Supporting Arts Education through PTA’s School of Excellence Program

September 14, 2023 By Leave a Comment

National PTA believes that all students deserve the opportunity to take part in high-quality arts programming. Through the National PTA School of Excellence program, PTAs can support this effort by making a commitment to enhancing and improving arts education access and programming in their school and community.

National PTA’s Schools of Excellence have a history supporting the arts in their school communities, with the 2022-2024 Schools of Excellence making their own mark on this important work.

Eden Gardens Magnet Elementary, Louisiana

Using the School of Excellence program to identify opportunities for continued development, the Eden Gardens PTA School of Excellence Team focused their Excellence Action plan on ways to reignite the National PTA’s Reflections program in their school, driving inclusivity in arts education and supporting student talent. With a new focus on improved program promotion, the PTA used various communication methods, including social media, newsletters, and flyers, to promote the program.

Standing out as best practice in their work, Eden Gardens PTA focused on an alignment between Reflections and an existing student leadership development program to gain school support. Recognizing implicit connections between the programs, the Excellence Team used their improved communication strategies to explain the common goal of helping students and families achieve student success in all areas of their lives.

The PTA used Reflections to elevate the creativity of Eden Gardens students, celebrating and recognizing their artistic talent. This gave students positive reinforcement that their artistic talents are essential to their growth and development into future leaders.

Eden Gardens PTA hopes to continue intertwining Reflections into the school’s academic programming and noted that the School of Excellence program offered a great a way to structure and advance the PTA’s goal of recognizing student creativity as one of their many strengths.

Bransford Elementary School PTA, Texas

To advance and support the arts in their community, Bransford Elementary PTA focused on enhancing family-driven arts programing and opportunities for students in every grade level. By supporting campus-wide arts initiatives, the Bransford Elementary PTA efforts would reach as many students as possible.

Bransford Elementary PTA’s Reflections program was highly successful and had a wide reach in their community. The PTA received 15 Reflections submissions, seven of which were recognized at the district level, and three went to the state competition! From across the district, their elementary campus had the most submissions recognized at the state-level showcase. The PTA also supported school-based arts programming, like the Orff Ensemble, which went on to be one of only two elementary schools to perform at the state-level music convention.

Additionally, Bransford Elementary PTA supported the schoolwide musical, with the Excellence Team pointing to the musical as part of their arts integration programming. The musical, which was open to every child, boasted 182 participants, which is nearly half of their student population. With so many ways to be involved in the musical, the PTA encouraged family engagement. From building sets, sewing costumes, volunteering time or donating financial resources, the musical programming brought together families who were all willing to contribute towards building students’ artistic success.

Recognizing the impact their focus on arts integration has had on family engagement and student success, the PTA intends to continue their work on promoting and supporting the arts, utilizing the $48,000 they raise through fundraisers to continue arts integration into the school’s curriculum. Ultimately, Bransford Elementary PTA is confident that their investment in enhancing and funding the arts will serve to build even more comprehensive arts programs for the students in their community.

Desert Willow Elementary School, Arizona

The Desert Willow Elementary PTA collaborated closely with their administrator to support and enhance the arts through the PTA Reflections program. Along with hosting and promoting Reflections, the PTA coordinated supporting events and opportunities that further integrated the arts into their school and larger community.

The PTA worked with teachers to encourage their inclusion of Reflections art projects in their classrooms that focused on the program theme “Show Your Voice!” This increased student participation in Reflections. By making Reflections and the arts part of everyday school life, the PTA ensured that all students had the resources and time to create art and, most importantly, have their creations celebrated and exhibited through their PTA Reflections Night Celebration. 

The Reflections Celebration had further benefits of enhancing the PTA’s community partnerships and relationships. The event was highly musical, with performances from a local high school jazz band and a local symphony. The most highly praised musical component was a “musical instrument petting zoo” where a locally owned music store allowed students to try out different instruments. The “petting zoo” had a line from the beginning to the end of the event!

The celebration also fostered family engagement with an emphasis on bringing the arts to school and back home. Through a collaborative art project, students and families created a peace sign display that hung in the school cafeteria for many weeks as a reminder of the event and its impact on the community. To further the family engagement at home, students were given art kits that included supplies for additional art projects, as well as a musical shaker to experiment with rhythm and music.

By the end of the school year, Desert Willow Elementary PTA saw an increase in positive responses to the School of Excellence program survey, and they credit the outcomes to their highly impactful arts programming. The results highlighted how the arts integration programming increased the PTA’s role as a central figure in their community and as a partner to local community groups and businesses. The PTA emphasized this greater sense of community as one of the most valuable takeaways and plans to continue their focus on the arts.

Moving forward, the PTA intends to explore ways to solve transportation issues for after school music clubs, continue with the Reflections program for a second year, fix the school’s broken kiln and look into scholarships for after school drama and art programs.

Advancing in the Arts in Your Community

These spotlights are only a fraction of the immense work accomplished by Schools of Excellence and their investment in the arts. If you’re interested in advancing the arts in your community, check out all the available resources from National PTA at PTA.org/ArtsEd. Then, take it up a notch by getting your own PTA involved with the School of Excellence program! You can use your ideas and passion for the arts, as well as National PTA programs like PTA Reflections, to achieve the designation and gain recognition for the work your PTA does to bring the arts to your school! Local PTAs can enroll at PTA.org/Excellence until October 15.

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Show Your PTA/PTSA’s Value and Grow Membership with the Reflections Program  

July 13, 2023 By Leave a Comment
PTA Reflections

National PTA has a long-standing commitment to arts education because of the important role the arts play in boosting children’s confidence and success. By participating in the arts, children explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.   

PTA believes all students deserve the opportunity to take part in the arts, both in school and in the community. The arts can positively affect the entire school culture—especially student motivation, attitudes and attendance—which encourages students to stay in school, succeed in school, succeed in work and succeed in life!  

