Reflections Arts Contest

EXPLORE THE ARTS, AND EXPRESS YOURSELF!

All TJMS students are encouraged to participate in the TJMS PTA Reflections Arts Contest. The theme for 2022-2023 is “Show Your Voice!”

Call for Volunteers: We need one or more parent volunteers to run the 2022-2023 Reflections Art Contest for our school this year. Parent volunteers will work in conjunction with TJMS Resource Teacher for the Gifted Megan Detweiler to publicize the contest to students, accept delivery of entries, organize a judging panel to review entries, and recognize contest winners. Volunteer to serve as a 2022-2023 TJMS PTA Reflections Judge.

• About Reflections
• Student Recognition
• Entry Form and Requirements
• How to Enter

Last updated Oct 23, 2022

About Reflections

For more than 50 years, the National PTA organization has offered its Reflections art contest to provide opportunities for student recognition and access to the arts that boost student confidence and success. In order to make this contest available to Jefferson students each year, the TJMS PTA relies on volunteers to run the contest and line up a panel of qualified judges from within our local community – such as teachers at the school or Arlington artists – with expertise in their respective categories to evaluate student entries.

Students express themselves around the required theme through one of the following arts categories:

• Dance Choreography
• Film / Video Production
• Literature / Creative Writing
• Music Composition
• Photography
• Visual Arts (which includes art forms such as drawing, painting, print making, collage, 3D artworks)

Students with disabilities who receive services under IDEA or ADA: Section 504 may also enter under the Special Artist Division to have the opportunity and accommodations they may need in order to participate fully in the program.

Student Recognition

All students participating in the TJMS Reflections competition have a chance to win prizes from the PTA for each of the entry categories. Participating students also will receive recognition by the school and the TJMS PTA via certificate of participation, a Reflections art display in the school building, TJMS morning announcements, PTA communications and other potential means.

Category winners in our local-level TJMS contest also will have the chance to move up and compete at the Arlington County Council of PTAs (CCPTA), Virginia PTA and National PTA competition levels. Competitors who reach the National PTA level have the opportunity to win:

• Outstanding Interpretation Award: $800 Young Artist Scholarship; Gold Medal; Certificate of Outstanding Interpretation; work featured in the virtual exhibition; $200 Prize for Local PTA Unit
• Award of Excellence: $200 Young Artist Scholarship; Silver Medal; Certificate of Excellence; work featured in the virtual exhibition
• Merit Award: Bronze Medal; Certificate of Merit; work featured in the virtual exhibition

Entry Form and Requirements

Students and parents should review the documents in this section to ensure that all requirements are met prior to entering the contest.

Reflections Entry Form: English | Spanish (this signed and completed form must be submitted with the artwork)

Reflections Entry Rules:

• Dance Choreography Category Rules: English | Spanish
• Film / Video Production //Category Rules: English | Spanish
• Literature / Creative Writing Category Rules: English | Spanish
• Music Composition Category Rules: English | Spanish
• Photography Category Rules: English | Spanish
• Visual Arts Category Rules: English | Spanish

Special Artist Division Requirements: English | Spanish

2022-2023 Deadlines:

• October 28, 2022: TJMS PTA Reflections entries due
• Tuesday, November 8, 2022: TJMS PTA winners announced to students
• Thursday, November 10, 2022: TJMS PTA submits Jefferson student entries to Arlington County Council of PTAs (CCPTA) Reflections competition – the top winners for each TJMS PTA Reflections arts category advance to the county level
• December: Arlington CCPTA winners announced
• March: Virginia PTA winners announced
• May: National PTA Winners announced

How to Enter

After following the Reflections entry requirements provided above, students should follow the steps below to submit their Reflections entries to the TJMS PTA by the October deadline (TBA).

1. Students must download the Reflections entry form in English or Spanish above, or pick up a paper entry form outside Ms. Detweiler’s office.
2. When filling out the entry form, only fill out the student information section; do not alter the pre-filled PTA section at the top of the form.
3. The form must be hand-signed by both the student and a parent/guardian. When the form is completed and signed, take a photo of it; this is the final version of the entry form that the student should submit during the entry process.
4. To submit the student’s contest entry, choose only ONE of the following methods:
   • For entries with smaller file sizes, the student or parent/guardian should text or email the entry form and digital artwork together in a single message to reflections@tjmspta.org with the student’s name, TA team and grade in the email subject line. (Note: The combined attachment file size must be within 10 MB to select this option.)
   • As another option for entries with larger file sizes that does not require a Google account – The student or parent/guardian should upload the entry form and digital artwork together in a single message using the WeTransfer file delivery website. For the “Email to” field, type reflections@tjmspta.org, and in the “Title” field, type the student’s name, TA team and grade.
5. NOTE: If the format of the student’s original artwork is NOT digital, then the student must submit a digital photo of the original hardcopy artwork along with the entry form during the online entry process, as a visual reference for the judges.
6. NOTE: Any artwork originally created in hardcopy format must be submitted to the office of Ms. Detweiler, the TJMS PTA Reflections teacher liaison, to be saved for potential use at future contest stages. (For example, the county-level competition will require hardcopy submissions.)

If none of the above entry submission options work, or to ask other questions, please contact reflections@tjmspta.org for assistance.