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Sanford's Yearbook Earns First Place Award
It is not an easy task to compile a yearbook that accurately and creatively captures student life on a busy preschool–12 campus, but since the school’s inception, Sanford’s Chrysalis has done just that. The 2019 edition was recently awarded a prestigious First Place award by the American Scholastic Press Association. Additionally, yearbooks are judged in five distinct categories, and Chrysalis earned an incredible perfect score for Content Presentation.
Since joining the Sanford faculty in 2006, Art Instructor Meg Fierro has been the lead faculty advisor to the yearbook. Working with student Editor-in-Chief Samantha Pollich '19 and Assistant Editor Nichole Brophy '20, and World Language Instructor Stacey Hendrix, Fierro helped her small, but hardworking staff, through the creative process that led to this award-winning conclusion. “This is a student-driven publication,” noted Fierro. “Our first and foremost goal is to present as comprehensive of a collection of memories and highlights of the year as is possible, and in a creative and inspiring manner. Part of the excitement and challenge of that endeavor is to select and articulate a theme visually and verbally throughout the book.”
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The concept INTERWOVEN proved to be a wonderful theme, which provided opportunities for expression in all areas of student life in a personalized way that made the book special. Fierro elaborated: “We used the prefix ‘inter’ with each descriptive section: Interactive Student Life, Interconnected People, Interdisciplinary Academics, Interscholastic Sports, Interests Organizations, and Intertwine Recognition. These cues were more readily noticed and very relevant to our readers.
Chrysalis 2019 was the first book in which the Middle School played a significant role. Fierro explained: “It helped greatly to have Middle School input for expanded coverage of that division. Like the world we reflect, the yearbook is changing from being almost exclusively a scheduled class to one that includes a design core class, a yearbook club, and a co-curricular option. Moving forward, the 2020 edition will also be supported by a Middle School elective run by Technology Instructor Jen Nightengale. Additionally, Upper School English Teacher Elise Burke Parcha will assist with the writing, proofreading, and co-curricular involvement.”
Fierro and her yearbook staff regularly attend a yearbook camp held during the summer at Gettysburg College. She shared: “When people outside of Sanford see our yearbook, they are invariably impressed with the capabilities of our students. Our books get a lot of “Wows!’ In fact, in 2017 our staff earned the Best of Show at camp.”
She continued: “So much goes on behind the scenes to create a yearbook. Coordinating photography schedules, taking and processing photographs, publishing deadlines, and inputting information are perhaps the most exposure high school students can find to real-world experiences. Putting everything together into a cohesive unit with unique cover art is a tremendous undertaking. I am so pleased for the students who worked so diligently on 2019. This first-place honor was hard-earned and well-deserved. It is special for the yearbook staff, our Sanford community, and our publisher, Jostens.”
Chrysalis 2019 was the first book in which the Middle School played a significant role. Fierro explained: “It helped greatly to have Middle School input for expanded coverage of that division. Like the world we reflect, the yearbook is changing from being almost exclusively a scheduled class to one that includes a design core class, a yearbook club, and a co-curricular option. Moving forward, the 2020 edition will also be supported by a Middle School elective run by Technology Instructor Jen Nightengale. Additionally, Upper School English Teacher Elise Burke Parcha will assist with the writing, proofreading, and co-curricular involvement.”
Fierro and her yearbook staff regularly attend a yearbook camp held during the summer at Gettysburg College. She shared: “When people outside of Sanford see our yearbook, they are invariably impressed with the capabilities of our students. Our books get a lot of “Wows!’ In fact, in 2017 our staff earned the Best of Show at camp.”
She continued: “So much goes on behind the scenes to create a yearbook. Coordinating photography schedules, taking and processing photographs, publishing deadlines, and inputting information are perhaps the most exposure high school students can find to real-world experiences. Putting everything together into a cohesive unit with unique cover art is a tremendous undertaking. I am so pleased for the students who worked so diligently on 2019. This first-place honor was hard-earned and well-deserved. It is special for the yearbook staff, our Sanford community, and our publisher, Jostens.”
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