Acting on this belief, National PTA has held the National PTA Reflections program for over 50 years. Each year, hundreds of thousands of students in pre-k through grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. National PTA announces over 200 student winners from across the country (see 2022-2023 Show Your Voice! Reflections winners) in the following arts categories:  

  • Dance Choreography  
  • Film Production  
  • Literature  
  • Music Composition  
  • Photography  
  • Visual Arts  

The program provides a uniquely accessible way for students to access the arts and arts education, especially when their schools may have limited art programming, or they have other barriers to participating.  

As Greenfield Elementary School PTA in Virginia shared, “The connection of the arts to the world around us is essential to the growth of all of our Greenfield students. The Reflections program allows our students to create meaningful works of art while also considering the deeper meaning associated with the theme of each year’s program.”  

The Reflections program is a benefit of PTA membership. It is a very impactful way of showing your members the value your PTA or PTSA brings to your community. Reflections entries may only be submitted to active PTAs or PTSAs affiliated with National PTA from across the nation, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and DoDEA school PTAs in Europe. As part of the 2023 National PTA Virtual Reflections Student Arts Showcase, several parents and students emphasized how access to the arts and the Reflections program has drastically benefited them, including featured artist Isaac Cinnamon, who shared, “I think it’s important to have, you know, programs in place like the PTA Reflections to just keep promoting art and keep challenging, you know, kids and teenagers to create and make something.”  

National PTA has a myriad of resources to walk PTA leaders through the entire process of implementing the Reflections program for the benefit of all children. And now, to help you show the value of your PTA or PTSA and grow and retain membership, National PTA has added the Reflections program to the YOU Belong in PTA suite of resources. We have a variety of YOU Belong resources available including social media graphics, pages that are ready to print in color or black and white, as well as customizable pieces and more for PTAs and PTSAs in both English and Spanish. Use the graphics and message pieces that best meet your available time and needs.  

Make sure to encourage people to tune in to the Outstanding Interpretation Reflections Show Your Voice! winners celebration July 19 at 7:00 p.m. EDT on YouTube.com/NationalPTA to see the value of PTA and support your PTA or PTSA with their membership. PTA membership makes the Reflections program possible at all levels of PTA to make a difference in the lives of children and youth and to contribute to having a more successful school community. Share your Reflections and membership promotion using the hashtag #HowWePTA.   

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Meet the 2022-2023 Reflections Outstanding Interpretation Winners! 

June 20, 2023 By Leave a Comment
PTA Reflections

Last month, National PTA announced the national winners for the 2022-2023 Reflections program. From nearly 1,000 student submissions nationwide, a total of 223 original student artworks from 39 state PTA congresses advanced through local, regional, state and national-level review to earn national recognition, scholarships and other special prizes.  

Inspired by the student-created theme Show Your Voice! the top-scoring works across each division competed for National PTA’s highest honor—the Award of Outstanding Interpretation.  

Congratulations to National PTA’s Reflections 2022-2023 Outstanding Interpretation winners Julie Auten, Alice Grieve, Megan Lambert, Nia McKnight, Sarina Policastro, Sebastian Tulin and Minka Van Berkel—let’s get to know these exceptional young creators in their own words! 

Music Composition (High School Division) – Julie Auten, “Listen” 

Lake Braddock Secondary School PTSA, Virginia 

“’Listen’ was created entirely using my own voice (and body percussion) to portray my struggles with self-expression. As a soft-spoken female who’s never been particularly outgoing, I often feel that the important things I have to say are overlooked—that no one’s listening. My piece describes that feeling, how I wish I could communicate, and is itself a statement declaring that I will always fight to be able to show my voice.”  You can listen to Julie’s original song here. 

Visual Arts (Intermediate Division) – Alice Grieve, “Paved the Way” 

Mill Creek Elementary School PTA, Alabama 

“This skirt made of ties has the names of brave women who showed their voice by stepping into fields that usually were associated with men, such as math, engineering, science and politics. These women persisted, sacrificed and paved the way for other women to step in those same fields. They made it easier for me to follow my dreams about being a structural engineer for NASA. I left one tie blank, because one day, I hope my name is on there.” 

Reflections Winner Alice Grieve

Visual Arts (Special Artist Division) – Megan Lambert, “Hear Me Roar” 

Lake Washington High School PTSA, Washington 

“This is the story of how I found my voice and expressed it through art. I was born with a learning disability, and I did not fit in well with others. I could not talk or communicate and hid in the shadows of others. I found solace in my art by creating my own worlds. Through the helping hands of my teachers, as time passed, I was able to leap through the steppingstones of life. Art has helped me step from the shadows into a world of expression. My voice yells: ‘My name is Megan. Hear me roar!’” 

Reflections Outstanding Interpretation Winner Megan Lambert

Dance Choreography (High School Division) – Nia McKnight, “Where Did the Night Go?” 

Booker T. Washington HSPVA PTSA, Texas 

“I express my voice through dance, in the song Gil Scott-Heron talks about not being able to find the words for a letter to someone he loves. When I can’t find the words to express my opinion, I always find a way through dance. I’ve been generally pretty shy since I was young so voicing my opinion and feelings without talking has always been ideal. That’s part of the reason why I appreciate the art of dance so much. Being able to express yourself through movement.” You can view Nia’s dance choreography and performance here. here. 

Reflections Outstanding Interpretation Winner Nia McKight

Film Production (High School Division) – Sarina Policastro, “Amira’s Letters” 

Ward Melville High School PTSA, New York 

“For a variety of reasons, people are often scared to speak their minds. Some worry about rejection, some worry about offending others, but whatever the reason, many times, the things we want to say go unsaid. This animated film explores the things we would say if we weren’t afraid, and the ways our lives could change if we had the confidence to ‘show our voices’ and tell people the way we feel.” 

Reflections Outstanding Interpretation Winner Sarina Policastro.

Photography (High School Division) – Sebastian Tulin, “The Runner Triumphant” 

Winston Churchill High School PTSA, Maryland 

“Freedom, joy, pain, exhaustion and triumph are the result of countless hours spent working to become the very best. This photo encapsulates the eruption of emotion one feels when all of their work and effort finally pays off; when success is reached; when they know that challenging themselves again and again and again was worth it. These raw emotions can come with any passion. For me, it is photography. Through photography, I have learned how to express my emotions and my ideas. When people see my work, they hear my voice.” 

