Reflections Contest

What is Reflections?

The National PTA Reflections Program is an arts recognition program that encourages artistic creativity at school and at home. It allows students to express themselves creatively through original works of art inspired by a pre-selected theme.

This year's theme is:  What  My Culture Means to Me.

Students are encouraged to explore what culture means to them through their own experiences, traditions, family, community, identity, memories, and perspectives.

Students may enter one or more of the following art categories. Students may submit as many pieces as they would like in any of the categories below. A separate Student Participation Form is required for every piece submitted for judging.

📖Literature: 

Accepted forms include fiction and nonfiction such as prose, poetry, reflective essays, screenplays, play scripts, narratives, and short stories.

• Writing must be the student's original work.

• Entries may be written in the student's primary language, but an interpretive English translation must also be included.

• Copyrighted material may not be used.

• Entries may not exceed 2,000 words.

• Accepted formats: PDF, or handwritten/typed work on single-sided 8.5 × 11-inch paper.

• Each page should be numbered.

🎨Visual Art: 

Works of both fine and design arts are accepted, including drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, collage, digital art, crafts, fiber work, mixed media, printmaking, jewelry, and more.

• 2D artwork must be no larger than 24 × 30 inches, including matting.

• Framed entries are not accepted.

• Include at least one digital image of the artwork with your submission.

• 3D artwork must include three digital images from different angles.

• Accepted image formats: JPEG, JPG, and PNG.

• Artwork must be original. Reproductions of other artwork are not accepted.

 📸 Photography — NEW THIS YEAR!

Students may submit an original photograph that expresses their interpretation of “What My Culture Means to Me.”

• The entry must be one photograph. Collections and collages of photographs are not accepted.

• Photomontages made from multiple original photographs are permitted.

• Added graphics, lettering, icons or other non-photographic elements are not accepted.

• The student must be the photographer.

• Simple editing such as cropping, adjusting brightness or color, or removing an object may be used to enhance the student's original photograph.

• Generative AI or downloaded images may not be used to create the photograph.

• Digital images should be at least 640 × 960 pixels and 300 dpi.

• Accepted formats: JPEG, JPG and PNG.

• Printed photographs should be between 3 × 5 and 8 × 10 inches. Mounted prints may not exceed 11 × 14 inches, including matting. Framed photographs are not accepted.

National PTA's current photography guidance specifically prohibits added graphics or text and emphasizes that the photograph itself should be the student's original creation.

 🌟 Title & Artist Statement

Every entry must include an original title and artist statement.

• The title should be unique to the artwork and should not simply be the theme.

• The artist statement should be 10–100 words.

• The statement should explain the student's artwork, interpretation of the theme and/or creative process.

• The title and artist statement should be in the student's own words and reflect their ideas.

For example, instead of simply writing “What My Culture Means to Me,” students should give their artwork its own title that helps explain or highlight their particular interpretation of the theme.

 💻 Digital Art & Technology

Students may use digital tools to create or enhance an entry, but their own creativity must remain at the center of the work.

Digital tools, including AI, may not provide the primary design or concept of the artwork, and entries may not be made entirely from generative or downloaded elements.

If digital technology is used in creating an entry, students should briefly describe the tools and how they were used in the Additional Details section of the entry form. 

Please Read Before Submitting

Please read the following instructions carefully before completing the HCES Reflections Student Entry Form online.

Step 1: Please make sure you are signed into a parent's personal Gmail account or are using a parent's personal email address when completing the form. Please do not use work email addresses or student school email addresses.

Parent and student should complete the form together, including uploading the artwork.

Step 2: For students under 18, parental permission is required. By submitting the form, you are confirming that the student has permission to participate in the Reflections program.

After submitting the form, please print the confirmation/page, have a parent or guardian sign it, and send a scanned copy to reflections@hortonscreekpta.com.

Step 3: If you are unable to submit your artwork digitally through the form, please email reflections@hortonscreekpta.com.

A parent/guardian signature is required for acceptance of the submission.​

***Students do not have to wait to fill out the HCES Student Entry Form to start their art projects. Students can begin working on their art project NOW!