2026-2027 Reflections Theme:
“What My Culture Means to Me”
Reflections Submissions Deadline is December 1, 2026 @8PM!
We know every unit is in a different place with Reflections. Some of you are just starting, some are in the middle, some are wrapping up, and some have been waiting for this email to get going. Wherever you are, this guide will help you get to the finish line.
This year’s theme is “What My Culture Means to Me.” 
Step 1: Let Nassau Region Know You’re Participating
Click here to tell us your unit is participating this year. You’ll also find links to register with NYS PTA and National PTA. You’re welcome to register with all three, but registering with Nassau Region is the most important, because we’ll judge your winners and send them on to the next level.
Step 2: Run Your Program
This part is up to you. Here’s a quick checklist:
Pick your categories. There are six: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts. If you’re new, starting with Literature and Visual Arts is a great option.
Know your divisions. Students enter by grade: Primary (PreK-2), Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12). There’s also an Accessible Arts division for students with disabilities who want accommodations.
Set your deadlines, spread the word, and find your judges.
Share the rules. You’ll find the official rules for each category on the NYS PTA Reflections page.
Every student must turn in an entry form. The form needs to be signed by the student and a parent or guardian, and it must include a 10-100 word artist statement explaining how the work connects to the theme.
Paper: Use the student entry form.
Digital: You can copy the questions from the form into a Google Form. Just make sure you include all of the same information.
Step 3: Judge and Submit Your Winners
Once your judging is done, you can send up to 2 entries per division in each category. For example, if you had Photography entries in Primary and Intermediate, you can send 2 Primary and 2 Intermediate Photography entries.
Enter your winners on the Nassau Region Unit Submission Entry Form.
The deadline is December 1 at 8:00 pm, and it’s a hard deadline.
Join Our Next Reflections Drop-In 
Don’t forget to register for our next Reflections Drop-In on Tuesday, November 17, at 8:30 pm. Bring your questions, wherever you are in your program. Register here.
Questions before then? Just reach out. We’re here to help and can’t wait to see what your students create. reflections@nassaupta.org
5 steps to start your PTA Reflections program
Step 1: Getting Started (September)
- Enroll Your PTA
- Reflection’s Guidelines and Rules
3. Recruit people to be on your Reflections Committee. This is not a one-person task. Ask the art, music, and English teachers to be a part of the committee. Ask your fellow PTA members or parents – someone might be an artist or have connections in the art community. Look at county art councils, music schools, and dance schools in your area! Check out the local tech schools or colleges too!
4. Recruit people to be judges. See the list above. One suggestion is to reach out to a neighboring school for judges. If they have a Reflections program, you could judge each other’s entries.
Step 2: Promote your program (September/October)
1) Offer your age divisions and categories. For example, an elementary school that serves grades 1-5 would have two age divisions – Primary (PreK-Grade 2) and Intermediate (Grades 3-5).
Reflections Tip: If you are just starting out, you don’t have to offer all the categories. Start small. Offer Literature and Visual Arts. You can expand your program next year.
2) Distribute the Reflection Rules and Student Entry Forms.
- Each student must have a completed Student Entry Form.
- It is important that the student and their parent/guardian sign the form.
They also must have a 10-100 word Artist Statement. This statement describes the artwork and how it relates to the theme.
Reflections Tip: The Student Entry Form is a Word document. Fill in your PTA information (either by typing it in the form or handwriting it) before you distribute the forms. If it is handwritten, make copies and distribute them. This will save you time.
3) Promote, promote, promote! Send out flyers in the school, local libraries, and businesses, post on the PTA website, ask if you can include information in the school’s morning announcements, make an announcement on Back to School night, post on social media, emails and flyers at all PTA and school events.
Reflections Tip: Visit the National PTA site for additional resources
REGION DEADLINES COMING SOON
1) Your Region Reflection Chair’s name, contact information and region deadline will be listed here in early fall.
2) Your PTA can submit two entries per category and age division to your region.
- For example, a high school can submit 2 entries per 6 categories = 12 entries go to region.
- An elementary PTA (Grades 1-5) might have two age divisions – Primary and Immediate. This would equal 4 entries per category go to region: 4 x 6= 24 entries. 2 Primary and 2 Immediate for Dance Choreography, etc.
Reflections Tip: Make sure to take photos of the artwork, copies of the student entry form, and a list of the entries that were sent to the region.As your entries advance, there may be questions at the region, state, or national level. Keeping a record will get these issues resolved quickly and efficiently. Get creative and have fun with Reflections this year!!
CONTACT THE NASSAU REGION REFLECTIONS TEAM
Thank you for your response. ✨
2023-2024 NYS PTA Reflections Award Winners
2021-2022 NYS PTA Reflections Award Winners
Step 3: Judging (November/December)
1) Collect submissions by category and division.
2) Make sure submissions follow the rules and Student Entry Forms are completed.
3) Provide judges with instructions and materials.
Step 4: Judging (November/December)
1) Assign awards by category and division.
2) Celebrate the students!
Showcase student artwork in the school and community
Announce on social media and website
Host student recognition event
Step 5: Advance Entries to your Region (Region Guidelines) (November/December)
Your Region Reflection Chair’s name, contact information and region deadline will be listed here in early fall.
2) Your PTA can submit up to 2 student entries for each division in each category.
- For Example, If your PTA has received entries in the Photography Category. And those entries were in the Primary, Intermediate, and Accessible Arts division, you may advance up to 2 Photography entries from the Primary division, up to 2 from the Intermediate division and up to 2 from the Accessible Arts Division.
- If your PTA has received entries in all 6 Arts Categories (Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography and Visual Arts) in the same divisions as in the example listed above then you may submit up to 2 Dance entries from each division (Primary, Intermediate, and Accessible Arts divisions) & up to 2 Film entries from each division, & up to 2 Literature Entries from each division, & up to 2 Music entries from each division, & up to 2 Photography entries for each division, & up to 2 Visual Arts entries from each division.
Reflections Tip: Make sure to take photos of the artwork, copies of the student entry form, and a list of the entries that were sent to the region.
As your entries advance, there may be questions at the region, state, or national level. Keeping a record will get these issues resolved quickly and efficiently.
Get creative and have fun with Reflections this year!!