Leader’s Guide

Host PTA Reflections at your school: Contents include: North Carolina Specifics-how to participate NC Participation Details Getting Started Leader’s Checklist Promote Your Program Volunteer Sign-Up Sheet Coordinate the Review of Student Submissions Instructions for Judges Celebrate Your Student Participants Event Planning Guide Wrap Up and Report Program Success

#NCPTAReflections Pull all forms, rules, deadline and submission information, etc. from www.ncpta.org/reflections-toolkit.

2019-2020

LOCAL LEADER’S GUIDE

Leader’s Guide

Theme Search Contest National PTA Reflections sponsors a student-focused Theme Search Contest annually to determine a future program theme. The winner will be selected in January and will receive $100 and recognition at the National PTA Convention. North Carolina Students from PTAs in good standing may submit up to 5 theme entries. All entries must be submitted online at www.ncpta.org/reflections-toolkit. The online application period for this contest begins on September 1st and ends October 31, 2019. NCPTA will select 5 State entries to represent NCPTA in the national level of the theme search contest. If your theme is selected as one of the five winning entries advancing to National PTA for final judging, NCPTA will contact you to submit additional required paperwork. For more information on the theme contest, please visit www.ncpta.org/reflections-toolkit.

2019/2020 NCPTA Reflections Program: Look Within

North Carolina Specifics: How to Participate LOCAL UNITS WITH ACTIVE COUNCILS Local units belonging to an active Council must submit entries directly to their Council. Local units belonging to any of the active Councils below, please refer to the Council Contact and Entry Requirements Chart for the specific entry submission guidelines and deadlines for your Council. If a local unit is in a county where there is an active Council, then they have to submit through the Council even if the PTA is not a member of the Council. The PTA would have to contact the Council and see if the Council will accept their piece. The only units that are permitted to submit directly to the State Office are those units in counties without a Council. Items to submit to the Council:

• Art Entry • Paper copy of the completed Student Entry Form for each student entry • Paper copy of the completed Local Unit Participation Form

Active PTA Council are: • Chapel Hill/Carrboro • Charlotte/Mecklenburg • Cumberland • Durham Public Schools • Guilford • Hickory

• Johnston • New Hanover • Rowan/Salisbury • Wake • Winston-Salem/Forsyth

Leader’s Guide PTA COUNCIL CHAIRS: FOR COUNCILS ONLY

• Councils will be responsible for electronically submitting both the Traditional and the Special Artists Division entries into the NCPTA Reflections Database.

• Active Councils may submit: o Up to 30 Traditional entries (any combination from the 4 grade divisions) from PTAs in good

standing electronically into the NCPTA Reflections Database. o There is no limit to the Special Artist entries a Council may electronically submit into the

NCPTA Reflections Database. (Council determines how many Special Artists submissions each local PTA can submit to the Council.)

o ALL entries MUST be submitted ON or BEFORE the January 6, 2020 deadline. o The Student Entry Form MUST be manually entered using the online submission for each entry

uploaded into the NCPTA Reflections database for State judging. The Student Entry Form must be completed in its entirety in order for the system to accept the entry.

o A Council Participation Form must be entered into the NCPTA Reflections Database.

LOCAL UNITS WITHOUT ACTIVE COUNCILS (COUNTIES NOT LISTED ABOVE) • Entries will be submitted electronically to the NCPTA Reflections database. • If you are in a county not listed above, your unit will upload its entries directly into the NCPTA

Reflections Database ON OR BEFORE January 6, 2020.

Number of Submissions: • Elementary:

o May submit a total of 12 entries in the traditional division, 6 entries from the Primary Division (preschool- grade 2) and 6 entries from the Intermediate Division (Grades 3-5)

o Special Artist Division-unlimited entries

• Middle/Junior (Grades 6-8): o May submit 6 entries in the traditional division o Special Artist Division -unlimited entries

• Senior (Grades 9-12):

o May submit 6 entries in the traditional division o Special Artist Division -unlimited entries

• The Student Entry Form MUST be manually entered using the online submission for each entry uploaded into the NCPTA Reflections database for State judging. The Student Entry Form must be completed in its entirety in order for the system to accept the entry.

