How to Craft a Strong Reflections Entry

Author: Christine Holloway

Date: 9/16/2026 12:43 pm

National PTA Reflections gives every student a chance to create original artwork inspired by this year's theme, What My Culture Means to Me. Entries are due October 2, and here's how to help your child craft and submit their entry, based on what judges are looking for.

Interested in judging? We're looking for a few parent volunteers to help judge entries this year, as well as a Reflections co-chair to learn and help with the process. Reach out to reflections@gomurdockpta.org if you'd like to learn more.

What Judges Look For

Every entry is scored on three things: How closely it connects to the theme, how creative and original it is, and how skilled the execution is. Connection to the theme counts for more than the other two combined.

A simple drawing with a strong, personal idea will consistently outscore a technically polished piece with a thin connection to the theme.

That is good news for younger artists. It means the most valuable thing you can do is help your child find their real answer to "what does my culture mean to me," not perfect their technique.

Start With the Idea, Not the Medium

Before your artist picks up a camera, a pencil or an instrument, spend a few minutes talking through the theme itself.

Try asking:

What is something we do in our family that other families might not?
Who taught you something important, and what was it?
What is a place, food, song, or tradition that feels like "us"?

The best entries come from a real answer to one of these, not a general idea about culture. Encourage your child to get specific. "My grandmother's kitchen on Sunday mornings" will always beat a more generic "my culture is important to me."

This applies whether your child is entering a standard category or through Accessible Arts. The tips below work the same way, just applied within whichever art form fits your child's strengths.

The Title and Artist Statement Matter More Than People Think

Every entry needs a title and a short artist statement, 10 to 100 words, written in your child's own words. It is often where judges find the personal connection that a drawing or a photo alone cannot fully show. A title that hints at the student's specific interpretation, rather than just naming the theme, tends to stand out. Let your child write both themselves, in their own voice, even if it is imperfect.

Tips By Category

Dance Choreography: Let the choreography itself carry the meaning. Choice of music, props and setting should connect back to the theme, not just look nice. Judges only score the choreography, so resist the urge to add filters or heavy editing.
Film Production: A clear, simple story tied to the theme outshines a wondering, flashy one. Think about how sound, visuals, and pacing support the idea, not just how they look. Editing needs to be the student's own work.
Literature: Structure and word choice do real work here. Symbolism, point of view, and voice are all fair game, even for a short piece. Illustrations are welcome, but only the writing itself is scored, so the words should carry the full idea.
Music Composition: Instrument choice, rhythm and style are all ways to express meaning, not just musical decisions. If the piece draws on a specific tradition or personal memory, that connection is worth naming in the statement.
Photography: One well composed, well lit photo stands out amongst several average ones. Light, timing, and what is included (or left out) of the frame do the storytelling. No added graphics or filters that change the image.
Visual Arts: This is the broadest category. Color, medium and symbolism are all tools for interpreting the theme. If an idea does not fit neatly into another category, it likely belongs here.

Quick Technical Tips

Technique still counts for something, so a few small things make a real difference:

Quiet room, good natural light, and a steady hand or tripod go a long way for photo, video, and audio entries.
Leave a couple of seconds of silence at the start and end of any recording.
Do one test shot or test recording before the real one.

A Note on AI and Editing Tools

Technology can help finish an entry, but it cannot create the main idea. A photo editing app used to crop a picture is fine. Using an AI tool to generate the artwork, the story, or the music itself is not. If your child uses any digital tool along the way, they will need to briefly describe how on the entry form.

Ready to Submit?

Submit your entry by October 2 through the Murdock entry form.

Questions along the way? Email reflections@gomurdockpta.org.

What Happens Next

After October 2, our volunteer judges review every entry using this same criteria. We will celebrate every participant at the Murdock reception on November 19, and top entries move on to represent Murdock at the East Cobb County Council level.