Thousand of feature ideas

We gleaned these features from hundreds of
2011 yearbooks to help you find just the right
ones to adapt for your yearbook in 2012!
We hope they fit perfectly!
People with hidden stories
Things you’ll never guess
Things that will surprise you
What’s your status–Facebook usage
Parents away in the service
Where do you sit at lunchtime?
What do you do to stay fit?
How do you feel about curfews?
(pictured from the 2011 Grand Blanc High School Echo,
Grand Blanc, MI)
If I could go anywhere for MLK weekend, it would be…
Can exes be friends?
Alternatives to Prom
Dress distress—do you love/hate
your dance/cheer uniforms?
Top 5 moments in...every sport
(throughout the sports section)
Sports sibling rivalry (brothers and
sisters who play the same sport)
Best and worst of every sport
List the five most important things
in your life
Ups and downs of being a twin
Who has the most Facebook friends?
Quick Quiz—what kind of friend are
you?
Hardest part of being a vegetarian
Eight odd foods students snack on
Will you regret your hair in 10 years?
Cracking the dress code
Practice makes perfect (sports practice woes)
Favorite dreams/worst nightmares
How did you get your first name?
How teachers react to slang
YouTube videos that are hot or not
What’s the greatest thing since sliced
bread?
Friends who are like family (pictured from the
2011 Rocklin High School Tonitrus, Rocklin, CA)
What was your best or worst holiday
gift this year?
Who is your biggest inspiration?
Your favorite place to take a first
date?
Flash mobs–ever been in one?
Your favorite cafeteria food?
How do you save on gas?
Donating to Locks of Love
Sharing the effects of procrastination
What’s the best place to “just hang”
on campus?
What makes your family special?
Why are you a peer tutor?
Overindulging during the holidays
What to look for in a boyfriend/
girlfriend
Student hobbies
Best/worst summer jobs
Balancing school, work and fun
Student-to-teacher connections by
birth (having relatives who teach
at the school)
Amazing birthday wishes come true.
(pictured from the 2011 Details, Whitney High School, Rocklin, CA)
Your eye color and who you got it
from–Mom or Dad?
Dealing with snow days/delays
Slacker studies
Where do you spend the holidays?
(pictured from the 2011 Sea the Point, Coronado Middle School,
Coronado, CA)
continued from page 3
Students with totally unique first
names that no one else has
Test stress–how do you beat it?
Students who are volunteer firefighters
Online dating for high school
students
Long-distance romance
Popular field trips
Pre-game rituals
‘Shirt’sonality says (what your T-shirt
says about you)
Chipolte or Qdoba?
What did you do to prep for the
ACT/SAT?
Is it OK to have Bieber fever?
The Office vs Family Guy
Why take AP classes?
Google or Bing?
Mac or PC?
iPhone or Android?
McDonalds or Burger King?
Freshmen, what do you miss about
middle school?
Teachers, how have you made your
classroom your home away from
home?
Slurpee or Big Gulp–what’s the best
when it’s hot?
Breast cancer awareness bracelets
cause conflict on campus
Real World or Jersey Shore?
Internships–slave labor or job experience?
Unusual ways guys ask girls to a
formal dance
Aside from the days out of school,
what were you thankful for at
Thanksgiving?
What’s in your backpack?
“I call shotgun!” Does it matter where
you ride as long as it’s not on a
bus?
What’s the most embarrassing thing
in your car?
Why I am a club sponsor
Prime studying time
Before I fall asleep, I most often think
of…?
My first impression of the person
who became my best friend
Sunday afternoons–what are you
doing?
What animal are you most like and
why? Would your friends agree?
When you were in grade school,
what was your dream job?
You know you’re a…(senior, junior,
sophomore, freshman) when…
Students whose families own a business and they work in it
Best pranks played on freshmen
Are you eco-friendly?
Scariest moments
Is air band still cool?
Coolest bike
What teachers did for summer jobs
What will you miss the most about
middle school?
What are you looking forward to the
most about high school?
Future job aspirations
If you could be your favorite celeb
for a day, who would you be, and
what would you do?
What superpower would you most
like to have and what would you
do with it?
Why did you decide to teach the
subject that you teach?
Most embarrassing thing that can
happen to you in class
Eerie encounters–ghost stories
Dealing with military recruiters
College visitations
Decorating for holidays
Describe yourself in three words
What time is it? Watch or cell phone?
Early morning band/drill practices
How do you feel about giving blood?
(pictured from the 2011 Titanium, Tesoro High School, Las Flores, CA)
If you could be voted any Senior Superlative, what would you want
to be known for?
Pitching in for charity
Feeding the masses (food drives)
Being recruited for college sports
Learning an unusual foreign language (Croatian, Vietnamese)
What I wish I had known when I was
a freshman
How do you put yourself together in
the morning?
What’s your favorite word?
What is your biggest phobia?
Favorite ride at the county fair
Best excuse you ever gave
Do you have a theme song in your
life? What is it?
Traffic tickets and how you survived
telling your parents
To tattoo or not to tattoo
You are the principal for a day–name
one thing you would change
about our school
Favorite childhood movie
Write a fortune cookie for your best
friend/favorite teacher
We are building a new school–what
one feature does it have to have?
If you really knew me, you would
know…
Awkward moments with teachers
Ravenous Readers
(pictured from the 2011 Marksmen, St. Mark’s School of Texas,
Dallas, TX)
Poll Questions
These questions were asked
in a poll format in the books
we saw them in. That means
the questions had a finite
number of answers and
were multiple choice, not
open ended.
Where are you most likely to sing out
loud?
Morning person or night owl?
How do you wake up?
How many hours do you sleep?
Starbucks stats. What do you order?
Favorite Ben & Jerry’s flavor
Spells vs. Sparkles (Harry Potter or
Twilight)
Favorite Pixar characters
Manis or Pedis—what’s your fave?
The best ethnic food is?
What car do you wish you had?
What car are you glad you don’t
have?
What kind of scholarships are you
after?
Do you text and drive?
