PTSA Reflections 2025-2026
PTSA Reflections 2025-2026
The deadline to enter will be November 24, 2025
Each year, the PTA Reflections program offers students a platform to express their unique perspectives and interpretation of a student-created theme. For the 2025-2026 school year, the theme is “I Belong!” This concept was created by Ben Morgan from Boise, Idaho as part of the 2023 Reflections Theme Search Contest.
At the time of submission, Ben Morgan was a 6th grader at Lewis and Clark Middle School PTSA and was inspired by the sense of belonging and connection he has with his friends, family and community.
“I have found belonging with my family and friends. The people in my classes can also be like part of my family, even though we aren’t directly related. For me, “I Belong!” means I know where I am accepted, and I know that I can be myself there without being criticized or judged.” – Ben Morgan
Each person will have a unique way of creatively portraying “I Belong!” because each group we belong to is unique to our own experiences. With so much to capture, this year’s Reflections theme is a great opportunity to use symbolism, metaphor and new styles to portray the feelings and emotions that come along with a sense of belonging–or feeling excluded. Alternatively, artists can use their craft to describe a persona experience where they felt they understood what it means to belong. Make sure you use your artist statement to help explain your creative decisions and how your artwork connects to the theme.
Explore the 2025-2026 PTA Reflections Theme
ARTS CATEGORIES
There are six arts categories and students may enter the National PTA Reflections program in one or morearts categories. See additional entry requirements and further details outlined in arts category rules.
- Dance Choreography: Solo and ensemble works of all dance styles are accepted. Entrant must be the originalchoreographer and may also be the performer, or one of the performers. Entries with added graphics in the video are notaccepted. If used, cite background music on the entry form (title, composer and performer). Videos must not exceed fiveminutes or 1,000 MB (1,000 megabyte). Accepted file formats: MP4, MOV, AVI.
- Film Production: Accepted short film styles include: Animation, narrative, documentary, experimental or mediapresentation. Use of PowerPoint is prohibited. Entrant must be the screenwriter, cinematographer, editor and producer.If used, cite background music on the entry form (title, composer and performer). Videos must not exceed five minutes or 1,000 MB. Accepted file formats: MP4, MOV, AVI.
- Literature: Accepted forms of fiction and nonfiction include: prose, poetry, reflective essay, screen play and play script,narrative and short story. Collections of literary work are not accepted. Entrants may write in their primary language aslong as an interpretive English translation is provided. Original illustrations are accepted, but only the writing is judged.Writing can be handwritten or typed (8.5x11, one-sided) and up to 2,000 words. Number pages. Accepted file format:PDF.
- Music Composition: All music styles and combinations of instrumentation are accepted. Entrant must be the composerand may also be the performer, or one of the performers. Software may be used to produce an audio recording. Entriescontaining algorithmic composition techniques are not accepted. Audio recording is required and must not exceed fiveminutes or 1,000 MB. Accepted file formats: MP3, WAV. Notation (score/tablature/reflective statement) is required formiddle and high school divisions only and does not replace the required entry artist statement. Accepted file format: PDF.See guidelines for accepted notation details. National PTA Reflections Program By submitting artwork to the National PTA Reflections Program, entrants accept and agree to be bound by the official rules for participation as well as the entry requirements for their specific arts category and division. Additional state program requirements may apply. Any violation of these rules may, at PTA’s discretion, result in disqualification. All decisions of the reviewers regarding this program are final and binding in all respects. (The “PTA” referred to in these rules include all PTAs reviewing the submission).
- Photography: Photo must be a single print/digital image. Collages, collections of photos and/or photos with addedgraphics are not accepted. Entrant must be the photographer and may use a variety of digital editing techniques. Printimages: between 3x5 to 8x10 inches. Digital images: at least 640x960 pixels and 300 dpi resolution. Accepted file formats:JPEG, JPG, PNG.
- Visual Arts: Works of both fine and design arts in 2D or 3D formats are accepted. See guidelines for specifics. 2D artworksmust not exceed 24x30 inches, including matting and must include at least one digital image of artwork. 3D artwork mustcontain 3 digital images of artwork at different angles. Accepted file formats: JPEG, JPG, PNG.
The deadline to enter will be November 24, 2025. Winners at the school level will be announced by later. Greenville District winners are usually announced in late February, and South Carolina PTA winners are usually announced in early March. The winning artists in each category will be recognized at Wade's Awards Night in late spring.
You can enter in as many categories and as many times as you wish.
- Each entry must be accompanied by a Student Entry Form that is completed online.
- Size restrictions for photography and visual arts apply.
- Time and size restrictions apply for dance and music entries.
- Word limits apply for literature.
- Rules for each art category are listed in the entry form.
- Make sure to view those rules prior to submitting the form