What protects a high school campus from becoming a graveyard of discarded yearbooks? The answer: a shift in tradition that seeks to change how we value these underappreciated keepsakes. The Village School is on the brink of a transformative shift. No longer will every student receive a yearbook as a rite of passage; instead, a reservation system has been introduced. The cost? Free, if claimed by the deadline, December 1; $30 after that.

This begs the question: why this change, and what challenges does it aim to address?  As conversations about resource management resonate globally, The Village School finds itself at a crossroads, prompted by internal considerations and a broader societal shift in how we approach waste.

The littering of discarded yearbooks not only tarnishes the aesthetic of our school but raises important environmental concerns. Reserved yearbooks promote responsible consumption, ensuring each produced yearbook finds a home and purpose. The Village School has decided to implement a reserved yearbook system, allowing students to claim their copy for free if they act before December 1. If you want a yearbook past that deadline, you must pay 30$. “We are finding that at the end of the school year; when we clean out lockers, dorms, and just throughout the campus, we find quite a bit of yearbooks,” said Mr. Randolph, the Director of the Village School Funding. “We want to eliminate that waste.” Not only do discarded yearbooks create environmental concerns but also a financial burden for the school. This new Yearbook policy is a much-needed economic incentive for students to take ownership of their keepsakes. 

Not only is there a change in how yearbooks are distributed due to waste concerns but also our beloved class photos. Usually, we would be given our photos, for free, sometime after taking them. This year is different. Instead, we must pay for our photos. The reasoning behind this change is due to an upgrade in photography service. “We have upgraded our photography vendor to provide an improved service, better-quality photos, and package options for families as well as reducing waste from discarded photos,” stated The Village School Communications on StudentSquare. You can access your photos from an email by CADY Photography where you can choose your preferred package. 

As the conversation regarding environmental sustainability grows throughout the world. The Village School sets an example by adapting traditions to meet the needs of the ever-changing landscape we live in today.