Getting Started

To get started with Reflections, just follow these simple steps:

1. Think about the theme:  What does it mean to you? How would you portray your idea?
2. Choose the categories that you would like to enter: literature, visual arts, photography, musical composition, dance choreography, and/or film production.
3. Read and follow the General Rules and Category Rules for your entry (see ‘Forms and Rules’ menu option).
4. Create!
5. Fill out your Entry Form (see ‘Forms and Rules’ menu option).
6. Prepare your entry according to the appropriate category rules.
7. Turn in your entry to the Hill office before Friday, October 29th, 2010, 2:45 pm.

Remember: You may enter as many times as you wish, in as many categories as you wish.  However, each entry must have its own entry form.

If you need help understanding the process or the rules, please contact Amy Kulik at amoose7@austin.rr.com or 502-1976.

Helpful Tips:

1. Read the rules (General and Category) before you create your entry: The rules are not complicated, but they are important.  You don’t want to pour your heart and soul into something that will be prevented from advancing to the next level on a technicality or that will take a lot of extra work to fix.
2. Make sure your entry is your own idea and work: There are only a few cases where you can have outside help: Literature entries may be dictated for 1^st grade and under;  Film Production entries may include other actors; Dance Choreography entries may include other performers and costumes made by someone other than the student; and Musical Composition entries may be performed by someone other than the student composer.
3. Make sure your entry portrays the theme: This is more important than technique.
4. Put a lot of thought into your Artist Statement on the Entry Form: The Artist Statement is very important; it explains how your entry portrays the theme.  The judges use this to understand what you were thinking when you created your entry and it will often be what tips the scales for or against becoming a finalist.
5. Submit a separate Entry Form for each entry.
6. Sign the Entry Form: Parent and student signatures are both required.
7. Prepare your entry properly: The Category Rules tell you how to prepare your entry for submission (there are changes in some of the categories this year).
8. Common Literature mistakes: submitting on paper larger than 8.5” x 11”, printing on both sides of the paper.
9. Common Visual Arts mistakes: art that is more than 3/8” thick (i.e. no framed canvasses or 3 dimensional items), art that is larger than 24” x 30” including the mat, paper or canvas art that is not mounted on sturdy cardboard.
10. Common Photography mistakes: multiple photographs on one entry (this is a visual arts collage),  photographs not mounted on sturdy cardboard, photographs taken by someone other than the student.
11. Common Musical Composition mistakes: submitting a performance of copyrighted material.  The student must write the music (whether for voice or instrument).  Lyrics without music should be submitted as Literature entries.
12. Common Dance Choreography mistakes: entries longer than 3 minutes, improper file format.
13. Common Film Production mistakes:  entries longer than 5 minutes, improper file format, someone other than the student is the cameraperson.  The student must be the director, screenwriter, editor and cameraperson (unless a tripod is used).  The student does not need to be in the film, but can be when using a tripod.