Plano ISD Reflections Artwork Selected for Exhibit in Austin!
Contact chair: artsineducation [at] planopta.org
The 2010-2011 theme is “Together We Can…”
All Reflections forms, rules, logos and other resources are available from the Texas PTA Reflections page.
Remember that Reflections is a Program and not a competition. For this reason we are all strongly urged to use the same Award Levels:
- Award of Excellence — approx the top 20% of your entries that are forwarded on to the next level of judging
- Award of Merit — approx the 2nd 20% of your entries
- Honorable Mention — approx the 3rd 20-30% of your entries
- Participation Award — the rest of your entries
Correct number of entries allowed per age group/division:
You are allowed to send up to 20% of your total number of entries to the Council level judging regardless of age group or division. If you do not have entries in one area you may send more in another. As long as you do not send more than 20% of your TOTAL entries based on the number that you complete on your ‘Participation Form’. Please only send QUALITY works rather than quantity.
State PTA has pre-set ALL deadlines this year to avoid the hundreds of questions that they receive from parents every year. However, the local and council deadlines are NOT set in stone — you are able to set you own deadline but it must be prior to the one set by State. These are ESTIMATE dates so you can plan over the summer and complete your Plan of Work.
- Entries are due to the local campus in late October for local judging.
- Local Master Spreadsheet for advancing entries should be emailed to Council Chairman by the deadline.
At the bottom of the entry form the following information is requested: Local PTA good standing status and Membership dues date paid. Please ensure that all this information is completed.
If your PTA has not yet paid their membership dues please put the date that they will be paid. Good standing is having paid your dues, so mark this box with a YES. This information needs to be completed otherwise if State sees blanks it is possible that the entry will be disqualified. There is no time for your Council Chairman to locate this information so please ensure that it is completed before you send them on.
All entries forwarded to Council must have one of the following colored dots to signify age/division
- PreK – 2nd Grade (Primary): Red Dot
- Grade 3-5 (Intermediate): Blue Dot
- Grades 6-8 (Middle School): Yellow Dot
- Grades 9-12 (High School):Green Dot
Music/Dance Choreography/Film/Video: place dot on the front of the envelope not the entry form side
Literature entries: place the dot on the front (outside) of the folder not the entry form side
Visual Arts/Photography: place dot on the BACK of the entry
Size / thickness / length parameters
- Visual Art may not exceed 24 inches by 30 inches, including a mat, and be no more than 3/8 inch thick
- Photography: maximum 11″x14″ including mat
- Literature: not to exceed 8 1/2″ x 11″ and must not exceed 2,000 words
- Music Composition: may not exceed 5 minutes
- Film Production: may not exceed 5 minutes
- Dance Choreography: may not exceed 3 minutes. The artist’s statement must be at the beginning of the recording. (It is not included in the 3 minutes.)
Correct number of copies of entries to be included:
- Literature: 2 copies, 1 attached to the inside back of the folder & 1 left loose inside the folder
- Music: 1 copy of tape/CD and notation (if required), both inside a large envelope
- Dance Choreography: 1 copy of CD or DVD in a plastic or cardboard container then placed in a large envelope
- Film Production: 1 copy of CD or DVD in a plastic or cardboard container then placed in a large envelope
Entry form completely filled out
Do not seal the open end of sheet protectors containing entry forms.
2 hard copies of your Master Spreadsheet (entries advancing to Council ONLY) including”
- Student’s Name, first and last
- Title of work
- Group by age group and by arts category (ie Primary-Literature, Primary-Visual Arts, Senior-Music etc)
- Make sure your name and your school name are on the list
Email this master list to your Council Chairman by the date that they specify so that they can prepare adequately for their judging.
Participation Form completed. 2 copies
This standard PTA form tallies your totals for each category and age group or division — please check the sample you were provided with and ensure that this is completely filled out before forwarding to your Council. Verify that you are advancing no more than 20% of your total entries to Council.