• A Local Unit Participation Form must be entered into the NCPTA Reflections Database

Leader’s Guide Students With Disabilities Students who identify as having a disability and may receive services under IDEA or ADA: Section 504 may enter in one of two ways: Option 1: enter in the grade division (primary, intermediate, middle or high school) most closely aligned to their functional abilities. In this case, students follow all general rules and arts category rules but may submit their entries in the grade division most closely aligned to their cognitive or functional abilities. These students are recognized and awarded as part of the general student population, without regard to special needs or challenges. Option 2: 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. Student 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. NCPTA will select one Outstanding Interpretation Award and up to five Awards of Merit. The Outstanding Interpretation winner will be forwarded on to National PTA for competition. NCPTA reserves the right to send additional Special Artist entries to the National Level of judging should the opportunity arise. Special Artist winners will receive recognition at the NCPTA Reflections Celebration. How to enter the Special Artist Division Category: Students wishing to participate in the Special Artist Division and not the traditional level will also submit to their Local Unit Reflections Program. Entries in the Special Artist Division must be uploaded into the NCPTA Reflections Database. (See below for information on who is responsible for this task.) Local units WITH an Active Council: will submit Special Artists entries to their Council. Please see the Council Contact and Entry Requirements Chart for the specific entry guidelines for Special Artist. Councils determine the number of Special Artists submissions each PTA may submit. Local Units WITHOUT an Active Council: There is no limit to the number of Special Artist entries that may be submitted by local PTAs without active Councils. All Special Artist entries must be electronically submitted by the local chair along with the traditional submissions directly in to the NCPTA Reflections Database on or before January 6, 2020.

Title of Work and Artist Statement: Every Student Entry Form MUST have both a title and an artist statement.

Failure to provide a title and/or artist statement will result in an entry NOT moving forward. Also, a well written artist statement can elevate a student’s entry because it allows the judge to understand

the students’ process in creating the piece and interpreting the theme.

Leader’s Guide All files submitted to the next level of judging by a PTA will need to be in the following formats. Please note: that if you are a local unit WITH an active Council-this information may not apply to you. You will need to contact the Reflections Chair for your Council. This information WILL apply to Council Reflections Chairs and Local Unit Chairs that do not have an active Council (Units submitting directly to the NCPTA Database).

Required Naming Convention and File Formats:

Required File Formats: Please remember, the acceptable formats for submission are:

Ø Dance: AVI, FLV, WMV, MOV, MP4, file size must not exceed 200 MB. Ø Film: AVI, FLV, WMV, MOV, MP4, file size must not exceed 200 MB Ø Music: MP3, MP4. MP4 must be audio only and cannot exceed 200 MB in file size. Scores and lyrics

must be PDFs. Scores are required for the middle and high school divisions. PDFs cannot exceed 3MB in file size.

Ø Literature: PDF- Do not take pictures of literature entries. Entries need to be scanned PDF files. File size cannot exceed 3 MB.

Ø Photography: JPEG, JPG. File size cannot exceed 3 MB. Ø Visual Arts: JPEG, JPG. File size cannot exceed 3 MB. 3D entries must submit 3 JPEG or JPG from

varying angles.

Please note 2D and 3D are judged as one category on the State and National level. It is up to your PTA to determine how you want to judge the category.

Leader’s Guide

Required Naming Convention Required Abbreviations for Categories: Dance-Dance Film-Film Literature-Lit

Music- Music Photography-Photo Visual Arts- VA

Required abbreviations for Divisions: Primary- Pri Intermediate- Int Middle- Mid

High- High Special Artist- SA

This applies to Dance, Film, Literature, Music, Photography, and 2D Visual Arts Submissions: Single Entry:

Ø Category-Division-Last-First Ø Ex: Dance-Pri-Smith-Sally

Multiple Entries for the same student (submission of more than one entry in a category) Ø Category-Division-Last2-First Ø Category-Division-Last3-First Ø Ex: Dance-Pri-Smith2-Sally Ø Dance-Pri-Smith3-Sally

How to name music scores: Music-Division-last-first.PDF

3D Visual Arts Submissions: All 3D Visual Arts entries are required to submit 3 photos of varying angles

Single Submissions:

Ø VA-Division-Last-First-1 Ø VA-Division-Last-First-2 Ø VA-Division-Last-First-3

Ø Ex: VA-Int-Jones-Tom-1 Ø VA-Int-Jones-Tom-2 Ø VA-Int-Jones-Tom-3

Multiple Entries for the same student

Ø VA-Division-Last2-First-1 Ø VA-Division-Last2-First-2 Ø VA-Division-Last2-First-3

Ø Ex: VA-Int-Jones2-Tom-1 Ø VA-Int-Jones2-Tom-2 Ø VA-Int-Jones2-Tom-3

Leader’s Guide

Getting Started

Gather program materials, deadlines and instructions from the NCPTA website, www.ncpta.org/reflections-toolkit. Customize your checklist to organize tasks and schedule local program deadlines.

