Reflections Program Timeline 🗓️ 

Student Entry Deadline: The Mills Elementary deadline will be November 21st

Entry Forms and Rules ✅

Students should download the Program Rules to ensure their art meets the requirements for each art category and also read more about this year’s theme below. Each entry must be accompanied by a completed Student Entry form.

Student Program Rules Packet 📜

English // Spanish 

Reflections Program

The Reflections Program is an arts program established in 1969 which has encouraged millions of students nationwide over the years to create works of art for fun and recognition. At its core, the goal of this program is for all children to have the chance to create an original work of art, experiment with different ways of expressing themselves, and feel good about their work! It's a powerful tool for affirming students’ creativity and critical thinking skills.

The Reflections Program gives students in preschool through 12th grade the opportunity to take a photo; create a painting, drawing, collage, or print; write a song, sonnet, poem, play, or short story; compose a concerto; produce a film, or choreograph a dance! Students may submit their entries interpreting this year’s theme in the visual arts, music composition, photography, literature, dance choreography, and film production arts categories. Students may submit more than one entry in any or all art categories. Entries may advance to multiple levels for recognition and awards. Texas PTA also provides an option for special education students to enter the Texas PTA Reflections Program. ​

The 2025-2026 Reflections Theme is I Belong! 

The theme for  each PTA Reflections program is meant not only to inspire student artwork, but also conversations, creative expression and learning between PTAs, parents and students. “I Belong!” encourages conversations about what it means to belong, the value and privilege of feeling like we belong somewhere and how we can create welcoming spaces to share that feeling with others.  

Family discussion prompts:  

-Defining Belonging: What does belonging mean to you? How do you know when you belong somewhere? 

-The Value of Belonging: Why is it important to feel like you belong? How does it affect your happiness? 

-Feeling Excluded: Discuss a time when you felt excluded and didn’t belong. How were you feeling, and what can be done to prevent others from feeling the same way? 

-Role Models: Identify people (real or fictional) who exemplify the spirit of belonging. Discuss what specific traits help them build community or deal with exclusion. What can we learn from their actions and attitudes? 

-Belonging in Different Contexts: Explore how belonging might look different in various settings, such as school, work, sports teams and online communities. How can we adapt our approach to foster belonging in each context? 

“I Belong!” is sure to inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation of belonging to the groups and communities that support our creativity, nurture our personal identities and celebration our artistic 

creations.  

Creative Ways to Explore “I Belong!”  

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.  

Here are just a few ideas to get begin working on your entry: 

-Expressive Movement in Dance Choreography: Find a song that captures how you feel about belonging and use dance or movement as a form of artistic expression. Moving your body in response to music or emotions can help release feelings and foster a sense of connection with yourself. 

-Personal Documentaries in Film Production: Create a documentary about your own experiences with belonging and/or exclusion. This can help you process your feelings and share your story with others.

-Write a Story in Literature: Tell the story of your experiences using different characters, settings and plot points that help share how  belonging feels. This can help you process your journey and see it from a new perspective.  

-Collage Making in Visual Arts: Create collages using magazine cutouts, photographs, and other materials to create a cohesive image. Focus on how you personally define belonging, identity and community to help you visualize and explore your feelings in a tangible way. 

-Instrumental Pieces in Music Composition: Create instrumental music that evokes the feelings associated with belonging. Rather than lyrics, use melodies, harmonies, and rhythms to express emotions like acceptance, and connection. Use style-specific instruments to represent your piece as part of a larger musical style and narrative.  

-Symbolic Imagery in Photography: Set, stage and capture an image with different pieces that jointly symbolize belonging, such as group activities, or shared spaces. Use these symbols to create a visual narrative about connection and togetherness.  

Awards and Recognition 🏆

Each level of Reflections judging will determine how and when their participating students are celebrated. Mills recognition will be announced after the top entries advance to the City/Regional level.