1. MCCPTA
Reflections Training
Spring 2013
Presented by
Melissa A. McDonald, MCCPTA Reflections Co-chair
with Paul Geller, Vice President for Programs,
MCCPTA, and a panel of experienced Reflections
Chairs
4. What is Reflections?
The program offers students the opportunity to
create works of art for fun and recognition.
Students in preschool through grade 12 are
encouraged to submit works of art in six areas:
Visual Arts
Film Production
Dance Choreography
Literature
Musical
Composition
Photography
5. In its 40+ year history, the program has
encouraged millions of students across the
nation and in American schools overseas
to explore their artistic talents.
The Reflections Program was started in
1969 by then Colorado PTA President
Mary Lou Anderson.
6. Each year, the Reflections Program
challenges students to create art that
relates to a specific theme.
Themes are selected from thousands
of ideas submitted by students to
PTA‘s Reflections Program Theme
Search.
7. Reflections & Family
Engagement
The arts—and the PTA Reflections Program, in
particular—can be a valuable tool for building stronger
partnerships in your school community.
Standard 1: Welcoming All Families into the School
Community
Standard 2: Communicating Effectively
Standard 3: Supporting Student Success
Standard 4: Speaking Up for Every Child
Standard 5: Sharing Power
Standard 6: Collaborating with Community
http://www.pta.org/programs/content.cfm?ItemNumber=2898
9. This theme was submitted through the
Reflections Theme Search Contest by
Julie Lampert of Waverly Park PTA,
located in East Rockaway, New York.
―My Inspiration for the theme came from
my experience in competitive sports. I
hope that students across the country will
strive to make their dreams become a
reality,‖ Julie writes.
10. To learn more about Reflections:
ReflectionsMCCPTA-
subscribe@yahoogroups.com
(Please join this listserv as it is our primary form of
communication)
www.mdpta.org/bridge_reflections.html
(State Reflections website)
www.ptareflections.org/ (Note: use forms on MDPTA website)
(National Reflections website)
www.pta.org/2032.asp
(National Reflections website)
11. Reflections Yahoo Listserv
Most of our communication is via e-mail
and the Yahoo listserv – please join today!
Local Reflections Chairperson and PTA
President are asked to join the listserv:
ReflectionsMCCPTA-
subscribe@yahoogroups.com
14. New in 2012-2013:
Special Artist Division
A non-graded division limited to
students whose physical, cognitive, or
mental health challenges meet the
guidelines set forth in the ADA.
15. Ways to implement a Reflections
program at your school:
Publicity
Judging
Paperwork
16. MCCPTA Reflections:
2011-12 Visual Arts & Photography
Award of Excellence Winners
MCCPTA REFLECTIONS 2011-12
Photography & Visual Arts
Award of Excellence Recipients
“Diversity Means…”
18. Get the Word Out!
Let all of your school‘s teachers know about
the program
Via E-mail
Leave flyer in mailbox
Speak directly to the teachers at a staff
meeting
Announce in the school‘s newsletter, morning
announcements, web site, Listserv, etc.
Hang posters in your school
21. On the reverse, include details of
your school‘s program:
•Deadline for submission
•Where to submit (drop off in workroom/media
center, main office, etc)
•Details for submitting (very important to have a
signed entry form attached)
•Date of showcase & reception
•Chairperson‘s contact information
22. Helpful Suggestions
E-mail Student Guidelines Packet directly to
parent when you are able to do so;
Leave a stack of flyers in a convenient place for
students to pick-up themselves (in the media
center, for example);
Post the Student Guidelines and official entry
form on your school or PTA website;
Utilize social media as available;
23. Helpful Suggestions
Shrink wrap visual arts and photography
submissions*
Mount artwork on foam core or stiff poster board
(but do not exceed maximum dimensions)
*rolls of shrink wrap
available at Michael‘s
24. New Requirements*
Include this important information on cover of the
Student Reflections Packet:
Maximum dimensions of artwork
File type and length maximums – DVD
/CD entries not recorded in stated format
WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
*Check carefully the current year‘s Reflections guidelines
for details – requirements are subject to change.
