Page 69 - Jostens Yearbook_Adviser Guide

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THEMATIC LINKS

3.4 WHO THEME IS FOR For instance, Mill Creek High School in Georgia utilized its theme ■ In a Pi-themed yearbook, each
of Out of the Box to generate a variety of survey questions that
student in the school was given
could be used as content in the yearbook. a digit of numeral pi and they
See it in use below in the Out of Place and Out and About were asked to relate that number
Arguably the most important group to consider when working a modules. As a bonus, by distribution day the theme is not simply a to something about their lives.
vehicle for telling your school’s story, it has become an actual part Digits and facts ran (in order)
yearbook theme is the yearbook’s audience. For most schools, of the story of the year. Students have an idea of what they will be along the bottom of the book,
that involves the tricky task of creating a concept that can be seeing and are excited to find their contributions, their responses, showcasing each student.
their marks on the school year within the pages of the yearbook.
enjoyed by a vastly diverse group of students and faculty. ■ For a theme of In the moment,
students in each class were
given cameras and were asked
A theme developed with the school community in mind is an asset in telling the story
of the year. It becomes even more powerful for marketing and selling the book. When to take an individual photo
students outside of the yearbook room genuinely connect with the theme, they tend to at a precise moment in time.
love the product. Moments were printed in a
module along the left-hand side
Some schools keep their theme secret, waiting for a big reveal on distribution day. While of the book, noting the date, time
this model works for some, many schools have seen the benefits of inviting their school and class that they were taken.
community to be part of the thematic process. These yearbook programs use the design
as branding, making the product more recognizable and reputable with the school ■ For a 30th anniversary book,
community. When considering whether to break with a tradition of secrecy, ask yourself students responded to survey
this: when is the last time you purchased a product, sight unseen, 8–9 months before prompts that had to do with
receiving it? Sharing the theme leads to more buyers because they can trust the product increments of time and the
will be something they want. number 30 (30 seconds, 30
minutes, 30 years, etc.). Answers
Mill Creek High School, GA were printed on the right-hand
side of every page (30 per page).
Consider inviting the school community to
■ In a yearbook with the theme,
be a part of the thematic process. Common Thread, students

completed an activity in their
advisory class. In it, students
were asked to find an unseen
connection to another member
One way to better reach your audience is by incorporating a thematic link of their class. For instance, Jose
—a device that serves the dual purpose of enhancing your coverage, connecting to your and Daniel both like soccer.
readers, and furthering your theme. The goal of a thematic link should be to reach every Daniel and Adele both have a
member of the school community.
dog. Adele and Marjan both
Consider how to deliver information about your theme to the school. One strategy like Chex Mix. Each advisory’s
incorporates components of the theme into advisory or homeroom curriculum, creating common thread was displayed on
activities centered around the theme. a different page of the book.
Mill Creek High School, GA

68 SECTION 3.4 WHO THEME IS FOR