10-11 General Rules

“Together We Can”
2010–2011 PTA Reflections Program

GENERAL STUDENT PARTICIPATION RULES
Students must adhere to the following General Student Participation Rules
as well as the rules for their specific arts area.
The theme for the 2010–2011 PTA Reflections Program is “Together We Can” Only new pieces of
artwork inspired by the theme may be submitted.
Student Eligibility Through Local PTAs

Students must participate in the Reflections Program through a local PTA/PTSA in good standing.
Parent groups not affiliated with National PTA are not eligible to sponsor this program. It is the
responsibility of the state and local PTA/PTSA to determine each student’s eligibility in the Reflections
Program. A student may develop an entry in or outside of school.
Grade Divisions
Students may enter the Reflections Program in the appropriate division for their grade. The divisions
are as follows:
• Primary: preschool–grade 2 • Middle/Junior: grades 6–8
• Intermediate: grades 3–5 • Senior: grades 9–12
If students do not fall under specific grade divisions, National PTA suggests that they be grouped as
follows:
• Primary: up to age 7 • Middle/Junior: ages 11–13
• Intermediate: ages 8–10 • Senior: ages 14+
It is the responsibility of the local PTA/PTSA to determine the appropriate division if necessary.
Arts Areas
Students may submit works in any of six arts areas:
• Dance choreography • Musical composition
• Film production • Photography
• Literature • Visual arts
National PTA does not limit the number of entries a student may submit.
Originality
Each entry must be the original work of one student only. An adult may not alter the creative integrity
of a student’s work. Because the program is designed to encourage and recognize each student’s
individual creativity, help from an adult or collaboration with other students is not allowed. Only one
student may be recognized as the award recipient for each entry. Other individuals may appear in or
perform a student’s work, but the work itself—the dance choreography or film production (including
screenplay, camerawork, and directing) or musical composition (including written score and any lyrics),
etc.—must be the creative product of one student only. (See the specific arts area rules for details.)
Use of copyrighted material (other than recorded music in dance choreography and film production
entries) is prohibited.
Plagiarism is defined as taking and using another person’s ideas, writings, or inventions as one’s own.
Plagiarized entries will be disqualified and returned to the students.
Student Entry Form
All participants are required to fill out in its entirety and sign the Student Entry Form. Students who have
not completely filled out the entry form will not be eligible to participate in the program. In situations
where the child cannot fill out the entry form or write legibly, a parent may complete the form.
Students have the option of titling their works. If a work has a title, the title must be included on the
Student Entry Form. If the work has no title, please write “Untitled.” All entries must include an artist
statement that describes how the piece relates to the theme. For most arts areas, students must also
answer a few questions about how they created their works; see Required Information on the Student
Entry Form.
Required Artist Statement

Each participant is required to submit an artist statement that describes what inspired him or her to
create the work and how it relates to the theme. The artist statement is mandatory for all entries in all
grade divisions. The statement should not exceed 250 words; there is no minimum length. The Student
Entry Form provides a space for the artist statement; if the statement does not fit in the space given, it
may be written on a separate sheet and attached to the Student Entry Form. Make sure the student’s
full name appears on any sheet attached to the Student Entry Form.
Children with Disabilities

PTA believes that each child with a disability should be provided a free and appropriate public
education. Therefore, the Reflections Program at the national level does not have a special division for
students with disabilities. National PTA believes it is the right of parents to place their child in the
Reflections Program grade division that best reflects the child’s developmental age. However, guidelines
for state and local Reflections Programs may vary. Check with your state PTA for its guidelines.
Deadlines
Students must submit all works by the deadline established by their local PTA/PTSA. Each local
PTA/PTSA sponsoring the program sets its own deadline for entries, in adherence with state,
district/region, and council deadlines. Entries are judged at the local level and the top entries are
forwarded to the next level of judging (council, district/region, or state). Direct all questions
regarding deadlines or rules to your state PTA office or arts chair. National PTA does not record
deadlines for local, council, district/region, or state PTAs.
Judging
All national entries are judged on artistic merit, creativity, mastery of the medium, and interpretation
of the theme. Mastery of the medium in the context of the national Reflections Program pertains to the
level of skill the student demonstrates in the basic principles/techniques of the arts area. However, a
well-developed concept is more important than technique. Entries will be judged primarily on how well
the student uses his or her artistic vision to portray the theme.
The Reflections Program makes no restriction on content or subject in artwork. Students who are
submitting entries need to meet school and/or local and state PTA standards.
Each PTA determines its own judges for the program. Under no condition may parents or students
contact the judges to dispute the status of an entry. All decisions of judges are final.
2 2010–2011 PTA Reflections Program | General Student Participation Rules

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“Together We Can”

2010–2011 PTA Reflections Program

Student Eligibility Through Local PTAs

Required Artist Statement

Children with Disabilities

2 2010–2011 PTA Reflections Program | General Student Participation Rules

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