Reflections is a National PTA arts recognition program that helps students pre-K through grade 12

• explore their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas 

• develop artistic literacy by describing how their art relates to a theme

• increase confidence 

• find a love for learning that will help them become more successful not only in school, but in life 

Students create original works of art in response to a theme. The theme for 2026–27 is “What My Culture Means to Me.”  Entries are judged on creative ability and interpretation of the theme. 

SCPTSA will be accepting entries in all categories—Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts, Film/Video, and Choreography/Dance. Your school can choose to only accept works from certain categories. 

As of October 9, Each school can submit up to 22 entries, plus 6 accessible artist entries. 

If your PTA is a Title 1 school and you would like support to bring the Reflections program to your school, please reach out to reflections_chair@scptsa.org. If your Title 1 PTA would like to host a community meetup, or if you would like to support SCPTSA as a Reflections committee member, please reach out to reflections_chair@scptsa.org.

SCPTSA has a limited amount of arts grants of up to $400 available.

SCPTSA hoping to coordinate 2 in-person community events in November to support Reflections throughout the district. If your PTA would like to host a community meetup, or if you would like to support SCPTSA as a Reflections committee member, please reach out to reflections_chair@scptsa.org.

Washington State PTA Reflections Leader/Chair Trainings

The deadline for SPS PTSA deadlines is December 1, 2026 for council judges. We have to submit to WSPTA for the 2026-2027 contest is Wednesday, January 14, 2027

Event will be February or March 2026, Date TBD

Please Register
Even if you are not sure about participating, if you are interested at all we encourage you to register your program with National PTA.

Please register here SCPTSA registration form First 10 schools get 10 posters and 1 yard sign, available October 15, 2026.

First Step: Register with National PTA
Second Step:Register with Seattle Council PTSA

First 10 PTAs to sign up will get 10 bilingual posters and 1 yard sign. As of 10/9/2026, we have 6 schools signed up!

Share this opportunity with your school community by distributing flyers, hanging posters, sharing in school newsletters, and posting on social media. Logos graphics and templates. Be sure to update these files with your school contact info and deadlines.  ‘

If your PTA fills out the survey by 10/20, Council will provide the first ten schools with 10 bilingual signs (Spanish) and a yard sign

Logos and PTA Branded content can be found here under “Logos & Promotional Images)

Due date for entries to SCPTSA is Tuesday, December 1, 2026 We will have local drop off information if you are submitting physical entries and digitized.

All artwork must be received digitally by Tuesday, December 8 . If you need to make alternate arrangements—we can meet you where you are at—please contact PTA Reflections Coordinator Anna Peterson and June Nho Ivers at 323-397-9321 or reflections_chair@scptsa.org

A sample timeline for your program might be:

October

• Share general Reflections info with your school community through email, kidmail, newsletters, and social media. Promtional Assets can be accessed here, under LOGOS. 

• Watch Training Video

• October 20, Sign your PTA with SCPTSA — receive 10 posters and 1 yard signs

November

• In School or Community Reflections Events

• Last Week of November : Choose entries for submission to SCPTSA. Note: you will need to judge entries if you receive more than 12* at your school.  

December

• December 1, 2026 : Submit up to 22 +  6 Accessible Artists (Elementary) +  6 Accessible Artist to SCPTSA, Please use the online form by December 1
  
  If Thanksgiving Break means you need to submit sooner, don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help! to SCPTSA through the online form.  If you need to submit earlier due to Thanksgiving Break, please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

November / December 2026 to January 2027 —Recognize your student artists at your school with a display or event

January 2027

• 1/14/27 Seattle Council PTSA submits to Washington State PTSA

• All Physical Art will be collected

February / March 2027 - SCPTSA in-person celebration Location TBD

* As of 10/09/2026 SCPTSA is waiting for training to clarify submission numbers, 7 schools are participating

Schools can distribute PDF (ENG) or Spanish paper forms. Please fill out your PTA's information on the form before distributing to your school community.  Or use this digital google form

Please register your Reflections PTSA - you can request access to our SCPTSA Google Drive for electronic submissions. 

Local Leader Reflections form Checklist

** Will be updated on 10/15/2026

Contest Update from National PTA 

Contest On Hiatus

Beginning in April 2026, the Reflections Theme Search Contest will be on hiatus. The time will be used by National PTA to explore improvements to the contest to best serve participants and PTAs. Questions? Email Info@PTA.org.

Visit the WSPTA website and Reflections Program for Leaders web page for additional details about this year's program, including a training video and handbook for local leaders. You can also connect with other Reflections leaders through the WSPTA Reflections - Leaders & Friends Facebook group.

Walk through the themes with National PTA - Dive In: The 2026-2027 Reflections Theme

Training from Washington State PTA is now available online.

Fall Grants Portal

For over 50 years, the National PTA Reflections arts program has furthered the goals of the program founder, Mary Lou Anderson. Mary Lou Anderson believed in the power and importance of the arts and dreamed that Reflections would leave a lasting impact on children across the country – and it has! Reflections has helped millions of 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 in school and in life.

National PTA is proud to continue Mary Lou Anderson's legacy of Reflections through the Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant. Through this grant opportunity, two local PTAs will be awarded $1250 to administer innovative, student-centered programs that increase access to high quality arts learning experiences and new pathways for students to participate in National PTA’s Reflections program.

The 2026 grant opportunities closed on October 13, 2026.