Gretchen McCarthy, Reporter
@gretchencourant
Everyone can tell when the yearbooks are ready for pick-up in June. The lines build up in the cafeteria, every other backpack is sagging with the extra weight and students are sitting around with their friends flipping through a year of memories. A highlight reel of a single year at NCHS, many students look to the yearbook as a way to remember the achievements of the sports teams, clubs and individual students that have defined their high school experience. What students do not learn from the glossy pages is that the book they are holding was an assignment, a long term art project that members of the yearbook class worked on all year to produce.
Selling around 950 copies each year, the yearbook is an extensive and in-depth group project for students interested in graphic design and photography. In addition to creating the graphic design and layout components, students must interview and photograph their subjects to create write ups on sports teams or clubs as they work to create the final 450 page product.
Because it is such an extensive process, students start thinking of theme ideas and cover concepts during the last weeks of school before summer. “Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t,” Editor in Chief Alexa Orndahl said. “This year it worked out well because we decided on a theme last year so we were ahead of the game.”
After a summer hiatus, the class resumes production in September by working on fall sports pages. However, the length, depth and quality of the book presents a challenge that is difficult to meet within the designated class time. “As much work is done outside of school as is done inside the classroom,” yearbook teacher and advisor James Zambarano said. “Having only 48 minutes a day, even though it seems like plenty of time for any other class, is difficult because there is so much work to do.”
More than anything, the yearbook is a memento for students, and the class worked to keep that at the front of their minds throughout the entire year. “We tried to stay true to the students. We didn’t try to make this something that it wasn’t and hide people’s personalities,” Art Director Hannah Kirkpatrick said. “We didn’t get lazy with it, we really put a lot of love and a lot of effort into every page.”
For students who will turn to the yearbook in the future as a way to remember their days at NCHS, the class tried to create a lasting compilation of the popular events that define NCHS culture. “It’s kind of like working on a giant magazine for the whole school which is very cool” Hannah said.
For students who will turn to the yearbook in the future as a way to remember their days at NCHS, the class tried to create a lasting compilation of the popular events that define NCHS culture. “It’s kind of like working on a giant magazine for the whole school which is very cool” Hannah said.
While the class tries to incorporate as many interactive modules and playful games as possible, the deadlines that need to be met keep production moving at a swift pace, but students do not let that hamper their imagination. “It helps people be more creative because they have to think harder about how they can use space to their advantage,” junior class member Julia DeNey said.
In most classes the single authority figure is the teacher; however, many yearbook students take on a leadership role that gives them influence in the class and often makes them the primary decision makers. “I would much rather step back and allow the students to learn that employable skill of being a leader and being able to work well with others,” Mr. Zambarano said. “Unlike most other classes in the school, they actually produce a final product and because of that we try to run it as a real world application by giving everyone a role.”
Even though there is a core group of leaders in addition to Mr. Zambarano, the class still works as a team to make their creative vision a reality. “Communication is key because we all need to know who is doing what so everyone is on track and so that we do not get behind on our work or deadlines,” Alexa said.
As a result of their in-depth investigation into a school year at NCHS, yearbook students gain a unique perspective on the multi-faceted society they are a part of. “You find out more about your classmates and your school and as you’re doing that you come up with new ideas,” Hannah said. “It’s really interesting to see how well rounded the school is and you find that you never get bored and you never run out of ideas.”