Do you do your homework at home?
What’s your favorite form of entertainment?
What’s your favorite fund-raiser?
Favorite splurges
What’s your after-school routine?
Favorite book published this year?
Books or Kindle?
Best concert near our school this
year?
How many days a week do you eat
breakfast?
Best way to get in shape?
How much sleep do you get on an
average night?
How do you spend your money?
Live TV or TiVo?
How many hours a day of studying?
(pictured from the 2011 The Legend, George Walton Comprehensive High School, Marietta, GA)
Senior Faves
By request, we included
some senior favorites this
year. This list does not include any of the regular Senior Faves like Most Likely
to Succeed, Best Dressed,
Class Clown, etc. Just ones
we had not seen before.
Many staffs are looking for
different ways to honor
their seniors. We were especially impressed with the
pictured school that had
a bunch of favorites. The
school included almost half
of the senior class.
Most likely to stay up all night
Most likely to become a hippie
Best ID card picture
Most likely to be the next Steve Jobs
Most likely to cry at graduation
Most obnoxious at a football game
Best performing artist
Most likely to be elected president
Closest to a Southern Belle/Southern
Gentleman
Biggest Facebook stalker
Most likely to be famous in later life
Most likely to be late for graduation
Most likely to be found on the cover
of Vogue or Glamour
Most outspoken
Biggest bookworms
Most unpredictable
Social butterflies
Most changed since freshman year
Most likely to be found in a sandbox
Best person to take home to your
parents
Best excuse maker
Best worker bees
Biggest texting addicts
Most likely to be the next… (pictured from
Most likely to advise the president on
economic matters
Most likely to be on Glee
Most likely to be reTweeted
Most likely to be a groupie on Lady
Gaga’s next tour
Most likely to remain BFFs
Most likely to win American Idol
Most likely to appear on Mr. Rogers
Most likely to be mistaken for a
teacher
Mr. GQ and Ms. Glamour
Most likely to replace Oprah
Best decorated lockers
Dirtiest car
the 2011 Sammamish, Issaquah HS, Issaquah, WA)
Most likely to win…
An Olympic gold medal
“So You Think You Can Dance”
“Project Runway”
Most laid-back
Most likely to age well
Most likely to become a teacher at
this high school
Most likely to win Survivor
Least likely to win The Amazing Race
Most environmentally conscious
Most likely to have a bad auto-correct on their iPhone
Most likely to answer to their nicknames in 30 years
For some amazing ideas on shooting your Senior
Faves, check out http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/
topic/1010362.
NO IDEA WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT?
You are working on your section and the page calls for a feature or a QuickRead
but you have no clue what to write about. Here’s some great stuff we have seen in
other books to use to get you going and spark your imagination. More on page six.
SPORTS FEATURES
Figure it out. Fast facts about a particular race all having
to do with numbers.
Last thoughts. What’s the last thought in your mind before you run a race?
Trainers. What’s the best thing about being a trainer?
What’s the worst?
In and Out. What’s out
this year with your team
that was in last year?
Contribute. What is your
biggest contribution?
In the news. Highlighting
players who were featured in the local newspaper.
Work Ethic. Going above and beyond in amount of practice
to achieve a goal.
Superstitions. Is your team superstitious? What do they
ALWAYS do before a game?
What it takes. The definition of a champion by players and
coaches at that particular school.
A week in hell. Memories of daily double practices that
start every season.
Fuel food. What do you eat before you play/run?
Initiation. What do freshman go through when they find
themselves on a varsity team?
Features for Clubs
Holiday charity. What service clubs did to raise money for
charity during the holiday season.
Two sides of a coin. Clubs that represent opposites. Examples are PETA and a hunting club.
Still belonging after all these years. Students still involved in groups they started with in elementary school like
Boy Scouts or Campfire.
Paint the school red. An art club project to put murals all
over the school when their school colors are red and white.
Getting elected. Why students become club officers and if
the job is rewarding.
Strange athons. What unusual athons (jogathon, skipathon, eatathon) did organizations create to raise funds.
A moving performance. The hardest part of being in the
marching band, playing while marching.
Bored or buzzin’. What describes your club’s meetings?
Uniform tragedy. How do students feel about certain dress
they have to wear for performances (band uniforms, choir
robes, etc.)?
Dealing with deadlines. The stress of being in journalism
and yearbook and having hard and fast deadlines.
Playing with guns. The only place guns are allowed in
schools is Junior ROTC groups. What is it like being in the
military when you are in high school?
Selling the strange. Unusual items that clubs have sold to
raise money for projects.
ACADEMIC
FEATURES
Excuses, excuses. What is the best excuse you ever gave
for being tardy and did you get away with it?
Cultural experiences. Projects created for foreign language classes that showed total creativity.
Scientific process. Different biology and chemistry experiments lead to learning and laughter.
Stay (edu)cation at school. The economy forces cancellation of many traditional field trips.
Home (wr)ECk. Disasters in cooking classes.
Missing out. Students who graduate early love the freedom but hate missing out on the social aspects.
You’re certifiable. Classes (like health for CPR) where
you can get real-world certification.
Amusing exams. The way students stay sane during finals and midterms.
Love it or hate it. How students are totally black and
white about taking physical education.
Competitive education. Focussing on classes that allow
you to compete on an interscholastic basis. Business, agriculture, journalism are all examples.
Off the subject. What teachers can be taken off the subject at any time and on what subject.
PEOPLE & MORE
In the know. Unknown trivial facts about members of the
class. Example: Steven M. is allergic to chocolate.
Green fever. Being eco-friendly at home and school.
Baggin’ it. Cool armwear (bags and purses).
Personal space—OUT. Sharing lockers.
Neat necks. Scarves as a fashion statement for guys and
girls. Guys who wear ties to high school.
Looking shady. Styles of eye wear and cosmetics.
Touch the future. Touch screens in your pocket, your
home and your school.
Escaping it all. Vacation spots from last summer.
Political payoff. Finding new friends while working for a
candidate for public office.