• National Arts in Education Week (Sept. 8–14, 2019) is the perfect time to kick-off your program and announce the program’s theme: Look Within. Share your program kick-off activities with thousands of program leaders across the country using #PTAReflections and #ArtsEdWeek on social media.

• National Arts and Humanities Month (October) is the perfect time for PTA to offer time, space and materials for students to participate in the arts. Share your support of family arts events, student clubs and visiting artists using #PTAReflections and #ShowYourArt.

Recruit a committee of 4-6 parent and teacher volunteers. Volunteers will enrich the program by bringing a variety of ideas, talents and skills; and they will make your job much easier and more enjoyable by ensuring that program tasks don’t fall on your shoulders alone. Assigning project leaders and dividing tasks will save time and energy. Use the volunteer sign-up sheet to help recruit volunteers with specific skills/interests.

Recruit a team of 6 or more arts experts to review student submissions. Inviting professionals in the arts community to participate as reviewers will increase the credibility of your program and exposure for PTA. All reviewers must have a working knowledge of their assigned arts area. Use the program flier to help introduce Reflections to local arts professionals.

TIP: Ask arts teachers to help you identify working professionals in your local arts community. Consider local arts agencies, arts and cultural organizations, colleges, community leaders, and prominent artists.

TIP: It may take up to 5 min. to review dance, film, music and writing submissions whereas photography and visual arts may take only 2 min. Be mindful of your reviewer’s time and recruit additional judges for each category where need.

Visit PTA.org/Reflections/StartYourProgram and take the Reflections Leader e-learning course. You’ll become a Reflections expert in no time.

Promote Your Program

Download materials for students: Visit the NCPTA website, www.ncpta.org/reflections-toolkit to download and distribute student materials including official guidelines and entry form. Please review NCPTA’s rules and ensure your PTA/PTSA is in “good standing”. It is the responsibility of the state, council and local PTA/PTSA to determine each student’s eligibility in the National PTA Reflections program.

Leader’s Guide Available Arts Categories and Divisions: All student entrants must follow NCPTA specific rules and guidelines and arts category submission requirements, including a completed signed entry form. Note: forms missing a title and/or artist statement will result in disqualification. Please review the special artist division rules to learn more about opportunities for students with disabilities.

• Offer 1 or more arts category: dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts. Students may enter in one or more arts categories.

• Offer 1 or more division: Primary: Preschool-Grade 2, Intermediate: Grades 3-5, Middle School: Grades 6-8, High School: Grades 9-12, Special Artist: All grades.

Tips for Program Promotion: Our goal is to encourage all students to participate in the arts through PTA Reflections. Take time to introduce the program to families and school personnel. Consider the following ideas:

• Send program fliers home to parents. • Post your call for entries on school and/or PTA website and social media as well as newsletters, blogs and

bulletin boards. • Ask student leaders to hang posters in visible locations and encourage their peers over morning

announcements. Willing students might be found in classes, programs and afterschool clubs that involve the creative, literary, media and performing arts.

• Host a PTA table or student arts showcase at schoolwide assemblies and back to school nights. Have fliers, participation guidelines and entry forms available.

• Request time at a staff meeting to present the Reflections program to teachers. Gather ideas on how they might encourage their class to participate. Ask how this year’s theme might be linked to curriculum and other learning objectives.

SAMPLE MORNING ANNOUNCEMENT: Do you enjoy art, music and dance or have an interest in writing, producing films and taking photos? Then join us and have fun unleashing your inner artist with PTA Reflections! This year’s theme, “Look Within,” calls for your own unique interpretation through the arts. Pick up submission guidelines and an entry form today from <INSERT NAME/ROOM> and return by <INSERT DUE DATE>. For inspiration, visit the Reflections virtual art gallery and learn more about prizes and scholarships at PTA.org/Reflections/Awards.

