Yearbook camp: where it all begins

DOWNEY - Preparation is what the Warren High School yearbook staff extensively focused on during this summer's rigorous four-day period of training in yearbook camp, where the foundation of the forthcoming yearbook was built.The theme for Warren's 2009-2010 yearbook "High Definition" was chosen at the camp. This theme, chosen democratically from numerous other options, revolves around the idea of highlighting the best-quality moments in life, undoubtedly a perfect theme for the upcoming yearbook. Not to be taken lightly, yearbook camp shapes the students within the staff to successfully work as a team, and is the kick-off of beginning the new album of memories that is produced by the end of each year. Most people see the yearbook as a symbol of the end of the year and past memories. However, to the hardworking staff, the yearbook is a fresh project that requires the commitment and effort of a dedicated team, even before the school year begins. Perhaps this is why yearbook advisor Cory Catalano encouraged his staff to attend yearbook camp this summer at Chapman University. In fact, Catalano advocated staff members' participation in this camp to such an extent that he even provided scholarship opportunities to cover the cost of the program. Although not mandatory, several students from Warren High School attended yearbook camp this summer. Running from July 31 to Aug. 3, students who attended the camp spent four days within the dorms of the university, and were required to follow a strict schedule that was planned for each day. "Yearbook camp was an experience that allowed me to get really involved into the yearbook process," said editor-in-chief of Warren's yearbook staff, Irwin Luna. Other members of the staff felt as Luna did, especially with the intense curriculum calling for every student's participation and profuse attention. Throughout this period of discipline, students were trained to grasp the specific skills needed to function properly within their staff in order to successfully create a yearbook. One of the most important things they learned included a tutorial on how to use the software InDesign, a computer program universally used to create yearbooks. In addition, there were several other workshops that each school staff could sign up for according to the staff's best judgment of the most beneficial workshop. The students were also given time to meet together as a unified staff and work on completing some of the basic necessities of the actual yearbook, a requirement of the program. A crucial week of training, the yearbook staff was truly committed to prepare for the new school year and its challenges, and will be rewarded when "High Definition" materializes into a phenomenal historic account of 2009-10.

********** Published: September 4, 2009 - Volume 8 - Issue 20