The Yearbook World of Scott Geesey
from Jostens Yearbooks of central/northern Pennsylvania
ARCHIVE - SEPTEMBER 22, 2019
LET'S PLAN AHEAD: National Yearbook Week and Yearbook Programs of Excellence
Hello! Well, we had that little reminder of summer over the weekend as the calendar officially switched to autumn. Personally I'm loving the cooler temperatures as the leaves begin to change.
With the scheduling this year, many high school are having Homecoming seeimingly earlier in September. I always think of Homecoming as an October event but not this year for most schools.
Be sure to check out The Yearbooking Report updates for September with a great interview on good staff organization, something many staffs could use, plus some other notes and tips...
The Yearbooking Report Video, 9 minutes: https://youtu.be/EIPN8Ak_clo or search YouTube for Yearbooking Report.
The Yearbooking Report Podcast, 45 minutes; http://www.yearbooking.podbean.com or vai Apple Podcasts.
Or use the widgets here in the lower right column. Let me know what you think!! Hope the tips and ideas help...
Next week is a big week for all yearbook staffs, and a possible year of excellence for your staff...
OK, let's plan ahead - as we enter October next week and all yearbook staffs should now be busy compiling pictures and making initial page layouts and templates, there are two important events to note right now.
This first full week of the month, October 6-11, is National Yearbook Week. This isn't some invention by Jostens. Instead it's the 32nd annual commemoration that began with a proclamation from President Ronald Reagan back in September 1987 after official action from Congress.
From the proclamation - "School yearbooks not only chronicle educational achievement and school tradition but are a part of them. For nearly two centuries American students have produced yearbooks to commemorate the accomplishments of the school year and to compose a lasting record, written and pictorial, of campus, classmates, teachers, and school staff.
"In later years, alumni treasure their yearbooks for the memories they hold of times gone by and friends of long ago. The students who compile yearbooks likewise treasure all that the experience can teach them about teamwork and about writing, the graphic arts, and business skills. The practical cooperation and specialization that students learn in yearbook production stand them in good stead when they enter college or pursue other opportunities."
The last two sentences there are the keys for any yearbook advisers and staff. Advisers, please share this with your students this week. A good yearbook effort has so many educational benefits for staffers, skills and experience they can use later in life. Stress that to your group as they work this year.
For my advisers, please be sure to check out the emails headed your way soon along with material from your Yearbook Avenue home page, look for some links there. Have some fun with this, and get some good publicity in your town as well.
And now that we're all a month into the new school year, here's a reminder about this year's Jostens National Yearbook Program of Excellence Award. Advisers, if you haven't checked already, on your Yearbook Avenue website be sure to click on the Performance tab on the left side of the home page to find out your staff's goals to meet this year to qualify for the 2020 award.
Let's hand out some congratulations to three fall book schools in the neighborhood who recently won the 2019 Award...
Muncy High School, adviser Heidi Russell
Warrior Run High School, adviser Joel Ryder
St. John Neumann Regional Academy, adviser Ali Taylor
Each school will get a LARGE banner to hang in school to show off their achievement, along with a cool plaque for their yearbook or classroom and a mention in next year's Jostens Look Book.
Remember that the Excellence Award is primarily based on performance. You don't have to have a nationally recognized book - ANY yearbook staff has the chance to win the Excellence Award because the major factors involve making page submission deadlines, hitting sales goals, achieving student coverage goals, finalizing your cover design on time, planning your distribution event in advance and other benchmarks. There are many "top notch" yearbooks that look great but struggle mightily to hit even basic deadlines or book sales goals, usually leading to extra costs and extra angst.
I mention the Excellence Award now because some initial performance deadlines are just weeks away. With September now concluding, hopefully your planning and organizing for this year's book is primarily done. NOW it's time to start kicking things into gear in October, especially for spring yearbook schools. Book sales underway? Advertising sales rolling? Page templates made? Lots of fall event photos taken already? Cover finalized?
In my travels in October I'll be mentioning ALL of these items above as well as the Excellence Award goals for your school this year. Working together let's make this year's effort your school's best ever!!