Reflections Art Program

PTA Reflections is a nationally acclaimed student recognition program that encourages students artistic creativity in the classroom and home.

2025-26 Theme: "I Belong!"

Submissions Due: Sep. 30, 2025

Reflections Celebration: Nov. 3, 2025

We are excited to invite AHES students to participate in the annual PTA Reflections program! This program is FREE to enter and is open to ALL STUDENTS regardless of their experience or training.

Entry form will be posted soon!

If you have any questions, please email Reflections@ahespta.org.

  • PTA Reflections is a nationally acclaimed student recognition program that encourages students artistic creativity in the classroom and home. California State PTA and its members, families and kids are on the forefront of this amazing program, which increases community awareness of the importance of arts in education.

    Reflections allows students of all ages to:

    • Unleash creative talents and be inspired

    • Express themselves imaginatively in their artwork

    • Experience the fun and joy of making art

    • Tap into critical thinking skills to create art inspired by the annual theme

    • Receive positive recognition for their original works of art.

    Student artwork is evaluated and may gain recognition at the council, district, state and national level.

  • Any student who attends Anaheim Hills Elementary School is eligible (and encouraged!) to submit entries regardless of their experience or training. All they need is an idea and the passion to create it!

  • There is no entry fee! Any costs associated with creating their artwork (software, supplies, equipment, rentals, costumes, etc.) would be paid for out of pocket and will not be reimbursed.

  • The PTA reaches out to members of the community who are experts in their respective field and are willing to serve as impartial volunteer judges.

    All PTA Reflections program entries are judged on three criteria:

    1. Interpretation of Theme (40 pts.)
      How closely the piece relates to the theme, based on the artwork itself and the artist statement.

    2. Creativity (30 pts.)
      How creative and original the piece is in its conception of the theme and its presentation.

    3. Technical Skill (30 pts.)
      The level of skill demonstrated in the basic principles/techniques of the arts area.

    Notice how “Interpretation of Theme” is weighted? This is what makes the National PTA Reflections Arts Program unique. A well-developed concept is more important than technique.

    After the entry has been evaluated at the school level, it has the opportunity to be recognized at the Council, District, State and National level. Scroll down to see the previous AHES winners!

    • Only new pieces of artwork inspired by the current year’s theme may be submitted.

    • Each entry must be the original work of one student only. An adult may not alter the creative integrity of a student’s work. Because the program is designed to encourage and recognize each student’s individual creativity, help from an adult or collaboration with other students is not allowed except in the Special Artist Division. Other individuals may appear in or perform a student’s work, but the work itself must be the creative product of one student only. Only one student may be recognized as the award recipient for each entry. See the specific arts category rules and special artist division rules for details.

    • Each entry must contain a title and all entries must include an artist statement. The artist statement communicates what inspired the work, how it relates to the theme, and the content of the work. The statement must include at least 10 words and not exceed 100 words.

    • Use of copyrighted material is prohibited, except for background music in dance choreography and film production entries. If used in dance choreography and film production entries, background music must be cited on the entry form. Plagiarized entries will be disqualified. Use of PowerPoint templates are prohibited.

Reflections Categories

  • Dance Choreography

    Solo and ensemble works of all dance styles are accepted. Entrant must be the choreographer and may also be the performer, or one of the performers. If background music is used, cite it on the entry form.

    Video file must not exceed 5 minutes in length and 1,000 MB (1,000 megabyte) in file size and be in MP4 or AVI format.

    Download the Full Guidelines

  • Film Production

    Accepted short film styles include: Animation, narrative, documentary, experimental or media presentation. Use of PowerPoint is prohibited. Entrant must be the screenwriter, cinematographer, editor and producer. If background music is used, cite it on the entry form.

    Video file must not exceed 5 minutes in length and 1,000 MB (1,000 megabyte) in file size and be in MP4 or AVI format.