Vending machine mania. What’s in your pop machine?
And is it healthy?
Living in the hood. Students biggest fashion trend—hoodies for everyone.
From bed to class. How fast do you come to school?
What do you do between wake up and learn time?
Bite out of the box office. The Twilight craze at your
school. Is in in or out?
Double trouble. Dealing with being a twin.
Friends with faith. When your school friends are your
church friends too.
Slippin’and slidin’. How students dealt with ice and snow
on the roads and in the quad.
Riding the yellow banana. Tales from the school bus.
Face it, she tweeted. The importance of Facebook and
Twitter to the students at your school.
Alumni teachers. Teachers who teach at the high school
they graduated from and why.
Spirited teachers. Teachers who dress up for every day
during Spirit Week.
Featuring Features
In keeping with the theme for November’s idea issue, here is our annual list of features from
2008 yearbooks around the USA. You can use them as is, adapt them for your own or use them as
a jump start to get your ideas flowing.
My senior year... (This feature ran throughout the
senior section. It featured a quote in a box next to
the senior’s picture and listed all activities she and
other seniors had participated in during their time
at the school.)
Things that you can’t live without.
What’s your phobia?
What’s on your iPod?
Q & A with missionary kids. (What’s it like to spend
a year away from home in a third-world country.)
Crazy hairdos.
What’s your favorite television show?
Outcast: Students want to fit in with classmates.
Quinceaneras symbolize coming-of-age.
What is your favorite makeup brand?
Is high school what you expected it to be?
How do you stay involved in school?
Favorite entertainers.
Is popularity important?
Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
You know you’re a senior when.
18 things to do when you turn 18.
Top dream colleges.
How bad is your senioritis?
Senior secrets.
Wishes for Old Saint Nick.
Puppy love: The loves that started it all.
Inspired: Brilliant role models.
Trunk junk: A peek in the back seat.
Who would you rather date: Someone rich or
good looking?
What were your childhood treasures?
Bending the rules: Regulations that should be
changed or ditched entirely.
Beyond borders: Foreign exchange students tell
their tales.
What’s your definition of extreme?
Piercings and tattoos.
Get gaming: Rock Band or Guitar Hero?
Bucks spent: Where does all your money go?
Fan poll: Which sport do you watch and support
more? Why?
What’s your network: MySpace or Facebook?
Food love: What’s eating you and what are you
eating?
Movie madness: Top 10 movies of 2008 chosen by
the students at this school.
Facial hair: Ladies’ thoughts, gentlemen’s preferences on beards and mustaches.
How do you deal with boredom?
Did you know: Everyday students share their notso-everyday facts. Example: one boy lived over a
funeral parlor.
What’s your most exciting summer memory?
Styles: Fashionista versus Goth.
Who is the most famous person you have met?
Sunny side up: Simple ideas help make the best of
a gloomy day.
What is your favorite part about returning to
school at the end of summer?
Mr. Cupid is picking on me: Underclassmen
expose their secret senior crushes.
Seniors by the numbers. (All the way through
this senior section, the staff listed things you could
count that seniors had done along with their photos. For instance, the number of college essays one
girl wrote or the number of colleges another girl
applied to.)
Yikes! That was totally embarrassing.
What would you do with $1 million?
Did you know: Students don’t make friends, but
friends make secrets.
What one event should every student take part
in before graduating?
Add your input: Block scheduling.
What’s your obsession?
Crazy critters: Unique pets.
Let’s get physical: Ways we work out.
It’s not easy being green: Students affecting
the environment.
What’s for lunch? Students’ favorite lunch spots
New kids on the block: Welcoming new staff
members to your school.
Cheers and jeers: What we like and don’t like
about our school.
Primary pucker: Students tell of first kisses.
Off some automobiles: Students get in gear
with their vehicles.
It takes one: Single parenting affects children.
Breaking free: Students hit the open road
alone for the first time.
Absolutely mortifying moments.
Extra education: Summer school gives students a head start on senior year.
Grueling rulings: Students speak their minds
about school policies.
Always amigos: Best friends since preschool.
I can’t live without: Students reveal what they
could not do without.
Gutsy instructors: Teachers discuss their daring duties.
Are you superstitious?
Fifty students
were asked to
identify their
superstitions.
Downright
dreadful
duty: Worst
homework
assignment
ever.
Beloved belongings: Students talk about their
prized possessions.
New love? Students use snappy pickup lines.
So you had a bad day? Students share the
worst dates they have ever had.
A friendly face: Siblings support each other.
Feeding frenzy: Students spill about their
lunchtime blues.
Terrible tales: Worst student excuses.
According to Seniors... (on every senior
spread in this book, they asked a question and
ran it under this title. They continued this in
the underclass sections as well with “According
to Juniors”, etc.)
If you could relive one moment of your life so
far, what would it be?
What was the hardest class to sleep through?
What is the best school lunch?
When did you start to feel senioritis?
What is your favorite phrase to say in Spanish?
What is your favorite genre of music?
What do you like to do after school?
If you could say anything to a random person,
what would it be?
If you could be famous, what would you be
famous for?
If one piece of candy could save you if you were
stranded on a desert island, what would it be?
What is your favorite scary movie?
What is your favorite thing about your freshman year?
If you could be any color crayon, what color
would you be and why?
What advice would you give the underclassmen as they move up next fall?
Which are favorite high school memories.
Top five ways students spend their money.
Wii or Playstation 3: You choose.
Morning routines.
Nightmare babysitting jobs.
Caffeine dominates teens’ lifestyle.
Parent principal: How to handle your father
being the principal at your school.
Slang words: Fill in the blanks.
Obsession with video games.
Tattoos becoming more common.
Teen depression.
Text messaging: How teachers handled it.
Students and teachers rescue animals.
Vending machines are always busy.
School restrooms: How to survive them.
Popular dating places.
Match the... (throughout all their school portrait sections in a K-12 school, this staff had a
matching quiz that used photos.)
…Teacher to his or her senior class picture.
…Teacher to his or her baby picture.
