The Yearbook World of Scott Geesey
from Jostens Yearbooks of central/northern Pennsylvania
ARCHIVE - Summer 2023
A SUMMER YEARBOOK TO-DO LIST TO CONSIDER: More Transforming for Next Year
Hello! Thank goodness for summer, right? A chance to exhale, recharge the batteries and have some fun.
Congratulations Class of 2023. You are maybe the most historic class in many decades - lockdowns your freshman year, distancing your sophomore year, challenges your junior year, and SUCCESS your senior year. Now take that regained normal and rock the world!
Let's run down a list of things to consider over summer break. The new school year will be here before you know it...
RELAX - you did a great job this year. Take time for yourself with a trip, a great beverage, or a great beverage on a trip. Hopefully at least a good two months of rest and recharging. Go have some FUN.
But along the way, maybe take just a little time for yearbook here and there. Some of these thoughts?
For Jostens schools, if you haven't already, log onto your 2024 Yearbook Avenue website and look around. Check out the new Page Ladder and the new Image Library. Get acquainted with things. And click on the Digital Classroom - with plenty of time see what's really IN there that you can use next year.
A little practice now when you have plenty of free time could pay big dividends later when you're busy and stressed. Take YBA for a test drive, see what's new and different.
Reach out to your Jostens representative at least once, even if it's just "how's your summer going?" We always feel a little uncomfortable reaching out to YOU over the summer, never want to interrupt. But at some point it's time to start gearing up again.
Remember that your representative is your partner in this yearbooking venture. Too often we feel like an outsider - instead make us an active part of your team, even if it's just occasional live Zooms to go over things periodically.
Start considering your business plan for next year - your representative surely will be with some initial budgeting, book sale pricing, etc. If you have concerns or ideas, bring them up now.
If you had money troubles this past year, you certainly don't want to do that again. There are many ideas for raising extra revenue without raising the price of your book. Get together with your representative to find out more.
Know your 2024 staff yet? Some folks do, some don't yet. Hopefully you're a DO. If so, consider one summer event with them, perhaps in early August. Meet at school, have a cookout, something to start the teamwork early. If you don't know your kids yet, start thinking about the first week of school and how to get your new group working and planning right from Day One.
Your yearbook staff is like a sports team, and many teams have summer workouts to get ready for next season. Do the yearbook version of that to get your new group ready for YOUR next season.
Increase your student leadership, even if you have a very established staff. You have enough on your plate - maybe expand your editorial group, or give them added responsibilities.
Or just start a student editor group for the first time. This is one of the best student leadership opportunities in your building - let the kids lead. As adviser your job is to ADVISE them, not call every shot. Give them added ownership of the project and they will respond.
Be sure to add one editor position - the FUN Editor. Once a week they come up with an activity to lighten up the work, maybe some snacks or a mini party or watching a video or playing a game. Never let yearbook be a chore, no one enjoys that.
Consider attending a summer yearbook camp. You're an eager beaver and love yearbooking. Find a regional yearbook camp that you can attend, your representative will know more on those.
Jostens Adviser University is in Dallas, TX in mid July. The best event anywhere for advisers only, JAU is your one stop camp to immediately up your advising game. And it's open for ANY high school or middle school adviser, no matter the company.
And for Jostens advisers, even get needed educational credit for yourself thru our Jostens effort with the University of San Diego. Contact your Jostens representative for more information.
For Jostens advisers, consider how to utilize our Yearbook+ digital feature next year. This is a way to make yearbook more interactive, and you can even make use of it DURING the year. Ask for Jostens representative about Plus.
Always keep your eyes and ears open for new ideas in your travels. We're surrounded by ideas on photography, writing, storytelling, design, teamwork, many aspects. See if some grabs your interest, take a note or two, then consider how you could use that with your 2024 effort.
And consider "yearbooking as a purpose" - many yearbook staffs, and advisers, have been in the doldrums in recent years. Kids everywhere want a new PURPOSE for doing yearbook - and there are many out there.
Examples? Make a commitment to tell some story about EVERY student next year. Talk to your guidance office about working together to help improve your school. If someone buys a copy of your book, you guarantee to picture them in the book at least three times. Just for starters...
While you're recharging your batteries this summer, take just a little time to look ahead. That little bit of time could save you a LOT of time later when you're busy and stressed again. And always have that great beverage handy...