Pangissin means “water falls” in Chippewa. Students have been publishing Pangissin since the 1920s. In 1992, we started to incorporate the use of computers into our production, and now we have a fairly sophisticated production process, using only computers to create our pages. We use InDesign (starting in 2004-05) and Photoshop, and we also have a scanner and digital camera.

Fifteen to eighteen students generally comprise the staff, with one senior editor, one junior editor, and one photo editor. Dawn Hogue has been adviser since 1991. We work after school on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, with an occasional late work night for which we always have pizza or something else to eat. Editors generally take yearbook for one or two semesters for credit as an independent study.

We begin work in the summer, usually, with a get together. At this meeting we brainstorm theme ideas, have a layout workshop and contest, and talk about the content of the new yearbook. It’s always a challenge to come up with new and innovative ideas that will represent a year that hasn’t even happened yet. Then, once back to school, we start working with underclass pages, senior pages and the sports pages from the previous spring. We always try to keep ahead of our deadlines, knowing that those December & January deadlines are the toughest to meet. It’s pretty much steady work from fall until mid March when our final deadline is due. Then we wait. And around the end of May, if everything goes well, we get our shipment and we distribute our new Pangissin, which is our most fun day of all.

To become part of the staff, be earning at least a B in English, have no D’s or F’s in any other class, be free from two consecutive sports commitments or from jobs that require you to work when we work, be willing to learn and work hard, and then see Ms Hogue.

What we do

  • plan theme
  • design layouts
  • interview & research
  • take photos
  • write stories
  • proofread
  • eat cookies
  • HAVE FUN!

What you can learn

  • writing skills
  • teamwork
  • how to work under pressure

How to become an editor

  • yearn to learn
  • put in the time
  • be a good leader
  • be responsible
  • be a self starter
  • be a good writer