PTAs in Madison City Schools have opened Reflections, a popular arts program encouraging students to create works of art for fun and recognition.

“PTA Reflections is the most successful arts program in the nation, reaching thousands of students each year,” Gun Abele said. Abele is chairperson for Madison City PTA Reflections. “Children grow intellectually when they express themselves through words, pictures, music, photography and other art forms.”

Last year, Bilal Sultan at Columbia Elementary School and James Eaton at Bob Jones High School won the national Award of Excellence with Reflections.

“Artistic exploration and expression enhance and develop social and physical skills. Reflections also helps parents encourage and recognize the continuous self-discovery process of their children,” Abele said.

“The Magic of a Moment” is the 2012-2013 theme. Students can submit only new pieces of work inspired by the theme.

Students can enter in six arts areas: dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography and visual arts, which includes drawing and painting.

Volunteers judge students’ work in divisions based on grade level, including primary (pre-school – grade 2), intermediate (grades 3-5), middle (grades 6-8), and high school (grades 9-12).

“This year, the National PTA is launching a fifth division – special artist,” Abele said. “This is a non-graded division limited to students whose physical, cognitive or mental health challenges meet the guidelines set forth in the American Disabilities Act.”

Students should be responsible for their own work and simply do their best. Crooked lines, incorrect musical notes or misspelled words do not disqualify anyone.

Submission deadline for elementary students is Nov. 9 and for middle and high school students is Nov. 16.

At each school, Reflections volunteers will select winning entries for each category in each grade division. School winners will advance to the district contest for Madison City Schools.

For questions, contact the Reflections chairperson at each Madison school or send email to madisoncitypta.reflections@gmail.com.

For more information, visit ptareflections.org or alabamapta.org/community/reflections.asp for details on all six arts categories.