Packaging guidlines

If your child has participated in Reflections before, you are probably well aware of the packaging guidelines that we always have to follow. Please remember that these are required so that once your child turns their entry in we can do our best to make sure that it stays in great condition until it is returned to them. For 2D Visual Arts and Photography, please make sure that your child's artwork is mounted to something firm, that their name and our school are written on the back (do NOT have this information on the front though), then wrap the entry in plastic. You can get "clear wrapping paper" at any hobby store and some Wal-Marts. Just wrap it around and tape it in the back. Another option, if the entry is small enough, is placing the entry in a "portfolio sleeve" and taping that shut. Here are some examples that even come with the mounting board that you can put the artwork on (if it isn't needed you can remove it from the sleeve).  Portfolio Sleeve

For 3D entries, they need to be protected, so in some sort of box or container so that they will not get broken. You also need to include 3 photos of the entry from different angles.

For Music, Dance, Literature, and Film the entries need to be in a manilla ENVELOPE. Previous years literature has been in a manila folder; but it now needs to be in an envelope. Please do not tape these shut.

FOR ALL ENTRIES please have the entry form in a standard sheet protector (you can get them at the grocery store, Target, Wal-Mart, etc). Tape the sides and bottom of this to the entry (to the manila envelope or to the back of the photo or artwork on the outside of the cellophane or portfolio sleeve). For the top, only tape the inside part, leave the sheet protector open so that we have access to the entry form. We have to be able to pull these out. Please enter the following information on all entry forms in the PTA information area:

Local Unit PTA Name __Kemp Elementary_____ Local Unit Reflections Chairperson __Jacqueline  Landa______ Chairperson’s Email__KempReflections@gmail.com____ Chairperson’s Phone __678-770-4459_____ Local Unit’s National 8-digit ID #_______00217951__________________ STATE ID # 50073
Council PTA___Tom Mathis_______________ District PTA ______________________
MEMBER DUES PAID¨xYes¨No AUDIT SUBMITTED ¨xYes¨No 990 SUBMITTED¨Yes¨No COUNCIL DUES PAIDxYes¨No 

Here is the link for all of the rules for Georgia. Just remember that for our school and council 2D and 3D entries will be in separate categories. At the state level they will be in the same category.
ALL state rules and guidelines
All entries also need to have the following information on the back of the artwork or on the packaging (manilla envelopes or box for 3D entries):

• Label back of artwork and photo file(s) with your State, Arts Category, Grade Division, Last Name, First Name (Example: PA.DANCE.PRI.SMITH.JOHN). 
  

Please encourage the kids to work on the artist's statement!

I have highlighted this in posts the last two yeasr; but wanted to remind everyone again.  The artist's statements on the student entry forms (use this form) are very important.  A great art piece with a weak statement will likely lose if up against an almost as good art piece with a great artist's statement.  Often the artists statement will be what tips one entry over another if the judge is having a hard time selecting a winner.

What does it take to be a strong statement?  Does that mean that it has to be long?  Eloquent?  No, it doesn't have to be either of those.  What it does need to do is really show why this entry relates to the theme.  I have seen some amazing statements that were only a couple of sentences long.  The kids don't need to stress about it; but they need to make sure that they explain why they feel that their entry relates to this year's theme.  I do recommend having the kids write the statement on a rough draft so that parents can check for and help with punctuation, spelling, and grammatical errors.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

2016-2017 Theme is "What is Your Story?"

Time to get the kids working on/finishing up their Reflections entries for this year!  The theme this year is What Is Your Story?, I think that it is something that the kids can have a lot of fun with!! Our due date this year is Friday, October 28.

Please only use the forms and information that I link on this blog.  It is important that we use forms for Georgia as rules are slightly different in other states.

If you have any questions about Reflections, please e-mail me at KempReflections@gmail.com.  I will be updating this blog with information often, so be sure to check back.

Below are the links to important information:

Basic Rules (There will be an additional post with our school/district specific rules.):

Entry Rules

Georgia entry form:

Use THIS form

NOTE: For Kemp and for the Tom Mathis Council, 2D art entries and 3D art entries will be judged separately and we will be moving both on.  Also, for 2D, the rules do not currently say it; but they have come through in the past and said that entries could not be thicker than 3/8 of an inch.  Go ahead and plan for that.  This particularly comes in with wrapped canvases.  Be sure not to get one that is more than 3/8 of an inch thick.

Reception for participants

Please join us on Thursday morning (October 22) at 8:00 a.m. in room 401 for a reception to honor all of the kids who participated.  We had a great turnout this year and I can't wait for all of the parents to see the amazing talent that we have at Kemp.  Breakfast will be served and awards will be given.  Any artwork not moving on to the next level can go home with the parents on Thursday.  All entries that place 1st or 2nd for their category and grade will be moved on to compete at the district level. I do ask that any artwork moving on be packaged to withstand transportation and being handled by multiple people.  There will be some time for parents to repackage artwork over the weekend if their child's entry is moving on.

Remember how important the artist's statement is!!!

I have highlighted this in a post from last year; but wanted to remind everyone again.  The artist's statements on the student entry forms (link to entry form) are very important.  A great art piece with a weak statement will likely lose if up against an almost as good art piece with a great artist's statement.  Often the artists statement will be what tips one entry over another if the judge is having a hard time selecting a winner.

What does it take to be a strong statement?  Does that mean that it has to be long?  Eloquent?  No, it doesn't have to be either of those.  What it does need to do is really show why this entry relates to the theme.  I have seen some amazing statements that were only a couple of sentences long.  The kids don't need to stress about it; but they need to make sure that they explain why they feel that their entry relates to this year's theme.  I do recommend having the kids write the statement on a rough draft so that parents can check for and help with punctuation, spelling, and grammatical errors.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Getting those entries ready!

I hope that the kids have had fun and are almost ready to turn everything in. I'm excited to see if we get some 3D entries this year. I think that this is something that would be so fun for the kids! Please be sure to read over the information in the links and in this blog about packaging. For 3D entries, don't forget the photos that are needed of the entry along with safe packaging. For literature, remember a manila FOLDER is needed, manila ENVELOPES are used for film, dance, and music entries. For flat artwork and photos, please have them protected in some way. Entry forms go on the back and it is best that they be in a sheet protector. I have a few extras if anyone needs to e-mail me and ask me to send one in for your child (Reflections@Landa.org). If you need advice on how to mount a photo or artwork, please let me know. Please do not turn in a photo that is just by itself and not mounted, it is very hard to keep those safe and undamaged. The reception for all kids who participate will be at 8:00 a.m. on October 22. Parents are invited to this and food is served.

Entry Due Date is OCTOBER 16, 2015

The due date for all entries is 10/16/2015 by 8:00 in the morning.  I will be at the bench in the front of the school to accept entries.  Anything ready before then can be turned in to the front office and I will pick them up.  Judging will begin on the 16th, so no late entries can be accepted.  Also, please be sure to have all items properly packaged and forms filled out (including consent forms if someone appears in the entry, ie a photo of a person, a dance video, a film entry).