Coordinate the Review of Student Submissions

The task of reviewing student entries involves collecting and qualifying submissions as well as providing direction for your team of volunteer reviewers.

Qualifying Submissions: Submissions are reviewed by arts category and division. Save time by collecting submissions by classroom. Ask your committee to scan and flag incomplete entry forms and works that do not follow program guidelines and submission requirements.

Leader’s Guide Reviewing Submissions: Give each of your volunteer judges a welcome letter, instructions, rubric and score card. Provide reviewers with the student’s work, as well as the title and artist statement for each of their assigned entries. The title and artist statement will help your reviewers understand each student’s inspiration for their work and how it relates to the theme.

Review Criteria: The program theme and review criteria are what make Reflections stand out among other arts contests. It’s important for reviewers to notice that “interpretation of the theme” is weighed more heavily than the other considerations. Have judges record their points for each student work on the score card. Add together the points from each judge and rank the artwork accordingly. If two entries are tied, the entry with the higher score for interpretation of theme receives more recognition.

TIP: Set your local PTA submission deadline approximately one month before submissions are due to the next round. This will allow ample time for organizing, qualifying and scoring submissions, as well as preparing winners for the next round.

Conduct “blind judging”—where reviewers do not see student info. Consider both online and in-person review session ideas:

To host an online review session: Assign numbers to each submission and provide reviewers with a list of submission titles and artist statements by assigned number. Share digital copies of student works using CDs, USB drives or cloud based file sharing platforms).

To host an in-person review session. Display works on tables around the room. Tri-fold the student entry form to show only the judging information section. Place the title of work and artist statement in front of the student’s work. Instruct reviewers to rotate around the room and score each entry.

Reminder: Local units in an area with an active Council must submit directly to their Council, for more information, please refer to the Council Deadline and Submissions chart at www.ncpta.org/reflections-toolkit. Local units in areas that do not have an active Council must upload entries into the NCPTA Reflections Database on or before January 6, 2020. All PTA Reflections program entries should be judged on artistic merit, creativity, mastery of the medium and interpretation of the theme. Mastery of the medium refers to the level of skill the student demonstrates in the basic principles and techniques of the arts area. However, a well-developed concept is more important than technique. Entries should be judged primarily on how well the student uses his or her artistic vision to portray the theme. Under NO condition may parents, students, or chairs contact the judge to dispute the status of an entry. All decisions of judges are FINAL. NCPTA reserves the right not to forward any entry on to any level of judging that the judges do not feel meet the standards of a national competition. Please note: There may not be a winner in every category and/or division.

Leader’s Guide Instances occur when not every category has more than one entry at every grade level. Judging is based on quality of work. Therefore, an entry may not place at the State Level even if it is the only submission in the category. Celebrate Your Student Participants

Assign Awards: By student’s division and arts category, assign awards based on your rankings. Recommended award levels include: Award of Excellence; Award of Merit; Honorable Mention and Participant.

You may choose to publicly recognize volunteer reviewers to inspire students and raise the credibility of your program. However, if a question is raised about the status or score of an entry, it is the responsibility of the PTA Reflections Committee to address it. Under no conditions may a reviewer be contacted and/or respond to disputes regarding the status and score of an entry.

Celebrate Student Achievement: Recognizing your students’ participation and accomplishments will help your PTA create family memories that will last a lifetime. You will grow students’ confidence by hosting opportunities for family members, school personnel and community leaders to value their artistic skills, creative vision and unique interpretation on the theme.

There are many ways to announce winners, distribute awards and showcase works for the whole school and community to enjoy. Consider the following ideas for recognizing student participation and achievement:

o Announce winners on PTA/school website and in newsletters, social media and o Award certificates, ribbons or prizes donated by local businesses. o Showcase student works at PTA and school board meetings and display student works throughout

school and community venues (e.g. school lobby, community library, arts center).

Opportunity for State and National Recognition: Provide your students with an opportunity to share their work across the state and nation. PTA Reflections is a multi-layered program offering local, district/council/region, state and national levels of recognition. PTAs are encouraged to advance their finalists to the next available round. For more details and instructions, please visit the “North Carolina Specific” details in section 1.

