Berg’s yearbook program earns national award

Berg Middle School is one of two schools in the state to earn a 2019 Jostens’ National Yearbook Program of Excellence Award for its engaging yearbook reflecting a broad representation of the student body, Darin Tisdale announced Monday at the Newton Community School District Board of Education meeting.

Tisdale, a middle school teacher who guides the student led yearbook program, was joined by a handful of students at the meeting to display the plaque and banner to school board members and parents.

According to the company’s press release, Jostens is a “leading producer of yearbooks and student-created content,” whose awards acknowledge the work students put in that help them “develop 21st century skills such as communication, collaboration and information and communication technologies (ICT) literacy.”

Chuck Mooty, president and CEO of Jostens, said yearbooks are a critical part in recording a school’s story. The Minneapolis, Minn.-based company, he added, is committed to supporting students and faculty with functional and high quality tools and resources to create memorable yearbooks.

“Jostens is proud to recognize those individuals who have acted as wonderful stewards by creating an exceptional yearbook for their school and community,” he said in a press release.

In addition to providing a retrospective look at this past year’s activities and events in Berg Middle School, the yearbook program is also a chance to teach students technical production skills, basic photography and how to manage deadlines.

Organized by more than 30 staff members over two class periods, the Berg Middle School yearbook program, Tisdale said, provides “opportunity for students to learn to commit to a long-term project requiring a high level of attention to detail and real-life experience working in a team-based environment.”

Staff met all production deadlines when compiling content for the 2018-19 school yearbook and “attained a high level of inclusion” of students and faculty members; of which, 537 individuals were photographed three or more times in this year’s 60-page yearbook.

Berg Middle School has sold 427 copies of the yearbook.

“Very impressive and congratulations on that award,” Robyn Friedman, president of the NCSD Board of Education, said. “Lots of work put into that, clearly.”

In other action Monday, the school board:

• Set a public hearing date for the school district’s turf replacement project at H.A. Lynn Stadium. Board members unanimously agreed to set the date for 6:45 p.m. June 24 at the E.J.H. Beard Administration Center, or 15 minutes into the next school board meeting.

• Approved the purchase of two district vehicles: a $28,017.30 Chevy Silverado work truck from Karl Chevrolet and a $29,601 Ram Promaster mail delivery van from Stew Hansen Dodge City.

• Reviewed board policy language.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com