2026–27 theme
What My Culture Means to Me
Reflections is National PTA's arts program, and it has been running since 1969 — more than ten million students have entered. Every student who submits gets recognized at the school level. Category winners advance to the Cherokee County Council, then to Georgia PTA, then to nationals.
Entries close Sat, October 24. Late entries cannot advance to county judging.
Why we run it
A place for every young artist
Reflections is a chance for every student to share something of themselves. Whether your child loves to draw, write, dance, take photographs or make music, there is a category for them — and every entry is celebrated. It is one of our favorite traditions of the year.
Six categories
Pick any, or pick all six
One entry per category. A student may enter every category if they want to.
Dance Choreography
Solo or group, any style. Submit as video, up to five minutes.
Film Production
Live action or animation, up to five minutes including credits.
Literature
Prose, poetry, short story, reflective essay. Up to 2,000 words.
Music Composition
Original composition in any genre. Submit audio plus notation or a written description.
Photography
A single original photograph. Basic editing allowed, compositing is not.
Visual Arts
Drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, ceramics, metalwork, fiber art.
How to enter
Four steps
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1
Pick a category
One entry per category, and a student may enter as many categories as they like.
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2
Make something about the theme
The work must genuinely respond to this year's theme. Judges weight that heavily.
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3
Write the artist statement
Every entry needs a short statement — a few sentences on what the piece means and how it connects to the theme. Students write it in their own words.
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4
Submit by the deadline
Online or at the front office. Late entries cannot advance to county, which is a genuinely sad email to send.
Age divisions
| Division | Grades |
|---|---|
| Primary | Pre-K – Grade 2 |
| Intermediate | Grades 3 – 5 |
| Special Artist | Any grade, for students with disabilities |
A word to parents
Judges can tell. An entry that is clearly a parent's work scores badly and teaches the wrong lesson, and a wobbly drawing by an actual seven-year-old regularly beats it. Help them meet the deadline; let them make the thing.