The PTA Reflections Program Shines a Light on Local Student Artist BY ANGIE WARREN Issaquah PTSA Council Reflections Co-Chair reflections@issaquahptsa.org
ISSAQUAH SCHOOL DISTRICT
of the theme. The judges also look at how skilled each artist is with their chosen medium in an age and gradeappropriate way and how creatively their concept is presented. In January, the Issaquah PTSA Council hosts a reception for the community to celebrate all the artists who advanced to the District Program and recognize those who will go on to the Washington State PTA Reflections Program. It’s a lively evening for all to walk through the gallery of art created by our students. There are music compositions to listen to, dances on film to watch, prose and poems to read, and more than 100 works of art on display. Each year, the superintendent selects pieces to add to the Issaquah School District art collection displayed in the halls of the Central Administration Building. If you are in the neighborhood, stop by and tour the hallway near the conference rooms to see many of the Reflections honorees from past years.
Just like Issaquah School District student-athletes have games, matches, and meets, our student-artists have the National PTA Reflections Program. The National PTA has a history of commitment to arts education. The Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition of student artists. Access to the arts for all students boosts confidence and supports future success in the arts and life. Each year, more than 30,000 students in grades Pre-K through 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. For over 50 years, this program has been helping students explore their thoughts, feelings, and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for the arts.
Celebrating the arts and our student artists is a wonderful way to build community and support arts education in our schools. Studies show cultivating creativity from art expression is key to success in school and in life. Encouraging our students to continue to explore the arts will enhance our community in many valuable ways. I Am Hopeful Because … the Issaquah School District is full of student artists willing to share their love of art with the community through the Reflections Program. For more information about the Reflections Program at your school, please contact your PTA President.
Each autumn, the Issaquah PTSA Council hosts this national program locally. The Council supports the 27 schools within our district to host their own Reflections Program within each school. The schools submit to the District Council a subset of artwork in the categories of Film Production, Music Composition, Visual Arts, Dance Choreography, Literature, and Photography. The theme for Reflections this year is “I am Hopeful Because…” Students reflect on what the theme means to them and include an artist’s statement with each work of art submitted. These reflections on the theme are very important in demonstrating that the student has created an original expression of their ideas. It isn’t just the name; it is a focus of the judging process. The largest percentage of the score is attributed to the student’s interpretation
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