…Teacher to his or her spouse.
…Teacher to his or her desk drawer.
…Teacher to his or her coffee mug.
…Student to her lunchbox.
…Student to her cubby.
…Student to her hairstyle.
…Student to her binder doodles.
…Students to her tennis shoes.
…Student to her backpack.
…Student to her locker.
…Student to her laptop bag.
…Student to her painting.
…Student to her purse.
…Student to her laptop skin.
…Students to her iPod playlist.
…Students to her bumper sticker.
Featuring features
Great topical features
from 2007 yearbooks
Here it is. Our annual list
of the best feature ideas we
could glean from the best
2007 yearbooks. Use them
“as-is” or adapt them to your
needs. Either way—enjoy!
Academics
10 elements of a class
Things to do—checklist of things that
students do in
classes (including
taking notes,
listening but also
sleeping, talking and texting)
Favorite memories/moments in the
classroom
My first thought—first impressions on
a class and what you know now—
how are they different?
Study habits—do you have any?
Balancing school and work—can it be
done right?
What type of learner are you?
Secret weapon—what’s your sure-fire
study secret?
Favorite words (used throughout the
academics section with pictures
of the person who gave them the
word and why it was their fave)
Most memorable science experiment
Math: fun or frightening?
Homework: the do’s and don’ts
Spanish vs. French
Testing 1, 2, 4?
State testing—making up the tests you
failed in the summer
Having to go to summer school
People
Moving up—the differences between
MS and HS
Pet peeves
You can quote
me on
this—what
Students want to be remembered
for when they grow up
If I ran the world, the first thing I’d do
would be...
Thoughts on public speaking
Stage fright—does it happen to you?
Unique talents
Morning essentials—what routines do
you do each and every day?
Odd or unusual jobs
Senior checklist—the things you need
to do before you graduate
Thoughts on senioritis—is it real? Can
it be cured?
Supportive friends—what would we
do without them?
Senior advice to the underclassmen
Keepsakes and treasures—what is
special to you?
Unusual collections
Road trips—where have you been?
SAT vs. ACT—which does a better job
of helping you get into the college
of your choice?
Which is better, the book or the
movie?
Early bird vs. Night owl
What does your handwriting say
about you?
Cell, IM, VM or e-mail—how do you
communicate with your friends?
Oops moments you will never forget
Favorite food combinations
What you never knew about (a
particular individual)
Add-on story. Each student in the
feature adds a sentence or two to
create a funny story (photos of
each student are included)
Confessions (things you never told
even your best friend)
Choosing colleges
College visitations
Being embarrassed by your siblings
or parents—what’s the worst that
ever happened to you?
Best/worst part of being a (freshman,
sophomore, etc.)
Rules vs. choices—why is it easier
when it’s a rule?
Student Life
Fash’on—fashions seen in school
hallways
Money spent—how
students handle their
own money
So you wanna
be—a day in
the life of an
interesting individual
Students’ favorite places around
campus and in their town
Getting to know you—Q-and-A style
profile of individuals
Top five things students can’t live
without today and what they think
this list will have on it in 10 years
After the bell—what students do after
the last class of the day
The contents of students’ lockers
Breaks and holidays—how do you
spend yours?
How students spent money in preparation for a dance
Are dances too expensive?
Craziest way you have ever asked
someone to go out
Is it OK for girls to ask guys out?
Is dating old-fashioned?
Parents monitoring your driving with
electronics—yes or no?
Trends of the year—TV, fashion,
electronics, Internet
Local bands make good
The last laugh—pranks and jokes
How long did it take you to get ready
for Homecoming/Prom?
Which reality show would you like to
be on?
Best practical joke you have ever
played on anyone
What career would be difficult to
manage?
Lion and Tigers and Bears, oh my—
unusual pets
Could you (or would you) be a
teacher? Why or why not?
Then and now—How have the advances
in technology affected you?
Fear factor—what’s your biggest fear?
Playing an instrument vs. singing
Should there still be formal dances?
Sports
Exposing sports myths
Your lucky charm(s)
On-court bloopers
Numbers everywhere—
miles run, gallons of
water drunk, pairs of
new shoes, miles of
bandages
Role models
Insider’s guide—individual
athlete highlight
Pre-game rituals
Best/worst of practices
Amazing game moments
Fan spotlights
Personal highlights
What was your worst injury this
season?
The lingo—terms specific to your sport
How do you mentally prepare for a
game?
Superstitions—what do you ALWAYS
do before you compete?
Cheerleading—sport or club?
Clubs
Craziest fund-raising they have ever
done—and did
it work?
Why belong?
Personal reasons students
join certain
clubs
Most boring club meeting ever
What makes a great club officer?
The ultimate joiner—who has belonged
and been active in the most clubs
in our school
Best club adviser ever—tell us why
your club adviser is the best
Teacher/advisers—paid or unpaid?
How do students see it
What do teachers get out of advising
clubs when they are not paid
(interviews with faculty advisers)
Fantastic, Fabulous and Fun
I
t has been our experience that just about now (November) you are starting to run out of coverage ideas. Just when you
have finished the mug sections and have to start writing features for academics, sports, clubs and student life.
Here we come to the rescue. We have combed through a bunch of 2005 yearbooks for their best feature ideas in
those sections and here they are ready for you to add to your yearbook. Use them as they are or change them to fit
your needs. But either way, get writing!
Academics
Language Arts
It’s more than just reading
One for the books
Exploring english
English anyone?
