The yearbook staff lifts their plastic champagne glasses in the air to toast the end of a long process. After drinking the sparkling cider, journalism adviser Leland Mallett and editor Brittany Bayless open the first box of 61 containing the 2009 yearbooks.

“It’s a fun tradition we started last year. No one has seen the book until the revealing party,” Mr. Mallett said. “It’s the first time we’ve seen all of our work come together.”

Distribution of the 2009 yearbook begin during after school May 21, in Mr. Mallett’s room EO102, and all throughout the day May 22. Requests for the book during class are prohibited.

“I’m always nervous the day the book goes out,” Mr. Mallett said. “When someone says they don’t like it, it hurts. We’ve spent many hours working on the publication, and for someone to take a fraction of a second to say they don’t like it, is hard.”

Student do have a way to get their book earlier. Followers of therideronline.com who have a Twitter account will receive their copy on Monday, May 18, but only with proof of the account.

“We’ll send a Twitter message Sunday evening asking our followers to print the tweet,” Mr. Mallett said. “That’s their ticket to get their book first – on Monday after school.”

Journalism students are working on getting a news network built with the new online edition of the newspaper.  Both publications were successful this year in competition and UIL and national ratings. The 2008 book holds one of the UIL top ratings and the 2009 will be shown off by Taylor Publishing as company sample.

“It’s really cool to know our book will be in other schools as a sample of a quality yearbook,” editor Brittany Bayless said.

Yearbook staff members are proud of thier work and think the student body will like the bigger book this year.

“Last year the common complaint was it was too small,” Mr. Mallett said. “I don’t know how they can say that this year.”

Students who didn’t order a book will not be able to get one. There were no extra books ordered.

“I don’t like to take the chance of books not selling and losing money,” Mr. Mallett said. “It’s hard to tell students I don’t have book for them, but we sell it for six months.”

The yearbook staff is already working on the 2010 yearbook, which will be on sale June 1. Students can take advantage of saving $10 by purchasing during the summer. The price of the book changes to $70 on September 1.

“We’ve already established our theme and what the cover will look like for next year,” editor Caroline Hoce said. “It will be even bigger and better than this years.

Students can find information about the 2010  yearbook or senior ads at www.legacyjournalism.org