By Linda Barrington, MJE

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, there were no yearbooks.

Thank goodness, times have changed.

In 1987 Congress designated the first week in October to be National School Yearbook Week and authorized President Ronald Reagan to issue a proclamation in observance of this event.  Reagan then called upon all Americans “to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.” The proclamation declares, “The students who compile yearbooks likewise treasure all that the experience can teach them about teamwork and about writing, the graphic arts, and business skills. The practical cooperation and specialization that students learn in yearbook production stand them in good stead when they enter college or pursue other opportunities.”

The proclamation observes that “School yearbooks not only chronicle educational achievement and school tradition but are a part of them. For nearly two centuries American students have produced yearbooks to commemorate the accomplishments of the school year and to compose a lasting record, written and pictorial, of campus, classmates, teachers, and school staff.”

This week (Oct. 4-10, 2015) celebrates the passion, the craft and the love of yearbooks. This is an opportunity to promote your yearbook sales, while emphasizing excellence in scholastic journalism. You and your staff play an important role in chronicling the history of your school by telling people’s stories whether through photography, design, or writing. In these photos you can see the staff of The Legend at Brookfield Central (Wis.) High School at work on their yearbook.  Thanks to adviser, Tom Juran, for sharing these photos.

Yearbook companies like Herff Jones, Jostens and Walsworth have a new contest each day of the week. I hope your staff is doing something special this week. Here are some ideas:

• Ask students to share a moment with their parents or grandparents looking through their yearbooks. Then share the experience with your staff,
• Research something from your school’s older yearbooks.
• Find the oldest yearbooks you have and put them on display to show how trends, fashion hairstyles and more have evolved over time.
• Plan a staff celebration — think cupcakes, pizza, staff bonding, etc.

KEMPA takes this opportunity to thank the advisers who make your yearbooks possible and the yearbook representatives who support your work.  We especially honor the KEMPA Yearbook Adviser of the Year, Cindy Renaud of Harborside Academy in Racine, Wisconsin.

Let’s give a big cheer for the following 38 KEMPA member yearbook advisers*:

Sarah Ogborn, Antioch Community High School, Antioch, IL
Julie Morrissey, Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond High School, Arthur, IL
Kim Campbell, Auburn High School, Rockford, IL
Kathy Jerbi, Belvidere High School, Belvidere, IL
Chad Roehl, Big Foot High School, Walworth, WI
Karen Schleicher, Brookfield Academy, Brookfield, WI
Tom Juran, Brookfield Central High School, Brookfield, WI
Kristin Elsbernd, Craig High School, Janesville, WI
Audrey Kemp, D.C. Everest High School, Schofield, WI
Kendra Cox, Durand High School, Durand, IL
Lisa Martineau, Elk Grove High School, Elk Grove, IL
Dana Linde, Fort Atkinson High School, Fort Atkinson, WI
Tracy Brogelman, Grafton High School, Grafton, WI
Kevin Farrell, Grayslake Central High School, Grayslake, IL
Tom New, Grayslake North High School, Grayslake, IL
Dan Bingley, Guilford High School, Rockford, IL
Nicole Hammer, Hamilton High School, Sussex, WI
Cindy Renaud, Harborside Academy, Kenosha, WI
Erin Palmer and Hasham Bhatti, Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale, IL
Rachel Rauch, Homestead High School, Mequon, WI
Kari Morey, J.I. Case High School, Racine, WI
Danielle Olejniczak, Laconia High School, Rosendale, WI
Paul Cook, Lakes Community High School, Lake Villa, IL
Kristian Mazzaferro, Naperville North High School, Naperville, IL
Scot Martin, North High School, Evansville, IN
Dan Ganschow and Michelle Carrow, Oak Park River Forest High School, Oak Park, IL
Beth Marshall, Richmond-Burton Community High School, Richmond IL
Sarah Kortze, Rockford Lutheran High School, Rockford, IL
Karen Frank, Stillman Valley High School, Stillman Valley, IL
Michael Chopin, Waterloo High School, Waterloo, WI
Jeff Willauer, Waunakee High School, Waunakee, WI
Cathy Newton, Wausau West High School, Wausau, WI
Jason Bean, Wauwatosa East High School, Wauwatosa, WI
Nick Heiting, Wauwatosa West High School, Wauwatosa, WI
Andrea Armstrong, West Salem High School, West Salem, WI
Sandra Gruen, Wheeling High School, Wheeling, IL

*This list is current as of Oct. 4, 2015.

Linda Barrington, MJE, is the graphics adviser for the Arches feature magazine at Mount Mary University in Wisconsin.  She is KEMPA executive director and chairs the Winter Advisers’ Seminar.  She is the chair of the JEA Mentor Program and vice-president of the Wisconsin College Media Association.  Her blog focuses on advising and the importance of KEMPA.