Reflections Art Program

Chair: Heather Cho & Dinh Lam

Submission Deadline: November 11, 2024

Latest Updates (12/18/2024 and 2/22/2025): Reflections Results are in, see below here.

2024-2025 Tyee Middle School Reflections

The 2024–2025 Reflection’s theme is Accepting Imperfection…

The Reflections program is sponsored by National PTA to promote and encourage artistic creativity, both in the classroom and at home. The purpose is to provide an opportunity for students to showcase their creative talents in a nationally acclaimed student recognition program.

This program that helps 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 not only in school, but in life. Reflections program invites Tyee students to submit original works of art in
one or all the available arts categories:

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.
Accessible Art

Students may submit in as many arts categories as they would like, however, only one entry per arts category is allowed. Get started now…

Submit your work

Please get 24-25 Reflection Submissions Official Rules and download the fillable online Student Entry Form and fill out your information/signatures /Artist Statement (Only Accept Typed)

Submission Deadline: 11/11/2024 and request:

Upload three files per student submission. (Artwork/fillable entry form/statement)
Label the files: Follow the prompts to submit an entry:

- Artwork: category_level_title_phonenumberandfirstandlastinital_artwork
- Entry form: category_level_title_phonenumberandfirstandlastinital_entryform
- Statement: category_level_title_phonenumberandfirstandlastinital_statement (word file only)
- ONLY for Music (If background music is used, cite it on the entry form): category_level_title_phonenumberandfirstandlastinital_musicnote

Example: 9th grade, Visual Art, Name: John Doe, Phone#: 1234567890, Title: I Love Me

File 1: Visual Art_high_Iloveme_1234567890JD_artwork
File 2: Visual Art_high_Iloveme_1234567890JD_entryform
File 3: Visual Art_high_Iloveme_1234567890JD_statement

TIP: When taking a photo of visual art to upload, make sure the artwork is in good light, camera is aligned straight with artwork, and crop everything else out.

*Please do not include your full name in the artwork and statement

Please email the 3 files (artwork, entry form, and statement) to reflections@tyeeptsa.org. In the email’s subject please include "Reflection submission <your student’s name and grade>"

Contact reflections@tyeeptsa.org for any questions.
More information can be found from WSPTA Reflections webpage

Reflections Review Criteria

All PTA Reflections program entries are judged on three criteria:
• Interpretation of Theme : How closely the piece relates to the theme, based on the artwork itself and the artist statement.
• Creativity : How creative and original the piece is in its conception of the theme and its presentation.
• Technical Skill : The level of skill demonstrated in the basic principles/techniques of the arts area.

Finalists from local PTAs will move on to their council PTA (if applicable), then finalists from councils will advance to the state round. Washington State PTA finalists who receive an “Outstanding Interpretation award will advance to the National PTA round.

Crafting a Reflections Artist Statement

In Reflections, judges strongly consider the artist's interpretation of the Reflections theme as shown in the student's original artwork, title and artist statement.

To best represent their creativity and originality, artists should create:

A title that stands out and describes how the piece relates to their personal interpretation of the theme
An artist statement that further describes their theme interpretation and explores the creative process and decisions they made when making their art.

An artist statement should reflect the student's age and/or support needs. Any support provided by an adult (e.g., teacher, parent, guardian) should be minimal and should not alter the student's creative vision or process.

Artists can consider the following when developing a title and artist statement

Why did you choose to create your piece in the specific arts category you selected?
How does your work specifically relate to the theme?
Explore metaphors or allusions in your artwork to highlight complex or critical parts of your work.
What is your personal connection to the theme? What/who was your inspiration? How do these connections show up in your art?
Explain the creative decisions you made so your work would be unique to you and your interpretation of the theme.
What tools, materials and methods did you use to create your work (e.g., supplies, technology, instrumentation, props, etc.)? What made you choose those items?

Reflections Theme Search Contest

National PTA is seeking a theme for the 2026-2027 Reflections Program Year.

An annual theme is determined by the National PTA Reflections Theme Search Contest.
Students may enter their theme idea by applying on the Theme Search entry webpage by:
November 4th, 2024.

The student who submits the ultimate winning entry will receive $100 and have their theme presented at the National PTA Convention in 2025.

Forms available on the WSPTA Reflections web page.

Reflections Results - December 2024

Tyee Middle School PTA Reflections 2024-2025 Finalists

Thank you to all who participated in the PTA Reflections program this year! The judging at the local level has been completed. We are pleased to announce the winners of each of the categories who are moving on to represent Tyee Middle School at council level. Fantastic job everyone and Congratulations to our finalists!

Visual Arts

Outstanding Interpretation	Andrew Kim	"Reflections of reality"
Award of Excellence	Mia Han	"Beautiful Regardless"
Award of Merit	Elena Fan	"Off"
Honorable Mention	Leah Hong	"The Perfectly Imperfect Garden"

Literature

Outstanding Interpretation	Mira Bhotika	"The New World"
Award of Excellence	Leevia Wang	"The Broken Bucket"
Award of Merit	Maya Nair	"The Wolf with the Blind Eye"

Music Composition

Outstanding Interpretation	Zoey Feng	"Lost in Thunder"
Award of Excellence	Desmond Keys	"Passaphyer"

Film/Video

Outstanding Interpretation	Viviana Ko	"Without a Filter"
Award of Excellence	Siena Son	"World of Imperfection"

Photography

Outstanding Interpretation

Shaivi Murthy

"Imperfect Beauty"

All participants will be rewarded with a ribbon and finalists will be rewarded with a medal. There will be further communication on when the rewards will be distributed at school soon. Great job, everyone!

Reflections Results from Bellevue PTSA Council Finalists - February 2025

Tyee Students Excel in Reflections Art Contest

We are thrilled to share that two of our Tyee Reflections finalists have been honored with the Outstanding Interpretation award at the Bellevue PTSA Council level! Their remarkable artworks have been recognized as finalists and are now moving on to the state level.

Congratulations to Leah Hong and Desmond Keys on this incredible achievement!