Reflections: Quick Points from Reflections University

1. Use the resources on the Georgia PTA and National PTA website to help make your Reflections program at your school/council a success.

 http://www.georgiapta.org/for-pta-leaders/committee-chairs/reflections-leadership/

 http://www.pta.org/programs/content.cfm?ItemNumber=3804&navItemNumber=3805

 National PTA Reflections Webinar – 1st Tuesday of every month at 8:30pm EST

2. Good Standing: Be certain your unit is in good standing before starting your Reflections Program. Check with PTA/PTSA President or Local Council.

3. Judges: Select judges that are professionals in the category they judge and are impartial (not a teacher, parent, or someone who may know students personally).

4. How many winners to select per grade, per category? When planning how many winners you will choose for each grade, each category at your local unit, check with your council to see how many winners they request you send so you match that and stay within your reflections budget. (Example: If council says send two (2) winners per grade, per category only award 2 winners at your local unit – NOT three (3) or four (4).

5. Printing Entry Forms: Send a flyer home with each child with a 1-question survey asking if their child plans to participate, with a place for students name, grade, and teachers name to be returned to the teacher. Send an entry form home and deadline information home with that child.

 In addition have a designated place for students to pick up entry forms (media center, office).

5. Instructions: Simplify Program Guidelines to increase participation and successful entries on your unit’s/council website and flyers.

6. Packaging Entries: Request submissions are shrink wrapped and the entry form is attached to the submission in a sheet protector on the back of entries.

 As a Reflections Chair if your budget allows you can form a committee or conduct a workshop for students and parents to do packaging.

- Shrink wrap- Sold at Michael’s

- Giant zip-lock bag – Sold at Home Depot

- Put county name on back of each entry with a label.

- Name cannot be displayed on front of artwork 7. Promotions: Cater your promotions to your age group to increase interest (Elementary, Middle, High School).

8. Accepting Entries: When you set your date for accepting entries be certain you check all information on the form, completed accurately and legibly before the student leaves or before entries are forwarded to council level.

9. Online Entry: Accept submissions and form a team to enter the entries online for accurate input. There cannot be multiple people entering on the same PTA ID #.

 Computer access is available at public libraries and maybe at the school if a unit/council does have many entries and would like to submit entries online at the same time in the same place and needs computer access.

10. Theme Search Contest: Encourage students to submit as many entries as they want to this contest for 2018-2019 Theme.

 http://www.georgiapta.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2018-2019-Reflections-Form-Theme- Search-Entry.pdf

 Place a drop box in office/media center with entry forms for students to submit themes.

 Ask English/Language Arts teachers to ask students to participate.