Reflections Outstanding Interpretation Winner Sebastian Tulin.

Literature (Primary Division) – Minka Van Berkel, “The Girl Who Was Loud Even Though She Didn’t Speak” 

A.P. Willits Elementary School PTA, New York  

“My story is about a girl who doesn’t speak up in the first place, but people still get to know her.  Mindy shows her voice through her actions. Once she realizes that people still got to know her by watching her actions and that they liked her for who she was, she felt more confident to speak up.”  

Reflections Outstanding Interpretation Winner Minka VanBerkel.

Congratulations again to Julie, Alice, Megan, Nia, Sarina, Sebastian and Minka! National PTA will honor these seven young creators during the 2023 National PTA Virtual Convention and will publicly air the celebration during the “2022-2023 Outstanding Interpretation Winners Celebration” event, to air via National PTA’s YouTube channel on Wednesday, July 19 at 7 p.m. EDT. 

We will continue to celebrate these students and each of this year’s national-level awardees throughout the year ahead! Visit PTA.org/ReflectionsAwards for the complete list of 2022-2023 national-level awardees and the official National PTA Reflections Awards announcement.  

The full collection of National PTA award-winning artworks is available for viewing online at the 2022-2023 Reflections Virtual Gallery Exhibit. Enjoy scrolling through images of student art and performance, read student writing, learn about the inspiration behind their creations and listen to full-length music tracks of this year’s national-winning composers.  

Are you inspired to create? The 2023-2024 Reflections program is up and running! Visit your state PTA’s Reflections program page to learn more. 

Cathleen O’Malley is the National PTA Arts in Education Fellow. 

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National PTA Reflections Virtual Showcase Highlights Young Artists and Family Members 

March 25, 2023 By Leave a Comment
PTA Reflections

On January 25, 2023, National PTA concluded the celebration of the 2021-2022 “I Will Change the World By…” Reflections year with the Reflections Student Arts Virtual Showcase. This special event featured 20 extraordinary young creators sharing the inspiration for their national award-winning artwork, as well as a few of their parents who emphasized the importance of the arts and family engagement.  

Pictured: High schooler Ralienne Nacional (2021-2022 Award of Merit, Music Composition) shares the inspiration for her song, “Change the World.” 

The hour-long presentation, which includes closed captioning in English and Spanish, was attended live by over 900 virtual attendees and remains archived on National PTA’s YouTube channel. 

Clockwise, from left: Eden Salem, Award of Excellence in Film Production, Illinois; Arvin Nambi, Award of Merit in Music Composition, North Carolina; Isaac Cinnamon, Award of Merit in Film Production, South Carolina; Shirly Liu, Award of Excellence in Visual Arts, New Jersey; Sophia Cedillo, Award of Merit in Photography, Kentucky; Diara Giri, Award of Excellence in Literature, Illinois 

Meet Some of the Students Featured in the Showcase  

Nivedhitha “Nivi” Magesh (Award of Excellence in Visual Art, Georgia) shared the inspiration for her award-winning drawing “Warmth in Every Color” as well as other photos of her paintings. 

“I thought of using my art to relieve or help people if they are sad or stressed.” – Nivi Magesh 

Rhyanna Murdock (Award of Excellence in Photography, Idaho) invited us all to be our best selves by lifting others up through difficult times with her award-winning photograph “Rising Up.”  

“I lift others up by being a light when others can’t be.” – Rhyanna Murdock 

Tyme Anusonti-Inthra (Youth’s Benefit Elementary School PTA, Maryland) revealed how he supported conservation and biology projects as a “citizen scientist” in his delightful stop-motion film titled “Mission: Citizen Science.” 

“With the theme in mind, I decided to challenge myself to be a Citizen Scientist for one whole year. My data helps the scientists understand, and hopefully solve, real world problems that we are all facing.” – Tyme Anusonti-Inthra 

Cadence Stewart (Newington Elementary School PTA, South Carolina) shared the meaning behind her award-winning dance choreography “Overcome,” which was created in honor the lives lost to due to gun violence and racism. 

“I create dance choreography because it helps me express my feelings and thoughts when I can’t say it in words. My family supports me by always encouraging me to never give up and to send a message when I’m dancing.” – Cadence Stewart 

This year’s Showcase also featured appearances by several Reflections parents, each highlighting in their own way the role that family can play in nurturing students’ creativity. Here is what some of them had to say: 

“Parents and family members can support their students’ creative expression by just letting them be themselves. As parents, we see the potential in our children and there are things that we want them to accomplish, but we often overlook how they really feel and what they really want to do. Let’s continue to encourage our youth to explore, remain lifelong learners and trust the process.” – Candace Fladger (Cadence’s Mom) 

“When [my children] create art, I can see them trying to express these complex ideas that they have in their heads that they’re not really sure how to say…not really sure how to put it into words…but they can put it into art. – Tonya Hamill (Otto’s Mom) 

“There’s never a day without music in our family… As a family, watching them work hard on a piece to perform it on stage or to enter it into a competition, it’s so rewarding to watch and it makes us so proud because we know how much effort went into it.” – Preetha Nambi (Arvin’s Mom) 

Want to hear more from these and other special guests from the 2023 Reflections Showcase? Visit National PTA’s YouTube channel and watch an archived recording of the full 2021-2022 program year Showcase, along with a celebration video honoring the 7 Outstanding Interpretation awardees of 2021-2022.   

Congratulations, once again, to all the national winners from the 2021-2022 I Will Change the World By… Reflections program. To view the artwork and artist statements from all 200+ national Reflections winners, check out our virtual exhibit of student works at PTA.org/IWillChangeTheWorldBy. 

The national winners for the 2022-2023 Show Your Voice! Reflections program will be announced May 1 at PTA.org/ReflectionsAwards.  

