Participation

Student entries should be turned into the Reflections Mailbox in the Adkins’ Front Office.  Entry deadline is 3:00 PM on October 27, 2023.

Submission Form

Each entry must be submitted with a Student Entry Form.

Entry Rules

Each entry must follow the National Reflections Program Rules as taken from Texas PTA (full rules package here):

Choose one or more categories below to create original work that interprets the 2023-24 PTA Reflections theme: I am hopeful because…

Complete a student entry form and submit both to your PTA. (Include arts category, grade and full name on back of artwork or envelope)

Submissions will be reviewed by experienced artists for interpretation of theme, creativity and technique.

We look forward to celebrating your artistry and achievement in the arts!

Participation Requirements: The student or at least one person from their primary household must be a current member of the Local PTA/PTSA where the student is participating. Each Local PTA/PTSA may determine a date by which the member must join. For the full eligibility description and participation options for home-school families, virtual schools and non-PTA schools, please consult the Texas PTA Website at http://www.txpta.org/reflections-participation.

Entry Requirements: Each entry must be the original work of the participating student. Help from an adult or collaboration with other students is not allowed except in the Special Artist Division (see Special Artist guidelines below). Other individuals may appear in or perform a student’s work, but the work itself must be the creative product of one student only.

Copyright: Use of copyrighted material, including any copyrighted cartoon characters or likeness thereof, is not acceptable in any submission, with the following exceptions: entries may include public places, well-known products, trademarks or certain other copyrighted material as long as that copyrighted material is incidental to the subject matter of the piece and/or is a smaller element of a whole. The resulting work cannot try to establish an association between the student and the trademark/business/material, or influence the purchase/non-purchase of the trademarked good. Collages may include portions of existing copyrighted works, such as photographs, magazine clippings, internet images and
type cut out of a newspaper, as long as those portions of copyrighted works are used to create a completely new and different work of art.

Dance Choreography: Solo and ensemble works of all dance styles are accepted. Entrant must be the choreographer and may also be the performer, or one of the performers. If background music is used, cite on entry form. Video file must not exceed 5 min. and 1 GB in size. Accepted formats: AVI, FLV, WMV, MOV, MP4. Packaging: Flash or disk inside envelope with student entry form attached to outside in sheet protector.

Film Production: Accepted short film styles include: Animation, narrative, documentary, experimental or multimedia. Use of PowerPoint is prohibited. Entrant must be the screenwriter, cinematographer, director, editor and producer. If student chooses to appear in film, a tripod and remote may be used. If background music is used, cite it on the entry form. Video file must not exceed 5 min. and 1 GB in size. Accepted formats:  AVI, FLV, WMV, MOV, MP4. Packaging: Flash or disk inside envelope with student entry form attached to outside in sheet protector.

Literature: Accepted forms of fiction and nonfiction include: Prose, poetry, drama, reflective essay, narrative and short story. Entrants may write in their primary language as long as an interpretive English translation is also attached. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited. Writing must not exceed 2,000 words and may be handwritten or typed. Accepted format: Single-sided on 8 ½x11” paper. Packaging: 2 copies of literature inside folder with student entry form attached to outside.

Music Composition: All music styles and combinations of instrumentation are accepted. Entrant must be the composer and may also be the performer, or one of the performers. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited. Audio file must not exceed 5 min. and 1 GB in size. Accepted formats: MP3, WAV. Printed Notation: Required for middle and high school divisions – score, tabulature or written statement explaining how music was created (100 words or less). Packaging: Flash or disk inside envelope with student entry form attached to outside in sheet protector.

Photography: Entrant must be the photographer. Photo or photo montage (multiple original photos) must be combined digitally and printed as a single page. Multi print collages and collections of photos are not accepted. Digital editing techniques are acceptable. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited. Print image dimensions must be no smaller than 3×5 inches and no larger than 8X10 inches. Final product should not be larger than 11×14 inches with matting. Framed prints are not accepted. Packaging: attach student entry form to back with sheet protector.

Visual Arts: Accepted forms of visual art include: 2D original print, drawing, painting, collage (cut and pasted materials such as clippings and photos), metal etching or punch work, fiber work or computer-generated artwork. Frames and artwork containing loose materials are not accepted. Matting is accepted. Dimensions must not exceed 24×30 inches, including mat. Paper entries should be mounted on sturdy material.*Packaging: attach student entry form to back with sheet protector. Cover front of artwork with butcher (or like) paper, securing it
along one edge to the back of artwork without covering form and draping over front. Do not wrap in plastic or laminate entry.

*Note these guidelines are specific to Texas PTA. While other states are incorporating additional 3D art mediums, Texas PTA has made the decision to only accept 2D Visual Arts entries.

Special Artist Division: Students who identify as having a disability and may receive services under IDEA or ADA: Section 504 may enter in the Special Artist Division or grade division most closely aligned to their functional abilities. The Special Artist Division welcomes all grades and all abilities and offers non-artistic accommodations (e.g. adaptive technology; transcribing; holding a camera) for students to participate fully in PTA Reflections. Assistants must refrain from being involved in the artistic process (e.g. developing an artist statement, choreography, music lyrics, storyboards, etc.) Student recognition and awards are announced as part of the Special Artist Division.