Tri-fold Brochure
State PTA has a color tri-fold brochure that is available in both English or Spanish that can be used to help promote the Reflections Program — they are limited so local units are urged to order early – email Carrie Mays at programs@txpta.org or call 1-800-825-5782 ext. 215.
Traveling Exhibit
State PTA would like everyone to know that there is traveling exhibit of Reflections Artwork that is available to help promote the program. You will be shipped approx 25 pieces of artwork from previous years and will be able to keep it for 2 school weeks. The only cost involved is approx $30 to ship it to the next location. To schedule the exhibit for your school or Council email Carrie Mays at programs@txpta.org or call 1-800-825-5782 ext. 215.
We had a tremendous response to the Reflections Program this year. Fifty-six Plano schools participated this year and they received and judged 2,697 entries! They advanced 562 entries for Council level judging, which occurred on December, 9, 2009. The Council award results are as follows:
Award of Excellence advancing to State judging 57
Award of Excellence 43
Award of Merit 102
Honorable Mention 153
Total Awards 355
For a complete listing of Plano award recipients by school, please click on the link at the end of this article.
Thank you to all of the students who participated and to all of the parents who encouraged them to express themselves through the arts.
More than half-a-million kids participate in PTA national arts program
CHICAGO (May 15, 2009) — As arts programs disappear from schools nationwide every year, hundreds of thousands of children have less and less ways to creatively express themselves.
That’s why the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is proud to announce this year’s national award recipients of PTA’s Reflections Program. The nearly 40-year-old arts based program — themed this year as “Wow!” — provides opportunities for kids to receive recognition for their artistic efforts and expressions.
PTA is recognizing six students as recipients of PTA’s Reflections Program Outstanding Interpretation Award — the best-of-the-best in six arts categories. The six students will be recognized during a special ceremony at the 113th Annual PTA National Convention and Exhibition (June 26-June 29) in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. They also will receive cash awards of $800 and cash awards of $200 will go to their local PTAs.
The organization will also recognize 71 students with Awards of Excellence and 119 students with Awards of Merit across four grade divisions — primary, intermediate, middle/junior, and senior — and six arts categories — dance choreography, film/video production, literature, musical composition, photography, and the visual arts. All the national award-winning pieces will be featured in a virtual gallery in July; however, the complete list of winners is currently available on PTA’s website.
Professionals from well-respected institutions, including the National Assembly of States Arts Agencies, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Cable in the Classroom, College of Arts and Sciences, DC Youth Orchestra, The Dance Institute of Washington, Wolftrap Foundation for the Performing Arts, and National Children’s Museum, volunteered to judge close to 1,500 art pieces which reached the national level of judging.
Contact chair: membership [at] planopta.org
* Membership Q&A
* Membership Awards
* Texas PTA Member Benefit Card
* Training and other materials
This year, 2010-2011, we have decided to return to a banquet format at the Plano Centre on February 10th, 2011. The cost per ticket will be no than $25 per person.
Hi, I’m Gretchen Abner, the PTA Council Membership chairman. I want to introduce myself before the school year gets along too fast. The Texas PTA Membership theme for 2009-10 is “Building for Success” and we’ll be playing with that theme throughout the year. Logos are available for downloading from the “Members Only” part of the Texas PTA web site. There are all sorts of membership resources available on the [Texas PTA website](http://www.txpta.org) and I know more are coming.
If you haven’t visited the site yet, go to www.txpta.org and sign in as a member. The username and password (found on your membership card). You’ll find Membership Theme information under “Resources,” and you can find Joining PTA information under “About PTA”. You will see there is a lot of good information available!
I know many of you have already been hard at work with your membership drives and I hope you are finding it easy to encourage parents (and high school students) to join. I’ve already heard from many of you, but if you have any membership questions, I’m happy to help you find the answers you need.
If there is anything I can do to make your job a bit easier or help you find the information you need, please let me know. If you are able to attend any of the PTA Council regular meetings (see schedule on www.planopta.org), please come say hello to me! I look forward to working with you this year!