TIP: Host a PTA welcome table to distribute arts education resources and recruit new PTA members.

TIP: Invite school leaders, policy makers and community leaders to meet families and learn more about PTA’s support for a complete education that includes the arts.

To help you plan, www.ncpta.org/reflections-toolkit for an event planning guide, template certificate and other celebration tools.

Leader’s Guide State-Level Recognition North Carolina PTA State-level award recipients are typically announced in March. Results are posted on the NCPTA website (www.ncpta.org) and announced through the NCPTA E-News. First, second, and third place State winners, winners in the Special Artist category (up to 6), and theme search contest winners are individually notified and invited to be recognized at the NCPTA Reflections Celebration to be held in April. Details to come. National –Level Recognition The National PTA award recipients are typically announced via news release and on pta.org at the beginning of May. State PTA Reflections Chairs and national round participants are notified via email. National PTA will notify the Outstanding Interpretation Award recipients and coordinate their travel to the National PTA Convention to be recognized. National PTA mails awards and certificates to students who receive Awards of Excellence, Awards of Merit and Honorable Mentions following the National PTA Convention at the end of July. National level awards include the following:

• Merit Award: Bronze Medal; Certificate of Merit; Work featured in the traveling exhibition. • Award of Excellence: $200 Young Artist Scholarship; Silver Medal; Certificate of Excellence; Work

featured in the traveling exhibition. • Outstanding Interpretation Award: An expense-paid trip for awardee and chaperone to showcase

work on stage at the National PTA Awards and Reflections Celebration; $800 Young Artist Scholarship; Gold Medal; Certificate of Outstanding Interpretation; Work featured in the traveling exhibition; $200 Prize for Local PTA Unit.

National PTA’s award-winning entries are featured in a traveling art exhibition and online gallery. 2D visual artwork and photographs are displayed throughout the National PTA headquarters, exhibited at National PTA special events, and returned within two years following their submission to National PTA. Wrap Up and Report Program Success

Recognize Partners and Volunteers: After your Reflections program concludes for the year, one of the most important tasks is to thank those who helped make it a success. Use the acknowledgement letter at www.ncpta.org/reflections-toolkit to thank student and parent leaders, school personnel, submission reviewers and community businesses for their support.

Return Student Works: Return non-advancing works immediately following judging and/or exhibition and no later than the last day of the school year. Electronic submissions (video, music, pdf., and digital photos) are typically not returned. Please be sensitive to secondary students needing their artwork for college admission. If student artwork advances, it will be returned according to state and/or national polices.

Leader’s Guide NCPTA Policies: NCPTA does not collect the original artwork since entries are uploaded into our Reflections Database.

Please note: The original Visual Arts and Photography artwork of winners at the National level of competition must be sent directly to National PTA by either the Council Chair or Local Unit Chair if the student is from a county that does not have an active Council. Local unit and/or Council Reflections Chairs should keep first place State winners in the Visual Arts and Photography categories until National PTA winners are announced.

Meet with your Reflections Committee and other team members to reflect on the program, gather feedback and document successes and areas needing improvement. Sharing this information with next year’s team will provide a smooth transition from one Reflections Chair to the next. Visit www.ncpta.org/reflections-toolkit for a sample program evaluation.

Share Your Success: After your program concludes, please share program success with your state and National PTA. Your feedback is important to us and we look forward to improving Reflections for future students.

We also encourage you to share your success with your PTA board and school administrator. Visibility of award announcements, attendance at your event and personal quotes from families and community partners will help capture your program’s reach and impact as well as your PTA’s ability to support student success, engage families and build community partnerships.

Leader’s Guide

Step 1. Getting Started

¨ Visit the NCPTA website, www.ncpta.org/reflections-toolkit to gather important deadlines and materials

¨ Confirm your PTA is in good standing with your Council (if applicable) and NCPTA ¨ Confirm student eligibility and gather important deadlines and materials. ¨ Determine which arts categories and grade divisions your PTA will offer. New program leaders may

consider getting started with one or more arts category and division. ¨ Establish a timeline for your program according to the deadlines set by your Council, if applicable, and

by NCPTA-see Local Leaders Guide ¨ Plan and budget for your awards, prizes and recognition activities. ¨ Recruit a committee to help you promote participation, coordinate judging and host events. ¨ Recruit experienced artists to review student works. ¨ Share your program plans with your PTA and school leaders.

