Have you picked from the seemingly-endless list of electives yet? Are you looking forward to spending an evening staring at PowerSchool? Yes, it is that time of year again. From Feb.6-19, course registration for the 2018-2019 school year is open for HBHS students.

Course registration is a process in which the guidance department organizes the schedule requests of approximately eight hundred students. This means creating a master schedule, which consists of a list of every class per period in the entire building. Next year’s HBHS students have the choice between over 100 courses and programs, meaning this is the time of juggling academic expectations with one’s own personal enjoyment of high school.

Course registration was open for the 13-day period, and it will take 11 to 12 weeks for the schedule to be finalized once students have made selections, according to guidance counselor Richard Winslow. Students will hopefully receive their schedules by the end of the semester.

Winslow stresses that the process of choosing classes needs to be taken seriously, as the registration system has more ramifications than many students realize.  “Kids have the power. Right now, every student is dictating what courses are [offered] here,” Winslow said. “The numbers of courses also drive hiring of teachers.”

One course that was removed from the schedule last year because of student choice was AP French. “Only three students signed up,” said French teacher Annie Roy-Faucher, who taught  AP French when it was offered. AP French was cut, along with any other classes that did not meet minimum registration requirements.

Though organizing students’ preferred courses can be stressful, the guidance department utilizes PowerSchool, a website that organized students’ grades and courses, to efficiently computerize the process. “We let Powerschool line up the schedule,” Winslow said. “We keep running configurations of the Master Schedule until a certain number of requirements are met.”

Thankfully, due to the efforts of the guidance department and assistance from online registration, students can easily sign up for their preferred courses. “It’s very clear,” said Cameron Hallett ‘20, referring to the process of course registration.

However, Winslow reminds students to remember to sign up for a manageable course load, a mix of challenging and enjoyable classes. “I am all about balance,” said Winslow. “Play to your strengths, minimize your weaknesses. It’s really important.”

So, be sure to recognize your power in the course selection process, as well as to acknowledge the difficulties of the guidance department in organizing this. Please be courteous by being serious about choosing courses you want, says Winslow, or don’t complain if you end up with a nonsensical schedule.