Events: Year 11 Leavers Book 2008

The Class of 2008 Yearbook

Hello Year 11. Mr. Guiney here. Welcome to the story of your yearbook …

What is in it?

Your yearbook is better than ever (see the pictures below for a sneak preview), is in hardback, and consists of 32 shiny, colourful pages. It includes nearly 400 photos as well as over 200 comments from students. When you are in your old age like me you will be able to look back on pages devoted to school trips, lessons, friendships, tutor groups, sports teams and lots more. 1 in 8 of you have been lucky enough to be named on the awards pages and there are exciting activities/memories from many of your teachers, tutors, and of course your lovely year leaders.

How do I go about getting one?

You will by now have received an envelope in form time which should be completed with a cheque for £15 enclosed payable to ‘Erwins Publishing’ (NOT Neatherd High!). You will need to get this back to Mrs. Lovelock in the library by Friday 7th March at the latest. Pop-ups on the interactive whiteboard and posters around school will remind you. Last year 84% of students purchased one and those who didn’t kept coming up to me asking for one in the last week – sadly, I couldn’t get them one as they are printed to order. If you want one, get in quick!

When will I get my yearbook?

Your yearbooks will be handed out in the final week. Whilst it is nice to sign each other’s yearbooks (as well as your teachers’) they must not be signed in lessons. It is quite a nice thing to do at lunchtimes in the summer sunshine though!

How has it come about?

Laura Rumsey, Claire Willis, and Chloe Myhill have done a sterling job as this year’s editors. These three musketeers have swash buckled their way through more tea and biscuits in Room 39 than you could shake a stick at but the toil, sweat and tears (literal at times!) has all been worth it. The entire team have worked really hard all year, giving up lunchtimes and working tirelessly after hours also to produce something we feel is rather special. Thanks to Eppie Nolan, Chelsea Hetherington, Lucinda Bowles, Emily Lennox, Leona Newcombe, Stacey Hendry, Casey O’Brien, Selina Balkeeson-Bhantoo, Samantha Earp, Jess Hewson, Lisa Ward, Ellie Cryan, Michelle Hammond, Josie Jarvis, Jessica Crisp, Chelsea Hewitt, Lauren Gordon, Zoë Howard, Emma Rose, Kara Barnard, and Rebecca Rothwell. I am sure you will agree they more than earned their celebration party at which Mr. Devonish presented a delightful personalised ‘book cake’ to say thanks for all their hard work as well as presenting students with copies of the local newspaper which reported on the project.

Our thanks also go to Mr. Yassin and Mr. Wilmott for all their support and encouragement and to the hard working team of Year 11 tutors for their thoughtful and quirky comments, games, drawings, and poems about their form groups. Following Mr. Uddin’s success last year and after much controversy concerning plagiarism (by a teacher, surely not?) the winning tutor page as voted by the yearbook team this time around was Mr. Wright. It was even more difficult to whittle the best student comment down to just one but in the end it was decided that Connor Smith’s entry was the pick of the bunch! Very well done to both of them … they will shortly be receiving a goody bag and a s’tifcate in assembly … and Mr. Guiney will be careful not to wear muddy shoes when doing so!

Are there any Aston Villa players in my yearbook?

Sadly, no. These had to go so that space could be provided for your Prom pictures, last day and results day photos, and any of your own special pictures you may wish to put in there. If you wish to add some Aston Villa pictures though feel free to find me and I shall do my best to help you.

Hang on just a moment – I’m in Year 10 but I’ve read this far. Will there be one next year?

We have produced a yearbook for two years now and it has been reliant upon dedicated students setting up a team. This is a 100% student led project. If you want one next year my advice is to start thinking about it early and have a chat with the pastoral team.

Can I see some pictures of how my yearbook came about? Please!

Oh, go on then. If you really must …