Ms Densley
2012-2013
Yearbook Scholar Syllabus
Course Description
Welcome to Yearbook! You are in for an exciting year. This class will be a unique experience when
compared to the majority of your educational career. In this class, you will be learning about graphic
design, photography, publishing, ethics, theme, leadership, writing, budgets, and much more. You will
also be creating a book that will be reflected upon for years to come. Thirty years from now, when you
and your classmates look back on your 2014-2015 school year at John Adams Academy, you will be
looking at the book you created in this class. You will have a great deal of freedom and power in this
class, but with that comes great responsibility. What you create here will represent all of John Adams
Academy, and I will be here to guide you and help you create something truly wonderful.
There are many aspects to creating a yearbook, and many positions that will need to be filled. Each of
you will have very important assignments, which will be combined to create your ideal yearbook.
Responsibility is key in this class; missed deadlines can result in expensive fees and reduced quality of
your yearbook. There will be many decisions to be made as a group and individually, and many people
will be counting on you. You will learn a variety of skills in this class, many of which can be useful to
you in future careers, you may even find your passion in an aspect of yearbook, and I encourage you to
explore those passions as you work to help create the best yearbook John Adams Academy has ever
seen.
Academic Objectives
 Scholars will create a fantastic yearbook they and their peers can enjoy for years to come.
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Scholars will become well versed in the ethics of photography and journalism.
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Scholars will work together in various leadership positions to make decisions and develop a theme
and design for their yearbook.
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Scholars will explore photography, writing, and graphic design, becoming well versed in the creation
of record books.
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Scholars will develop skills of leadership, organization, cooperation, and responsibility.
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Scholars will take an active role in their education while maintaining high standards of academic
excellence.
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Scholars will develop skills needed to succeed in college and life.
Scholar Behavior Expectations
Yearbook is a class that involves not only your education, but also the creation of a book which will be
valued by your classmates for years to come, for that reason, the expectations in this class are a bit
higher than they are in most.
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Rule one in this class will always be RESPECT. I expect you to show respect for yourself, your
peers, your teachers and mentors (me included), your classroom, your yearbook equipment, and
your school. This includes staying on task, following instruction, using appropriate language, and
being considerate of your classmates. It also includes being respectful of everyone on this
Ms Densley
2012-2013
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campus in our yearbook. Every scholar, teacher, parent, and staff member who is a part of this
school is deserving of a respectful representation in the yearbook. There is no excuse for being
disrespectful to any of these people in a book that should be treasured by all of them.
Responsibility is rule number two; it comes in just barely below rule one. You must be in class
on time and prepared, you must also attend class regularly; excessive tardiness, absence, or
unpreparedness will result in your removal from the yearbook team and class.
You must follow through with all assignments, commitments and deadlines. Late work is not an
option in this class, ever. If for some reason you believe you will be unable to fulfill a
responsibility, it is your job to ensure that the appropriate people are informed and that adequate
substitutions are made.
You must do your best work in this class at all times. This book will be reflected upon and
treasured for years to come, you don’t want to be the one who misspelled someone’s name,
misidentified a fellow scholar, or wrote an inaccurate article. Careful editing, attention to detail,
and professionalism will be required at all times.
You will treat all yearbook equipment with great care. Cameras and computers are expensive,
and difficult to replace, but they are also vital to our function as a yearbook staff, so they must be
carefully handled, checked out, and returned in a timely manner.
You will follow our staff policy and our code of ethics and academic integrity to ensure that
everyone at JAA is treated with respect. Failure to do so may result in your expulsion from the
yearbook staff and class.
You will attend all assignments, some assignments may require time after school, and you may
also have to complete some assignments at home. Be mindful of deadlines and ensure that all
your assignments are fulfilled to the best of your ability and show your highest quality work.
You will stay on task during class time, computers are not to be used for personal recreation
(Facebook, email, etc…), and yearbook is not a “study hall” time, there is always something that
needs doing. If you are finished with your current assignments, you may help others to meet their
own deadlines or research for other future assignments.
You may not eat or drink (except water) in class without my permission. A side note to that, No
Mint, No mint gum, tictacs, candy canes, altoids, minty scented hand lotion, etc… I am quite
allergic to mint and I’ve developed this fondness for breathing, so leave the mints in their
wrappers when you’re in my class please.
If you choose not to follow these expectations, you can expect fair, consistent, and natural
disciplinary consequences for your inappropriate actions or attitudes. Typical consequences include
but are not limited to warnings, parent phone calls, parent conferences, behavior contracts,
detentions, expulsion from the yearbook staff and class, and referrals. Consequences may also be
remedial, such as washing all the desks in the classroom if caught writing on one desk.
