We never plan to fail, but many of us fail to plan. You need to make sure to tackle each internal milestone head-on. Address page submission, school portraits, and school holidays. Here are a few questions to consider as you plan for your deadlines.
OVERALL QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER (MONTHLY • QUARTERLY)
• How many pages can you complete by the end of the month? (Look at the ladder.)
• Will school testing and holidays impact your schedule?
• Have you provided yourself time to edit and review your yearbook pages before submission to the plant?
• Have you provided time for your staff to revise any changes you are requesting on their yearbook pages?
• Have you and your staff reviewed the submission process?
• Have you allowed yourself computer time to prepare your pages for submission to the publisher?
• Do you have all necessary supplies/materials for submission?
• Have you communicated any special questions ahead of time to the publishing company, and are you awaiting an answer?
• Are you receiving proofs on your pages? If so, how long do you have to review them before your scheduled shipping date is affected?
• Have you completed your cover design? If you use foil and/or embossing you will need extra time for dies to be made, etc. Coordinate your yearbook cover submission schedule with your yearbook representative.
• Have you processed the film/photos needed for the deadlines?
• Have you completed your school picture day and retakes? If so, when are you going to receive your photo CD from your photographer?
• Do you have your club and team photo shoot scheduled? If so, will the photographer provide you images for the yearbook? When?
We know these questions can be overwhelming and stressful, but just a little planning can help you successfully address each internal milestone you have. Here are a few tips to consider:
• Review your ladder and secure/lock down your coverage for the school year.
• List a month next to every page of the ladder to indicate what month the event listed will be covered and completed.
• Set up mini-deadlines to allow you time to review pages and rough drafts.
• Develop a checklist for each month that shows what pages are due, and track the overall
progress of the pages.
• Enlist the aid of parents to assist you on a work schedule where they can bring snacks/pizza/ refreshments every day after school the week of a deadline.
• Have a celebration every month you make your milestones. Let the staff see the importance of submitting pages ontime.