For the first time in eight years, Southfield High may have a yearbook in seniors’ hands before they graduate.
At least that’s what new Yearbook Adviser Faydra Khidr is promising.
Past yearbook advisers have opted to include prom and graduation in the book, which meant students could not get their yearbooks until well after those events – sometimes a half-year later.
But this year will be different, vows Khidr, who is no rookie yearbook advisor. At Northwestern High School in Detroit, Khidr was yearbook adviser for two years.
Glancing in room A13 during fifth hour, visitors will see a group of 24 students working with Khidr to make the 2004 yearbook an early arrival. Students are designing senior page layouts and Homecoming pages on paper while they wait for their computers to arrive.
Seniors Krishana Clark and Vonnita Jones are this year’s yearbook co-editors. Clark says, “The yearbook will promote the underclassmen, too.”
Khidr says, “I have a terrific staff…they’re capable and experienced.” Khidr says her staffers “have pioneering spirits.”
The 2004 yearbook will “come out early, Spring Break,” Khidr said. “The only way it could fail would be if it’s deliberate.”
Senior Bierre Green says she has faith that the yearbook will arrive on time, “Yeah, I think we have good people on the staff who are dedicated.”
Still some students are doubtful of the yearbook’s success: “The yearbook never comes out on time,” says senior Melany Troy, who is expecting her book to arrive past deadline.
But determined Khidr says the yearbook will go to the printer in March, one way or another, and it will take 10 weeks before publication. She expects delivery of the books in May.
The price of the book is $65 and $70 if it’s engraved with the student’s name.
Assistant Principal Tom Holliday has promised a yearbook signing party on the football field for seniors if the book comes out on time and if the weather cooperates.