Hopkins Yearbook
A Publications Course
Welcome!
Contact Info
- Please see the contact information on the print copy of the course syllabus.
Class Websites & Important Sites
- YearbookAvenue.com—yearbook creation site
- Canva, Pixlr, and other free, online platforms: Used to develop content, edit photos, and design backgrounds
- Google Classroom
- Infinite Campus
2023-2024: NOTE FROM THE TEACHER
Welcome to Hopkins Middle School and the 2023-2024 school year! I look forward to a year with you, working with you to plan, develop, and complete the 2024 yearbook. You will spend the year collaborating with a team to design pages, collect interviews and photos, and fit the story of this new school year into a 152-page book.
As you know, this year marks Hopkins’s first year as a middle school, which means that this issue of the yearbook will be unique and mark a new beginning for Hopkins. We also have more students to include in the yearbook, so we will need to work together to include as as many students as possible in every story we tell. The landscape and environment may be new for all of us, but we will navigate the unexpected adventures of the school year together. It is sure to be an exciting year.
2023-2024 Staff Manual
Course Description
OVERVIEW: In this 21st century, cross curricular, project-based class, students work collaboratively by using technology such as digital cameras, photo editing software, and online design software to digitally produce a yearbook. Students use writing skills, communication skills and creativity to tell the story of the school community and peers in an engaging way. Students demonstrate knowledge of graphic design and think creatively when organizing information within the yearbook. In this college and career ready course, students think critically to meet deadlines, track to goals and utilize multimedia to market and disseminate information that aligns with and models an actual business.
IN PRACTICE: Students in this class will be members of the yearbook production staff. The course is designed to expose the student to the skills of photography, journalism, and page production, and to assist him/her in acquiring the responsible attitude necessary to meet the demands of a production schedule and a publication deadline. Students will work in teams to complete a 152-page yearbook ON TIME! Second semester, as time permits, students may also contribute to the Hopkins podcast “Podkins Hopcast,” a different publications medium that will develop additional skills, including writing a script and completing more in depth interviews than typically required for the yearbook.
Class Policies
DISCIPLINE STANDARDS
Be prompt!
- Be polite!
- Be productive!
STAFF PARTICIPATION & CONDUCT AND DISMISSAL POLICY: A high standard of professionalism and maturity is expected from students in the publications classroom. It is expected that when staff members are conducting publications business they act professionally and courteously. Students not fulfilling their duties as members of the team will be subject to undergoing the discipline referral system. Removal from any appointed position on the publication staff may result in a failing grade, removal from class, or alternative assignments that may not be included in the publication. The student- and parent-signed course contract will serve as a record of understanding of these expectations.
TECHNOLOGY USE: In keeping with the school district’s technology agreement, I expect all students to use school technology for academic, collaborative, and classroom purposes only. In this class, we do not use technology just because it is technology; here, technology is a means of collaborating and of building and demonstrating real-world skills, as well as building a product we can be proud to share with the school. I encourage all Hopkins students to be model cyber citizens. In Room F102, this looks like using all technology for the assigned purpose.
CAMERAS: Staff members will have access to digital cameras throughout the creation of the publication; cameras are limited, however, and available on a first-come, first-served system. Teams should request just one camera at a time. Because the equipment is fragile and expensive, staff members take responsibility to make sure that it is used properly and returned undamaged. Digital cameras left unattended or lost may result in the loss of privileges for that staff member. At any time throughout the year, staff members are welcome to use their own digital cameras rather than borrowing publications equipment. If a publications-owned camera is damaged or lost while in the staff members’ possession, that student will be responsible for the partial or full cost of replacing the equipment (based on an appropriate retail value). When a student has the camera signed out, only that student should be using the camera and only pictures appropriate for the publication should be taken.
PUBLICATION STAFF PASSES: A personal pass must be carried, with student ID, any time a staff member leaves the room during class, visits another classroom, and conducts publications business outside of class—including during lunch and after school activities and events. Publications staff must show passes to school staff and students when on publications business—whether asking to interview, observe, photograph, etc. Lost passes will not be replaced and students will be responsible for completing all assignments as usual.
