Mrs. Nichols - Touchstone

Touchstone

Mission Statement

Yearbook Class

Prerequisites

Expectations During Class

Touchstone

“noun

a standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized.
a black siliceous stone formerly used to test the purity of gold by the color of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with the metal.”

Our Touchstone yearbook is the history book of the school, created each year to highlight the events of the year, or find the ‘gold’ in Stony Point. The yearbook is created by students for students. Yearbook functions as a class with an afterschool meeting every week. Events are covered before, during, and after school, so being part of Touchstone staff does require work outside of the classroom.

Mission Statement

Students have a need to know. Journalists have a right to tell. Finding the facts can be difficult. Freedom includes the right to be outrageous. Responsibility includes the duty to be fair. News is history in the making. Journalists provide the first draft of history. Stony Point News is committed to reporting the truth in our school. We will always be fair, unbiased, accurate, and respectful, while striving to be our best and maintain that Tiger honor and pride for the Blue and Gold.

Yearbook Class

Students participate in the production of the high school yearbook, Touchstone, which chronicles the events of the year. Activities include covering school events during and outside of the school day, photography, interviewing, creating digital layouts of pages to be sent to the publisher, writing copy, art work, and computer input of copy and designs. Meetings will be held after school each week, to coordinate the entire staff.

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: Journalism 1 & Submit Application for Approval

Students & Parents/Guardians must fill out a technology contract for use of cameras and equipment.

Expectations During Class

Behavior

I expect the highest level of respectful behavior at all times during yearbook. If your behavior becomes distracting or unsafe at any time you will be asked to leave. If you are asked to leave during class, this will negatively impact your grade. All school rules will be enforced, including no use of cell phones. Listening to headphones will not be permitted during class except during independent work time and only with my permission.

Responsibilities

Store work in progress and tools or supplies in the appropriate areas. DO NOT LEAVE ANY MATERIALS OUT
Do not take personal photos when doing yearbook photography
You are responsible for meeting EVERY deadline of your assignments
Do not abuse your yearbook privileges, everyone in school, especially the admins, know who the yearbook staff are. Please conduct yourself professionally outside of class, especially when attending events.
Students are expected to use equipment responsibly. No consumption of food or drink will be tolerated around computers. Any food or drink in class (including water bottles) must be on the tables, NOT on the counters near computers. If you need a snack break, save your work, move to the table, and then wash your hands before returning to the computer.

Yearbook Staff members have the ability to come and go from my room anytime in order to work on the Staff computers, as long as they have permission from their other teachers. Yearbook Staff members are encouraged to work on yearbook pages during their study hall, lunch, and after school.

Roles

There are various roles that need to be filled in this class. While I prefer to have each person have a maximum of one role (with exception of the editors and section editors), I will assign more than one if someone shows interest and I believe them to be responsible enough to handle multiple jobs. Your performance at these jobs can and will affect your grade. If you are not responsible, miss deadlines in your role, or have multiple failures to perform your role after proper training and help, then your grade will be lowered as a result. With that said none of these jobs are that difficult, some are tedious, but with the proper amount of attention they are simple enough. Also, a plus to these roles is that you can brag about them on scholarship and college applications as “leadership” roles that you held. While I prefer volunteers, if I do not have any for any of the roles mentioned, I will assign them as I see fit.

Examples of photos our Touchstone Staff have taken over the years.