Tom Schloen thinks about the theme his East Rockaway High School yearbook staff developed for the 2013 yearbook, and when he tells you what it is, in light of everything that’s happened over the past six weeks, it’s almost impossible to believe. “Organized chaos,” said Schloen. “That was the theme of this year’s book before all this happened, if you …
Every fall we return to school with an eagerness to start the new yearbook. As the days turn into weeks and the first deadline approaches, an adviser needs to provide guidance as the staff learns what is required of them as individuals of this team effort.
In December, the sun only shines about nine and a half hours a day – less in Alaska. Your yearbook staff may be getting to school when it’s dark and leaving when it’s dark. And the upcoming holidays only bring stress, as you and your students work to meet deadlines and prepare for the festivities.
So, take your own break before your school break with one of these ideas for celebrating the season and having fun.
The challenge for a middle school adviser trying to implement yearbook best practices is a balance of giving students an opportunity to explore a new, enriching possibility while enlisting responsible individuals to produce a high-quality product. This all begins with the selection process.
Keep your staff motivated and feeling good about their work. Do that by telling them and telling others. Reminding them of the good job they are doing will help overcome those challenging times when things are not going right, or a deadline is approaching and there is too much work.
When you paint a room, the first thing you do is the prep work. Creating a yearbook is like painting a room. You and your staff need to do the prep work: plan, think what look you want to achieve; and check your tools. Then create. If all of those things have been done, you should have the book you envisioned.
About halfway through my first year teaching yearbook at a small private school in Lawrence, Kan., my students’ motivation was waning. The problem? The staff wanted yearbooks to matter, but they weren’t sure that they did. Enter Hollywood.
Two yearbook advisers in different parts of the country came to that conclusion about the same time – Olga Martinez-Pagnussat at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Miami, Fla., and Jai Tanner at Franklin High School in El Paso, Texas. Previously, parents and students had great influence in how their personal ads would look in the book. At Our Lady of Lourdes, an all-girls school, the seniors would create their own collages, with photos that were scanned, grainy and too small.
Dear Applicant and Parent/Guardian,
Welcome to Olympia High School Publications. As we finish up the 2004 Torch yearbook and continue working on the next edition of The Oracle newspaper, I am excited about selecting the 2004-2005 publications staffs.