Step 2. Promote Your Program

¨ Distribute program rules and entry forms to students and teachers. ¨ Promote your submission deadline and instructions on how to enter. Don’t forget to include any

available awards, scholarships and prizes! ¨ Use #NCPTAReflections to share how your school participates in Reflections during National Arts &

Humanities Month this October. Step 3. Review Submissions

¨ Collect and organize submissions by category and division. ¨ Qualify entries according to each arts category rules. ¨ Share judging materials and submissions with your volunteer judges. ¨ Collect scores from judges and rank submissions. ¨ Gather awards and prizes and prepare works for exhibition. ¨ Report student participation totals to the next level of judging (use required participation form)

Step 4. Celebrate Participants

¨ Announce awardees to the whole school community. ¨ Host a Reflections Celebration Event to showcase student work and distribute certificates/awards. ¨ Offer state and national opportunities for student recognition by sending your finalists to the next

judging round. Step 5. Wrap Up

¨ Return non-advancing submissions to students. ¨ Recognize volunteers and evaluate your program to consider future improvements.

Leader’s Checklist

Leader’s Guide

Publicist To promote Reflections to school leaders and teachers, post fliers in school and around the community, share celebration event invitations with participating families, share announcements with local media outlets.

NAME _______________________ EMAIL_____________________ PHONE_____________________

NAME _______________________ EMAIL_____________________ PHONE_____________________

Judging Coordinator To recruit volunteer judges, organize artwork for judging, support judges and calculate their scores.

NAME _______________________ EMAIL_____________________ PHONE_____________________

NAME _______________________ EMAIL_____________________ PHONE_____________________

Computer Wiz To organize student entry information for award announcements, printed programs, certificates/awards and provide a list of students advancing to the next round of judging.

NAME _______________________ EMAIL_____________________ PHONE_____________________

NAME _______________________ EMAIL_____________________ PHONE_____________________

Celebration Coordinator To exhibit artwork, prepare student awards and lead on site event activities (program, refreshments, decorations, etc.)

NAME _______________________ EMAIL_____________________ PHONE_____________________

NAME _______________________ EMAIL_____________________ PHONE_____________________

Volunteer Sign-Up

Leader’s Guide

Welcome Reflections Judge! Thank you for supporting the artistic and cultural exploration of our students by serving as a volunteer reviewer for the PTA Reflections program! Your artistic expertise and enthusiasm contributes to the vibrancy and creativity of our school community. Before you begin, please familiarize yourself with the following criteria, theme and scoring materials. Criteria: All PTA Reflections program entries are judged on three criteria:

1. Interpretation of Theme (20 pts.) 2. Creativity (10 pts.) 3. Technique (10 pts.)

Notice how heavily “Interpretation of Theme” is weighted? This is what makes the National PTA Reflections Arts Program unique. A well-developed concept is more important than technique. If two entries are tied, the entry with the higher score for interpretation of theme receives more recognition. Use the provided rubric to keep your scores consistent. Theme: Entries should be judged primarily on how well the student uses his or her artistic vision to portray the 2019-20 theme: “Look Within” Materials: The following entry information will be provided to you during your review. • Title of Artwork and student’s Artist Statement: These may provide insight on the student’s artistic

style/genre and the materials the student used. Look for personal meaning and reflection on the theme to help you decide the student’s Interpretation of Theme score.

• Grade Division: The student’s division may provide insight on student’s range of technical skill, ability and competencies displayed in their submission.

• Additional Artwork Details: If noted, artwork details will offer information related to cited material, submission size/length, etc.

Please record points for each entry on the provided score card. To flag questionable entries, contact your PTA Reflections Chair. After scoring your assigned entries, please turn in your scores to the PTA Reflections Chair.

Sample Instructions for Judges

Leader’s Guide Sample Rubric

Criteria / Level Beginning Developing Proficient Accomplished Advanced Interpretation 1-4 pts. 5-8 pts. 9-12 pts. 13-16 pts. 17-20 pts.

How closely the piece relates to the theme, based on the Work itself and the artist statement.

The interpretation lacks clarity and does not communicate the student’s concept.

The interpretation lacks clarity and does not fully communicate the student’s concept based on the theme.

