Year-bookin’-it
While I’ve been advising a high school newspaper for four years now, this was my first time producing the school’s yearbook. One thing I understand on a much deeper level now, is that yearbook is an entirely different beast.
That said, it can also be an entirely different beast in good and bad ways. I like the visual creativity yearbook allows both in photography and graphic design. Plus, designing the book (via Jostens YearTech program) is actually quite easy and makes it a little less daunting for students (and advisers) who are not necesssarily hip on InDesign.
The bad of yearbook rears its head via prolonged deadlines, handling the in-class workload (which can go from complete nothing to complete chaos in the matter of a week) and getting students to buy into the validity of summer workshops. I know this last bit isn’t necessarily a problem for some schools, but I’m finding it difficult to kindly coerce students into spending three days in Greeley, CO, to help design our 2009-2010 yearbook.
And next year’s book is a big one for Ralston Valley. It will be our 10th year, and I expect big things and a great book from next year’s staff and myself. I’m thinking of a theme heavy on 10′s. Top ten lists throughout, a 10-year retrospective, etc..I just need to nail down a catchy slogan using something with TEN! Any ideas???
It’s amazing how much I’m looking forward to next year’s book despite the fact that this year’s book will be delivered tomorrow (April 29) and distributed on May 14. One year into advising, and I know I can do such a better job and produce a much more well-rounded book for Ralston Valley. And after 10 years of yearbook mediocrity, the school deserves my best.