Syntax attacks
Spellbound (about bees)
Grammar is fundamental
Social Studies
Historical context
Social studies inspires
people to think
Studying the real world
The pits of history
Math
It’s more than numbers
Math challenges to the
fullest
Exploring the unknown
Science creates wonder
Brain games
The facts of math
Easy as pi
Foreign Language
Conquering the world
Communications and
connections
Learn the language
Advanced placement
Above and beyond
Physical Education
Keeps students healthy
Learning to be healthy
Let’s get physical
Sports medicine
Wrapping it up
The weight of gold
Press your luck
Loading up
Be square
Blowing up
Sizing it up
Heavy metal
Business
Real students, real money
Art
Creative forces
Molding your own world
Home–Ec
Fry it up
Planning for the future
Stitch and pull
General Academics
Crunching numbers–
finding solutions to
problems
Life’s basics–an essential
aspect
Analyzing theories–putting
everything together
Learning language–now
you’re talking
Artistic ability–a different
view of life
Keeping in shape–workout
within an hour
Looking beyond–prepare
for the business world
A day to celebrate history
at it’s best
Kickin’ it up a notch–the
rebirth of a school
Grades and reports–
achieving the best
results
Excellent thinking
Pursing college credit
Delicate balancing act
Nursing along a career
Dishing it out
Steering across cultures
Drawn by choices
Wood–n’t you like a
career? (woodshop)
Panning for answers
Tasting des(s)ert delights
Testing, testing 1, 2, 3
Signs of life
The skeleton game
Oh the humanity
Power notes
Behind closed doors
Divide and conquer
Student Life
Bring on the noise
Slammin’ days (Spirit
Week)
Girls just wanna have fun
Top of the charts
It’s a guy thing
Behind the music
Livin’ it up
On the wild side
Let it snow
Around the world
Leaning on memories
Stroke of summer
Aloha to a new year
Igniting spirit
A wonderland of activity
Hanging in there
Make your mouth water
Inflating the spirit
Sifting for laughs
Choosing your own road
Facing a fiery issue
Cut out for the holidays
Udderly eventful times
(cows in the news)
Fueling family traditions
Tuning in to good causes
Riding into new territory
Mum’s the word (fall
flower festival)
Getting a kick out of
obsessions
Mind racing
Third on the ladder
All fired up
Just horsing around
Roll out the barrel
Early start
Dancing all night
No small change[s]
Deck the halls
Crown crisis
Moments of silence
Crunch time
Will you go to MORP
with us?
Dancing king
Getting down
Pop it like it’s hot
Grouping up
The cha–cha slide
Fashionably late
Change in plans
Taking a break from
dancing
Shake it up
A blast of summer
Caring is sharing
Strike a pose
Not a pet peeve
Jumping out of the box
Let’s get it started
Getting around
Independent living
Everything changes
Stretch your mind
Speaker’s wisdom
After hours
Pump up the volume
Clashing views
Going to town
Our best friends
Home town pride
Time to celebrate
Express yourself
Keep us entertained
Time to relax
Forever friends
I need money
Exploring the world
Giving a hand
Strides for a cause
Welcome home
Starting a tradition
Time for finals
One final goodbye
Time to move on
Paying dividends
A wave of places
Beyond the borders of
boredom
Weather or not?
Home for the holidays
Sticky trickery
Cooling it down
Fear factor
Brace face
Pestering pressure
Hitting the mark
Sibling rivalry
Meals on wheels
Slim gym
This one’s a hit
Heart and sole
First day butterflies
Old school
Positive points
School stuff
Starting over
Diverse differences
Meeting people
Daily buzz
Hanging around
Cracking down
Expanding minds
Not so ordinary
Summer shifts
Light the fire within
Summer workouts
Oh–so–tasty
Counting up the credits
Who you gonna call?
Playing the field
Crushing on you
Dream come true
Coming together
Clubs &
Organizations
ASB
Boldly standing together
for one purpose
Follow our path–we will
lead the way
Leaders of the pack
The voice of the people
It takes all kinds
Don’t rain on my parade
Team building
Serve fest
Always superbly bountiful
Band
Creating one sound with
unified spirit
Having big dreams–
endless possibilities
The beat of tradition
Banding together
Keep piping
Highs and lows
Moving with the beat
Dancing to a different tune
Performing for a “bow”
Under pressure
Behind the music
Flute loops
Beat box
Urban groove
On top of the world
Strutting strings
The beat goes on
Many musical memories
Pulling my strings
Fiddler in the school
Fantastic, Fabulous and Fun Features continued from page 3
Playing to the sound of
music
Jumping on the
bandwagon
Blowing in the woodwind
It’s a string thing
Hearing strings
Bowling
Throwing a winner
A bunch of bowl
Striking a pose
The perfect score
Eye on the prize
And then there was one
Another roll
Bowl in one
Strike happy
Cheerleading
Boosting it up with
enthusiasm
Go big red–cheering on
the home team
Spirit, let’s hear it
Walking to a new beat
Show of spirit
Scream and shout
Words of encouragement
Take a knee
Senior spirit
Get in the groove
Spirit in the air
Choir
A siren’s call;
A voice like a nightingale
Cool crooners
Taking it high
Right on key
Scaling up
Taking a shine to song
Show stopper
Chorus line
Foreign tunes
The sound of music
Written in stars
Let your voice be heard
Facing the crowd
The voice of the people
The light from above
Musically speaking
Chorus concerts
Color Guard
Toss and turn–spinning
the spirit
Waving it proudly with
many colors
Fireworks light the show
Ground effects
Cultural Studies
Keeping the culture alive
at school
Absorbing national flavor
Explore the world
Baking an understanding
Becoming cultured
A whole new world
A new way of life
Cultural enrichment
Creative cultures
Language extras
Dance Team
Dancing queens
Sticking to the beat
Striking a pose
Drama
An actor’s perspective of
life on stage
Actor’s sphere–performing
without limits
Three minutes of laughter
Playing the part
The show must go on
All the world’s a stage
Playin’ parts
Acting up
Lights…camera…action
FBLA
Face to face connections
Poetry & Fine
Arts
Express yourself with style
Think outside the box
Passing on the interest
Pursuing interests with a
passion
Thinking outside the box
Chalk one up to
experience
Finishing touch
Pastel portrait
Perspective picture
Artistic differences
Artist’s block
Bringing art to life
Artistic view
Service Clubs
Helping the community
one purpose at a time
Actively involved with the
