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Here's what you need to know!
I. What does Yearbook do?
We plan, create, and sell the yearbook of course! We also document photographically the important events that occur during the school year. But more than that, we run a business. This is unlike any other course at IIANT because you gain real-world skills, creating and selling a product to real customers.
II. What requirements are there to join yearbook?
Dragon Pride has two levels of membership
FULL STAFF: Grades 8-10 - Full staff members are members of the yearbook class, responsible for creating and selling the book.
Consultant/Support Staff: Grades 4-12 Works with the yearbook staff to support the creation and sale of the book.
1. Application: Completed accurately. (I will be checking your grammar and writing on this as well - so pay careful attention to detail! The little things matter.)
The application includes submission of the following (see application for more detail on the requirements & guidelines for each).
Photographic Work Samples (new staff only)
Written Work Sample (new staff only)
Teacher Recommendations & optional letters of reference (new staff only)
2. Be a strong student: We are looking for staff members who are respected by their teachers and classmates, natural leaders who demonstrate respect, responsibility, integrity, excellence, and pride in their work.
3. Interview: (new staff only) This is more than a class. This is a job, so you will prepare and be interviewed. You will want to be prepared and professional. You need to be able to articulate why you are interested in being on staff (show your excitement) but as well and more importantly show clearly what you have to offer and why you would be a valuable, contributing member of the staff. Dress and present yourself professionally. You may want to do some research (google, youtube) on tips for a successful job interview.
4. Summer Project: If selected to join the staff, you will get more information on this project. This is a large part of how I assign roles and responsibilities for the year. Show attention to detail not only in the technical aspects of writing (grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, etc). but also careful attention to graphic design and the "look" of your project. You will present your project in the first couple weeks of school, and this will require practice. Do not come in to present without practicing. Make this project, the quality of work that you would be willing to sell.
5. Signed Contract: If you are accepted into yearbook, you will sign a contract indicating your commitment to do the things on this page, and more.
6. Be Excited about yearbook!
III. What characteristics will make me a successful and happy yearbooker?
Critical Attributes:
1. DEDICATION!: This is a huge one! We take yearbook seriously and we will ask you to make yearbook a top priority! We need to know that you will get the job done, no matter what, no excuses!
2. Reliability: If you say you are going to be somewhere, you are there. If something happens, you make sure that the event is covered by another staff member. NO excuses! You have your pages completed by the DUE date.
3. Attention to Detail: There are a lot of little things that go in to making a spread. Once a section is submitted, we can not get it back to fix things. So it is is very important to get it right the first time, and we work together through a process to do that. You need to make sure that you spell people's names properly and quote them accurately when interviewing.
4. Availability- (before, during, and after school): This is a must! A significant investment of time will be required for a variety of activities from photographing events, to distributing marketing materials, to planning meetings. This may also sometimes be during lunches or flex time.
5. Work Well Under Pressure in a fast-paced environment: When deadlines approach, the word load does increase and the pressure is raised. If accepted, you will need to devote extra attention and time (sometimes significant) during those periods. Please do not tell me that you can not do your yearbook work because you are busy in your other classes or with personal project, etc.. Please do not have your parent call or email me to complain that you are getting busy with yearbook work. Know in advance that it will get busy and manage your time so that you can take care of things effectively. #balanced
6. Technical Written Ability: You punctuate, spell, and capitalize properly. You are very keen and careful in editing for errors.
7. Able to Meet Deadlines: Deadlines are a big deal in yearbook. It's not like other classes where you can just retake a test. This will mean that you plan ahead what you will need (pictures, interviews, etc) for a spread rather than waiting till the last minute and doing sub-par work.
8. Organized: You keep track of materials, assignments, due dates, and responsibilities.
9. Good Time Management & Flexibility: In order to meet the deadlines, you plan ahead. You are proactive in making sure that you have things done early rather than at the last minute. You are flexible when something comes up unexpectedly.You will need also to balance the rest of your classes while still participating in yearbook activities and events. Yearbook is a good place to develop this ability, but NOT to acquire it!
10. Leadership: You make sure the job gets done! When you see something that needs to be done, you do it for the benefit of the team. You are focused on solving problems, not assigning blame for them. You communicated with the leaders and advisor in resolving problems or conflicts.
11. Responsibility: You may need to miss parts of other classes from time to time to cover events - and you will need to be responsible for making up any assignments or material that you miss. Be a problem solver, not a problem maker. You will also be using very expensive yearbook equipment that you will be responsible for (this means financially liable - i.e. if you break it, you replace it at your own expense). You will not make excuses, you will not complain that it is not your fault. You will simply solve problems. If things are not completed or turned in on time, they are counted late just like in any other class.
12. Willing to work with a picky and demanding perfectionist yearbook adviser: (Yes, this is for real) I care very much about making the best yearbook possible, and I will ask that you do the same. Be willing to take constructive criticism without getting your feelings hurt. Be forewarned, if you do work that is sloppy or less than quality, or if you do not take care of your responsibilities in a timely and reliable manner, yearbook will not be very much fun for you. Also know that from time to time, especially as you are learning the elements of good photography and design, your work may be changed or adjusted (a little bit, or entirely) before it is published by the editors or adviser in order to make it the best it can be and meet the Dragon Pride standard of quality and inclusiveness of all students.
