At Greater Latrobe High School, the process of creating the yearbook was a big class that involved countless hours of teamwork, creativity, and organization. The journey would begin right at the beginning of summer, long before the school year has even started, when the editors would gather to start brainstorming ideas for the theme and the layout of the yearbook.

The yearbook editors, a group of seniors who had spent the past year showing their craft, would meet at restaurants and coffee places to discuss ideas for this upcoming year. Their first job was to decide on a theme. “The other editors and I spent all summer coming up with an amazing theme that would be unique but also easy to carry through the whole book,” Lucy Blycheck said.  Some years, the theme would be something traditional like “Timeless Memories” or a Netflix theme,  while other years. The theme was the foundation for everything, setting the tone for the design, the color scheme, and even how the photos would be presented.

Once the theme was chosen, the real work began. The editors had to plan out the special pages, those sections that would stand out in the yearbook, like the senior quotes, the dedication pages, and the unforgettable moments from each club and sport. Each special page was given its own special attention. For the senior section, the editors would work on collecting quotes, pictures, and any sentimental notes from students, organizing them by class year and making sure no one was left out. There was always a balance to make sure each person who bought a yearbook was in the yearbook. 

But the job of the editors wasn’t just about the theme and special pages. They also had the responsibility of assigning staff members to different spreads. Each spread would be dedicated to a different part of the school year—sports teams, clubs, homecoming, and class events. Editors had to assess the skills and strengths of each staff member and make sure they were assigned to the appropriate pages. For example, a staff member with an eye for design might be tasked with creating a spread that showcased the year’s school dances, while another staff member, an expert at taking candid shots, might be asked to capture the energy of sporting events.

The staff’s role in the creation of the yearbook was just as important as the editors’. The staff members were responsible for gathering the content—primarily through photography and writing. They’d go out to all the events, clubs, and classes with their cameras, capturing moments that would later make up the vibrant snapshots of the year. Some would take formal group shots, others would catch the spontaneous smiles and laughter in the hallways, and others would be assigned to capture the big moments like the first day of school, pep rallies, or the senior walk. They’d take photos, interview students and faculty, and gather all the details to create their assigned spreads.

Once the pages were filled with photos, the hard part wasn’t over. The staff had to write captions, work with the editors to edit photos, and sometimes make changes to the design. Sometimes, this process meant long days and late nights  in the yearbook room, running on caffeine and determination as deadlines came closer. There would be moments of frustration, especially when a photo didn’t turn out as expected, but the passion for creating something that would capture the spirit of the year kept everyone going.

As the months passed, the pages started to come together. The editors and staff would meet frequently, reviewing each spread and making sure everything matched the vision they had for the yearbook. They would go through the design, check for any spelling errors, ensure that the layout was polished, and that each spread told its own unique story while also contributing to the overall narrative of the year. The yearbook was not just a plain old book, it’s a book that holds this year’s memories.

Finally, after months of work, the yearbook would go to print. The editors and staff members would sit together, proud of what they had created, knowing that all the hard work, the late nights, and the endless edits had paid off. The yearbook, a testament to their teamwork and creativity, would soon be in the hands of students, teachers, and families—forever remembering the year that had come and gone.