What Is PTA? Download a brochure printed with Six Languages
* Cover and outside content [pdf file]
* Inside content [pdf file]
Chair Guide: For new and experienced Membership Chairmen, the best resource available is the Texas PTA Membership Chair Guide [pdf file]. This will cover all aspects of membership including campaigns, forms, suggestions, ideas, awards and more!
Dues: Local units must remit council dues of $75 by October 15. You can download the dues form [pdf file].
Texas PTA member discount information has been collected and posted in the member-only section of the Texas PTA website. You’ll need the username and password from the back of your PTA Membership Card or Texas PTA Member Benefits Card to access it. The 2009-2010 username and password will still work for another couple of months, then you must use the current passwords on this year’s PTA cards.
Each participating company has slightly different ways of accessing the PTA member benefits, but none of them work by showing your card. Here is the list of benefits.
Texas PTA eliminated two membership awards a couple of years ago- the Hand-in-Hand and the 100% Participation Award, but the Plano Council of PTAs will be giving these awards again to those locals who earn them. We know y’all have been working hard to INCREASE your PTA membership and we want to encourage you to continue! Both the Hand-in-Hand award and the 100% Participation award are awesome goals, and will help you build a stronger, more vibrant PTA at your school. AND because I have heard such great ideas about how you are conducting your membership drives this year, we’ve also added an award called… Creative Membership Campaign. So, please continue your wonderful efforts to gather those PTA members and community members. The award entry form will be available in the fall.
Thank you for your commitment to our community and your school’s success! If you have any questions, please let me know.
How can you determine who is a Community Member of PTA, rather than a Faculty Member?
Texas PTA defines faculty as principals, assistant principals, teachers, counselors, and aides employed at the campus full time. To apply for the Golden Apple, you will need 100% of your school faculty as PTA members on your membership list, with dues paid and sent to Texas PTA by October 15. The award application will also need to be sent by October 15.
How would you classify a grandparent – a regular PTA member or a community member?
That is a great question! It depends! If the grandparent is the primary caregiver, they should be a regular member. They would probably be interested in the newsletter and directory, etc.. If the grandparent is not the primary caregiver, but is in support of the local school, a community membership would probably meet his or her needs. Each local PTA will have different standing rules that will dictate the differences in regular and community memberships. Generally, most PTAs don’t give a directory to community members but do give them to regular members.
I don’t think our PTA got an invoice from Plano PTA for Council dues. Can I get another copy?
I don’t think our PTA got an invoice from Plano PTA for Council dues. Can I get another copy? Where do I send the check for Council dues? What is the deadline?
Invoices were sent in the first week of school to each local PTA. You can print out copies on the Plano PTA website at www.planopta.org, then click on Board and Chair information, then click on Membership. Scroll down to the topic of Membership and you will see the link to download a new form. According to local by-laws, your Council dues are payable no later than 10/15. Please send your check to:
Plano ISD Council of PTAs
c/o Gretchen Abner
2700 W. 15th Street
Plano, TX 75024
I’m totally lost! I have never been the Membership Chairman and I was unable to come to any of the training. What should I do?
The first stop you should make on your membership journey is the Plano PTA website at www.planopta.org, then click on Board and Chair information, then click on Membership. Scroll down through the information and take a few minutes to go through the PowerPoint from our fall coffee and training. Also, a great resource is the Membership Chairman Guide from Texas PTA. You can download a FREE copy. You will see a link to it from the membership page on the Plano PTA website.
I have some parents and teachers that have filled out the PTA member forms and are requesting some of the free items from the PTA national office. How do I go about getting those?
Some PTAs use the membership form provided by National PTA. On the bottom of this form is a list of things that National PTA provides to members, like resources, training and email updates about important issues and news. To sign up for the email updates (there are several topical email newsletters), go to the National PTA website. All the other items are also available on the National PTA website, including training.
How much are PTA dues?
