Posted Oct. 15, 2021
Staff Reporter
Putting together this year's planner was a group effort involving Student Council members and staff.
The cover design, created by ELA teacher Jaclyn Stewart, was voted on by staff who were given several designs to choose from. The design depicts the silhouette of a young African American woman portrayed in words of diversity and inclusion. Stewart picked two different silhouettes and merged them to get the look she wanted.
“Each word is put in a specific part of the body to represent different parts of the students,” Stewart said. “For example, accent is put on the tongue and passion is put on the heart.”
Every year, the high school purchases 3,000-3,200 planners, costing approximately $7,000, which comes from the school’s general fund. The planner’s content is reviewed by administration who determines what policies and rules will be included. For example, if graduation requirements change, administration will ensure that the planner reflects that.
Towards the back of the planner, there are helpful mathematical and scientific formulas as well as conversion tables. The school decides on this information based on suggestions offered by Student Council, who chooses from templates provided by the vendor that include content and format.
“Each word is put in a specific part of the body to represent different parts of the students. For example, accent is put on the tongue and passion is put on the heart.”
- ELA teacher Jaclyn Stewart
The planner's main uses are for information and organization. There is a calendar in every planner that can be used to keep track of school work to help students stay organized and stay up to date. This year, the planner was late due to international shipping issues. Every teacher received two orange hall passes to replace the planner hall passes. Now that all students have a planner, they are expected to use it as a hall pass.
The vendor is expected to receive the planner design by May of the previous year so it can be delivered by the start of next school year. The planner is covered in Advisory class via a slide show, focusing on school policies and dress code.
“I think it’s awesome that they give students planners for free,” said ELA teacher Michelle Wood.