LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Stanley students' thoughts on sticky notes create a wall of inspiration


Sticky notes posted on a wall poster explain what a hero is to Stanley Middle School students. Photos provided

To emphasize arts education and promote performing and visual arts at the local schools, the National PTA organization runs an art contest called the PTA Reflections Program - an arts recognition and achievement program for students first launched in 1969. National PTA organization chairwomen Yuki Fujimoto and Dina Bogan, along with Stanley Middle School PTA president Denise Cain, created an oversized poster at Stanley, posing this question to its students, "A Hero Is...," to stimulate creative thinking around this year's PTA Reflections theme: Heroes around me.

Hundreds of kids participated on Wednesday, Sept. 26 by posting their responses on sticky notes, such as: A Hero is ... "My birth mother for being brave to put me up for adoption."

The Reflections Program provides opportunities for students to express themselves creatively and to receive positive recognition for original works of art inspired by a pre-selected theme, while increasing community awareness on the importance of the arts in education.

Stanley Middle School participates in the program each year. Last year, there were over 110 entries with one student even moving to compete at the state level. This year Fujimoto, Bogan and Cain decided to elevate the visibility of the Reflections Program.

Other activities planned for the next month will continue to encourage participation.