    Download the Full Guidelines

  • Literature

    Accepted forms of fiction and nonfiction include: Prose, poetry, reflective essay, screen play and play script, narrative, and short story. Entrants may write in their primary language as long as an interpretive English translation is also attached. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited.

    Writing must not exceed 2,000 words and may be handwritten or typed. Accepted formats: Single-sided print on 8 ½x11” paper, PDF file.

    Download the Full Guidelines

  • Music Composition

    All music styles and combinations of instrumentation are accepted. Entrant must be the composer and may also be the performer, or one of the performers. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited.

    Audio recording must not exceed 5 minutes in length and 1,000 MB (1,000 megabyte) in file size. Accepted audio file formats include: MP3 and WAV. Notation (score/tablature) in PDF format is only required for middle and high school divisions.

    Download the Full Guidelines

  • Photography

    Photo must be a single print/digital image. Collages and collections of photos are not accepted. Entrant must be the photographer and may use a variety of digital editing techniques including but not limited to, multiple exposure, negative sandwich and photogram. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited.

    Print image dimensions must be no smaller than 3x5 inches and no larger than 8x10 inches. Accepted print formats: Mounted on mat or poster board no larger than 11x14 inches. Framed prints are not accepted. Digital image dimensions must be at least 640x960 (pixels) and 300 dpi (resolution). Accepted file formats: JPEG, JPG, and PNG.

    Download the Full Guidelines

  • Visual Arts

    Works of both fine and design arts are accepted, including but not limited to: architectural drawing and models, ceramics, collage, computer generated images and graphics, crafts, drawing, fashion clothes and jewelry, fiber work, mixed media, painting, printmaking and sculpture. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited.

    2D artworks must be mounted on sturdy material and no larger than 24x30 inches with matting. Framed entries are not accepted. Include one digital image of artwork with your submission. 3D artwork submissions must contain 3 digital images of artwork at different angles. Image(s) are used for artwork identification, judging and exhibition purposes. Accepted file formats: JPEG, JPG, and PNG.

    Download the Full Guidelines

  • Special Artist

    Students who identify as having a disability and may receive services under IDEA or ADA: Section 504 may enter in the Special Artist Division OR grade division most closely aligned to their functional abilities.

    Download the Full Guidelines

Previous Winners from AHES

  • 2023/2024


    California State PTA
    Award of Merit
    - Dance: Aubrey Hutt

    Fourth District PTA
    Award of Excellence
    - Film: Aniket Shirsalkar-Mishal
    - Dance: Aubrey Hutt
    Honorable Mention
    - Film: Thierre Vu
    - Photography: Devin Robinson Jr
    - Visual Arts: Avery Phillips

    Orange Unified Council PTA
    Award of Excellence
    - Dance: Aubrey Hutt
    - Film: Thierre Vu
    - Photography: Thierre Vu

  • 2021/2022


    California State PTA
    Award of Merit
    - Dance: Leah Hutt

    Fourth District PTA
    Award of Excellence
    - Dance: Leah Hutt
    Award of Merit
    - Dance: Aubrey Hutt

    Orange Unified Council PTA
    Award of Excellence
    - Dance: Aubrey Hutt
    - Dance: Leah Hutt
    - Music: Samantha Syndergaard

  • 2020/2021


    Orange Unified Council PTA
    Award of Excellence
    - Dance: Ariel Lantz-Loza
    - Film: Tasbih-E Zahra

  • 2019/2020


    National PTA
    Award of Excellence
    - Dance: Aubrey Hutt

    California State PTA
    Award of Excellence
    - Dance: Aubrey Hutt
    Award of Merit
    - Dance: Leah Hutt

    Fourth District PTA
    Award of Excellence
    - Dance: Leah Hutt
    - Dance: Aubrey Hutt

    Orange Unified Council PTA
    Award of Excellence
    - Dance: Aubrey Hutt
    - Dance: Leah Hutt

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