My daughter has finished 5th grade and so ends my three year run as yearbook chairperson. I have to add this point to the "Why have an elementary yearbook?" discussion. We had moved halfway across the country when my oldest was entering 4th grade. It would have been wonderful to have a yearbook, to look back at favorite teachers, old friends, and even how small the school was! And we now live in community where many people do relocate year after year and the photos in the books are wonderful reminders of friends who have left as well.
We had used Jostens (all digital production) for two years, and not to knock them, but we did not have a great customer service rep. After being frustrated with having to raise money through business ads for two years, I did some research and found a wonderful company that allowed us more pages, no ads needed, kept our parent's cost the same and allowed us to design our own cover at no charge! Also, shipping was free when order was paid in full with page submission. It was a digital book as well, and it was wonderful! If you would like to check out this printer, you can find them at
www.schoolpub.com. The books even came in a week early after we had asked for a small extension! They were so friendly and easy to work with...it was a wonderful change of pace.
Details: Our book was hardcover, all black and white, 120 pages, self-designed cover, and 625 copies for $6915 total! That's about 11 dollars cost per book. We are a school of about 840 K-5th graders and I would say we sold about 600 of them easy! They even sent us extras! (FREE!)
