Welcome to the 2011-2012 Maryland PTA Reflections Program! The theme for the 2011-2012 program is "Diversity Means..."

There are some changes to the 2011-2012 program, so please read all of the materials carefully! We NEVER want to disqualify a student’s entry because the chair didn’t follow the instructions – read carefully and contact MD PTA if you have ANY questions. The complete 2011-2012 Reflections Local Chair Guide, including all the forms and rules can be found linked below:

Local Chair Guide
 (Please note - This is a large file and takes some time to load!)

New for 2011-2012:

The student application form should be typed on-line and then printed out for signing.
A copy of the form is in the Local Chair Guide or you can access the form here:
Student Entry Form
(Be sure to fill, save, print and sign!)

For the 2011-2012 program, a title is REQUIRED (“Untitled” is not a title). Each participant is required to submit an artist statement that describes what inspired him or her to create the work and how it relates to the theme. The artist statement is mandatory for all entries in all grade divisions. The statement may not exceed 250 words (1,000 characters maximum); there is no minimum length. The Student Entry Form provides a space to type the artist statement; if the statement does not fit in the space given, it must be written on a separate page and labeled in the lower right corner according to the directions given for the rules of the specific art area.

A completed and signed Consent Form(s) must be included for each individual whose recognizable image or voice appears in a Reflections entry. Individuals over the age of eighteen may sign their own Consent Form. A parent or legal guardian must sign for individuals under the age of eighteen.
A blank copy of the Consent Form can be found here: Consent Form

General Maryland PTA Reflections Program Guidelines

Local PTAs must meet all Maryland PTA Standards of Affiliation on or before February 1, 2011 in order to participate in the Maryland PTA Reflections Program. Please contact the office staff for complete information about your local PTA unit regarding the Standards of Affiliation: (410)760-6221 or toll-free at (800)707-7972, officeadministrator@mdpta.org

In Maryland, students may only participate in the Reflections Program through a PTA that is affiliated with their school. Students no longer attending a PTA school may not enter the Reflections Program through their former school. In Maryland, home-schooled students may not participate in the Reflections Program.

Maryland PTA will accept three (3) entries per age division per arts category for judging at the state level this year. PTA Councils may set their own numbers.

Local PTAs in counties without an active PTA Council may participate in the Reflections Program and may send up to three (3) entries per age division per arts category to the state for judging. The entries for all the local units without an active PTA Council will be combined together, according to age and art category, and will be judged by judges arranged by the Maryland PTA Reflections chairperson. The three (3) winning entries per age division per arts category will advance to the state competition for judging along with the winners from the counties with active PTA Councils.

Maryland PTA will honor its winners with monetary awards: Outstanding Interpretation of Theme, $100 Award of Excellence, $75 Award of Merit, $50 Up to seventy-two entries will be recognized with monetary awards: 24 Outstanding Interpretation of Theme, 24 Awards of Excellence and 24 Awards of Merit (one award per arts category per age division). Other entries may receive Honorable Mention, which is not a monetary award.

Maryland PTA will honor its 24 Outstanding Interpretation of Theme winners at its July 2012 Convention. All other awards will be mailed to their recipients.

FOR REFLECTIONS COUNCIL COMMITTEE CHAIRS: You must send in a summary sheet listing all of the participants which are advancing from your Council's judging to Maryland PTA. Please use the attached Excel spreadsheet, type right into the form, save it and then e-mail it directly to Maryland PTA, officeadministrator@mdpta.org. Use this form:

Council Master Entrants Form
Council Participation Summary Form

LABELING REFLECTIONS ENTRIES
Maryland PTA has received many about labeling the entries and accompanying forms. We have developed a Guide for Labeling Reflections Entries .....a one page "cheat sheet"  to assist you with labeling.... Please click on the link below to view the document

Guide for Labeling Reflections Entries

REFLECTIONS THEME SEARCH - 2013-2014
National PTA is looking for a theme for the 2013–2014 Reflections Program year. The student who submits the winning entry will receive a cash award and his or her theme will be presented at the 2012 National PTA Convention. Use this form to submit theme ideas -- forms must be RECEIVED by November 4th close of business in the Maryland PTA office.
Only signed original forms will be considered:
2013-2014 Theme Search

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Reflections@mdpta.org
Janice Spiegel
VP for Leadership Development
Maryland PTA

Arts Recognition for Students

Please remember that the online grant must be completed in one sitting, as your answers and responses cannot be saved. There are two parts to the grant application, the Online Application, and the Narrative Word document. You must submit your narrative with the online application. After reviewing the grant, it is highly suggested that you complete the grant narrative first, and then save that document so that, upon completion of the online grant application, you can simply attach/upload your narrative to the online grant application prior to submission.