Getting Started

Just follow these simple steps:

1. Think about the theme.  What does it mean to you? How will you convey 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 (Forms & Rules webpage).
4. Create!
5. Fill out your Entry Form (Forms & Rules webpage).
6. Prepare your entry according to the appropriate category rules.
7. Turn in your entry to the Hill office by the end of the day Friday, November 4th 2011.

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 reflections@hillelementary.com or president@hillelementary.com and we’ll do our best to get you the answers..

Helpful Tips:

• 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.
• 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.
• Make sure your entry conveys the theme: This is more important than technique.
• Put a lot of thought into your Artist Statement on the Entry Form: The Artist Statement is very important; it explains how your entry conveys 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.
• Submit a separate Entry Form for each entry.
• Sign the Entry Form: Parent and student signatures are both required.
• Do you need a Consent Form?: This completed form must accompany your Entry Form if another person, under the age of 18, appears or performs in your entry.  It must be completed by the parent of that person (see Forms & Rules webpage).
• 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).

Common Mistakes:

• General mistakes:
  • student collaboration: students cannot submit an entry together, the entry must be one student’s creation/idea (others can appear or perform in the entry – see next item)
  • not getting a consent form: other people may appear (photography or visual arts categories) or perform (music, dance and film categories) in your entry, but this requires a consent form if they are under the age of 18
  • submitting multiple entries on the same entry form (each entry needs a form)
  • forgetting to include student and parent signatures on the entry form
  • forgetting to include an artist statement on the entry form
• Literature mistakes:
  • submitting on paper larger than 8.5” x 11”
  • printing on both sides of the paper
• 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
  • submitting sculptures (not permitted)
• Photography mistakes:
  • multiple photographs on one entry (this is a Visual Arts entry: collage)
  • photographs not mounted on sturdy cardboard
  • photographs taken by someone other than the student
• Musical Composition mistakes:
  • entries that are longer than 5 minutes
  • submitting a performance of copyrighted material: the student must create the music (whether for voice or instrument)
  • submitting lyrics without music (this is a Literature entry)
  • saying your name at the beginning of your performance
• Dance Choreography mistakes:
  • entries that are too short or too long (should be between 2 and 5 minutes)
  • saying your name at the beginning of your performance
  • improper file format
• 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.