Grading
Grading in this class will be based on mastery of concepts, professionalism, and completion of yearbook
assignments. There will be occasional quizzes and worksheets on concepts like photography and
journalistic ethics, but the majority of your grade will be based upon the level of professionalism in your
work (deadlines met, pages completed without typos, demonstration of concepts discussed in class,
etc…). Deadlines in particular are exceptionally important in yearbook as missed deadlines often have a
monetary fee attached to them, failure to meet deadlines may result in your removal from the yearbook
staff or your yearbook position. Organization will also be a crucial skill in this class, as such you will be
Ms Densley
2012-2013
expected to keep a notebook for yearbook which will contain lecture notes, but also key information
essential to your position (such as deadlines, photography logs, photo assignments, etc.). Grades will be
divided into several categories:
Yearbook assignments: 40%, tests and quizzes: 30%, notebook/participation: 30%
Homework— Homework in this class will primarily consist of completing assignments for your
yearbook pages. Assignments will typically be completed in class, but if an assignment is unfinished and
a deadline is approaching you may need to put in “overtime” to meet your deadline, this can be done
after school with me, or at home. You will all be given your own access codes to work on the yearbook
online from home.
Assignments—As mentioned before, some assignments may take place after school. If you are
responsible for photographing the choir performance, or track meet, you must arrange to attend the
event. You will have some say in your assignments of course, but once you’ve committed to an
assignment, you must see it through.
Staff leadership roles—There are several leadership positions which will need to be filled on the
yearbook staff, these positions do come with a fair amount of responsibility, but also with decision
making power, a great learning experience, and something impressive to add to a resume. You are all
required to apply for at least one position for which you are eligible. This will involve requesting a
recommendation from a teacher and a parent, as well as writing a brief essay about why you would be
good in that position.
Communication—Communication will be very important in this class. You must have contact
information for other scholars on yearbook staff so you can coordinate with them on certain assignments
and events. Email is frequently the most efficient way to do this, but it only works if you remember to
check your emails regularly.
Extra Credit—There will be periodic opportunities for extra credit throughout the year, from attending
training events, to doing your own research project on a specific aspect of yearbook, photography, or
journalism, to filling in for a scholar who is unable to fulfill their assignment. Scholars are also
encouraged to make suggestions for extra credit assignments they would like to do (though I will
maintain the right to refuse those suggestions if they do not meet certain requirements). Extra credit may
not exceed 10% of the overall grade of the student.
Disclaimer—I reserve the sole and complete right to modify this syllabus at any time and in anyway I
sees fit. Minor syllabus modifications often happen during the school year. However, any changes will
be made for the good of the class and announced as soon as possible.
Contact—I can be reached at nalina.densley@johnadamsacademy.com I check my emails regularly
and will get back to you within 24-48 hours (if you don’t receive a response in that time, email me again
or come in and talk to me directly). I prefer that you do not call the school number as I am terrible about
checking my messages there. If you do not have access to email, you can also send me a physical note.
You can keep updated on what we’re doing in class and all the homework assignments by checking my
planbook http://planbook.com/student?t=931948&k=densley You can also check my website at
Ms Densley
2012-2013
johnadamsacademy.com under the staff directory, simply hit the link for yearbook in the side bar. I am
available after school and at lunch most days, if you ever need help, support, or have any questions, do
not hesitate to come see me. I am always happy to help.
Ms Densley
2012-2013
Yearbook Syllabus Overview
The following summary is meant to highlight some of the key points from the syllabus
about the course. Please read the entire syllabus for more details about Yearbook.
 Scholars are expected to behave respectfully and in a manner befitting JAA or they will
be subject to appropriate consequences.
 Scholars are expected to be responsible. This includes being prepared for class daily,
following all school and yearbook rules, and meeting all deadlines and assignments,
failure to do so may result in the expulsion of the scholar from the yearbook staff and
class.
 Scholars are expected to take responsibility for their learning and the creation of the
yearbook. This is “student-empowered learning.” Scholars will need to be motivated,
disciplined, and diligent, to do well. This may also require coordination on the parts of
both parents and scholars, and will probably require at least some time spent on
assignments after school, both at home and at school (for example, taking photos of an
evening choir concert or working on yearbook pages from a home computer with internet
connection).
 Scholars are expected to communicate regularly with their fellow yearbook staff
members; this will require them to check emails regularly.
 All scholars are expected to apply for a leadership position for which they are eligible on
the yearbook staff. This will require a recommendation for that position from both a
parent and a teacher.
I have read, understood, and will abide by all of the provisions of the entire Philosophy
syllabus.
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(scholar name)
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(period)
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(phone number)
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(scholar signature)
(parent signature)
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(parent email)
__________________________________________
(scholar email)
Is there anything specific you’d like me to know about your scholar this year (allergies,
concerns, etc.)? ___________________________________________________________
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