In the meantime, stay connected to National PTA on social media @NationalPTA and #PTAReflections for the latest news from Reflections. For more information about the Reflections program, please visit PTA.org/Reflections. We welcome your support of this next generation of young creators! 

Cathleen O’Malley is the Arts Education Fellow at National PTA. 

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Meet Paige Opaska—the 2024-2025 Reflections Theme Search Contest Winner! 

February 14, 2023 By Leave a Comment
PTA Reflections

Every year, National PTA invites students across the PTA member network to participate in the annual Reflections Theme Search Contest—a national competition to select an original and inspiring theme for the upcoming Reflections year. We are so pleased to announce the winner of the 2024-2025 Reflections Theme Search… drumroll please! 

Congratulations to Paige Opaska, an 8th grader from Barbara Bush Middle School PTA in San Antonio, Texas, for her winning theme, “Accepting Imperfection.”  

Paige’s theme was selected from nearly 100 student submissions across 20 State PTAs, with reviews conducted by the National PTA board officers and programs committee. As the Theme Search Contest winner, Paige will receive $100 from National PTA and national recognition throughout the year.  

“Accepting Imperfection” will serve as the inspiration for hundreds of thousands of students across the country and in U.S. schools abroad as they create original dance choreography, film productions, music compositions, photography, literature and visual art as part of the 2024-2025 Reflections program. 

Paige described her theme in this way: “‘Accepting Imperfection’ is a reminder to myself that mistakes are welcome because they are a part of being human. Our flaws are as much a part of us as our strengths, so being imperfect should be perfect enough for us.” 

Texas State PTA leadership, Paige’s middle school principal and special guests surprised her with a weeknight Zoom call Jan. 18 to announce that her theme had been chosen as the national winner.  

The announcement included Michelle Jackson, Texas PTA, Executive Director; Carrie Mays, Texas PTA, Programs Manager; Melinda Samberson, Texas PTA VP Programs and Resources; Risa Ginther, Texas PTA Arts in Ed Chair; Ana-Maria Morales, President, Barbara Bush Middle School PTA; Lettie Galarza, Barbara Bush Middle School PTA, Reflections Chair; Rodolfo Salinas, Principal, Barbara Bush Middle School; Kate Patterson, North East ISD Council of PTAs, Arts in Education; and Debbie Weissmuller, North East ISD Council of PTAs, President. Thanks to Paige’s mom, Kristen Opaska, for helping coordinate the big reveal—check out those smiles! 

The “Accepting Imperfection” theme was a strong favorite among National PTA’s Theme Search review panel, with one reviewer noting that the theme “allows students room to show vulnerability, a willingness to address failure and move on, promotes empathy and a pro-mental health mindset.”  

In addition to participating in the theme search competition, Paige is one of the hundreds of thousands of students across the country who submitted artwork for the current year’s Reflections 2022-2023 program, inspired by the theme, “Show Your Voice!” When asked for advice to other young artists looking to develop their creativity, Paige replied: 

“I’m involved in a lot of different clubs within my school, including band and sports, so my advice would be, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and take advantage of opportunities you are given.”  

The current 2022-2023 theme, “Show Your Voice!” was submitted by 2021 Theme Search winner Jason Yevin from Salk/Macarthur PTSA in New York State. Regional and state submissions for the current year are ongoing, with national winners to be announced May 1, so mark your calendar! 

Next year’s 2023-2024 Reflections program theme, “I Am Hopeful Because...” was composed by Alice Meko of Hampton Cove Elementary School in Alabama during the 2022 Theme Search.  You can learn more about Alice’s theme idea in this blog post. Stay tuned for the program launch at PTA.org/Reflections and then look for more information from your participating state PTA. 

Students from PTA member schools can help shape the future of the Reflections program by participating in the annual Theme Search Contest. We welcome your creativity and imagination! Visit your state PTA’s Reflections Program page to learn more.  

Cathleen O’Malley is the 2022-2024 National PTA Arts in Education Fellow. 

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Meet National PTA’s Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant Recipients

July 28, 2022 By Leave a Comment

National PTA’s Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant awards two local PTAs $1,000 in funds for student-centered programs that increase access to high quality arts learning experiences and new pathways for students – especially those hardest to reach – to participate in the arts and National PTA’s Reflections program.

We were so excited to select Jayne Ann Miller Elementary PTA in Texas and Hazelwood PTA in Washington to receive the award in 2021, and we were even more impressed with the innovative projects these two PTAs did with the grant funding. Check out their stories below!

Jayne Ann Miller Elementary PTA
Lubbock, Texas

With support from the Mary Lou Anderson Arts Enhancement grant, Jayne Ann Miller Elementary PTA, a diverse, Title 1 school, used the funds to invite Reflections students to an event and purchase new display panels that increased the school’s ability to display artwork from every student, ensuring that students receive recognition for their creative talents for many years to come. Prior to the grant, Miller Elementary School’s art teacher had to reserve display panels from a central office for a finite duration of time.

Each year, Miller Elementary School holds an annual fine arts event called Owlapalooza. This year, the PTA focused on including the Reflections Awards Ceremony during this event, making it a centerpiece of the program. The PTA sent out personalized invitations to Reflections families and provided awards to Reflections participants to boost student confidence and honor their hard work and creativity.

The new panels were a huge success and helped bring more attention to the arts. Britni Wilkins, PTA President and Program Leaders said, “Now, these panels will remain in our school building, in use permanently, so that our students’ work is always being displayed proudly for the school community to enjoy.”

Simultaneously, the PTA asked the community to support their arts programming by fulfilling wish list items. The PTA was proud that every single item requested was donated, including 28 boxes of crayons, 378 glue sticks, 5 packages of Velcro, 28 boxes of colored pencils, 500 sheets of construction paper, a package of art posters and 72 sharpies.

