The holiday season is a time for joy, unity, and celebration. As PTA members, we have the opportunity to make this festive season contain monumental joy by promoting inclusivity and diversification within our events, and creating opportunities for representation. Let's explore ways to embrace the richness of our differences and create a holiday season that … Continue reading Embracing Inclusivity and Diversification: 7 Ways to Foster a Welcoming Holiday Season
Be An Arts Advocate – Speak Up for Diversity in the Arts
As we head back for another school year, take note that the arts are an essential part of a complete education, whether it happens in the home, school, or community. Children and youth benefit from innovative thinking, creative expression and improved focus. PTA supports programs that promote the public awareness of the arts and arts … Continue reading Be An Arts Advocate – Speak Up for Diversity in the Arts
Supporting the Arts at Your School
The arts are more than just another class at school—they can positively affect student motivation, attendance, and the entire culture of a school. That’s why PTA has long supported the arts through the PTA Reflections program and arts advocacy. National PTA has now added resources for PTAs to help them use the arts to advance … Continue reading Supporting the Arts at Your School
How to Advocate for the Arts at Your School
Illinois funding of schools has long been woefully inadequate, and now the pandemic has made school finances even more challenging due to flat state funding and increased costs as schools struggle to provide online learning for all students or supplies for in-person classes. When school budgets get tight, the arts are often among the first … Continue reading How to Advocate for the Arts at Your School
Go on a Painted Rock Hunt
Have you heard about the painted rock craze yet? It's a nationwide scavenger hunt meant to promote kindness and encourage art, creativity, and community spirit. From western Washington to the Florida panhandle, rock painting groups are brightening the days of strangers, one colorful rock at a time. I was first introduced to hiding and seeking painted rocks … Continue reading Go on a Painted Rock Hunt
Painting Outside the Lines
Welcome to our 48th year of PTA Reflections! I want to briefly introduce myself. I have been involved in the Reflections program for the last 9 years, first as a local Reflection’s Chair and then as Southern Region Chair. I am excited to serve as the Illinois PTA Cultural Arts Director. Since 1969, the National … Continue reading Painting Outside the Lines
PTA SPOTLIGHT 2017: A Story of Art and Celebration
On May 13, the Illinois PTA 4th Annual SPOTLIGHT: A Children’s Celebration of Art and Community was held at Millikin University in Decatur. This year, 235 participants viewed the galleries, participated in workshops, and celebrated our children. We thank Mother Nature for providing our families a perfect day to make a day trip to Decatur … Continue reading PTA SPOTLIGHT 2017: A Story of Art and Celebration
7 Keys to Creativity
When we think about creative people, we tend to think of artists, writers, painters, and the like, but creativity is an essential part of almost everything we do. Whether it is figuring out the best bridge design to span a river or cooking dinner for our family, the opportunity to be creative is always there. … Continue reading 7 Keys to Creativity
Plan Your PTA Take Your Family to School Week Event Now
Founders’ Day, February 17th, celebrates the legacy and work of Alice McLellan Birney, Phoebe Apperson Hearst, and Selena Sloan Butler to improve the lives of children. The date marks the first National Congress of Mothers, held in Washington, D.C. in 1897. As part of that celebration, National PTA designates the week that includes Founders’ Day … Continue reading Plan Your PTA Take Your Family to School Week Event Now
The New Illinois Arts Learning Standards
Illinois has been revising its learning standards from the old 1997 standards to encompass what our children need to know to be successful in the 21st century. New standards for Math, English/Language Arts, Science, Social Science, and Physical Education have been revised in recent years. This summer, new Arts Learning Standards have been adopted and … Continue reading The New Illinois Arts Learning Standards
News from National Convention—Plan Your PTA Year with National PTA Programs
One of the major benefits of having a PTA is being able to take advantage of National PTA’s numerous free turn-key programs. A workshop at the 2016 National PTA Convention spelled out how PTA leaders can plan their entire PTA year using these programs. By taking advantage of these programs, PTAs can easily and effectively: … Continue reading News from National Convention—Plan Your PTA Year with National PTA Programs
PTA SPOTLIGHT 2016: An Amazing Day of Art and Celebration
What an amazing day was had by all at this year’s SPOTLIGHT: A Children’s Celebration of Art and Community held at Millikin University in Decatur, IL. This year, 298 participants viewed the galleries, participated in workshops, and celebrated our children, a 39% increase over last year’s attendance. While the weather outside was gloomy, smiles brightened … Continue reading PTA SPOTLIGHT 2016: An Amazing Day of Art and Celebration
Spring Break Activities to Fight “Mom, I’m Bored” Syndrome
It’s spring break time for many Illinois schools, and with it comes the “I’m bored” comments from your kids. While the old parental adage that boredom is a choice, not a condition probably won’t eliminate those comments, here are some sources of worksheets, activities, and ideas to provide some of those choices. Great Kids has … Continue reading Spring Break Activities to Fight “Mom, I’m Bored” Syndrome
Take Your Family to School Week—February 15-19, 2016
PTAs across the country celebrate Founders’ Day, February 17th, in recognition of the legacy and work of Alice McLellan Birney, Phoebe Apperson Hearst, and Selena Sloan Butler to improve the lives of children. As part of this celebration, National PTA has designated the week that includes Founders’ Day Take Your Family to School Week. Family … Continue reading Take Your Family to School Week—February 15-19, 2016
Building Relationships Between Families and Schools
Research has shown that engaged families play a crucial role in student success, and today’s schools are reaching out to families more than ever for that support. Whether it is e-mail lists, robo-calls, Facebook, Twitter, websites, or the good old “backpack express,” schools are trying to provide families with more information about their child’s school … Continue reading Building Relationships Between Families and Schools
Second Annual Spotlight Celebrates Illinois’s Amazing Children
Families from across Illinois gathered this past Saturday at Millikin University for Spotlight: A Children’s Celebration of Art and Community. The event at Kirkland Fine Arts Center showcased approximately 500 PTA Reflections entries that advanced to the state level of judging, provided a wide variety of workshops, and recognized student artists and leaders from across … Continue reading Second Annual Spotlight Celebrates Illinois’s Amazing Children
Arts Education Helps Build 7 Key Leadership Skills
As Illinois cuts its education budget and school districts look to tighten their belts, cuts to arts programs are often near the top of the list of cuts. At the Illinois PTA Spotlight event at Milliken University this past Saturday, both Milliken President Dr. Patrick White and Laura Ledford, Dean of the College of Fine … Continue reading Arts Education Helps Build 7 Key Leadership Skills
Judging and Paperwork and Packaging, Oh My!
It’s time to start collecting all of those Reflections projects to get them ready for the next level. There are a few steps to keep in mind at this point of the program. Judging Please remember that you only need to judge if you have collected more projects that you can pass along to the … Continue reading Judging and Paperwork and Packaging, Oh My!
Reflections
Submitted by Joan Scovic, Cultural Arts Director Reflections is the National PTA Arts program that encourages children to create works of art in six different arts categories. The program has a different theme each year, and the theme for the 2014-2015 school year is "The World Would Be A Better Place If..." Each local unit … Continue reading Reflections
One Voice Illinois 