The interpretation communicates the student’s concept based on the theme.

The interpretation clearly communicates the student’s concept based on the theme but lacks meaning, purpose, and integrity.

The interpretation clearly communicates the student's whole concept based on the theme with meaning, purpose and integrity.

Creativity 1-2 pts. 3-4 pts. 5-6 pts. 7-8 pts. 9-10 pts. How creative and original the piece is in its conception of the theme and its presentation.

Work is somewhat original and reflects the theme using very conventional ways.

Work is somewhat original and reflects the theme using conventional ways.

Work is original and reflects the theme using conventional ways.

Work is primarily original and reflects the theme using imaginative ways.

Work is highly original and reflects the theme using un-conventional, interesting, imaginative and new ways.

Technique 1-2 pts. 3-4 pts. 5-6 pts. 7-8 pts. 9-10 pts. The level of skill demonstrated in the basic principles/ techniques of the arts area.

Work demonstrates very limited skill of the arts area.

Work demonstrates limited skill of the arts area.

Work demonstrates capable skill of the arts area.

Work demonstrates expertise of skill of the arts area.

Work demonstrates mastery of skill and knowledge of the arts area.

Sample Instructions for Judges

Leader’s Guide

Sample Score Card

Entry Interpretation

(20 pts) Creativity (10 pts)

Technique (10 pts)

Total Score Notes

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

Sample Instructions for Judges

Leader’s Guide 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.

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.

Events Planning Guide

Leader’s Guide

Steps for Planning Your PTA Reflections Celebration 1. Build your team to discuss the objectives for this event, as well as plan event logistics (e.g.,

space, time, date, promotion).

2. Decorate the school with student artwork. Prior to the event, recruit parent and student volunteers to assist teachers with displays of student art in the classrooms and hallways. Place your Reflections exhibit in a prominent location in the school such as the lobby, cafeteria, library or hallway.

3. Plan your awards ceremony. Secure a location in the school that is large enough for all attendees, as well as performances (e.g., gym, auditorium, multi-purpose room, library or cafeteria). Then identify student artists to exhibit their art or perform during the awards ceremony. Consider including welcoming or closing remarks from your PTA President, PTA Reflections Chair and/or school principal. You could also invite special guests to deliver remarks. Create a program listing the names of student performers and featured presenters. Also include names of students whose artwork is exhibited.

4. Gather event supplies for your awards ceremony and art exhibit. Consider certificates, medallions and prizes to present during your awards ceremony. Visit ShopPTA.com and click on “Reflections” to see options. Other supplies may be small gifts to recognize guest speakers, as well as table cloths, signage for reserved seats, decorations, audio visual needs and a microphone. Art exhibit materials may include name cards, a welcome sign and refreshments.

5. Promote your event. All families are welcome to celebrate the arts together. Send personalized invitations to school leaders, community arts advocates and policymakers. Use all of your PTA and school communications tools. Feature your award-winning entries in these communications. Invite local media to attend and generate visibility for your school and PTA

6. Host your PTA Reflections Celebration. Revise the schedule below to best fit your school community. This is one example for a 2-hour event with 30 minutes of celebration in the beginning as families congregate, 60 minutes of awards ceremony featuring student performances and guest speakers, and 30 minutes of celebration at the end.

Leader’s Guide

Sample Timeline 1. Set-up

• Decorate reception room and prepare refreshments, exhibits and awards ceremony space. • Prepare the welcome table to include programs, marked school maps of exhibit space, as well as

PTA membership information. • Hang directional signage where appropriate (including parking areas).

2. Families Arrive: Welcome families with a program, encourage them to visit the exhibit and take a membership card if new to PTA. 3. Opening Reception (30 minutes): Families visit the PTA Reflections Exhibit and enjoy live student performances. 4. Awards Ceremony (60 minutes):

• Welcoming remarks by school principal and/or PTA President. • Keynote speaker such as arts teacher, community arts professional or public official. • Presentation of awards. • Closing remarks by PTA Reflections Chair, PTA President or student leader.

5. Closing Reception (30 minutes): Families visit the PTA Reflections Exhibit and enjoy live student performances. After your celebration concludes, thank those who helped make it a success. Be sure to include all of the following groups in your recognition plan: student leaders, volunteers, school personnel and community partners.

Events Planning Guide