Tuesday, September 7 was the first official meeting of this year’s yearbook committee.  This year, yearbook advisor, Mrs. Sally Maijenski will dedicate many hours working with a lot of new faces to put together a yearbook for students to receive at the end of the school year.    

This year the yearbook committee has made it clear that the yearbook is going to be one for the books, but what type of effort goes into the books each student flips through at the end of each year?  

Maijenski is the teacher in charge of the yearbook.  She has had about 8 years of experience with yearbooks, before Hamilton Wenham she ran the yearbook as a class at Austin Prep. 

“Way back in 2009 the teacher at Austin prep who ran it (yearbook) left just as the year was starting and back then literally I didn’t have a room, and I wanted her room.  So, I called up the academic dean and said, ‘I’ll do yearbook if you give me room 209’, and I had no idea what I was doing… but I realized I absolutely loved it,” she shared.  

Even though she started the yearbook without much knowledge about it at all she now is quite a pro and she mentioned, “My goal is always to make an error-free book, like never make an error, never spell anyone’s name wrong. Never make an error!”  

The other main leader of the yearbook committee is Sydni Smaller, a senior at the Regional.  She is a highly committed student who’s excited to lead others to success in the creation of the yearbook.

“I know that last year it was really difficult for the yearbook to happen due to Covid.  I am also really interested in graphic art and photography and I enjoy being a leader so it all kind of clumps together and works nicely for all of my interests.  It will also just be fun to help do the yearbook for my senior year,” said Smaller.

It’s become clear the creation of the yearbook is no easy task, but for students who only think about it at the end of the year, it may not occur to them how much time and effort goes into these books.  Maijenski spends more time working on and with the yearbook committee than any of her other classes combined.  

Maijenski said that “there are so many most difficult parts,” when it comes to the yearbook. Both Maijenski and Smaller stated the most challenging parts are getting a hold of all the senior pictures and proofreading.

 “The proofreading is so detailed.  After editing I literally don’t know what letters look like anymore!” said Mrs. Maijenski.  

It seems this year’s edition will be more interesting than ever. Smaller added, “I can’t say much but there definitely is a bunch of new things coming to the yearbook and a very fun possible theme.”

Not much of this year’s plan has been mentioned since everyone on the committee wants it all to be a surprise.  

Maijenski closed by saying, “I like to keep it all a secret with a big reveal at the end of the school year.  I love the surprise of who it’s dedicated to, that is the big reveal. I love the senior pages, and I love the inside jokes with the staff, it’s just such a funny thing to look back on when you are the creators!”