Elizabeth Blackwell PTSA 2.8.54

Reflections is a National PTA arts in education program. The program was started in 1969 and is the largest arts program of its kind in the United States. Students have the opportunity to use their creative talents by expressing themselves through their own original works created around a theme that changes each year. The theme for the 2025-2026 year is I Belong.

Reflections is not “just an art contest.” It helps kids take risks, be inspired, think creatively, and be celebrated for their creativity and work. Studies have shown a positive relationship between the arts and well-being. Get more information about the National PTA Reflections program.

Reflections Eligibility

Blackwell PTSA's Reflections program welcomes all grades and abilities to explore and be involved in the arts. Only students should submit their original artwork directly to their Blackwell PTSA.

Reflections Categories & 2025-26 Entry Guidelines

A student may submit an entry in any of six categories. (Click the inked categories below to see the entry guidelines.)

Dance Choreography [Coreografía de Danza] — Originally choreographed dance composition presented in a video entry
Film Production [Producción Cinematográfica] — Original works, with or without sound, of animation, narrative, documentary, experimental or multimedia
Literature [Literatura] — Original works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, prose, drama, reflective essay, narrative or short story. Entries must be a single literary work; collections are not accepted.
Music Composition [Composición Musical] — Original musical composition, with or without words, presented in an audio recording
Photography [Fotografía] — Color or black and white. Included techniques: Photogram, panorama, photomontage (one print of multiple original photos), single or multiple exposure, negative sandwich.
Visual Arts [Artistes Visuales] — Drawing; painting in tempera, oil, acrylic, watercolor or T-shirt paints; computer-generated art; two-dimensional collage; printmaking; needlework; leather tooling (see link for all accepted visual art forms). NOTE: LWPTSA Council is accepting ONLY 2D visual art. [Sólo aceptamos obras en 2D.]

Reflections Divisions for 2025-26 (Blackwell ELementary)

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

Primary: Preschool – Grade 2
Intermediate: Grades 3 – 5

Additionally, the Accessible Arts Division (formerly Special Artist) [División de Arte Accesible] is an option for students with a disability as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Generally, rules and guidelines within the Accessible Arts division are intended to ensure accessibility to the National PTA Reflections program and are modeled after the guidelines outlined in the ADA.

Judging

While the primary focus of Reflections is a celebration of creativity through positive recognition, finalists from Blackwell may advance to LWPTSA Council, then Council-level finalists will advance to Washington State PTA (WSPTA) judging. Lastly, WSPTA finalists who receive an “Outstanding Interpretation” award will then advance to the National PTA round.

Entries are evaluated based on creative ability and interpretation of the theme by impartial volunteer judges identified from the community by our Reflections program committee. Students’ names and identifying information are concealed from the entries before judging, for purposes of fair evaluation.

Interested in being a volunteer judge? Volunteers can sign up here