There are several kinds of dues. The local membership rate is comprised of the National dues ($1.75/per person), plus the Texas dues ($2.25/per person), plus the local portion (this is set by the by-laws of the local campus). Last year our Texas PTA State dues went up by a dollar (as of July 1st, 2009). All by-laws were automatically updated with this change. That means you are now charging $1 more for your dues this year. If last year you charged $20, this year you’ll charge $21.
Additionally, each local PTA pays annual dues of $75.00 to Plano ISD Council of PTAs. Please keep in mind that if a PTA member decides to claim his/her Texas Life PTA status at any one given school, they are only reducing their dues by the Texas dues of $2.25. They must still pay the National dues and your Local dues to be a PTA member with local voting rights in our community. Please be on the look out for the PTA Council dues form, which will be inter-office mailed to your school’s office attention PTA Membership Chair.
What are benefit cards? I’ve been in PTA a long time and I’ve never heard of them! Is it the same as the membership card?
Texas PTA has worked hard to show its members that there are MANY benefits to being in PTA. The benefit card lists many of the vendors that offer a discount to PTA members, including Sea World. To access the benefits, you must go on the Texas PTA website (www.txpta.org) and sign in as a member. The user name and password are on the back of the PTA membership benefit card. There is no longer a Benefit card per se; however, the benefits are listed on the Texas PTA website.
Did I miss the Early Bird Award?
The Early Bird award is for local PTAs that have submitted a membership list and paid dues for at least 75% of the number of members they had on record on March 15, postmarked by September 30th. This is an automatic award, so there is no form to fill out.
Where do we get the Membership Cards?
The cards come from Texas PTA, if you are missing them, please contact your President to be sure first, then contact Texas PTA. Some unit’s cards are still in Austin because they needed a piece of information before they would release the cards. To get those, please call 1-800-TALK-PTA.
How can you check if someone is a Texas Life Member?
Each local PTA should have a list of the people to whom they have awarded a Texas Life Membership. I have an inexact, but fairly comprehensive Plano ISD Council of PTAs list of Texas Life Members. Originally, I was planning to post the list on the Plano PTA website. Because of privacy considerations, I will email you the list of recipients awarded from school if you request it from me. If you are in a secondary school and would like to check if someone from one of the feeder schools has received the award, please email me or contact the Texas PTA office, which maintains the comprehensive list (1-800-TALK-PTA).
Once I have completed the membership list, what do I do?
Make a copy for your Secretary, Treasurer, President and your procedure book. Then send your original or a copy to Texas PTA along with your dues check. If the check is sizable, please send it return receipt requested, certified mail.
Our PTA is refining our budget. Can you tell me what to expect with Life Member Banquet?
This year, 2010-2011, we have decided to return to a banquet format at the Plano Centre on February 10th, 2011. The cost per ticket will be no than $25 per person.
You will also want to budget for the LM certificates ($35) and LM pinettes ($15) and/or Extended Service certificates ($50) and ES pinettes ($40) from Texas PTA. These can be ordered off the Texas PTA website, but you should make sure to do this at least one to two months in advance. Most PTAs hand out the awards and pins out at the banquet.
At our middle school registration, we had someone say they were already a Life Member, but that it was awarded at the elementary school. Can they get the Life Member discount at both schools?
You can take the Life Membership at whichever school the member chooses, but it can only be taken at one school. Remember, they have been awarded a Life Membership from The Texas PTA but not likely from the National PTA or from your local unit. Life members still must pay those dues any subsequent dues from another school.
I have not ordered membership envelopes for our PTA. Is that necessary?
No, the envelopes are just one way to collect dues. Some PTAs like them because it is easy for members to fill out the envelope and stick a check inside. You can use whatever method works best on your campus. If you want to order the envelopes, you can do that on the Texas PTA website.
How do I know what our PTA number is?
Please contact your president for this information. If you still can’t get it or are unsure, please email me.
I am unsure of the number of PTA members we had last year. How can I find out?
You should have this information in the binder that was passed on to you, but if you don’t, please email me.
Have an unanswered question?
Email membership@planopta.org
Gretchen Abner, Membership VP, Plano ISD Council of PTAs
