What does the construction of a yearbook have to do with community? How does this affect your yearbook staff? Parents are the core influence in students' lives, but now more than ever, other relatives, family members, teachers, religious leaders, coaches, community members, and friends all have an impact.
The purpose of the yearbook is to document the people and events of the school year, both academically and culturally. A broad amount of information and documentation is required. How can this all rest on the shoulders of junior high and senior high school students plus advisers? Look toward the community!
The closest community is the faithful secretaries, administrators, janitors, cafeteria workers, teacher's aides, guidance counselors, nurses, coaches, safety staff, and teachers. These servants work hard and diligently to offer their wisdom and experience to the yearbook staff. Mine their minds and stories to find the jewels.
Use these beautiful souls as resources in your yearbook creations. Create a page spread that honors a teacher or staff member. Who is overlooked among the staff? Which teacher or staff member has sacrificed and invested in a discernable way but has not yet been acknowledged? For example, one yearbook class honored the cafeteria staff by providing and preparing a breakfast for them. Afterward, they used the event to create a page spread for the yearbook, interviewing the staff members and personalizing the photos and content. You can do the same thing with other school personnel and delve into their lives inside and outside school premises. Think outside the box!
Let's not forget that many staff members have background information and history of the school. Maybe they are alum and have returned to give back what they received. What a great perspective to highlight! Others may be the ones to contact when you need to get behind the scenes for an event. Do not forget you will need permission to gain access to areas for photos, or interviews, especially if it is during school hours or in a restricted area. Communication with administration, faculty staff, and parents is crucial and you must begin from day one! Discover the "go-to" administrator for everything related to the Yearbook.
Furthermore, request to be on the schedule for the agenda in the first faculty and staff meeting of the year. Bring a few staff leaders with you. It is a pivotal opportunity to explain your goals for the yearbook and invite them to be a part of the community effort. Explain your needs for help, and your expectations. Request their assistance for access to classes, permission to take photos (including candid shots), set up interviews, and share the Digital Photo Storage app which they can also access and add photos. Make a list of the teachers sponsoring activities, such as Mock Trial, Science or Math Olympiads, Robotics, Cheerleading tryouts, Band concerts, and more. Lastly, do not forget the parents! They often take incredible photos of events and you can use them as a resource. Send out class-wide parent/guardian emails for special requests.
Use the student staff to give their perspectives on the activities they are involved in outside the classroom. Pair yearbook staff with certain clubs or groups and delegate responsibility to obtain facts and stories. When the staff are actively involved with the school's population, activities, and stories, they create a richer, more dynamic yearbook.
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Editor: Donna Ladner obtained a B.A. in Education and a minor in English from California Baptist University, and a M.S. in ESL from USC, Los Angeles. After she married Daniel, their family moved to Indonesia with a non-profit organization and lived cross-culturally for 15 years before returning to the U.S in 2012. Donna has been working as an editor and proofreader for TSE Worldwide Press and its subsidiary, United Yearbook since 2015.
Contributor: Lucy McHugh comes to United Yearbook Printing from a 39-year career in public and private school education. She was a former visual art teacher and yearbook adviser. She received a Bachelors of Science in Art from Columbia College in Columbia, SC, a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nebraska in 2000, and in 2014 earned a Certificate in Catholic School Leadership from Loyola Marymount University. Lucy enjoys her family, making art and gardening.
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