1: While students in the publications program register for either yearbook or newspaper, the publications staff is a collaborative team. Students in publications classes work on all publications.

2: This program is student-led. You will be expected to take assignments, direction and feedback from editors.

3: Student publications is a business. In addition to producing products (the yearbook and newspaper), we raise money to support our business and make it successful. Therefore, staffers must consider their involvement in the journalism program as if it were a part-time job. If a staffer doesn’t do his or her work or is not a productive member of our organization, it affects our product and our budget. You will be expected to participate in our fundraising activities. You must sell ads. You will be supported along the way by fellow staffers, but ad sales and fundraising are mandatory.

4: You will be expected to spend time working on the publications outside of school. This may include attending school events, taking photos, and/or staying after school to layout pages and edit copy. You will have responsibilities that require you to do work that can’t be done during the school day. If you play sports, understand that you will have to work extra hard to balance your practice and game schedule with your academics and with publications. Time management will be essential.

5: Talking to people will be another huge part of your job. That includes students of all grade levels, teachers, parents, coaches, business owners, and anyone else you may need to interview.

6: Regarding yearbook: The spreads we design, stories we write, theme we develop and photos we capture on a day-to-day basis are strictly confidential. Are you going to be able to keep yearbook information to yourself? Please know spreading information about what we are working on is grounds for dismissal. It is crucial that the yearbook be fresh and special when it is delivered in the spring — not yesterday’s news.