by Patrick Tepoorten

North Branch High Schoolís 2006-2007 registration guide marks a departure from tradition for the district and encourages students to plan ahead.

Until this year, registration for high school classes was done every trimester, allowing students and parents to plan the school year in thirds. Starting next year however, students will choose their class schedule for the entire year before that year even starts.

The district believes doing so will encourage students to think more critically about their class selections. The change to once a year registration will also allow high school administration to coordinate staffing for the entire year.

If the prospect of choosing classes seems daunting to students and parents, the district has included a flow-chart in next yearís guide to assist with the process.

The ìGraduation Credit Reportî lists all of the required credits, by class, students must obtain in order to graduate. Also included is a ìfour year planning sheet,î which further breaks down credit requirements by year.

Something parents of younger high school students should keep in mind are changes the state has made to credit requirements. Beginning with the class of 2008, allowable electives have been reduced from 32 to 24 over a four-year period. High school counselor Roberta Backus, applauded that decision when she gave an overview of the registration guide to the school board last Thursday. ìKids need more science and math,î she said, ìIím glad the state changed that.î

The high school plans to hold two registration days soon. They will occur just before and just after spring break and will take place in student homerooms.

Aside from changes to the registration process, Backus also noted that the guide itself has been improved and in her words, has become ìmuch more user friendly.î