Year: 2025-2026

Students create original works of art in response to a theme.

The 2025-2026 Reflections theme is “I Belong!” 

Reflections is a National PTA arts contest open to students in grades pre-K through 12th grade. While the primary focus of Reflections is a celebration of creativity through positive recognition, finalists from local PTAs will move on to their council PTA (if applicable), then finalists from councils will move on to the state round. Washington State PTA finalists who receive an “Outstanding Interpretation” award will advance to the National PTA round. 

Participate in the PTSA Reflections program by submitting your completed works of art in one or all available art categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts (2D). Students may submit in as many arts categories as they would like, but just one piece per category.

The program has four rounds: RMS(Sept-Nov), District/Council (Nov-Jan), State (Jan-Mar) and National (Mar-May). 

- Once all RMS entries are scored, only the top 10 will advance to LWPTSA Council (district) level. Entries will be submitted to council by the Reflections Chair. 

- Entries may not have more than 100 words in the Artist Statement. Having more can disqualify the entry. 

- Please ready the rules for your entry's category CAREFULLY. Not following them will lead to your entry being disqualified. 

RMS Reflections submission guidelines:

Theme: I Belong!

DUE DATE FOR ONLINE SUBMISSIONS: Friday, October 31, 2025

DATE FOR PHYSICAL ARTWORK SUBMISSIONS: TBD

Digital Submissions: Email project and electronic entry(will update after Sept 30) form to reflections@rmsptsa.org (cc. sreerupab@rmsptsa.org) by 11:59 PM on October 31, 2025

For all entries:

• Please make sure that you have read and complied with all of the rules for the category to which you are submitting.
• Please make sure that your artist’s name/initials are NOT INCLUDED ANYWHERE on the artwork (unless instructed by category specific rules) or the entry will be disqualified.
• Please make sure that the entry form/consent form are filled out COMPLETELY.
• Only one student may submit an entry (no collaborations).
• A student can submit a maximum of one entry per category, but a student may enter multiple categories.
• If people other than the artist are featured in the entry, assure that completed PTA Reflections Consent Form(will update after Sept 30) is attached to it.

Entries must meet the criteria written in the guidelines, especially file type/format, length, and size. Students should not have their full names displayed in the art piece.

• 2025-26 Accessible Arts Division Guidelines | en Español
• 2025-26 Dance Choreography Category Full Guidelines| en Español
• 2025-26 Film Production Category Full Guidelines | en Español
• 2025-26 Literature Category Full Guidelines | en Español
• 2025-26 Music Composition Category Full Guidelines | en Español
• 2025-26 Photography Category Full Guidelines| en Español
• 2025-26 Visual Arts Category Full Guidelines| en Español
• 2025-26 WSPTA Student Entry Form (fillable) | en Español

1. Complete RMS PTA Reflections Art Entry Submission Form(will update after Sept 30) .
2. Assure that digital files are in the appropriate format as specified in category rules.
3. We do accept ONLY 2D Visual Art entries.

For entries in Accessible Artists Category:

• Please submit artwork per method described in categories above depending on the type of artwork.
• Please also note Special Artist in the category.

If you have any questions regarding submission, please email: reflections@rmsptsa.org

For Theme Search:

Each year, National PTA seeks a theme for the Reflections program year to be held two years from now.  The student submitting the winning entry receives $100 and their theme is presented at the annual National PTA Convention.  Click here for a list of past themes. Only students that attend a school with an active PTA/PTSA may participate in the theme search contest.

WSPTA holds an annual contest to determine Washington’s entries to the national theme search. The due date for this year’s Reflections Theme Search contest will be November 3, 2025. The  top 5 submissions from Washington will be sent to National PTA as part of the contest to pick the 2027-2028 Reflections theme.

Click here to go to the Reflections Theme Search online entry form.

Click here to watch a 5-minute video walking through the entry form.

YEAR 2024-25 : Congrats to all the participants and winners!

A warm CONGRATULATIONS to all of our first-and-second place winners
who ADVANCE to the State level of the competition !