Grading
All course work, which is predominantly the building of the yearbook through the first three quarters, will be graded based on the following categories:
50% Deadline (this includes group effort and cooperation)
50% Production (this includes sharing the responsibility of page development,
photography, and reporting)
Further, students will be evaluated independently as they are building the yearbook through Weekly Progress Evaluations (this includes independent responsibility & productivity, being on time, and working cooperatively)--worth 15 points each week.
Responsibilities & Deadlines
————————
MAJOR DEADLINES are set by the advisor to help staff meet four official deadlines controlled by the printing plant. When these publishing deadlines are missed, it may add additional costs to the production of the book that can affect the overall success of the publication long term. With that in mind, these deadlines cannot be missed and, if they are, will result in consequences for the staff members unable to meet expectations.
MINOR DEADLINES are controlled by the advisor and serve as ways to minimize the negative impact major deadlines can have on morale. Minor deadlines allow the executive team to copyedit materials and to ensure overall product quality. Missing minor deadlines, while not necessarily cost-prohibitive, still can affect the publication’s ability to meet the final deadline, and therefore should be taken as seriously as major deadlines.
To ease the impact of major deadlines and ensure page production is completed on time and work is done well, each major deadline will have two minor deadlines. This might look like*:
MINI DEADLINE: September 23: 50% of content complete
MINI DEADLINE: October 21: 100% of content complete and ready for edits
MAJOR DEADLINE: November 9: Pages submitted to plant
Jostens (Plant) Deadline: November 14**
*Check the class ladder and wall postings for actual deadlines. Jostens (Plant) Deadlines will not be published on the ladder in order to avoid deadline confusion—see me if you have questions.
Keep in mind: You may have one to three pages to complete by the major deadlines. Mini deadlines may be considered “major deadlines,” to help you complete all of your pages/stories on time. The number of pages you will submit by a major deadline on determined by the size of the class.
STAFF ORGANIZATION
Every staff member’s job is vital to the production of the yearbook. In order for each member to do the best possible job, it is important to clearly describe the duties that correspond with each position. Depending on staff and publication needs, some or all of these positions will be used on an annual basis.
Editor(s)
- Meets the expectations described below under “All Staff Members.”
- Works with adviser and staff members in making decisions.
Motivates and guides staff members throughout the year.
Monitors ladder with section advisor.
Works with staff members in photo selection.
Works with staff members to formulate how the theme is carried throughout book.
Guides design of pages, including opening, closing and divider pages, especially as staff members finish their pages and/or reach deadlines.
- Edits/proofreads stories, captions, headlines and other elements before submitting pages to the plant.
- May be specialized as a layout editor, a photo-quality editor, or a grammar/story editor (based on experience and strengths)
Staff Member(s)
Assumes full responsibility of all assignments, including planning, reporting and writing, photography, designing and executing production tasks.
Tags photos and ensures pages are numbered as assigned.
Accepts advice on assignments from editor(s) and adviser and is willing to improve where needed.
Develops an awareness of audience desires and needs.
Becomes familiar with production process.
Puts forth the extra effort and hours it takes to meet deadlines with accuracy.
Checks every name in print for spelling accuracy.
Assists other members with their tasks when necessary.
Contributes to the financial stability of the yearbook by promoting our yearbook.
Creates a positive atmosphere in the yearbook room.
- Commits to working with team members in class and outside of class (particularly for interviews and photographs) to meet deadlines.
- Consults with leadership throughout entire yearbook endeavor.
Adviser
Tracks the progress of editors and staff members to ensure that deadlines are met with accuracy.
Establishes a fair system of evaluating all editors and staff members on daily contributions and final assignments.
Oversees both the journalistic and business sides of the yearbook endeavor.
Provides staff with new resources for learning journalism trends, writing, photography, design, project management and leadership.
Gives staff opportunity to learn more about journalism by instruction/through resources.
Serves as a liaison between administration, publisher, and staff.