Reflections 2022-2023

This Year's Theme is "Show Your Voice!"

Congratulations Reflections Artists! Thank you and congratulations to our amazing Cougar Ridge artists who shared their creativity and talent through Reflections entries for this year's theme "Show Your Voice''. In total, 25 Reflections entries were submitted (23 in Visual art and 2 in Photography). Please click on the slideshow to view it.

Cougar Ridge Elementary PTSA is proud to support our students' participation in Reflections each year!

Reflections 2022-2023 Introduction 

Does your child love art or have a creative flair? If so, they might enjoy participating in this year's Reflections program, a National PTA art program.

Drop off the artwork with entry form at the Cougar Ridge Main Office. All Cougar Ridge participants will be recognized for their contributions at a reception and twelve finalists will be selected to represent Cougar Ridge at the Issaquah School District level.

Submission guidelines

• Download the PTSA Reflections Entry form here.
• Fill out the form and scan it as a pdf document.
• Click here for the dimension requirements and artwork submission guidelines for each entry.
• Upload your scanned entry form along with artwork, photo, and video of your entry here.

      Submission categories and requirements

• Student entry form is completed and signed by both parent/guardian and student. Students may submit in as many arts categories as they would like, however, only one entry per arts category is allowed.
• Original signed student entry form is attached to each entry outside of any sheet protector, plastic sleeve or wrapping.
• Ensure title and artist statement (100 words or less) are completed.
• Drop your original project(s) at the Cougar Ridge Elementary main office.

All entries must be submitted BOTH in person and electronically.

The submission deadline was extended to November 1, 2022!

Reflections Program Overview 

National PTA Reflections is America’s oldest and largest arts education program of its kind. The program was developed in 1969 by Colorado’s PTA President Mary Lou Anderson to encourage students to explore their talents and express themselves. Since then, the Reflections Program has inspired millions of students to reflect on a specific theme and create original artwork. 

The purpose of this program is to provide an opportunity for students to use their creative talents by expressing themselves through their own original works.

Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. Students submit their completed works of art in one, or more, of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, or Visual Arts.

While the primary focus of Reflections is a celebration of creativity through positive recognition, 12 finalists from each school PTA/PTSA will move on to our district council PTA; then finalists from our district will move on to the state round. Washington State PTA finalists who receive an “Outstanding Interpretation” award will advance to the National PTA round.

 Program Details

Young artists get involved in Reflections through their local PTA or PTSA. A student may submit an entry in any of six arts areas. Only original works of art are accepted. Please follow the specific guidelines for each art area. The six art areas are:

• Literature – works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, prose, drama, short stories and lyrics.
• Music Composition – original musical composition, with or without words.
• Photography: color or black and white, included techniques: photogram, negative sandwich, and multiple exposure.
• Visual Arts: drawing, painting in tempera, oil, acrylic, watercolor & t-shirt paints, computer generated art, two-dimensional collage, printmaking, needlework & leather tooling.
• Film/Video: original works, with or without sound, of animation, narrative, documentary, experimental or music video/film.
• Choreography/Dance: originally choreographed dance composition.

Participation is organized by student age and grade levels. Student works are critiqued against others in the same grade division. This allows recognition and judging of artworks by appropriate developmental age and skill levels. The grade divisions are:

• Primary: Preschool – Grade 2
• Intermediate: Grades 3 – 5
• Middle School: Grades 6 – 8
• High School: Grades 9 – 12

Rules and Guidelines

Entries are judged on creative ability and interpretation of the theme. Please submit artwork that adheres to the following rules and guidelines (or your submission may be disqualified for consideration). Click here to find out more information or the links below:

• 2022-23 Dance Choreography Rules
• 2022-23 Film Production Rules
• 2022-23 Literature Rules
• 2022-23 Music Composition Rules
• 2022-23 Photography Rules
• 2022-23 Visual Arts Rules

Special Artists Division

The Special Artist Division is a non-graded division limited to students whose physical, cognitive or mental health challenges meet the guidelines set forth in the American Disabilities Act. Qualifying students entering this division create their own artwork but may receive non-artistic accommodation and assistance from an adult. At the national level, one Special Artist from across all arts categories will be selected to receive an Outstanding Interpretation Award. Up to five additional Special Artists may be selected to receive national Awards of Excellence. Complete details are included in the 2022-23 Special Artist Rules.

Theme Search Contest 

Each year, National PTA seeks a theme for the Reflections program year to be held two years from now. This year students are asked to submit a theme for the 2024-2025 program year. The due date for submitting a theme search entry is November 1, 2022. Complete the online form to enter the contest.

The student who submits the winning entry will receive $100 and his or her theme will be presented at the annual National PTA Convention in June 2023. Repeat themes will not be considered. Click here for a list of past themes.

Archived Entries 

2022-2023 "Show Your Voice!" Congratulations Reflections Artists! Thank you and congratulations to our amazing Cougar Ridge artists who shared their creativity and talent through Reflections entries for this year's theme "Show Your Voice''. In total, 25 Reflections entries were submitted (23 in Visual art and 2 in Photography). Please click on the slideshow to view it.

2021-2022 "I Will Change the World By" virtual exhibit

Thank you to Dorothy Davis and Lana Williams for leading Reflections for our Cougar Ridge students and families.