Jayne Ann Miller Elementary PTA reported that one of the biggest highlights of this program was watching the joy on each child’s face as they accepted their award, hugged their art teacher and showed their family members their thoughtfully displayed artwork at the front of our cafetorium. The PTA shared a story about one of our students who advanced to state level in the Reflections program, who had been struggling with self-confidence due to academic challenges. The family told the PTA that the child’s confidence soared after receiving their Reflections award and having their artwork publicly recognized.

Hazelwood Elementary School PTA
Newcastle, Washington

With financial support from the Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant, the Hazelwood PTA implemented a Meet the Masters program in every K-5 classroom. The grant helped the PTA overcome barriers for participation of all students including teacher support, funding of art supplies, schedule challenges, volunteer support and sustainability.

With community input, Hazelwood PTA chose to focus on the arts because Hazelwood did not provide a standard art curriculum. The PTA formed an arts committee and advocated for the Meet the Masters, a standards-based elementary school art curriculum, in order to increase emotional development, address cultural diversity and inclusion and provide arts access to all. They presented the program to the teachers and gained their support. They also worked collaboratively to recruit an art docent and 25 new volunteers through outreach and information sessions to administer the program.

The Meet the Masters program provided an opportunity to explore what artists may have been feeling with opene conversations with the students. The program also explored six chosen artists from different backgrounds, including local African American artist Jacob Lawerence and Katsushika Hokusai of Japan who – despite being poor – was able to draw using rice. The program helped build curiosity and understanding of diverse artists and cultures to build a more inclusive community

At the end of the program and school year, Hazelwood PTA planned a community art gallery and Museum of Art (MOMA) fundraiser to bring the community together in celebration of the arts and to support curiosity, awareness and discussion about diversity and inclusion. Through this work, the PTA lined the halls with artwork each month which promoted conversations around art, community and connection.

Prior to the grant and Meet the Masters, the school did not have a standard art program, so it was up to each teacher to decide how, when and if art was integrated into the classroom. The Hazelwood PTA is proud that they were able to bring this important program to all students in their school community.  Teaessa Chism, Program Leader, said “The program has gained school and community awareness now. We have received positive feedback from parents and teachers with will help with future fundraising to cover supplies and future artists.” Now, the arts can be explored in every classroom, increasing access to an art curriculum that supports diversity, inclusion and social emotional development. 

Congratulations, once again, to Jayne Ann Miller Elementary PTA and Hazelwood PTA! Look for the Mary Lou Anderson Arts Enhancement grant and others to open in August. Visit PTA.org/ArtsEd and PTA.org/Grants for more information.

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Congratulations to National PTA’s Outstanding Interpretation Awardees!

July 10, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Thousands of young artists from across the country participated in the 2021-2022 National PTA Reflections program by creating original works of art in response to the student-selected theme: I Will Change the World By….

Winning student artworks advanced from the local PTA level to the district, region, council, state and, ultimately, to the national level. This year, National PTA received over 900 student submissions from 47 State PTA Congresses.

Credential arts professionals conducted two rounds of blind review to determine the 200+ students who received national-level recognition for their artistic accomplishments. Just seven students earned the program’s top honor: the Award of Outstanding Interpretation. They were selective because of their distinctive interpretation of the theme, creativity and technical skills.

Each Outstanding Interpretation awardee represents one of the Reflections program’s six arts categories and the Special Artist division, which include Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography and Visual Arts. Reflections encourages students with disabilities to fully participate in the program by welcoming young artists to enter through the Special Artist division.

We are excited to introduce this year’s exemplary Award of Outstanding Interpretation recipients!

Oviya Gowder–Dance Choreography
James Clemens High School PTSA, Alabama

Oviya conveyed a powerful message in her dance choreography, Save The Children. The piece addresses human trafficking and its threat to young adults. To set the tone for her work, her artist statement begins with a quote from author Edward Everett Hale: “I am only one, but I am one. I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.” She continues to demonstrate the power of one’s actions to prevent tragedy by learning to recognize signs of human trafficking.

The artwork earned top marks because of Oviya’s original interpretation of the theme. She shares, “The Reflections contest gave me a platform to raise awareness about something that is not usually brought up or talked about. My career interest lies in the pediatrics area, and this inspired me to create a piece revolving around the safety of children.”

Yasmeen Fas–Film Production
Green Township PTA, New Jersey

Yasmeen’s film production Reduce, Reuse and Recycle incorporates careful research to demonstrate how individuals can save our planet. In her artist statement, she explains, “What is something that we all can do to help our planet? The answer is: Recycling!” The video includes compelling statistics, such as the fact that energy saved from recycling a glass bottle is equivalent to powering a lightbulb for up to 4 hours.

To explain her inspiration for the work, Yasmeen shares, “When walking my dog around the neighborhood I noticed some trash on grassy areas, behind the buildings, along sidewalks and around drains on the streets. I didn’t like what I saw, so I went home, grabbed a trash bag and picked it all up. I really wanted to show that even a small thing like that could help keep our neighborhood clean. Imagine if everyone did the same, then it would change our environment for the best!”

Dao Nguyen–Literature
Castillero Middle School PTA, California

Dao’s poem, titled Dandelion, reflects the beauty of one’s individual power. Her artist statement details this concept: “The world is a big place, and I know that being only one person in it can be daunting for young people like myself. So Dandelion is a poem about how even if you’re just one human, you can still have an effect on this world through what I believe is most important to share with other people—your passion, ideas, and stories.”

Dao shared nature’s influence on her writing. She explains, “Plants like dandelions spread their seeds around the world so they can continue to grow, even in unexpected places. [It’s] like how you can share your knowledge and creativity, so it inspires other people.” Dao notes another influence on her writing is the future reader’s perception. She notes that metaphors and analogies can be used “to connect the dots like you’re painting a picture so the reader understands your message.” Read Dao’s poem.

James Jordan–Special Artist, Music Composition
Syracuse High School PTSA, Utah

James’ thoughtful introspection stood out with his music composition piece, Change the World Right. In his artist statement, James explains, “The lyrics in the song explain how changing the world can be a positive or negative impact on others and yourself. It’s important to reflect on change because you can make decisions that could be influential and beneficial for others to learn and experience. The story behind the lyrics is how I overcame challenges in my life and adapted to a changing world.”

