The day schools were closed due to Coronavirus was just 10 days before the 2020 Eagle Yearbook’s final production deadline.  The 200 page yearbook was well on its way to being done, but as anyone who’s ever tackled a big project knows, there was still a lot to do in the last two weeks before the deadline.

So while most Tyrone students spent their first two weeks of the pandemic at home with no school work, several dedicated members of the yearbook staff were busy working to get the book finished by March 23.

The staff and yearbook adviser Todd Cammarata collaborated over text and social media to finish the book on time.

“It was definitely an odd experience working completely from home to get the book finished, but we overcame it. We all contributed our parts to help make this book one of our best yet,” said Assistant Editor Kayla Michenfelder.

Cammarata is proud of the staff for pulling together to get things done under less than ideal circumstances.

“The last couple weeks before our final deadline are always stressful, but this situation took it to another level,” said Cammarata,”but I’m really proud of them. They showed a ton of dedication by stepping up and working through what needed to be done while everyone else at school had the week off.”

The only pages that had to be changed were the GACTC pages because they were unable to get the photos from the GACTC students who took them.

“We didn’t want to scrap that page, but without any photos there wasn’t much we could do. The good news is we had already taken a GACTC group photo so at least that is still in the book,” said Cammarata.

In its place there is an entire spread on the early impact of the Coronavirus.

“It was a bit challenging but we teamed up and worked hard on the book right in the comfort of our own homes,” said junior staff member Courtney Williams. “It’s going to be a very special book that we can look back on and remember the strange times we are going through.”

The staff is excited for students to see the theme for this year’s book.

“I won’t give it away, but considering the huge role that binge-worthy movies and TV shows have taken during this quarantine, the theme is a perfect representation of this school year,” said Cammarata.

Because they met their final deadline, the book is still scheduled to be delivered on time.

Seniors will receive their books on either Thursday, May 28 or Friday, May 29. A plan to distribute books to the underclassman is still being worked out.

“We are hoping that restrictions can be lifted enough at some point in the summer to have some kind of public event so that students can see their friends and get their books signed, but we don’t know if or when that will be possible,” said Cammarata.

The yearbooks are officially sold out this year, but there is a chance that the printer will send some overruns. Anyone who would like to be put on the wait list for a book should email Mr. Cammarata at [email protected].  Any extra books they receive will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.