In order to produce a yearbook, staff members enrolled in the course have to possess dedication, teamwork, and creativity. Technical skills with computers and photo equipment play a role as well.

The class instructor, Mrs. Laurie Aten, explained that every student is responsible for certain pages. Class members take pictures throughout the season. Each layout may take two to three weeks to put together.

The process of creating the Reflector has many steps. First, the yearbook staff decides on a theme or a layout for each section. Then throughout the seasons, they take pictures, load them to the computer, and edit them by cropping and adjusting the light. After deciding what pictures to use, students create captions to go along with the pictures.

As a team, class members review the layouts and make any more changes necessary; they mail the copy and photos to their publishing company. The company will in return send the proofs back to the class. As they see the way the layout looks, students may make more changes and repeat the revision process until the final copy is completed.

The 2006 Reflector will have a theme: We lead. Others follow! Jon Cline, a senior, took a major role in the production of the cover.

Some class members are enrolled for only part of the year. However, students who take the class for more than one semester play especially important roles. For example, Mike ”The Captain” Nichols has worked all year in the class. He has completed varsity girls’ volleyball, and he is currently working on varsity girls’ basketball. Nichols also covered the homecoming section. He has learned to use programs such as Adobe In Design, a professional-level layout software program.

Class members have a positive outlook on the work. “It is an awesome experience. Everyone will get to see this, and we can look back someday and say, ‘I helped put that together,’” commented Kristin Gernant, senior.

Lauren McClure, a senior who has been in the class all year, said, ”I like the class, because I’m able to work at my own pace. I’m not rushed to get things done.”

Mike Nichols, also a “veteran” of the class, added, “It is a fun class to have. The hardest part is trying to get different people spread throughout the yearbook, and not using the same person over and over again.”

When most people hear the phrase “yearbook class,” they more than likely think “how hard is it to take some pictures?” After spending a day in the class, anyone will realize that creating the Reflector is a lot more complicated than that. Just imagine having to lay out 200 pages by hand.

Students who want to enroll in the class need to complete an application.