25. Official Entry Form Requirements*
Entry form must be signed before
turning in to MCCPTA – REQUIRED
Title and artist statement –
REQUIRED
Completed PTA section –
REQUIRED
*Check carefully the current year‘s Reflections guidelines for
details – requirements are subject to change.
27. Judging
Each PTA Reflections chairperson is
responsible for securing judges of their own
local contest
Helpful to find judges that work with children
and understand their levels of ability
Judge may use this form (see Local Arts Chair‘
Guide):
28. Name of
Entry
Interpretation
of Theme
Artistic
Merit/Creativity
Mastery of
Medium
Total Points Comments
for Student
MCCPTA 2011-12 REFLECTIONS PROGRAM JUDGING SHEET
Theme: “Diversity Means”
GRADE DIVISION ARTS AREA
___ Primary, Pre – 2 ___ Dance
___ Intermediate, 3 – 5 ___ Literature
___ Middle, 6 – 8 ___ Musical Composition
___ Senior, 9 – 12 ___ Photography
___ Visual Arts
___ Film
JUDGING CRITERIA
Interpretation of Theme: How closely the piece relates to the theme, based on the artwork
itself and the artist statement. Total points=20
Artistic Merit/Creativity: How creative and original the piece is in its conception of the
theme and its presentation. Total points= 10
Mastery of Medium: The level of skill demonstrated in the basic principles/techniques of
the arts area. Total points=10
Maximum Total Points = 40
29. Judges should not be from your own
school –MUST conduct blind judging
(judge cannot see the name of the
student).
30. With a Post-It note, cover up name of
student if it is on the front of the
artwork.
Judges should not be able to identify
student‘s work
31. Thank the Judges
…a few ideas
Barnes & Noble, Panera Bread, Michael‘s,
Starbuck‘s gift cards
PTA Reflections lapel pin to each judge
School SWAG
Certificate of Appreciation
33. Official Entry Form
The PTA section MUST be completed –
including all of the dates requested, and PTA
ID number
Entries will not be accepted at the MCCPTA
office if entry form is incomplete and/or your
PTA is not in good standing with MDPTA.
No exceptions.
34. Please Note!
Local PTAs must be in good standing with
Maryland PTA by January 1, 2014 (tentative
date) in order to participate in MCCTPA
Reflections. No exceptions.
Details are outlined in the chairperson guide-
please read the document carefully before
implementing your local program.
Contact Chris or Melissa with questions!
35. To Be In Good Standing:
All Standards of Continuing Affiliation
(SoCA) requirements must be met.
See MCCPTA website for details:
http://www.mccpta.org/SoCA_Requirements.html
36. Entry Form – MUST HAVES*
Each submission must have a signed official
entry form (including the PTA section).
Each submission must have a title and a
mandatory artist‘s statement.
Each submission must be correct size (length,
width, and thickness, etc)
*Subject to change, check next year‘s guide book carefully
37. Please Note!
There are NO EXCEPTIONS to any and
all of the mandatory requirements as
outlined in the Local Chair Guidelines.
MCCPTA cannot accept any entries that
do not adhere to the requirements.
38. • Please, please read
guidelines carefully and ask
questions!
• Remember we are all
volunteers trying to make
this a successful program for
our students.
39. Forms & Paperwork
All forms must be completed and included with
the artwork moving up to the council level
judging.
Online forms are available on the MDPTA
website under the Reflections tab:
http://www.mdpta.org/bridge_reflections.html
and will also be uploaded onto the MCCPTA
yahoo group site.
40. Deliver to MCCPTA Office
Entries should be dropped off
during these dates/times.
Dates to be announced, but will be in
December before Winter Break.
