The High School Dancing Rabbit staff conceived, planned and produced the yearbook. The book is produced by the student yearbook staff with the aid of an adviser. The entire student body is the yearbook’s target audience. Secondary audiences include personnel, community members and scholastic journalism groups. The content of this book is only that which is legal covered by the Constitution of the United States of America. The interviews and quotes in this book are documented and kept on file and must be and authorized by the person concerned. Coverage includes the following: academics, people, sports, senior salutes, organizations and advertisements. The staff is responsible to send an ambassador to school events that have been posted on the school calendar in order to provide adequate coverage for the organization in the publication. The staff is not responsible to cover last-minute games, events or meetings that are scheduled after the calendar is distributed. Students who are not on the official school roster at the beginning of the year will not be the responsibility of the yearbook staff to cover. In case of death of a student, faculty or staff member, we will publish dates of birth and death in the mug section next to his or her photo. Additional space at the back of the book may be purchased bu family or friends of the deceased. Please understand no changes can be made once the yearbook pages are sent off to print. Senior quotes must be tasteful and approved by administration. The yearbook staff reserves the right to decide what is included, due to spring publication; it is not possible to cover many spring events.

Because the yearbook can be used as legal identification, every student, faculty and staff member will have their photo taken for the yearbook.  All yearbook portraits are taken by the school photographer, Mark Emmons. It is the responsibility of the person photographed to be present for their photo. At least two opportunities, during regular school hours, will be given to faculty and staff to have their photo taken.  If retakes are taken, the yearbook staff will help determine which of the two photos should be included. Seniors are responsible for scheduling their photo with Mark Emmons Photography. Seniors are expected to dress formally for this portrait. Senior quote photos must be tasteful and of the senior giving the quote. The school dress code applies to the yearbook. Any photo deemed inappropriate will not be included. All group photos will be announced over the intercom prior to the photo being taken, with the exception of group photos be Mark Emmons. It is the responsibility of the group member to be present for this photo. If any photo must be preplaced due to a student’s inappropriate action, the student will be responsible for any cost to replace that photo. All photos are included at the discretion of the adviser.

Because the yearbook is a student publication, complete satisfaction is not guaranteed to the purchaser.
Refunds will not be given for minor errors such as portrait, misspelled names, etc. Books returned for refund must be free of damage or writing, once returned, the book becomes property of the yearbook staff and will be resold for the current cost. The yearbook staff cannot be responsible for lost, stolen or vandalized books after the book has been picked up by the purchaser. There will be an additional cost to students purchasing yearbooks after the sales deadline. A valid ID and receipt must be shown to pick up yearbooks. Exchanges will be made for books with missing pages or major printing flaws. Exchanges will not be made for yearbooks with writing in them.

The cover must include school colors. The Dancing Rabbit must be part of the cover. The buffalo must be a visible part of the yearbook.  The classes must be separated. Class officers and other important activities must be recognized in the yearbook. School board members, administration and faculty must be emphasized as an important part in the school process. Candid pictures of organizations and sports are to be pictured. Tradition and parameters are important, as well as protecting the activity of the students involved in the yearbook.

Senior Salutes to boyfriends and girlfriends are discouraged. No changes or refunds can be made if a couple breaks up. Business ad proofs may be picked up from the adviser prior to admission. Every effort is made to safely return your photos, but that cannot be guaranteed.

The McAlester High School Yearbook is represented by the rabbit, not our school mascot, the mighty buffalo. However, our annual is symbolized not be a mere rabbit, but by the dancing rabbit, possessing roots that stem from a treaty uniting the United States government and native Choctaw Indians that would be the basis for the boundaries  that would become the Choctaw Nation. The treaty granted the Choctaws a small portion of land west of the Mississippi River. Its boundaries began near Fort Smith, Arkansas to the Canadian Fork, down to the Red River to the western border of Arkansas. The locations and boundaries were decided upon because the area was widely known to many scattered Choctaw Indians, and in the past was a famous hunting ground. This area also included a natural semi amphitheater and the Dancing Rabbit Creek Springs. The treaty was thought to be one of the largest treaties signed between the United States government and the Indians during a time of peace. However, the Choctaw people only consented to this treaty mainly because of fear, intimidation, and persuasion. Mainly the Indian leaders and chiefs supported this treaty but were sometimes violently challenged by their people. Many Choctaw Indians were opposed to the treaty with the United States. It is said that one woman, out of rage, sprung to her feet and threatened to kill Killihota, a Choctaw Chief, with a knife. One of the cases of the agreements among the tribe was the duty of paying taxes and working public roads if the treaty was not signed. After several days of speeches, the town parties came to an agreement. The Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty was signed on Monday, September 27, 1830. The treaty was signed on a five foot high, three foot wide, six-thousand pound granite boulder. The site, famed in Indian lore as the Council Ground of the Choctaw is “Cunkfiahihlabok” meaning “Rabbit-there-dances-creek”, producing the common Dancing Rabbit Creek. The deed to the old land still rests in the old high school building at 300 E. Adams, McAlester, Oklahoma. The location of this document is important to our school as the historic value among McAlester High School students and faculty is treasured. Thus the naming of the yearbook. The Dancing Rabbit, reflects the importance of our traditions in history to all at McAlester High School.

OH, when those buffaloes all fall in line,

We’re gonna win this game another time.

We gonna cheer those boys we’ll yell and yell.

For dear old MHS, we’ll yell and yell.

We’re gonna fight, fight, fight for every score.

We’ll turn our backs against the other side.

We’re gonna throw those (Lions) in the dirt make it hurt!

Rah, Rah, Ra-a-ah!

Like a beacon on a hilltop,

Breezes furl the black and gold.

Rises there our Alma Mater

Glorious to behold.

Words of knowledge has she taught us

In her solemn halls of truth.

And to fields of fame and glory

Proudly marches forth her youth.

MHS we fain salute thee,

Tho’ through years we wander far.

The affection which we bear thee,

Time nor distance ne’er shall mar.