community
Working for you and
your health
Contributions of time and
effort
Keeping heads
above water
Giving a helping hand
Fundraising above
all costs
Firing up
environmentalists
Child’s play for charity
Learning to serve
Making a difference
Get involved
Serving the community
Speech Club
Competitive spirit and
passion to win
If only it was extra credit
Yearbook &
Newspaper
Hats off to publications
Shades of dedication
A picture’s worth a
thousand words
Stop the presses
Pages in production
Fits of insanity
Picture perfect
Project annual–the
anthology of memories
The crew with the news
Hot off the press–keeping
the public well informed
Sports
Badminton
Smash it to the third
round
Drive the birdie down the
alley
Baseball/Softball
Take me out to the ball
game
Taking a step onto the
mound
On the plate ready to hit
Pump it up for the ball
game
Playing hardball
Bounce into the swing of
things
Hitting for the fences
7th inning stretch
Pitching in for wins
Batter up
Catchin’ strikes
Can’t hit this
Up to the plate
Fast ball
Catching for life
Swinging low
Rounding the bases
Basketball
Blazing with fire and
power
Basket bounding
Cruising down the court
towards victory
Playing just like a girl
Bank on it
Fore the love of golf
Fast break
Calling the shots
On the rebound
Take it to the rim…up
and in
Pushing to the playoffs
Jumping through the
hoops
Working together
A tournament to
remember
On the rebound
Brick wall
Nothing but net
Over the top
Just do it
Hoop dreams
Tough D
Breaking away
Loose ball
The long road to victory
Totally hoops
Breaking records
Take the ball and run
Stealing the court
A new shot
Reaching for the top
Lacrosse
Football
Swimming
Hit em’ hard and make
it hurt
Sprint to the end zone
Reaching for the pigskin
Owning the end zone
Born to play
Breaking through the line
Passing the competition
Reaching for the win
Our time, our town
We’re ready to rumble
The greatest show on turf
Going for the goal line
Golf
Stroke away high and low
Driving it far away
Igniting the power within
a ball
Swing fore it
It’s tee time
A drive to success
Tiger by the tail
Putt putt
Sharp shooter
Take it to the hole
Driving at perfection
Take a shot
Grip it and rip it
Tee off
Gymnastics
Balancing act
It’s our time
Reach for the bars
Stick em’ boys
Sticking together
Sticking to their skills
Soccer
Kick it up and smell the
grass
Blocking the goals
Using your head
No hands back away
Just for kicks
Headin’ to the top
Sweat, Mud, Blood! Small
prices to pay for glory
Getting the ball rolling
Kicking up a storm
Fancy footwork
Free kick
Heads up
Can’t touch this
Kickin’ back
Kick it up a notch
Reaching for the goal
Just keep kicking
Standing strong
Cleat dreams
Dive right in with a splash
Freestylin’ towards victory
Paddling for pride and
respect
Treading to be a winning
team
Making waves
Waterlogged
Doin’ it freestyle
Deep in water
Pooling off a
championship
Making a splash at state
Under pressure
Taking a breath
Cooling their jets
Fresh strokes
Tennis
Hitting with a ton of pride
Holding court
The perfect spin on things
First come, first serve
Returning with success
For love of the game
Game, set, match
Top spin
Love all
Serves up
Putting a spin on it
Track/Cross
Country
Enduring till the very last
second
Set the pace–rub, jump,
throw
Crossing the finish line
Race with pace keeping
track of time
Running wild
Run fast…turn left
Eat our dust
Overcoming the hurdles
Down to one last breath
From start to finish
Racing to regionals
Going for the gold
Hand off
High hopes
Clearing the hurdles
Big air
Final stretch
Takin’ it to the tape
Up and over
A change in pace
Just run fast
Long dash
Run the extra mile
Race for the gold
Taking strides to state
Volleyball
Serve it up and make
it hot
Spike it–no pain, no gain
Dig deep; show your talent
Setting the standard
Up and over
The ball can fly
Getting set for victory
Spike, set, win!
You got served
Volley victory
Triple ace
Volleyball voice
Over the net
Volleying over
Water Polo
Men in speedos swim for
shore
Play tough with high
intensity
Keep up with your defense
Wrestling
Fighting in the third round
All you’ve got to do to take
‘em down
In a headlock
Take it to the mat
Grappling with changes
Wrapped up
Power house
Featured Features Feature
Academics
I need a
feature
idea!
Great, because here is
our annual feature on
features that we are
featuring this month
If it is new to you, this
is our annual list of
great feature topics,
sorted by section,
that we found in 2006
yearbooks from across
the USA.
We know that right
about now, your staff
may be struggling with
what to put on that one
other sophomore DPS.
Don’t just copy these.
Read them and adapt
them as the basis for
features that will fit
your school.
Alternative learning—online
Prepping for the SAT/ACT
Doing culminating senior projects
Why they took AP classes
Internships
Field trips to unusual places
Avoiding tardies
Classroom parties; good or bad?
Teens teaching (peer tutors)
Is JROTC cool?
Alternative assessments (other
than tests or papers)
Foreign language classes where
no English is spoken
Crazy electrical experiments
Unique projects and presentations
that teachers come up with
How long teachers take to plan
their classes
Fighting for more electives
Pounds of paper—adding up the
forms you fill up in high school
High school students assisting
teachers at the middle school
Dealing with substitutes
Clubs
Holiday charity drives
Giving blood as group
Opposing clubs—hunting club
and PETA chapter
Clubs by the numbers (number of
members, number of dollars
raised for charity, number of
seconds in the average meeting, etc.)
Students still involved in scouting
Inductions and initiation rituals
Dramatic improvisations
Student fashion shows
Unusual ‘athons used to raise funds
The hardest part of band—marching in a parade
Club quizzes—every DPS has a
five question quiz about the
featured club
Junior fraternities and sororities
Painting murals througout the
school with art club
People
Why graduate choose the military
Students who start their own businesses without help
Getting your first traffic ticket
Tee shirts with messages
Best surprises
Creative hall passes
Faculty quirks and antics
When teachers take students
home to babysit
Teacher guilty pleasures
Teachers who engage in
extreme sports
Scariest moments
Favorite Disney character
What candy would you be?
