Taught by Kjersten Johnson (staff), the yearbook class spends the majority of the year creating the school’s yearbook. Students interview students, take photos and write stories to fill the yearbook. “It’s one of the few classes where everyone gets to read … and critique your homework,” Johnson said.
The class partners with Jostens to build the yearbook. Johnson said, “We partner with Jostens. Our online software is called Yearbook Avenue this year … it also tracks all of our sales and our marketing efforts.” For some of the pages this year, the class used an Adobe program called InDesign to create visually in-depth spreads. “We have six spreads, I believe, that are actually done through InDesign that we then imported into (Yearbook Avenue).”
Holland Luedtke (12), the staff editor-in-chief, was one of the students who helped use InDesign. She enjoys the class because of the writing, the positive community and because of the fact that she gets to see everything that is going on at the school. “I love putting together the book and writing all the stories and kind of knowing the ins and outs from the whole year, people’s businesses that they ran like themselves or … sports. So that was really cool and I also just love the people in our class and the staff that just makes the experience way better,” Luedtke said.
Tristyn Bruning (11) is the co-photography and co-design editor. Bruning explained, “I double check if photos are good and if I don’t think they’re good, then I advise that we change it and help advise what we change it to. And as far as the design process goes … I will consult about what we should do on a certain page and … what would look best design wise.”
On May 15 at 2:15 p.m. students were released to the cafeteria for the signing party. Students enjoyed Kona Ice, Paciugo Gelato and freshman concessions as yearbooks were distributed and students got to gather and sign each other’s yearbooks, reminiscing on the memories they made throughout the year.
The class environment is what makes it appealing to many students. “I just enjoy the atmosphere, being able to just talk with people so lightly and just have so much fun. It’s not a regular class — you just get to have more fun than you do in conventional classes,” Bruning said.
As the students all hit their final deadline and completed the book they prepared for the distribution day and the signing party. Mixed emotions were experienced as the class came to an end. “It was really bittersweet. Since I’ve been in the yearbook for three years now I’m gonna miss it,” Luedtke explained.
