Capturing history with history in the making: How the CCHS yearbook staff was affected by COVID-19

BY SASHEEN JOSEPH

As the school year begins to close, one thing that many CCHS students look forward to is receiving their yearbook. However, in light of schools closing due to COVID-19 concerns, the idea of receiving a yearbook feels more like a distant memory.

Despite maintaining social distancing orders, CCHS’s The Round Up yearbook staff has managed to submit their work to their publisher, Herff Jones, on April 15 in order to start printing. This was a challenge in and of itself.

“We use Herff Jones’ software, ‘e-Design,’ and all the staff members and editors have access to it at home. It was definitely a struggle to finish the book because many sports were canceled and getting photos for things was an issue,” Co-Editor-in-Chief Summer Testa said. “I would say the most difficult thing was team photos for sports because many were not taken before March 13.”

With the majority of the spring sports season being cut short, games the yearbook members needed to capture no longer existed. With this, alternative plans had to be made and their schedule began to extend.

“If anything, it gave us more historic material to be placed in the book.”

Yearbook advisor Hailee Yaeger

“The timeline originally was to be done before spring break; sadly, school being canceled the week before really affected us because there were still photos we needed for certain sports,” yearbook advisor Hailee Yaeger said. “[But] I don’t think COVID-19 changed what the yearbook was supposed to be. If anything, it gave us more historic material to be placed in the book.”

There is certainly history in the making as COVID-19 has affected the lives of many CCHS students and staff. But for the graduating class of 2020, this year has become memorable in a way that was not originally intended. With that in mind, the yearbook staff made sure to do their part in honoring the class of 2020.

“My entire section was about the seniors, so I had to add my congratulations to the class in my letter. We also dedicated pages to seniors throughout other sections and our shortened year,” Seniors’ Editor Anna Asburry said. “This book means the world to me. Overseeing a section dedicated to the best year of high school made it so important for me to capture the moments that meant most to seniors.”

“This book means the world to me.”

Seniors’ Editor Anna Asburry

In light of the recent announcement of virtual graduations from Superintendent Robert Runcie and school campuses being closed for the rest of the year, there is no clear indication of when students will be able to engage in normal school activities. However, the distribution of the 2020 yearbooks is still a goal for The Round Up yearbook staff.

“As for distribution, we do not have a plan just yet, but will definitely communicate that with everyone once we have a solid plan set in place,” Yaeger said. “[Regardless,] this yearbook is worth buying because it’s full of memories and news from the year. Especially with this pandemic, this is something you may want to look back on in 10 years.”

Photo courtesy of The Round Up Instagram