Blueprints Yearbook Syllabus

Ms. Mallie Humber

Northridge High School
Phone: 759-3590
mhumber@tusc.k12.al.us
malliehumber@gmail.com
Course Description:
Yearbook is a production-based class that creates the Blueprints yearbook. We are entering into our thirteenth
publication. The staff is solely responsible for the content, design, layout, and marketing/selling of the book. The benefit
of this class is that students learn how to manage a full-scale, full-budget production that involves innovating, creating,
editing, enhancing, advertising, selling, and distributing our very own book. This courses curriculum aligns to the
Common Core 21st Century Standards.
Course Objectives
Students will learn and demonstrate journalistic principles
Students will develop the concept of the yearbook
Students will understand how a yearbook theme keeps consistency and flow within the yearbook.
Students will learn to use the http://yearbookavenue.jostens.com design site.
Students will meet original deadlines
Students will deliver the yearbook to the staff and students on time
Students will keep track of a student body of almost 1,300 students, and more than 100 teachers, clerical and
administrative staff, and coaches
Students will coordinate teams to monitor school clubs, dances, special events, sports, academics, and of course,
student portraits
Students will advertise to promote Senior ads, promote and sell business ads to the surrounding community, and
advertise the yearbook all year long
Students will harness their creative side and learn graphic design principles while creating pages with engaging
content, quotes, style, and flair all within deadline
Materials:
FLASH DRIVE
Notebook, Folder
Camera (not required, but is beneficial for students to have a camera readily available)
Internet access (home and school)
Personal laptop (not required, but is permittedstudents are responsible for their own devices at all times)
Expectations:
While completing this course, students will have the opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in the following areas:
Interviewing/Factual researching
Interpersonal communication
Legal/Ethical media issues
Meeting production deadlines
Photography principles and/or practice
Story, headline, and caption writing
Knowledge of current events
Leadership, team work, and problem-solving skills
Jostens yearbookavenue.com
Curriculum:
We will use the Jostens curriculum that aligns with Common Core 21st Century Skills. We have various resources
available to us through this program including, but not limited to, LookBooks, Style Guides, the Digital Classroom, Lesson
Plans, video clips, Starters for Success, and a Jostens representative who can be on site as needed.
Participation:
Students enrolled in yearbook are expected to participate fully during class, as many learning activities and stories will be
due before the end of the class block. Time outside of class will be required for interviewing, reporting and shooting
photos at various school and community-related events. In addition, students will be expected to perform every page
or photo assignment using the highest ethical and legal standards for publication.

Make-up/Late Work & Deadlines:

All non-deadline (spreads) make-up work for excused absences must be completed in a timely manner. There is no make
up work for UNexcused absences and all work missed will earn a zero (discretion may be used by the
instructor/sponsor). Students are responsible for getting their own make-up work. Students will have one class period
per one day of excused absence to hand in work assigned during the time absent. Late class work will not be accepted.
Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period.
Publication deadlines and timeliness are essential components of yearbook. Consequently, if you miss your deadlines,
you will receive a poor grade. Because our yearbook is directly tied to specific deadlines set by our publisher, any singleor double-page spread or related assignment that fails to meet deadline will only be eligible for half credit. Any spread
that is not complete by the second class after deadline will receive no credit at all.
Plagiarism/using non-legitimate sources or fact-gathering practices:
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Students in yearbook are required to submit their own work and cite their
sources. This means interviewing sources one-on-one in person, or if that is not possible, via a phone call. Interviews
using e-mail, Facebook, or any other non-live sources are not considered legitimate sources to use for quotation purposes
for publication. (The exception is using an e-mail or website information area thatfor examplerelays
factual/statistical information for use in a story, such as a scoreboard or stats for a sports team from a coach, the number
of tickets sold for a dance from the financial secretary, etc.) In addition, we cant use any images that we havent taken
ourselves or that our contract photographers havent taken for us. We may manipulate copyrighted images but only under
fair use guidelines. Any student caught plagiarizing, manufacturing quotes, fabricating facts and/or using nonlegitimate sources/fact- gathering practices will receive a grade of F/0 for the assignment.
Classroom rules:
Yearbook / Publications is a unique class because students utilize both written and visual skills to communicate. The class
also requires strong interpersonal communication skills. Much as English students use library resources as a foundation to
write a research paper, yearbook students must use information gathered from live interviews and photo shoots as the
foundation for their research/stories/photography.
Students who prove themselves consistently trustworthy may earn the privilege to leave the classroom or the
building (with parental permission) to work on stories and assist with yearbook publications. Any student who
abuses this privilege will be grounded to the classroom for the remainder of the course, or removed from the class,
and will receive a referral to the appropriate assistant principal. In addition, parents/guardians will be notified of
the infraction via a phone call, e-mail, and/or in writing.
Students who receive permission to leave the room for yearbook-related activities must sign out from the room
when they are leaving to research, interview, shoot, etc., using the dry erase board in the yearbook corner of the
classroom.
Students leaving the classroom must ask permission from the adviser, obtain a custom ID from the ID machine in
the library, sign out of the classroom, and be at the place specified on the sign-out sheet. In addition, students must
return to the classroom after 20 minutes after checking out, if they have not received prior permission for extended
time.
Students leaving campus must obtain written permission from their parents/guardians, permission from the
advisor, sign out of the classroom, and must return by the time agreed upon by students and advisor.
All school rules apply when students leave campus for yearbook - related activities.
Use of technology (digital cameras, computers, software, etc.):
Students are expected to use equipment responsibly. No consumption of food or drink will be tolerated around computers.
(Camera/laptop/technology usage agreement is attached.)

