Atop the typical essays to write and tests to cram for, students will have a very unique homework assignment coming this week from school. Registering for their next year’s classes, online.

The new process will take place through Powerschool and will be open through the end of this week. Students received information in class last week on the details of how to go through the process as well as an overview of their options for next year.

The change was prompted because of the time it took to register at school, according to counselor Andy Wilkes.

“The old process took a lot of class time away,” Wilkes said. “We decided that we didn’t want to take any more time away from core academics.”

With an entire week to choose classes, more time and therefore parent involvement can take place during the registration process.

Junior Eddie Diaz said he enjoys the longer timeframe provided by the new process.

“I kind of prefer at home because I used to feel so rushed when we did it at school,” he said. “At home I can pick more thoroughly and think it over more.”

One concern the counseling department has with the process is computer access for students at home, Wilkes said.

“The system is really dependent on students’ access technology at home,” he said. “That’s a real concern with the counseling department.”

A Pew Research Center study came out in March of 2013 that stated 93 percent of teens in America have access to computers at home. That still leaves seven percent without access, or roughly 95 students at Park.

The counseling department plans to combat this flaw by offering counselors in C153 all day Wednesday and Friday this week to help students register. Counselors will also pull students out of class next week to register if they have not done so yet.