REFLECTIONS

OVERVIEW

National PTA has a long-standing commitment to arts education. The Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts, boosting student confidence and success in the arts and life.

Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. This 50+-year-old program helps them explore their thoughts, feelings, and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning that will help them succeed in school and life. The theme this year “I am Hopeful Because…”. Students are encouraged to create original works on this theme highlighting one of six areas: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts.

For the 2023-2024 year, there were 536 art entries submitted at the school sites throughout Glendale Unified School District, and 114 were judged at the Council PTA level. Thirty outstanding interpretation winners, which are featured below, were then judged at First District PTA. From these 30, 3 moved on to the State competition.

Teo Kim, Grade 2, Life is Growing, 2023

Primary (Pre-K - Grade 2), Mark Keppel Magnet Elementary School PTA

I feel like I'm growing a little bit every day. I believe I can achieve many things, just like a seed can grow into a large tree. As I grow, so will the tree of my hopes grow with me. Other people also have their own hopes and are growing. It's a short animated film about different hopes coming together to create a forest of big hopes.

Penelope Rothbaum, Grade 5, School is Cool, 2023

video submission - music used: Lewis Cole - When You're Ugly

Intermediate (Grades 3-5), Valley View Elementary School PTA

My film fits under the "I am hopeful for" category because my story is about a girl who hopes she can one day go to school and make more friends than the kids in her neighborhood.

Yuna Kim, Grade 6, I am Hopeful, Because of You, 2023

A Friendship that gives hope in a midst of despair.

Middle School (Grades 6-8), Fremont Elementary School PTA

A girl who thought she had no hope because her parents fighting all the time and the classmates tease her. Next day, after all she went through the day before a faint light of hope came with her friend. Friendship can create this spark of hope, but can also last a lifetime. That's why I am hopeful because of everyday is the best day ever.

Alex Muradian, Grade 11, Hope For a Better Tomorrow, 2023

Contains Background Music (Noted in Artist Statement)
High School (Grades 9-12), Clark Magnet High School PTSA

Sometimes, life seems to be a constant loop, and changing that could seem out of our control. So, everyday, I hope for a better tomorrow, and try to find the little good things in life, like dances and state fairs, all while taking steps to have a more positive outlook on life. * "The End is Near" by Brice Davoli * "Jump and Bounce" by Camille Bollan

Emma Young, Grade 2, A Hopeful Heart, 2023

Primary (Pre-K Grade 2), Mountain Avenue Elementary School PTA

This poem was written to honor my grandmother who recently passed away. It represents what she meant to me. Even though it feels sad to not have her with us, I am hopeful to still feel happiness because she will always be in my heart.

Click here to read A Hopeful Heart.

Beatrix Daverin, Grade 4, Climb, Climb, Climb!, 2023

Intermediate (Grades 3-5), Valley View Elementary School PTA

I made a poem with a picture. It means that I believe that even when we have robotic servants, or when world hunger ends, there are still more ladders to climb. I think that there will always be more ladders to climb, but one day we will decide to stop climbing, but that’s not now, so we all will work together before we get to that point.

Click here to read Climb, Climb, Climb!.

Olivia Arm, Grade 6, The Crisp Chill of Autumn Air, 2023
Middle School (Grades 6-9), Valley View Elementary School PTA

My poem is about many things. To me, autumn represents a time for new beginnings, when people are hopeful of things to come. When times are hard or even just changing, it can be difficult to get through. But I think that as long as we believe things will get better, our individual winters will always pass. And although we wish the happy times would last forever, the hard times help us grow and appreciate the autumns while they’re happening.

Click here to read The Crisp Chill of Autumn Air.

Emily Gai, Grade 10, Just as Beautiful, 2023
High School (Grades 9-12), Crescenta Valley High School PTSA

My poem describes the experiences of a chive living in a small chive patch. The chive meets a generous neighboring plant who is willing to make sacrifices to help a stranger. After the small seed grows older, it hopes to become beautiful and starts helping out other seedlings. These plant interactions reflect the dynamics of my community. I am hopeful because the positive effects to receiving help and encouraging others spreads, resulting in a better community to grow in.

Click here to read Just as Beautiful.

REFLECTIONS

OVERVIEW

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