The song’s significance is deeply personal to James. He notes the challenges he has faced, sharing, “I struggled with autism for many years in school.” Yet, that he is “clever and artistic” and has harnessed the power of the arts to express himself. James explains, “This song is a puzzle piece of my life that will remind me of the inspiration I had to change the world. This year’s Reflections taught me that inspiration could come from anywhere and whatever happens next is a world with you in it.”

Listen to James’s song.

Sonia Singh–Music Composition
Acadia PTA, New York

Sonia shares a compelling melody with her musical composition, Rainbow. In her artist statement, she shares, “My composition, Rainbow, relates to the theme I Will Change The World By… through spreading the message that we can build a better tomorrow. Recent times have been very trying and there has been very little light in the world. Through my uplifting songs, I will help people see that there is always a way to make their lives brighter. Even if things seem bleak, we can bring out the light from inside us and together make a rainbow for everyone.”

The song allowed Sonia to convey a powerful moment in time. She shared, “I wrote this song after the worst of COVID-19 when things were starting to open up and we finally had hope for the future. In the past, there have been plenty of setbacks for us as people but I’ve realized that what matters is that we always get up again and never stop fighting.”

Listen to Sonia’s song.

Arsal Shaur–Photography
County Parkway PTA, New York

Arsal’s photograph, I Can Change the World by Enlightening Others with Knowledge, conveys a message that is near and dear to the mission of National PTA. In his artist statement, Arsal explains, “I am grateful that I have the opportunity to get an education. There are many children in the world who cannot get and afford to have a basic education. I can change the world by spreading knowledge. I can raise my voice so that every child in the world can have a basic education, at least.”

The details in the photograph further the artwork’s significance. Arsal notes that “the book in the photograph represents knowledge and the brightness in the background shows the light which knowledge brings in our lives.”

Jasmine Roldan–Visual Arts
Hicksville High School PTSA, New York

Jasmine’s detailed visual arts piece is titled Say Their Names. In her artist statement, she writes, “As a female of color in America living in such corrupt times, I hope to change the world by advocating for civil rights. All the people displayed on this piece have been subject to unjust violence leading to their deaths. Their names written within the word ‘EQUALITY’ correspond to their faces. Some of them were grandmothers to their grandchildren, track stars, or as young as 10 years old. Say their names. By doing just that, you too can change the world.”

To further highlight her inspiration for the work, Jasmine explains, “I create art to show just how much people, ideas, things matter to me. Their lives matter along with those, including myself, that look like them. I hope to ignite a spark within everyone to reflect on what they can do to be the change they want to see in the world.”

Congratulations to our I Will Change the World By… Outstanding Interpretation winners! We look forward to recognizing your achievements at the 2022 Virtual Outstanding Interpretation Reflections Winners Celebration, which will be available on National PTA’s YouTube channel July 21, 2022.   

For more inspiration, please visit PTA.org/ReflectionsAwards to find the official Reflections awards announcement, the complete list of the 200+ student winners, and our digital gallery of student works. Stay connected to National PTA on social media (@NationalPTA and #PTAReflections) as we continue to recognize and celebrate student talents throughout the year.

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Grant Continues to Advance Art Through PTAs Nationwide

September 2, 2021 By Leave a Comment

For over 50 years, the National PTA Reflections arts program has provided opportunities for recognition and access to the arts for millions of students, thanks to the innovation of artist, PTA leader and founder Mary Lou Anderson. Reflections boosts student confidence and success in the arts and in life.

Anderson’s vision was to increase arts access among at-risk and underserved students and we are proud to offer the Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant to help continue that goal. Through this opportunity, local PTAs demonstrate a commitment to providing new pathways for students to participate in the Reflections program and increase student access to high quality arts learning experiences.

We honored the commitment of two local PTAs with $1,000 for their dedication to increase access to high quality arts learning and increase the impact of their Reflections Program. Pauba Valley Elementary School PTA in California and Robinson High School PTSA in Florida were the 2020-2021 Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant recipients! Check out what these amazing PTAs did with their grant funds!

2020-2021 MLA Grantee Profile: Pauba Valley Elementary School PTA, Temecula, Calif.

With only one entry for their PTA Reflections program, Pauba Valley Elementary School PTA recognized the need to place more focus on getting students educated and excited about the arts. As a Title I school, with a culturally diverse student body, Pauba Valley Elementary PTA saw it their mission to match that diversity in how they present the arts, with a focus on positively impacting students from both at-risk and underserved families, to advance diversity in the arts, specifically in the Reflections program.

Despite the limitations from the COVID-19 pandemic, Pauba Valley Elementary School PTA wanted to bring the entire community together to support the arts. So, they planned and implemented a series of six virtual workshops that averaged over 200 participants per event. In the planning process, the PTA realized that many students were lacking supplies, so they purchased materials and assembled kits which were distributed via drive-through pickups. They also arranged for presenters through community partnerships, where applicable.

With grant funding, the PTA was able to cover costs that would have otherwise been unattainable. The events helped to inspire students to be creative through artistic expression and demonstrate and communicate the benefits of membership in PTA to the Pauba Valley Elementary School community. The last event focused on the arts as a career, providing inspiration and information about professions in the arts.

With an incredible total of 1,800 people impacted through the virtual events, the Pauba Valley Elementary PTA said the most memorable part was, “Seeing the excitement from the students. They were engaged and learning through our hands-on activities, and it was awesome to see the seeds being planted.”

Kathy Gonzales, vice president, Pauba Valley Elementary School PTA said that the events were incredibly successful and shared, “Even though we are not together on campus, these virtual events are giving our families a chance to connect with each other and have fun while doing it. We are so excited to offer these programs to our school community during these challenging times.”

2020-2021 MLA Grantee Profile: Robinson High School PTSA, Tampa, Fla.