41. MCCPTA OFFICE
Upcounty Regional Services Center
12900 Middlebrook Road, 3rd Floor
Germantown, MD 20874
(301) 208-0111
Office Hours: 10am -2pm M-F
Office Manager: Pam Loebach
2013-14 Drop-off Dates and Times TBA
Please call ahead before dropping off entries.
42. All documents are available
on the MDPTA website and
the Yahoo listserv
www.mdpta.org/bridge_reflections.html
and
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ReflectionsMCCPTA/
44. Awards and Recognition
Ceremonies
Local (school ) level – top 3 in each age division
and arts category division move up to county
level
MCCPTA (county) level- top 3 in each age
division and arts category move up to state level
MCCPTA Showcase & Awards Ceremony
held in the spring (usually March)
45. Maryland PTA AwardsMaryland PTA will honor its 2012-13 winners as
follows:
Outstanding Interpretation of Theme --
Certificate, Ribbon, Trophy, 3 Complimentary
tickets to the Awards Dinner in July and $100
Award of Excellence – Certificate, Ribbon and
$75
Award of Merit – Certificate, Ribbon and $50
Up to ninety entries will be recognized with
monetary awards: 30 Outstanding Interpretation
of Theme, 30 Awards of Excellence and 30
Awards of Merit (one award per arts category per
age division).
46. Local (school) level awards
Local award ceremonies and recognition are the
responsibility of the local Reflections
chairperson.
It is recommended that each student receive a
participation award, and those that move
forward to the county level can be awarded
appropriately.
Be Creative!!
47. We have used Wholesale Medals
www.wholesalemedals.com and Crown
Trophy www.crowntrophy.com, and have
had good service from both companies,
but you may use whomever you wish.
The national PTA web site offers
Reflections awards : www.pta.org (click
on PTA store link)
49. Example of SKR‘s Certificate:
This certificate is awarded to
“I Can Make a Difference by...”
Christopher Wynne, Principal, Dr. Sally K. Ride Elementary School Melissa A. McDonald, Reflections Chairperson
Student‘s name
In recognition of your 2007-2008 PTA Reflections
literature Entry
Certificate of Excellence
Date
50. Showcase & Reception Ideas
Hang a Reflections ‗gallery‘ in a hallway near
the site of your awards ceremony (such as the
media center) two weeks before the reception,
so that all students and teachers will be able to
view the submissions.
Tie it in with a PTA meeting: Reflections
Showcase & Reception held directly after a brief
PTA meeting in early December.
51. Other Ideas for Award Ceremonies
At WLES, the submissions were hung in their
gallery (main hallway) a few weeks before their
reception. The judges did their judging at the
school.
WLES held a reception in Media Center one
evening in mid-December. Each child introduced
his or her art piece, and received certificate &
pin.
Clarksburg ES had an award ceremony in the
morning and included breakfast.
52. Still More Ideas for Award
Ceremonies
Pizza party at lunch time – Great for high
school students.
Hang artwork and awards in your school‘s
media center for a few weeks so that the
entire school can see the entries.
Use your imagination & make it your own!
53. MCCPTA Reflections Awards
Ceremony & Gallery
All local Reflections chairpersons are on
the MCCPTA Reflections Awards
Ceremony committee – thanks in advance
for your time, energy and support!
Event details TBD – watch the listserv for
information!
54. Join our Yahoo! Group
ReflectionsMCCPTA-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Lots of useful (and important)
information
is posted there – this is our primary
form of communication - please join!
55. TOP TIPS FROM LOCAL
CHAIRS
Successful Reflection Programs
56. Top Tips for a Successful
Program
• Involve administration and staff
• Take advantage of all social media tools
• Publicize widely throughout your school
community
Please click link below to access the document
filled with suggestions:
http://issuu.com/melissamcdonald/docs/top_tips_for_a_successful_reflecti
o?workerAddress=ec2-184-73-65-220.compute-1.amazonaws.com
57. Have fun with your program –
the quality of the kids‘ work
will amaze you!