What’s in your backpack?
Students who look like teachers
Who would you switch places with
and why?
Bad haircuts
Seniors dating freshmen
Top 10 embarrassing moments
Your most prized possessions
Who do you lie to?
You know it’s going to be a bad
day when…
Alumni, parents and siblings that
are serving in Iraq
Pet Peeves
Working out to stay fit for life
Funny parent conferences
Best in Show—interesting pets
Does your astrological sign match
your personality?
Devices to die for—what are the
gadgets you MUST have?
The hassles of glasses
Coloring hair wild and crazy colors
Braces—metal or clear?
Cute shoes—worth the pain?
Coolest fashion accessories—
what’s hot today
What not to wear
Three rings or spiral—what’s your
notebook style?
Secret toys no one knows you still
have and play with
Handling post holiday break blues
School power outages
Fire drills
Reacting to Mondays—after the
weekend blahs
Year ‘round school—is it a good
thing or not?
Dealing with military recruiters
Students who moved to their
school after surviving Hurricane Katrina
Pen pals in foreign lands
Do you use MySpace?
Favorite recipes
Feeding the Starbucks habit
High school students who are
already parents
Addicted to Sudoku
Fashion—what’s more important,
style or comfort
Multi-lingual students
Student Life
Country vs Rock (poll on different
music styles)
Students with garage bands
Views on tatoos
What does your screen name
mean and how did you get it?
Students who vacationed outside
the United States
Volunteer work
Skateboarding and skateboard
tracks in town
Poll on best way ever asked to a
dance or prom
Curfew time and why your parents
picked that time
What’s on your iPod? What kind of
iPod do you own?
Daily routines—what time do you
start yours?
Twins, triplets and quads
Do you drool when you sleep?
(Yes we really saw this feature.)
Do you work for money or because you love your job?
Hangouts—why do you go where
you go?
What did you get for Valentine’s
Day from your special friend?
Cafeteria food—is it really food?
Sports
Rituals and superstitions
Pie in the face interviews
Tailgating fans
Being a FANatic
Do arch rivalries make you loyaler
to your school?
What did teams eat on the busses
back from away games?
Lights or no lights—would varsity
rather play during the day?
Being a trainer
Training numbers—miles of tape,
pounds of ice, etc.
Scorekeepers and stat people
Participating in Special Olympics
Always being last in the race
High school athletes coaching
middle school sports
Girls beating boys in sports
s
QuickReads & Features, Oh My!
Hot or not | As school starts again,
students share what’s “in” and what’s
“out” for the fall season.
Tell us about someone | You know
who you could see yourself in a nursing
home with.
Home front | During the first three-day
weekend students enjoy their free time.
Tell us about someone | You’ve been
friends with since you were in diapers.
How has | The economy affected you?
Being addicted to | Farmville and
Mafia Wars on Facebook.
Sniffles | H1N1 flu swings through sports
programming.
One minute with | JV boys forward in
soccer or a varsity player in volleyball.
Open letter to fans | From players and
coaches.
People who are | Prone to eating too
much junk food.
Using your phone | Or breaking it.
Seniors | Who have already left the school
Tell us about someone | Who will eat
anything.
Tell us about someone | Who is your
bathroom buddy.
(pictured on centerfold spread)
Tell us about someone | You know
who has OCD.
Tell us about someone | You know
who sings out loud to his or her iPod.
Tell us about someone | You know
who would go on a vacation with your
family…and have fun.
Fundraising | Students and staff come
together to help a good cause.
Features in the sports section |
Showing everyday people how to do
something particular to that sport. For
instance, how to run hurdles on the track
pages.
Match the ring tone | With the staff
member.
Changing their looks | Staff members
and faculty who have changed since they
started teaching.
New Moon Night | Students and teachers stay up all night to be the first to see
the movie New Moon, part of the Twilight
trilogy. (Pictured at right)
Tell us about someone | Who will sit
all the way through
the credits of a movie
with you.
Tell us about someone | You watch
YouTube videos with
and what that experience is like.
Going to the fair | Students attend
summer county and state fairs.
Where’s the money | Budget cuts
within the school district force clubs to
raise more and more funds.
2
and are taking classes in college.
Getting tattooed | While still in high
school. How hard was it to persuade your
parents to let you?
Living alone | While you’re in high
school, tough or totally cool?
Seniors | Who didn’t get their portraits
taken and why.
Are you smarter than a fifth
grader? | From a middle school
yearbook in the sixth-grade section.
Idol thoughts | Students stand in line all
night to try out for American Idol.
Port(folio) whine | The day that the
students find out what they have to do
for their senior portfolios; this is the
sound they make.
Too much homework | Does my
teacher know I’m taking five other
classes?
Do I really need to know this? |
Does my future depend on it? Taking
classes that nobody cares about now.
3
Do we have a sub today? | Students
say why that’s their favorite day of school.
Do they have a mirror at home? |
What’s up with that? Students ask about
people who dress totally different.
your health and your budget.
Going green | A true commitment to the
green cause.
Mixed signals | Recognizing teenage body
language to prevent misunderstandings.
Help! | My mother wants to be my friend
on Facebook.
Survey says | Do you prefer computers
over television for your entertainment?
One is the loneliest number | Did
you just hang out on the weekends?
Survey says | If you watch television, do
you prefer reality, drama or comedy?
Survey says | Do you write with a pencil
or pen?
4
Survey says | Which vacation? The beach
or the mountains?
Survey says | Hug or air kiss? Your
preference with your girlfriends.
Survey says | Text or talk? Your preference with your friends.
Which would you choose | 1 million
friends and one dollar or 1 million dollars and one friend?
What was your setting? Your surroundings? Were you a mall rat? An exercise
freak? A computer geek? Did you go with
a crowd or did you prefer to go alone?
What’s on your iPod | What’s the most
embarrassing song on your device? The
musical question everyone wants answered.
