I.R.L.
If the 2020–2021 school year was all about uncertainty, isolation, and adapting on the fly, then 2021–2022 was about the cautious, messy, hopeful return to real life — or at least something like it.
That’s what made IRL the perfect theme for this edition of Le Flambeau. After a year of virtual school, masks, and trying to feel connected through screens, students wanted to celebrate the tangible, the imperfect, the beautifully ordinary moments of being back together in person. IRL was about hallway conversations, sports crowds, after-school rehearsals, messy lockers, and spontaneous group photos — all the small details that don’t always make it onto a screen but define high school life.
The book was organized by theme — "in," "real," and "life" — with recurring visual elements that mimicked play and popping out, such as partial cut outs or full cut outs of subjects from backgrounds that overlap in front of color-faded backgrounds. The staff leaned into the contrast between digital and physical, honoring the tension of students who had to grow up quickly online and were still figuring out how to be present with one another again.
This book was created by a staff of 11 students, including two Editors-in-Chief, who brought humor, sheer determination, and just enough chaos to make it memorable. Below are a few photos and glimpses into the making of Le Flambeau: IRL — the book that tried to capture what it meant to return to “real life,” even as we all redefined what that looked like.
Theme development
Every yearbook has a theme. For the 2021-2022 school year, it was the first time after the pandemic that a virtual or online-only option for learning would not be offered. This meant that even though we were still mostly masked and the day-to-day larger group meetings or assemblies would be adjusted, for the most part, school was "in real life." Therefore, the theme adopted a youthful play on that literal phrasing.
Read the full theme copy below
NEWS REPORTING ILLUSTRATIONS
Yearbooks are not only historical records of the school community, but historical records of pop culture, national and global politics, economics, fashion or whatever else may happen in a year. For I.R.L., our news reporter was a talented illustrator and she used those skills to develop art associated with most events she covered and designed into various spreads of the book.
untraditional coverage
Most spreads on a page have a recipe for success and various requirements involved.
ADDING A GATEFOLD
What even is a gatefold? For me, it was somewhat of a nightmare, as it involves tracking changes in page numbering, communicating often with the printing company and praying that it turns out alright. For other folks, a gatefold is when certain pages flip out of the spine (like a children's flip book) and offer additional content. In this yearbook we did a gatefold for additional coverage of the school's newly implemented spring "Deep Dive" experiential learning programming.
underclassmen stepping up
Near the end of the second semester, yearbook deadlines ramp up. It's an overwhelming time for all involved on staff. Meanwhile, the end of the semester means end-of-semester projects for other classes. I had a particularly talented and motivated group of Graphic Design sophomores, so they teamed up and incorporated the yearbook's style guide to lay out, design, write and ultimately produce the prom spread that printed into I.R.L.
Let's get real.
In the moment it seemed like it would never end. The uncertainty, the quarantines, the restrictions and isolation. The faces hidden behind masks and the lunches spent sitting behind opposite sides of a plastic divider. But then, Aug. 23, everything changed. School was back, fully in-person. In October, masks became optional, and the expressions once hidden behind them were finally revealed.
Real changes were made. Our approach to education shifted to experiential learning. Two weeks of the school year were dedicated to experiencing life outside of the classroom through a new Deep Dive program, later featured in Forbes Magazine. Internal Impacts opened a student-run coffee cafe and revamped the Sion Shoppe.
Six new teachers and staff members came to Sion this year. Dr. Emily Grover won the Excellence in Teaching award, an honor voted on by the student body, in her first year.
Even down to the new furniture, Sion was changing for the better.
Life as we know it began to feel normal again.
We were back in action and in it to win it. Our school spirit was at an all time high. Stands were full once again as the volleyball team dominated their way to the State tournament. Classmates supported the cross country team as they raced across the finish line in Columbia, Missouri. Cheer attended every home game, energizing the crowd. Dance won Nationals and brought home the trophy.
Real talk, we were beginning to think they'd never return, but old traditions came back as the whole school was able to gather together again. All-school Masses returned ot the gym, rather than an online stream. Seniors presented freshmen their beanies in front of the school instead of a recorded video in maisons. Pep Assemblies were back. Sophomores experienced their first Winter Formal. Seniors finally got a prom.
In September we once again held our annual color throw, and new traditions were introduced like the brand new purple carpet that welcomed students on their first day and a yearbook signing complete with popsicles and music to kick start the year.
Life goes on, but this year we kept it real, and most especially we kept it I.R.L.
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In the blink of an eye, we saw real changes among us as the year came to a close. Life moved on, and we went with it. So thank you. Thank you for your hope and resilience these past few years. And most of all, thank you for being you. Thank you for your smiles and your authenticity.
This year, because of you, we were back...in real life.