Every Tuesday after school, Oculus staff members have been hard at the work of  preserving memories.

English teacher Nicole Majercak, in her second year of advising the yearbook, has help this year from senior co-editors Melanie Bernstein, Jamie Frayman and Cameryn Cohen.

“These high school years are the best years of your life, and we want to help people remember them,” Bernstein said.

So far the staff has designed the cover and selected page layout designs.

“The Oculus theme this year is ‘A Must-See,’” Bernstein said.

Among other changes, yearbook staff has tried to improve the process of school pictures.

Majercak selected a new photographer this year, Lifetouch, and has arranged for seniors to have backup pictures taken on picture day.

Additionally, Lifetouch will provide professional photographers to document sports and other high school events.

The staff has come up with many new ideas for this year’s book. They want to display the many hidden talents of Beachwood’s diverse student body.

“I think both the staff and I have a lot of knowledge beyond what we knew last year; that will help us make the yearbook really special, interesting and inclusive of the whole student body,” Majercak wrote in an email.

Bernstein vows to make her senior yearbook better than ever. She hopes to bring her high school memories to life for students looking back on their time at BHS in the years to come.

Yearbook staff has gotten additional training this year through the Josten’s workshop, hosted at BHS on Sept. 27.

“The most important thing… [at the workshop] is [designing] the cover page,” Bernstein said.

This year’s cover will have a thermal image.

“When you touch it, a hidden picture shows up,” Bernstein said.

The editors are adding other new features as well.

“We hope to include senior signatures and quotes, and we will have a poll and questions page,” Frayman said.

BHS alumni have reflected on how meaningful the Oculus is to them as a way of preserving their high school memories.

Class of ‘15 alumna Casey Blum said she could never just throw her yearbook in a closet because to her, those high school memories are very valuable.

“I even bring the Oculus to college so throughout the year I can look back on my past at BHS,” Blum said.

“To see my friends, teachers and peers and all the activities they did and the memories I had brings great joy to me,” she added.

In mid-September, students received their yearbooks from the 2015-2016 school year.

While last year’s yearbook had many strengths, it also had some mistakes.

“There are errors in last year’s Oculus, with some pages blank and missing pictures,” Bernstein said.

The staff is hoping to make this year’s book free of publication errors.

Among other changes, there is a new color scheme.

“This year’s book is about the all the new developments and growth in our community,” Majercak wrote.

“We intend to go with the Bison colors throughout the book,” she added.

Senior Alyssa Blum feels that last year’s yearbook she received is very nice.

“I like how my junior year memories are portrayed, and the layout of it makes it easier to keep those memories and look back on them,” Blum said.

Yearbook staff members feel that they are performing an important service.

“We just want to help make memories of BHS, because high school doesn’t last forever,” Bernstein said.

Beginning next week, yearbook prices go up to $60. Students are encouraged to buy early, since production costs rise later in the year. The price will rise in $5 increments every few months until it reaches $80 in May.