forward, the Special Artist division will continue to be referred to as the Accessible Arts division. This change is in response to concern around the term \u201cspecial,” based on feedback gathered from participants, volunteers, and partner non-profit organizations, recognizing the importance of evolving how we talk about disability to align with and be more inclusive of people with disabilities.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
- The division-specific guidelines and student entry forms include updated language and the new title. However, the competition process and structure of the division was not changed. Stay tuned! This enhancement is part of larger, forthcoming updates to the division that will debut in the future.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
- Materials were updated to provide consistent and clearer guidance around the use of technology and copyright materials in entries:<\/span>\r\n
\r\n- Use of Copyright Materials:<\/span> Guidelines were clarified to explain that, while permitted in certain categories, copyrighted material in an entry must be incidental and\/or is a smaller element of a whole and used to create a completely new and different work of art.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
- Use of Technology:<\/span> Guidelines were clarified to emphasize that digital technology may not provide the primary design and\/or concept for an entry and to indicate that entrants must provide a brief description how they used the technology\/software, including any generative elements (e.g., algorithmic techniques, artificial intelligence).<\/span><\/li>\r\n
- The category-specific guidelines and student entry packet\/form reflect these changes. In addition, the category-specific guidelines also reflect language adjustments, especially the following:<\/span><\/li>\r\n
- Visual Arts:<\/span> Category-specific guidelines now specify “digital art and graphics (drawings\/paintings\/ illustration),” rather than “computer-generated images.”<\/span><\/li>\r\n
- Literature:<\/span> Category-specific guidelines now specify dictation is permissible based on the student being able, rather than their age.<\/span>\r\n
\r\n- Special note for Free State PTA entrants:<\/span> Submissions may not be created using artificial intelligence software (such as ChatGPT, DALL-E rotor, hotpot AI, deep AI, Craiyon, nightcafe, or other text-to-art software tools) to generate any part of the content or composition. Content generation, including composition and arrangement, must be the result of student exercise of skills and tools. This does not preclude the use of image painting and editing software such as photoshop, gimp, paint or similar software tools for any entries.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n
- Students can participate in the following divisions:<\/span> primary (pre-K\u2013grade 2), intermediate (grades 3\u20135), middle school (grades 6\u20138), high school (grades 9\u201312), or accessible arts (all grades) through the PTA associated with their school.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
\u00a0
Shareable Promotional Materials<\/a>\u00a0 from National PTA – (Scroll down page below US map)<\/p>\r\n********************************************<\/h3>\r\nStudent Certificate Sample<\/a>
Volunteer Thank You Letter<\/a><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nNational PTA Reflections Logo<\/a>
Past Program Themes<\/a>
<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nArt Grants<\/strong>
Howard County Arts Grant<\/a> – available after Jan. 15
National PTA Mary Lou Anderson Art Grant<\/a>-Apply in January<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Theme for 2025-26 is “I Belong!” Local School PTA winners must be submitted to PTACHC by DECEMBER 15th, 2025 Reflections is a Nationwide PTA program that is a creative and fun way for all students to engage in the … Continue reading
<\/a><\/p>\r\nReflections is a Nationwide PTA program that is a creative and fun way for all students to engage in the arts. There are 6 categories: film, dance, musical composition, photography, visual arts and literature; with 4 age groups for each category: K-2(Primary), 3-5(Intermediate), 6-8 (Middle) and 9-12 (Senior).<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Students submit artwork to their local PTA. Works are judged at the local PTA level and the top three winning entries in each category and age group advance to the Council level by December 15th, 2025.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Students must adhere to participation rules, as well as rules for their specific arts area. From the Council level, the top three winners proceed to the state level.\u00a0 The top winners at the state level in each category and age group proceed to the National PTA.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Each level of judging for the Reflections Program follows guidelines that include:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n For more information about the PTA Council of Howard County program please contact the Reflections Chair at: reflections@ptachc.org.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n National PTA Reflections Logo<\/a> Art Grants<\/strong> Theme for 2025-26 is “I Belong!” Local School PTA winners must be submitted to PTACHC by DECEMBER 15th, 2025 Reflections is a Nationwide PTA program that is a creative and fun way for all students to engage in the … Continue reading
The Reflections Chairperson finds the judges in the community and gets the kids excited through by talking to the teachers about integrating it into their school\u2019s curriculum. Then you watch\/listen in amazement as these talented youth bring you wonderful works of art!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/h3>\r\nGUIDES & MORE INFORMATION<\/a>
<\/strong>2025-2026 Reflections Handbook<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Training Guide<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n
2025-2026 Leader Checklist<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
2025-2026 Reflections General Guidelines<\/a>
2025-2026 Reflections Student Interest Flyer<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Maryland Student Entry Form (.doc)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>
2025-2026 Maryland Student Entry Form (.pdf)<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Rules Sheets for the Six Arts Areas<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n
2025-2026 Accessible Arts Division Rules<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>
2025-2026 Judging Information<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Local\/Council Participation Form<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n
2025-2026 Local\/Council Entrants List<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n
2025-2026 Theme Search Information<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h2>\r\n
Promotional Items & Stationary<\/h1>\r\n
2025-2026 Reflections Poster (English)<\/a>
2025-2026 Reflections Poster (Spanish)<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Reflections 17 x 22 Poster (English)<\/a>
<\/span>2<\/a>025-2026 Reflections 17 x 22 Poster (Spanish)<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n2025-2026 Reflections Thank you Letter<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n
2025-2026 Reflections Student Certificate<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\r\n
Changes\/Updates For This Year (2025-2026) from Free State PTA
<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\u00a0
Shareable Promotional Materials<\/a>\u00a0 from National PTA – (Scroll down page below US map)<\/p>\r\n********************************************<\/h3>\r\n
Student Certificate Sample<\/a>
Volunteer Thank You Letter<\/a><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Past Program Themes<\/a>
<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Howard County Arts Grant<\/a> – available after Jan. 15
National PTA Mary Lou Anderson Art Grant<\/a>-Apply in January<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
![National PTA Reflections Logo<\/a>](\"https:\/\/www.ptachc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Reflections-Logo-20-21.png\"){kind=link}