PTA Reflections Art Program a Success at Rio Seco

Each year, the PTA Reflections Program challenges students to create art inspired by a specific theme. This year’s theme was “Together We Can.”

Students participated in the Reflections Program by submitting entries to the PTA/PTSA. The program has six arts areas—dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and visual arts—and four grade divisions: primary (K-2), intermediate (3-5), middle/junior (6-8), and senior (9-12).

On March 16, the PTSA recognized 36 students for their entries in the Reflections program back in October. 346 entries were received overall from our students—the most of any school in the , and 36 were chosen to advance to the next level of competition at the Tierra Del Sol Council which represents all of the elementary schools in Santee and Jamul.

The 36 awards presented included ten Award of Excellence winners who received a certificate and a Reflections Medallion, eight Awards of Merit winners who received a certificate and a Reflections Pin, as well as 18 Honorable Mentions winners who received a certificate and a Ribbon.

The awards ceremony was hosted by of the BC and Clint Show on KGB-FM, and who also happens to be a parent of a student here at Rio Seco!  Our principal Mrs. McColl and our vice-principal Mr. Prouty helped with the presentation of the awards and artwork. 

Rio Seco teachers were also recognized at the ceremony as well because without them the program couldn’t be as successful as it is. Mrs. Corderman, Mrs. Barber, and Mrs. O’Hanlon were on hand to receive their certificates in person. They, like many K-6 teachers, created class projects so that their students had guidance and were able to enter the competition. The junior high teachers have inspired the older students to think outside the box and come up with individually created entries. 

Rio Seco was well represented throughout the Reflections competition. The next level after Tierra Del Sol Council is Ninth District which represents all PTA’s and PTSA’s in San Diego County and Imperial County. Overall, the Ninth District advanced 23 pieces to the California State PTA competition. Of the 23 pieces that advanced, three of those students were from Rio Seco—the most students from one school in San Diego County or Imperial County!

The three students who advanced to California State included a brother and sister duo. Sixth grader Bryce Chung was chosen as the top entry in Film Production for his age division. His younger sister, fourth grader Amber Chung, was chosen as the best in her age division for the literature category. Second grader Maysen Seile was chosen as the best entry for Visual Arts in her age division. 

These three students will receive recognition from the Ninth District with Award of Excellence certificates at a ceremony on March 31. Three other students will receive recognition at the Ninth District ceremony. They will be receiving Award of Merit certificates.  Eight grader Bre Burns and sixth grader Sydney Benjamin are being recognized for their literature entries. Second grader London Masser is being recognized for her photography entry.

It was announced at the Rio Seco awards ceremony that one student from Rio Seco would be advancing to the National PTA Reflections Competition. Maysen Seile’s visual art entry has amazed everybody who has seen it and now it will be competing against the top entries from across the United States!

Next year’s theme is “Diversity Means.” So students at Rio Seco and all of the schools in the Santee School District are encouraged to start working on those entries over the summer! Even if teachers do class projects, there is no limit on student entries! 

For more information on all of the categories, including specific rules visit  www.ptareflections.org. Once there, click on the “Learn More” tab. On the next screen headlined “How to Begin” click on the top tab on the left toolbar labeled “About Reflections”.  This screen will have everything you want to know.  The tab labeled “Student Rules” contains General Student Rules as well as specific rules for each of the six art categories.