13. Diligence & Initiative: If you see something that needs to be done, you take the initiative to do it before you are asked to do it. Be willing to pick up extra responsibilities when the staff has a need. There will be parts of yearbook that are tedious, but necessary.
14. A team player: You work well with others. You communicate and are able to accomplish tasks with other people. If someone on staff else needs you to pick up a responsibility or work an event, you are willing to help them if possible to make sure we have what we need and that we create the best yearbook possible!
15. Enthusiastic Personality: You need to be able to get others (potential customers) excited about the yearbook so that they buy it! An important part of this as well is a growth mind-set. Some things will be new and require a lot of practice to master. Don't expect to be perfect at everything from the get-go, be patient with yourself and seek guidance/feedback regularly in order to grow and develop your skills.
16. Maturity: Your behavior, appearance, reflect on the staff, the adviser, the school, the school district, your family, and most importantly your self! Take that seriously and let that guide your choices! Be open to new/different ideas and flexible in incorporating others' ideas. You will complete certain tasks and assignments both during and after school time without supervision, and you need to be trustworthy in that capacity! If you have a question or concern about class, you will approach the teacher directly, not rely on your parents to handle it for you - and you will need to trust the adviser to consider your point of view, even if that does not mean agreeing with it. You will accept disagreement from staff and class leaders maturely.
17. Creative: You have neat ideas about designs or pictures or writing. You can come up with way more interesting interview questions than "What is your favorite...?"
Desirable Attributes:
18. Good Visual Skills: You have an eye for graphic design, style, layout, colors, fonts, pictures, alignment, etc. You make things look "pretty" and polished. You create technically correct images that tell a story, not just take pictures.
19. Good people skills: You know people's names by face. You are outgoing and able to approach someone you've never met before to talk to them in order to get information that you need. You are comfortable being in front of a crowd, and you are not shy about telling people what they need to do when photographing them in order to create the best image possible.
20. Good Photography Skills: People tell you that you take good pictures. You have experience shooting with an SLR camera (ideally in manual mode). You have a vision for how you want a photograph to look before you ever click the button. You know how to tell a story through an image, not just take a snapshot. You are able to create an image, not just photograph it - this means you are able to talk to and interact with your subjects to get them to do what you need in order get creative and unique images.
21. Communication Skills: Written & Verbal. You talk to others including the adviser when necessary to prevent and solve problems.
22. Presentation Skills: You are able to speak to an audience about the yearbook, communicating enthusiasm and clearly conveying information when necessary.
23. Good parent support: Your parents may be needing to pick you up and drop you off at locations at Imagine or around the North Texas area for events. You will need to have internet access at home in order to do certain assignments. Having your own digital SLR camera (and experience using it), though not mandatory, is also a huge plus in your favor!
IV. What will I do in class?
Plan, Design, & Create Pages
Share ideas, evaluate, & give feedback
Photograph People in places and with things around campus and beyond
Write articles focusing on specific people and events
Interview students and staff
Plan & Execute marketing campaigns: including networking with potential customers
Learn about Photography, Marketing, Design Software, Copy, and Graphic Design
Distribute the yearbook when it is finished.
Market Research
Turn things in ON TIME!
Meet as a staff to plan, discuss areas of need, and share ideas
Create advertisements via various media
V. What will I do outside of class?
Plan, Design, & Create Pages
Manage digital photo archives and image sets
Plan & Execute Marketing Campaigns
Photograph Assigned Events, people, and projects on and off campus
Observe the world around you for good design ideas
Tag photos with the names of people in them
Write articles on specific people and events.
Interview Students and Staff
Create advertisements by various media
Advertise for the yearbook
VI. What benefits are there to me for being in yearbook?
Not everyone is cut out for designing and creating a yearbook and working with the pressure of solid deadlines, but if you enjoy that sort of thing, then you will really enjoy this class! You get the pride of creating something that will last a lifetime for you, your friends, and our entire school community. You get some valuable resume items. You get to work with others to decide what the yearbook looks like and contains!
Build your skills and experience in:
Business & Project Management
Marketing & Advertising
Journalism
Leadership
Digital Software
Problem Solving
Writing
Graphic Design
Conflict Resolution
Photography - Learn from and intern with a professional photographer
Photo Editing & Manipulation
People & Communication
Media Law
Market Research
With dedication, good communication, diligent growth of skills, independent inquiry, & willingness to serve, you may also earn an invitation for promotion into editorial leadership on the staff. This is an exceptional experience and distinguished credit to have for your college resume.
VII: Anything else I need to know?
Yearbook is very fast paced, and the work load is very heavy right before deadlines, getting lighter after the yearbook is sent. However, if you are not interested in being accountable to contributing (be honest with yourself!) or are looking for a easy, blow-off elective, do NOT sign up for yearbook. You will be working with an adviser and team of people who will be depending on you to create a high quality product that real-live customers will be purchasing with their real hard-earned money. That is a big responsibility, and you will be asked to do your part to create an exceptional yearbook product to deliver to the customers!
If the above sounds like a good fit for you, then
Apply for Yearbook Staff! <-(by clicking here)
Applications Due (must be completed) And Interviews Scheduled by April 15!
Don't think full staff membership is the right direction, but still want to be involved in yearbook?
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