The Shield welcomes new staff members

With the first quarter over and FCS running well into its 41st year, the clock is ticking for The Shield, FC’s yearbook team. Under the pressure of several deadlines throughout the year and a final April deadline, eight student yearbook members work on production for 2018’s high school yearbook.

With participation doubling from last year, bringing new members up to speed is essential for publishing the yearbook on time. Shield veteran Jenna Bynum, ‘18, says work starts as soon as new members receive training.

“At the beginning of each year we train new staffers,” Bynum said. “We start right when we know who is all in the class. We start by working on the cover for the book and what theme we want to use, and teaching our new teammates how to use a camera and to take pictures.”

The Shield adviser Andrea Donaghe looks forward to diverse creative styles in this year’s team, especially with four new students.

“This yearbook team is awesome,” Donaghe said. “I have eight individuals this year; I have six young ladies and two gentlemen. I am incredibly motivated by them. They all joined for various reasons. Whether or not they all agree on the way they want things photographed or laid out, they have the goals to create a beautiful product.”

All the work we put in really does pay off in the end. You get to see people’s faces when they open the yearbook and look through your pages that you have done, and are proud of it, or the pictures you took. It’s really exciting in the end. –Jenna Bynum

One reason work starts so soon is the amount of effort required for each page. The Shield staffer Hannah Garcia, ’20, reflects on how much writers and editors accomplish in a given week.

“The team is required to take pictures for their layouts, and is responsible to finish their layouts before any deadline,” Garcia said. “It is hard sometimes because you have multiple layouts and photo sessions, but the end product is amazing.”

Donaghe, who took yearbook class in high school, draws teaching inspiration from her high school advisor, Pam Corliss. Despite pressure to deliver on time, Donaghe encourages students to take charge of their yearbook.

“I was involved in yearbook class for two years and then my junior year I ended up being layout editor,” Donaghe said. “I really enjoyed the fact that the teacher at the time, Pam Corliss, was incredibly trusting. She really wanted the yearbook to be run by the students, led by the students, and small things decided in the yearbook, down to the last photo or drawing or layout, decided by the students. It really truly was a student-led production.”

Unlike other yearbook teams, every Shield teammate is responsible for taking photos. First-time member Stephen Walters, ’18, enjoys the additional responsibility.

“It is my first year in yearbook class,” Walters said. “I like taking pictures of the sports games. My favorite event to take pictures of is volleyball games so far.”

Despite their presence at every major school event, most yearbook work is done behind the scenes. Senior Daniel Avila, ’18, says their work receives school-wide appreciation in May.

“Looking back at the end of the year and all the pictures that they take for the yearbook,” Avila said, “I can say that I appreciate it, and I think a lot of other people do too. I can see them always at the rallies and at the Friday night football games. They’re just out there taking pictures and just doing their job out there.”

May is a favorite month among yearbook staffers, as many students look forward to reading their work. Bynum says her hard work pays off when her classmates thank her.

“All the work we put in really does pay off in the end,” Bynum said. “You get to see people’s faces when they open the yearbook and look through your pages that you have done, and are proud of it, or the pictures you took. It’s really exciting in the end.”

If you are interested in joining the yearbook staff next year, talk to Andrea Donaghe or one of the current staffers for more information.

For more articles, read: Campus soccer teams feature new coaches or Fulton District is open for business.