To participate in REFLECTIONS, a student submits an original work of art.  The four art categories for judging purposes are visual arts, musical composition, photography and literature.  All entries are judged (discreetly), and the winning entries in each category in each grade-level division move on to County (and possibly State and National) competition. 

The most important elements are that the work must be done by one student alone, be original and be theme-appropriate.  Regardless of judging results, all students who submit an entry receive a Certificate of Participation in recognition of their efforts.  Entries are generally displayed at each individual school and all district entries are displayed at the Ledgewood Mall in early spring.  In addition, all participants are invited to attend a district-wide recognition ceremony in the spring. 

Each year, participation in this program increases.  Last year, 130 Roxbury School District students participated in the program, submitting more than 150 entries.  Entries from our school district represented 46% of all entries received at the Morris County level!  Sixteen of our students had works selected as winners at the County level, and one of our Eisenhower students won awards at the State level for both literature and visual arts entries. 

Entry forms and details about this year's program are available at all district elementary schools, the Lincoln/Roosevelt School and the Eisenhower Middle School or through your school's PTA Reflections chairperson.  The entry deadlines, while in mid-November, vary by school.   

PTA Reflections coordinators are ready and willing to answer any questions you may have or provide you with additional entry forms.  The school coordinators are:

      Franklin School                  Kim Smith                    (973) 927-8615

      Jefferson School                 Evelyn Mishkin             (973) 927-5777

      Kennedy School                 Sheila Ross                   (973) 927-9587

      Nixon School                      Lisa Jackson                 (973) 398-0589

      Lincoln/Roosevelt School    Helen Kilgore               (973) 252-8225

      Eisenhower Middle School Evelyn Mishkin            (973) 927-5777

                                                 Denise Tyler                 (973) 252-8752

Following are some program guidelines for preparing and submitting entries:

VISUAL ARTS:

Includes:  Prints, Drawings, Paintings, Collage, Photographic Collage, Metal Etching or Punch Work, Fiber Work and Computer Generated Art Presentation:

  Must be flat, no more than 3/8" thickness

  No larger than 24x30", including mat

  Mount all paper or canvas entries on sturdy cardboard mats, no wooden, metal, plastic or glass frames.

  Shrink wrap optional, plastic covering suggested

  Official Entry Form in a sheet protector and masking-taped to back of artwork on top of plastic wrapping.

  Do not write name on front of artwork.

Works Not Accepted:

  Sculpture, ceramics, jewelry or any other three dimensional art reproductions or enlargements of other artwork

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Includes:  Prints, Retouched Prints, Collage, Photogram, Montage, Sandwich, Multiple Exposure or Computer Generated Art.  The student must take the photographs. 

Presentation:

  Any type of photo paper or film for photo entries

  Mount all prints on a cardboard mat

  No frames

  No larger than 11x14", including mat

  Shrink wrap optional, plastic covering suggested

  On Official Entry Form, describe the process by which you prepared the piece

  Official Entry Form is to be placed in a sheet protector and masking-taped to back of artwork on top of plastic wrapping

Works Not Accepted:

  No multiple page or three-dimensional entries

  No actual slides and/or transparencies

LITERATURE:

Includes:  Literature entries may be works of fiction or nonfiction in prose, poetry, drama or story form.  Students may have their entries typed by another person as long as the original work or a copy is attached.  Students in Kindergarten or 1st grade MAY dictate to another person.  Transcribers must retain same level of language and accuracy as original work. 

Presentation:

  No longer than 2,000 words

  One original and one copy required

  Can be handwritten or typed

  Number all pages; write your name on back of each page (not front)

  Only literary content is judged

  Must reflect grade appropriate grammar, punctuation and spelling

  Paper not to exceed 8 1/2 x 11"

  Submit original and one copy in manila folder, with Official Entry Form stapled to back of folder

Works Not Accepted:

  Collection of short stories or poems

MUSICAL COMPOSITION:

Includes:  Students may submit original musical compositions with or without lyrics, not to exceed 5 minutes.

On Official Entry Form questions to be answered, include:

1.      Who performed your composition?

2.      Was traditional instrumentation or a synthesizer used?

3.      If you used MIDI, indicate what software and hardware you used.

4.      If you included lyrics, how do they work with your composition?

Submit cassette or CD in plastic or cardboard container both identified with name, grade, state, year.

Pack with manuscript (if required) in large envelope.

Presentation:

  Notation is required for Middle/Junior and Senior level

  MIDI software is acceptable

  Synthesized performances are acceptable

  Must be played in real time without speed altering

  Can be submitted by hand or on computer paper, no larger than 11x14"

  Band or orchestra compositions may be 11x16"

  Secure Official Entry Form to outside of envelope with masking tape

Works Not Accepted:

  Algorithmic composition is not acceptable

  No spiral notebooks

  Do not mount or bind scores  

Additional information about the national program can be found at:  http://www.pta.org/parentinvolvement/familyfun/aboutreflect.asp