Grading:
Your grade will be determined by the following categories.
Spreads: Spreads will be assigned throughout each semester. Because our yearbook is directly tied to specific deadlines
set by our publisher, any spread that fails to meet deadline will only be eligible for half credit. Any spread that is not
complete by the second class after deadline will receive no credit and can be reassigned. Missing deadline is extremely
costly for the yearbook and thats why deadlines become imperative.
Participation: Production of the yearbook is a team effort. Without everyones participation, we will not be able to turn
out a quality book on time. Your participation grade will be determined by both the teacher and your editors and is based
on overall participation; however, the teacher will have the final say in your participation grade.
Classwork: Classwork loads are based upon deadlines. Some weeks may be more hectic and have a heavier work load
than others. All students are expected to perform daily tasks as assigned by the adviser or Staff Editors.
90%-100% A

80%-89% B

70%-79% C

60%-69% D

0%-59% F

Special Notice: This is a production class. Work must be drafted, edited, revised, and simply perfected, before each
deadline, otherwise you will earn a failing grade. This isnt like any class youve taken, and the accountability is
much higher. The plus side is that youll be far more ready for the real world as a result.
Yearbook Syllabus Agreement: I have read, I understand, and I agree to the terms outlined in this syllabus, including the
Staff Contract. I have read and initialed/signed the Staff Contract, based on the privileges/equipment usage my
parents/guardians wish me to have. I agree to meet all deadlines and complete all assigned work to the best of my ability. I
understand that, at times, I will be required to work outside of class (including nights and weekends) to meet the academic
and performance requirements of Yearbook.
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Student Signature & Date

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Parent or Guardian Signature & Date

Student/Parents, please feel free to communicate any questions/concerns/thoughts to me here: _____________________________

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I look forward to a great year and an even better yearbook this year!
-Ms. Humber

STAFF CONTRACT for the NORTHRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK STAFF

Ms. Mallie Humber, ADVISER
The yearbook publication is unlike any other class on campus. Because we have the tremendous responsibility
of preserving the memories of high school for every student who goes to our school, we have got to have an
extraordinary team and a fair and firm set of rules. Each staffer and his/her parents must read and sign this
contract. Staffers initial in the space provided and return it to the adviser.
For Staff to Initial:
_____1. I understand the importance and cost of publication equipment and supplies and agree to use care when
using all equipment. Should I neglect or abuse equipment, I will pay for repair or replacement.
_____2. I understand that I will be asked to run errands, take photos, do interviews, etc. on campus during the
class period assigned for yearbook, during lunch, and before and after school. I commit to being where I am
supposed to be and doing what I am supposed to be doing at all times.
_____3. I understand that I am responsible for learning all aspects of yearbook publication. I will pay attention
to instruction, take good notes and apply what I have learned in class to my yearbook assignments. I will get
help if I am not sure what to do BEFORE I get behind.
_____4. I understand that my course grade will be based on the quality of my work, my participation in all
yearbook activities (including outside of class) and my timeliness at meeting deadlines.
_____5. I understand that my attendance is vital to the work of yearbook publication. In the event that I must be
absent, I will promptly make up any work, even if it means that I must work outside of class time. I will also
notify my team and the adviser (by email, if possible) of my absence.
_____6. I understand that it will be necessary for me to work outside of class time (before school, during lunch,
after school) to complete yearbook production. I will make necessary arrangements to do so, and will work
with the adviser and editors to share responsibility of my work should I be unable to attend an event for an
excused reason.
_____7. I will meet all deadlines assigned to me, and will communicate immediately to the adviser and/or
editors if circumstances beyond my control (i.e. inclement weather, cancellation of an event, failure of another
staff member to complete his/her assignment, etc.) prevents my assignment from being completed.
Student Signature: ___________________________________

Date: ____________________

Parent Signature: ____________________________________

Date: ____________________

PARENT CONTRACT for the NORTHRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK STAFF

Ms. Mallie Humber, ADVISER
Dear parent/guardian:
Occasionally it is necessary for yearbook students to leave the classroomand sometimes the buildingto
complete interviews, attend events, shoot pictures, visit other schools, sell advertising, engage in publicationsrelated activities, etc. During any time a student is out of the Room 165 yearbook classroom, he/she must sign a
log on Ms. Humbers wall indicating time out, destination, and time returned. Students will be allowed to leave
campus only with parental permission and if the assignment may not be accomplished during off-school hours.
Students may not ride together when leaving campus. All school rules apply during a yearbook activity offcampus. If you circle YES, I will be sending home a more detailed form, asking for insurance information, etc, for
you to complete.
Circle your choice: Yes No
My child may drive his/her vehicle for yearbook activities off-campus.
___________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Student Signature & Date

Parent/Guardian Signature & Date

Camera/Laptop/Technology Usage:
Students are financially responsible for school-owned equipment used in yearbook: including digital cameras,
lenses, film cards, batteries, scanners, camera bags, film cameras, computers, software, and
Chromebooks/laptops while both on and off campus. Students are obligated to report any other students who
are damaging physical property. Digital camera bodies are valued at more than $1,000; lenses are valued at
$450-$1,000. Chromebook/Laptops/Computers value for repairs or replacement would be based off of its
current cost. Camera and computer repairs start at $100 minimum; these are not minor costs.
___________________________________________

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Student Signature & Date

Parent/Guardian Signature & Date