In May, with support from the Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant, Robinson High School PTSA hosted a spoken word poetry program. The event included a two-day workshop that culminated in the Spoken Word Poetry Jam. To foster student engagement, the PTSA partnered with the school media specialist and world languages department. In addition, they incorporated a local artist and spoken word poet. Seven students participated in the voluntary presentation portion of the Poetry Jam.

Due to the impacts of COVID-19, the program marked the school’s first in-person workshop that students could attend at school during the school year. The students, according to the PTSA, were extremely excited to attend the in-person event and many Robinson High School teachers allowed students to earn credit for attendance and participation.

The collaboration between the PTSA and teachers added value to the event. Inclusion was key to the event’s success. The PTSA sought to elevate student voices and give them some control over the program. Students also talked about gender and stereotypes through their artwork. All students were encouraging to one another and embraced each other’s different perspectives.

One student brought her mother and grandmother to the event. The PTSA shared, “The encouragement and love between the three generations of women was inspiring to witness.” The most memorable part of the program, according to the PTSA, was the Spoken Word Poetry Jam itself. The students were enthusiastic about participating and supported one another through the process. The students also demonstrated bravery and vulnerability as they worked through some of the stress this year has put upon them.

The Poetry Jam also served as a catalyst for students to learn about the upcoming school year’s Reflections program. The PTSA used a portion of the workshop to discuss the Reflections theme and brainstorm ideas for participation. The PTSA distributed student entry forms and captured the students’ information to jumpstart their program. Robinson High School PTSA plans to continue to work through the summer to ensure students are exposed to other Reflections arts categories. The PTSA identified this specific program because it provided students with an opportunity to express themselves in a safe environment. It also fostered an appreciation for writing and poetry to express and convey thoughts and emotions through art.

With half of the Robinson High School student population qualifying for free & reduced-price lunch under Title I, these grant dollars were extremely appreciated. When asked if they would consider running the program again, the PTSA shared, “Most definitely. Based on feedback alone, our students were excited and engaged and every single one wanted to do it again.”

Congratulations, once again, to Pauba Valley Elementary School PTA and Robinson High School PTSA!

If you are planning to host a 2021-2022 I Will Change the World By… Reflections program and are in need of funding to increase access and participation of at-risk and underserved students in arts programming, APPLY NOW!

Applications for the next round of Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement grants are now being accepted through Sept. 27 at PTA.org/Grants. Two local PTAs will be awarded $1,000 to administer student-centered programs that increase access to high quality arts learning experiences and new pathways for students to participate in National PTA’s Reflections program. 

We can’t wait to support and celebrate another successful year of Reflections with you!

Learn more about Reflections, Mary Lou Anderson and her legacy by visiting our ArtsEd page and Reflections Timeline.

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Congratulations, 2020-2021 National PTA Reflections Outstanding Interpretation Winners!

June 28, 2021 By Leave a Comment

On May 1, National PTA announced the 2020-2021 Reflections winners for the student-selected theme I Matter Because…. Over 200 students from 38 State PTA Congresses earned national recognition for their creative accomplishments in Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography and Visual Arts. The program also offers a Special Artist Division to recognize students with disabilities who participate. Seven remarkable students earned the National PTA Reflections program’s highest achievement: the Outstanding Interpretation Award. We are proud to recognize this year’s Outstanding Interpretation Award winners!

Mark Wagner – Special Artist – Dance Choreography
Dana Hills High School PTSA, California
Mark showed us the strength of his voice through his choreography piece titled “I Speak With My Dancing.” In his artist statement, Mark wrote, “I matter because I am different. I speak with my dancing.”

Mark has been dancing since he was five years old, and he practiced every week for two months to develop his Reflections submission. He is a fearless performer who loves to entertain big crowds with his creative movements. His mother, Mercedes, shared, “For him to achieve this award, in his Special Artist category, is truly an honor for him and our family.”

Sydney Ware – Dance Choreography
Dekalb School of the Arts PTSA, Georgia
Sydney’s creativity stood out with “In This Shirt,” her dance choreography piece. In her artist statement, Sydney explained, “The whole song is about being lost as an individual, so I used that as a way to represent that we all are lost sometimes. The video begins with the dancers describing why they matter.

The dance begins with them wearing shirts that say ‘Why Do I Matter?’. Throughout the dance they find themselves as individuals and have their own solo moments. They also change into their own individual
outfits, to express finding their individuality. ‘On the journey to finding yourself, there will always be reasons why you matter’.”

Sydney finds value in choreographing to express herself. She shared, “I really enjoyed working on this piece. At the time we had been in quarantine for six months, so I was really ready to put positive energy into something that I enjoyed doing.”

Zoe Caraballo – Film Production
Green Township PTA, New Jersey
Zoe’s film production “I Matter” exemplifies the student-selected Reflections theme. In her artist statement, she explained, “To matter, you have to choose to matter. Through my video, I explain how I can make a difference in the world through small acts and how you could matter too if you choose to.”

For Zoe, art is “an opportunity to spread my message about serious topics in the world in an eye-catching way.” In this film, which includes an immersive Minecraft-inspired scene, she combined her passions for poetry and film production.

Joshua Johnson – Literature
Bennion Junior High PTSA, Utah
Joshua wrote a powerful poem titled “The Voice In My Head.” In his artist statement, he explained the piece’s context: “2020 has been unbelievably challenging for many people, including me. With the physical, emotional, mental, financial, academic, political, and social challenges we’ve all faced this year, I wanted to write a poem that expressed the feelings and experiences I have had and I have heard. I believe I matter because I can do hard things. I am becoming a better person, a better student, a better
family member, and a better member of our society because of the things I am learning by being resilient.

Because I know I matter, I believe I help other people know they matter.”
Though Joshua typically sources inspiration for his poems based on what is in his head and heart, this poem comes straight from his heart. He shared that the poem “was really personal to me. It was my attempt to articulate everything I had been feeling about [last] year.”

Johan Novak – Music Composition
Odle Middle School PTSA, Washington
Johan’s moving musical composition piece, titled “Legacy,” expresses the power of individual influence. In his artist statement, he shared, “Last summer, our dear family friend with cancer spent her final days in
hospice care in our home. She was a phenomenal musician, my music teacher, and most of all my friend.

