Yearbook on track for completion
In the wake of COVID-19, a lot has been cancelled, but the yearbook is still on track.
Photo L. Bouabdelli
Co-Editor-in-Chief Leila Bouabdelli (’20) works on a yearbook spread at home.
March 27, 2020
With the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous things have been cancelled including sports seasons, theater productions and GradBash at Universal Studios. However, students are still expected to receive a yearbook for this school year.
The predicted early May distribution date has not been altered so far. Joanie Oben, the yearbook advisor, has been in communication with their Walsworth yearbook representative as well as Robinson’s principal, Robert Bhoolai, in order to stay updated on the state of the book’s production.
Right now, the yearbook relies on the productivity of the printing plant.
“We are still unsure about the circumstances,” said Leila Bouabdelli (’20), c0-editor-in-chief, “I think that we will finish the book on time, though it really depends on the printing plant and if they get shut down. We are in constant contact with the printing company, so if something were to happen we would put news out immediately.”
A concern among staff members is the new means of communication with school being cancelled. Normally, staffers met during their 4th period class to work on the yearbook, now they are required to take that responsibility home with them.
“It’s very hard to communicate with each other,” Oben said. “It’s so easy to talk to someone while we are in the same class or to get a quote from someone in school, but now we have to communicate on the phone or via messages and it’s hard. When working with fellow staffers, It really makes you ask yourself… Did they see it? Are they working on the book? It’s hard because you don’t want to nag or bombard with messages but we do want to stay on track.”
Despite the setback of COVID-19, the yearbook is still expected to be a success. The book has won six state awards from the Floirda Scholastic Press Association for its spreads.
The COVID-19 pandemic will be covered in the book, as it has made an impact on the 2019-2020 school year. There will be two two-page spreads on the effects of the virus so that buyers will be able to look back decades later and show their children what it was like to be in high school during this time.
“A lot of seniors may be disappointed in all of the cancellations that have happened so far, so if more events get pushed aside the book is really the only thing left for them,” Bouabdelli said. “I think it’s important to buy a yearbook this year because if the virus ends up cutting school off for the rest of the year, you will have something to remind you of how great this year was before the coronavirus.”
Students still have an opportunity to buy a yearbook if desired, but there is a limited stock: Only 60 books remain. You can purchase one for $95 at yearbookforever.com.
Click through the gallery below to see the six winning spreads from this year’s yearbook.