The 10 most influential | People in
teenagers’ lives.
Hybrid or Hummer | Are you green
or not?
Future geography | Where do you
think you’ll live in the future?
Brown bag versus lunch line |
Which one do you choose?
Senior parking | Lot privileges.
Becoming legal | When you turn 18.
Help, my hand has a cramp. |
Parents and teachers are
human | It can be proved.
Whining | Ten ways to get what
you want from Mom and Dad.
Really smart money | How
to afford college, including create a budget, new
credit card rules, review your
insurance policy, get a job,
use loans wisely, eliminate
fast food from your diet, stay
away from malls, invest in a
piggy bank, get creative on
gift-giving and beer is bad for
Dealing with college applications.
Waiting | For letters of
acceptance to college.
Hey, big sis! Hey, big
bro! | Setting an
example for younger
brothers and sisters
when you’re a senior.
Out of work | Not
being able to find a
part-time job your
senior year because
of the economy.
Supply squad |
The cost of being a
senior.
(pictured on centerfold spread)
Swine flu | Real or
hoax?
Graduation
traditions
| What’s your
favorite?
Geography matters | College closer to
home or college far away.
Big question | Should pep rallies be
mandatory?
Holiday employment | Getting a job
during the holidays.
What’s your favorite tool | To work
with in shop class?
Ten sweet skills | You learned in a
physical education class.
Charitable works at Christmas | Including adopt-a-child and food
drives. What did you do?
Ten tips | To giving a good senior
presentation.
What’s the strangest thing |
You’ve ever given up for Lent.
How to | Change a flat tire.
Warm words | Summer reading
requirements.
10 reasons | To take Food Science.
It all adds up | Top 10 reasons that
math is awesome.
Who is | Your favorite person in
history? Why?
5
6
How will we use what we learn
| In science and math in our future.
10 ways | To pass French.
How to | Bake a sensational cake.
10 reasons | Students go nuts.
Bonding in sports | Teammates tighter
than spandex.
What limitations | Did you face during
this (put sport name here) season?
How do you feel | About how far your
team went in the playoffs?
good grades?
7
What | Are your pregame superstitions.
Steroids stress | High school athletes
discuss steroid use at their high school.
What’s your favorite | Practice drill?
10 reasons | Why “we love soccer,” written by the varsity girls team.
Six legs with one goal | Three brothers form the front line of a soccer team.
What do you think of | When you
hear the word art?
Is photography art | Or is it science?
Top 10 materials | Needed for the
Science Olympiad.
10 reasons | To join the Student Council.
What motivates you | To strive for
someone for a date.
Best places | To spend spring break?
Yearbook staffers | What’s your
favorite food on deadline nights?
10-second stop light | The opinions of
new drivers about how people drive.
Does prayer | Belong in sports?
Should girls | Be allowed on the wrestling team and to wrestle boys?
No texting allowed. | New traffic laws
affect teens the most.
Carded | What card in your wallet do you
use the most?
Top 10 US historical sites | Visited by
people from our school.
Things I wish I had known | When I
was a freshman.
Back in the day | A look back at faculty
members’ high school days.
What kind of cell phone | Do you
have, Droid or iPhone.
Things you you should know |
About intimidation and bullying.
What’s your dream job | You have
so you are be able to buy your dream
car? And what kind of car is that?
What things | Can’t a sophomore live
without?
What your favorite color of |
Skittle? M & M? Fruit Loop? Jelly Belly?
Training | For a marathon.
If you could go to only one
website | What would that website
be?
10 misconceptions | About being in
the choir.
10 reasons | To break the fashion rules.
How to pass | For an aspiring artist.
Eight things | You should know about
Black Friday shopping in our sluggish
economy.
Are you | A Mac or PC?
What’s the best concert | A teacher
has ever been to?
College visits | Chance to party or actual
interview?
What would you do | If you met a
famous movie star? And what star would
you want to meet?
What junk is in your trunk? |
Things inside the trunks of the cars of
seniors who have their own rides.
Is high school | What middle school
prepared you for? (Asked of freshmen)
Book smart versus street smart |
Which are you?
What’s the strangest physical
thing | That you can do that you can
tell us about in public?
Traditional versus trendy | Which
are you?
Horrible breakups | Or 50 ways to
leave your lover.
Daring dates | Best way you’ve asked
If you had a Facebook group | And
it was all yours, what would it be?
No cafeteria for you | What is your
off-campus lunch hotspot?
Money talks | Students define what they
think is wealthy.
How heavy | Is your backpack?
(Pictured on the centerfold spread)
Snapshots of advice | Teachers share
words of wisdom.
What’s your favorite freedom | In
high school now that you’re a freshman?
What would you do | If I handed you
$100 right now?
Hey Freshman | What one thing shocked
you the most about high school?
Keeping warm | Fireplace or blanket?
It’s my life | What song best describes
you and your life?
If you could be | Any character from
any movie, who would it be?
What’s your | Signature scent?
You’re a sophomore | Now how
does it feel not being the low man on the
totem pole?
What makes your sport | Better
than all the rest?
Dipstick | Which chicken McNugget dipping sauce is your favorite?
I want those two hours back |
What movie was a waste of your time?
What is your |
8
Guilty
pleasure?
1
Fantastic Features
start here
As we mentioned on the front page, this month
is our annual ideas issue. Tons of QuickReads
and feature ideas for your staff to adapt for
your use, and they start right here. Credits for
all pictured QuickReads on pages 2, 3, 6 and 7
are below beginning with the one above. Credits for QuickReads on the centerfold spread are
on that page. All books are from 2010.
1 —John W. North High School, Riverside, CA
2 — Pflugerville High School, Pflugerville, TX
3 — Orchard Lake Middle School, West Bloomfield, MI
4 —Holmes Middle School, Livonia, MI
5 —Grand Blanc High School, Grand Blanc, MI
6 — Pflugerville High School, Pflugerville, TX
7 —Creekview High School, Canton, GA
8 —Barstow High School, Barstow, CA