She left me her legacy of music and love, and inspired me to write this song. In her death, I saw how precious life is. We take so many things for granted and forget that tomorrow is not guaranteed. I matter because I create a legacy with each day I have. I can make the world a better place and honor those who gave me so much.”

Like so many, Johan has found joy through art. He shared, “Writing my Reflections song helped me express my feelings, and I hope that my music has personal meaning to you. I write music to express my feelings and because it makes me happy.”

Maeryn Elizabeth Jacob – Photography
Lawton Chiles Middle School PTSA, Florida
Maeryn’s photograph demonstrates her power to change the world. In her artist statement, Maeryn explained, “I matter because I fight for my beliefs. Though I am young I believe I can still have a big impact on the world. This world is suffering, and we need to do everything we can to help undo the things we have done. As a part of the upcoming generation, who will need to fix our world so that the next generations after us, still have a place to live.”

Photography allows Maeryn to share her perspective on the world with others. With her Young Artist Scholarship, Maeryn plans to save most of the winning money – but she also wants to get a hamster with some of it!

Claire Moon – Visual Arts
Rachel Carson Middle School PTA, Virginia
Claire’s intricate visual arts piece is titled “My Pieces of Quilt.” She explained her inspiration in her artist statement, writing, “I thought of pieces someone needs during their journey to potential success, so I thought of paper, which represents the pieces in a story. In this artwork, I incorporated states of paper, including signs of where we face failure, so we give up, crumple, and tear up what we initially had in mind,
but also the remarkable achievements that we pin and clip to stay flexible and fold it into an impacting lesson. Therefore, I matter because by taping the achievements and failures, I can string together the hardships I face to grow my identity into a developing masterpiece.”

Now in middle school, Claire has participated in the Reflections program since she was a third grader. She shared, “I enjoy [Reflections] because it helps me reflect on what’s happening around me and to
figure out what I’ve learned.”

Congratulations to our Outstanding Interpretation winners: Mark Wagner, Sydney Ware, Zoe Caraballo, Joshua Johnson, Johan Novak, Maeryn Elizabeth Jacob, and Claire Moon! We look forward to celebrating your achievements at the virtual PTA Convention & Expo and throughout the year.

We are also so inspired by all the “I Matter Because…” awardees. Please visit PTA.org/ReflectionsAwards to find the official Reflections awards announcement , the complete list of student winners, and our
Virtual Exhibit of student works. Stay connected to National PTA on social media (@NationalPTA and PTAReflections) as we continue to recognize and celebrate student talents throughout the year.

Sarah Scalet, National PTA’s Arts in Education Fellow

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National PTA Celebrates the Heroes Around Us All

February 29, 2020 By Leave a Comment

National PTA’s Reflections program has helped students explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life. Each year, over 300,000 students participate in Reflections in response to the annual theme.

On Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education hosted the National PTA Reflections Student Arts Showcase & Exhibit Opening, honoring the over 200 national winners from the 2018-2019 program year.

During the hour-long program, the 2018-2019 theme, Heroes Around Me, was reflected through performances and features in all of our categories: Photography, Visual Arts, Literature, Music Composition, and Film Production. Heroes to these students included parents, siblings, public workers, farmers, teachers, troops and even animals!

Our first featured artist was Beckett Bayan. Beckett composed a piece of music for the violin called “When Blue Butterflies Take Flight Again,” which is about endangered butterflies in his hometown in California. Beckett’s mom says that Beckett composed his first piece of music in the first grade for a Reflections project, and he hasn’t stopped writing music since!

Next we heard from Benjamin Breaux, the featured artist for the Special Artist division. Ben is a non-speaking autistic and uses a letterboard to communicate. Ben wrote a poem inspired by his mom, who he says, “supports others in so very many ways and always makes those she is supporting feel like heroes themselves.” Ben’s message was moving and we’re so grateful that he shared his powerful words.

The featured film producer was Sarah McFeely, whose film is entitled “Part of Something Bigger.” Sarah’s grandmother worked for NASA! She helped to secure funding for the Manned Space Flight mission – truly part of something bigger. Sarah says, “Having the opportunity to submit to competitions like PTA Reflections also encourages me to continue my artwork and find creative outlets throughout the year.” Thank you, Sarah!

Aditi Gokhale, featured literature winner, then shared her poem “The Unseen Heroes.” Her poem is about honeybees and relates the hardworking bees to the unnoticed heroes in our midst! Firefighters, police officers, teachers, inventors and parents are all heroes to Aditi, and she says their work often goes unnoticed. Aditi asks us to appreciate those hard workers and to acknowledge that there is a hero in all of us. Thank you, Aditi, for your empowering message.

Riley Zwiselsberger’s photograph of four firefighters shows us that heroes have fun, too! He says “I realized the day I took this photo that they are also heroes because they love to teach and help people, too. They spent so much time with us and made me laugh, too!”

The featured dance choreography piece was presented by Grace Youn. Grace was inspired by her aunt to create this dance. Her aunt is a veterinarian who also rescues animals. Grace’s dance was a beautiful tribute to those who dedicate their lives to helping animals!

Cleopha Costa presented her winning visual art piece called “There is Always Someone Who Needs You!” She created her painting using acrylic paint, pen, pencil, and watercolor. The painting depicts someone stopping to assist a man experiencing homelessness. Cleopha reminds us that “it is essential to offer a helping hand and pick up someone when they break down. You never know how much of a hero you mean to them.”

After hearing from our featured artists and special guests, it was time to officially open the exhibit with a ribbon-cutting! The print and digital exhibit will be on display at the U.S. Department of Education, by appointment only, through February 2020. Its next destination will be Louisville, Ky. for the 2020 National PTA Convention & Expo.

 

Written by Hope Cagle, Arts in Education Fellow, National PTA Reflections Program.

For more information on the Reflections program, please visit PTA.org/Reflections.

 

 

 

 

 

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