After a year-long break, PTSA Reflections returns with a new focus to get entrants in all six categories: Writing, Dance, Film, Music, Photography, and Art. This year, every entrant will get a prize for applying and be invited to attend an Arts Celebration Breakfast as well as receiving certificates of Merit, Excellence and Outstanding Achievement. A previous Westwood alumnus and winner of the state-wide competition is photography entrant Fallon McDonald, who is now a photography major at New York University

“Reflections is an arts competition that covers a wide variety of the arts; from music to literature to film to photography, really anything you could possibly imagine that’s creative,” Mrs. Kathy Learmonth said.

Reflections is run across the country with the best students in each state being put forward to win national awards. Westwood has not yet won a national award but new head of the competition Learmonth is looking to change that.

“I think that [fine arts] is really undervalued and I think that kids who have that imagination and creativity are the one who have the skills to create a better future,” Mrs. Learmonth said. “We should be awarding those kids and celebrating their achievement.”

Awards at higher levels include but aren’t limited to paid vacations, work featured in a travelling art gallery, and scholarship money.

“Whether or not we get hundreds of entries I hope I can make the students of Westwood think again about important all of the arts are.” Mrs. Learmonth said.

The Reflections deadline of Friday, Nov. 2nd is rapidly approaching with a week left to enter.