St. Louis High School Yearbook Production Course Syllabus ~ 2017 2018 Instructor/Advisor: Mrs. Terri Reeves Contact Info: 113 E. Saginaw Street Phone: (989) 681-2500 ext. 1113 St. Louis, MI 48880 E-mail: treeves@stlouisschools.net Course Overview Welcome to yearbook class! Not only is this a class, it could probably be considered a job or internship. This is the only course at St. Louis High School that combines leadership, marketing, advertising, sales, graphic design, journalism, photography, and professionalism all in one class. It is an amazing opportunity to learn what it takes to create a memory book or document that is purchased by close to two-hundred people and contains a year s worth of memories. At the end of the year, when everything has been pulled together and is sent for printing, each student in this class will have pride in the fact that they have created a professional, well-written, and welldesigned book that will live on long past their years at St. Louis High School. Course Expectations There are many aspects to this year-long course. Not all work is completed during the 7 th hour time period when the course takes place. Students will also be required to complete work outside of the classroom, which will be considered homework. Additionally, yearbook students will be required to: sell advertisements to area businesses to support the cost of yearbook production. market the sale of the yearbook to students and parents at school and various events such as open houses, conferences, and sporting events. design layouts and spreads in accordance to the yearbook theme and using specific design standards and formula colors. attend sporting events and extra-curricular activities throughout the year to take photographs. use excellent journalistic techniques to report about specific events and activities throughout the school year. understand proper use and techniques for handling expensive yearbook equipment such as cameras, scanners, ipads, imac, printer, etc. understand proper expectations when going to classrooms that are in session to take photographs or report on activities that are taking place. understand proper behavior and dress code requirements when leaving the classroom to travel into the community to represent yearbook. understand the responsibility and honesty of working Health Break and the importance of being there each day to sell items to raise money for the production of the yearbook. understand that yearbook is a commitment from the beginning of the school year until the book is complete. understand that it may be necessary to finish yearbook after the school year is complete, which means that students may be required to come to school after the school year ends. understand the requirements of signing multiple forms for the expectations of this course. Yearbook Production Course Syllabus Page 1
Course Grading Students will be graded based on the following: Daily production: Students are in class, on time, and are prepared to work on production of yearbook the entire class period. Please do not ask to use yearbook as a study time for another class, to take a test/make-up work for another class, etc. Sales: Students must complete their sales requirements, which include business advertisement sales and yearbook sales. Marketing: Students must complete their marketing requirements, which include attending activities and selling yearbooks. Design: Students must complete layouts and designs that are conducive to the yearbook theme using design guidelines and formula colors. Writing: Students will complete writing assignments that follow proper journalistic standards. Photography: Students will attend extracurricular activities and events to take photographs. Students will be required to attend three events each marking period to take photographs. Deadlines: Students must meet all deadlines as required. Deadlines that are missed will be subject to the following: o One day late 10% deduction o Two days late 20% deduction o Three days late 30% deduction o Four days late 40% deduction o Five days late 50% deduction o More than five days late Student will receive a zero for the deadline assignment Students will receive a grade based on the percentages as stated in the student handbook. Classroom Expectations In this classroom it is expected that you will respect the classroom, the teacher, other students, and ideas presented and discussed in the classroom at all times. You will be responsible for having the proper materials each day, for being prepared for class, for respectable behavior at all times, and for displaying exemplary citizenship through caring and fairness towards everyone. You will be expected to be in the classroom and in your seat when the bell rings each day. Once you have entered the classroom, it is expected that you will be sitting quietly in your seat completing bell work. Leaving the Classroom You should make every attempt to utilize the restroom, water fountains, and other business between classes, at lunch, or before and after school. Should you need to leave during class, you must sign out recording your name, destination and time you leave the classroom in the sign-out book. When you return, you must sign in with the time you return to class. It is always the teacher s discretion to determine when and if you may leave the classroom for any reason. Cell Phones and Electronic Devices Per the SLHS Student Handbook, the use of cell phones and electronic devices are prohibited. Cell phones that are used, seen or heard, and present a disruption during school hours will be subject to confiscation and held until the end of the day. Student cell phones may be used before and after school and also during passing time and lunch. Continued violation of this policy will result in progressive discipline being assigned up to suspension from school. St. Louis Public Schools will not assume any liability for lost or stolen cell phones. We Yearbook Production Course Syllabus Page 2
encourage parents to have their student leave their devices at home to avoid possible issues (theft, breakage etc.) If we see them we can confiscate them. Student cooperation can make this very easy for everyone. Absences You will be held to the absence policy as outlined in the SLHS Student Handbook. When you return from being absent, you must present an absence slip to the teacher. Students who miss class are expected to see the teacher to make-up any missed assignments, quizzes or tests. If you return to class with an unexcused absence, you will be expected to return to school prepared to turn in all assignments, including essays, and take any quizzes or tests scheduled for that day. If you have an excused absence, you will have 2 days for each day missed to make-up assignments. Any assignments and/or quizzes not made up in the allotted time will receive a zero in the grade book. Yearbook Production Course Syllabus Page 3
St. Louis High School Yearbook Production Course Contract It is truly an honor to be a part of the production of the St. Louis High School Cavalcade Yearbook. Our yearbook is part of the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA), and as such, students will have the opportunity to submit original layouts, photographs and writing for awards. It is the goal of the St. Louis High School Yearbook staff to strive to meet the highest standards of writing, photography and graphic design. The production of the yearbook starts on the first day of school, and it does not end until all spreads are submitted for production. Therefore, students must understand the requirements for the completion of the yearbook, and should the need arise, students will continue to work on the production of the yearbook until the product is finished. This may include returning to work on production of the yearbook after the student s last official day of school for the school year. Students and parents are being asked to sign the following to ensure they understand that should a student not complete their assignments and meet final deadlines, including returning to school to complete production after the final day of the school year, students will receive a zero for their final deadline grades and a zero for their final layout and writing grades, which will result in an F for the final marking period. We have read the above statements and understand the requirements and expectations for being a part of the St. Louis High School Yearbook Staff. Student Name (please print) Student Signature / / Date Parent Signature / / Date Yearbook Production Course Syllabus Page 4
(please print) Mrs. Reeves Classroom ~ Parent Information Form Student Name: Class: Hour: Parent/Guardian: Address: Home Phone: Cell: E-mail: What is the best way to contact you? E-mail, Home Phone, Cell Phone or Mail (please circle one) If you prefer that I contact you via phone, what is the best time to contact you? AM or PM I look forward to having your student in my Yearbook Production class this year, and I want to ensure that they are successful in completing this rigorous coursework. I would appreciate any information you can give me that will help me to assist your student in having a successful school year. Feel free to send the information to me via email at treeves@stlouisschools.net, or write any information on the back of this sheet. During class there will be times when students take pictures and/or use video for projects. These projects are for classroom and educational purposes only. There are times, however, that I would like to publish pictures and/or videos on my class website as a slideshow. At no time will I publish student names with photographs. I give permission for my student to have pictures and/or videos published to Mrs. Reeves classroom website. I understand that my student s name will never be posted with the pictures or videos. Parent Signature I have read and understand the course syllabus and classroom expectations. Student Name: Student Signature: Parent Signature: Yearbook Production Course Syllabus Page 5