Yearbook Syllabus

Mr. Brandon Keller

Room 115

brandon.keller@sduhsd.net

General Description

Yearbook is a student-run course that has the class collaborate to create an engaging and professional yearbook for the entire student body. Yearbook will ask students to wear a variety of different hats, including photographer, writer, editor, designer, and much more! Yearbook requires you to go above and beyond, putting in extra time and effort and often staying on campus until late at night. If you join yearbook, it needs to be made a priority! Our class has two primary objectives: (1) to teach students the skills required to create the yearbook and (2) to produce a quality book that reflects journalistic standards. 

Photo Equipment Use

Students may use their own cameras or they may use staff equipment. All staff equipment must be signed out and returned within 24 hours. Students who do not follow the sign out and return policy will not be permitted to use school equipment. Students are responsible for damages to/loss of equipment checked out by them.

Expectations

Timeliness: Students are expected to meet all deadlines, with no exceptions! Students will also be expected to be on time for class, meetings, after-school deadlines, photoshoots, distribution, and interviews.

Risk-taking: Yearbook staff must be willing to take a risk and try something new. Risk-taking may involve interviewing someone a student does not know or learning new software. Take initiative and execute your vision!

Responsibility: When a student agrees to take on the responsibility of working on a student publication, the student must also assume responsibility for his/her actions and decisions. Furthermore, whenever a student is fulfilling yearbook responsibilities, that student must act as a representative of the entire school. Finally, as a student-run organization, students must execute their roles!

Attention to detail: Yearbook is a perfectionist’s business. Students must pay attention to details because details cost money! Do not rush!

Classroom Procedure

Start of Class: Each class will begin with students in room 115, seated, with phones in the phone caddy 5 minutes after the bell rings. Students will be marked absent if they have not put their phones away 5 minutes into class.

Announcements: The first 15-30 minutes will be in room 115, when announcements and activities will take place. Once announcements are complete, students can grab their phones and complete assigned tasks.

Eating in the Classroom: Students can only eat in room 115, not in the computer lab or pub.

Leaving the Classroom: Students must get a signed pass from Mr. Keller whenever they leave the classroom. When they return, they will hand the pass to Mr. Keller and explain what they did over that amount of time.

After-School Responsibilities

Some assignments - particularly photo shoots, interviews, and deadlines - will be completed outside of class time. Students should plan transportation needs and homework schedules accordingly. It is your responsibility to find someone to cover for them if they cannot make an assignment.

Deadlines

Deadlines are required for all yearbook staff, even if you are done with your work. As a deadline approaches, each staff member MUST notify the Top 4 editors and the staff advisor if they will not be present one week in advance, and must find a student to cover for them. Deadlines are an essential part of being on staff.

After Book Completion

Once the yearbook is finished, students will be expected to participate in all classroom activities and to complete all assignments. While the assignments may not be directly related to the yearbook or a supplement, they will be journalistic in nature and focused on improving students’ journalism, design, or organization skills.

Grading Policy

Assignments are scored on a point scale. The kind of assignment and the size of the assignment will determine the point total. Students will be graded on timeliness, attention to detail, effort, and communication.

A = 90-100% B = 80-89% C = 70-79% D = 60-69% F = 0-59%

Late work is half credit. However, if you have an excused absence, you have as many days as the absence to complete the work, per district policy. What this means, however, is if an assignment was due on Tuesday and you were absent Tuesday, the beginning of class on the DAY YOU RETURN is the day it is due for you.

TPHS Academic Honesty Policy: 

The Torrey Pines High School Academic Honesty Policy will be enforced. All the work you present must be your own. Copying or paraphrasing another student’s work will be considered a violation of this policy. Be certain that during a test or quiz you do nothing that could bring your integrity into question. Also, when writing any assignments in which you have been required to (or have chosen to) consult outside sources, be sure to properly give credit to the author(s) of your source(s) and include all the bibliographical information.

Conduct

You are expected to treat your peers and your teacher with respect at all times. This includes listening respectfully when someone else is talking, arriving to class on time, and being prepared to contribute to class discussions. Failure to do so may result in you getting kicked off the staff or a failing grade.