FRANKLIN—In an attempt to curtail long waits and long lines in the hallways to see the guidance councilor staff, Principal Jason Chandler wants to handle new student registration a little differently.

While he would have ultimately preferred to have new students registered during the summer, he understands that’s not always convenient. So this year, S.P. Morton will have an orientation and registration event in the gym on Thursday, Aug. 28, and staff will also conduct registration on Tuesday, Sept. 2, and if necessary, Wednesday, Sept. 3.

“We want to streamline all of our operations,” Chandler said. “And one piece of that is when parents come in, we want to be organized, efficient, and get them in and get them out and respect their time as much as possible.”

Times on Thursday are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and later from 3 to 6 p.m. If a student has not yet been registered for school, parents can bring the child along with documentation to the gym and get a number for being seen. If the new student is already registered, the time will serve as an orientation for school where the child can meet his or her teachers and parents can get any questions answered.

Chandler said that he hopes new students who have not already been registered will come on Thursday, if at all possible.

“That way, you’ll have the long weekend to read over the information we give you and maybe pick up some last-minute supplies,” the principal said, adding that parents can also ask questions about the uniforms, which S.P. Morton will be implementing this year.

“If there are questions about uniforms, supplies or the handbooks, you can get them answered then,” he added. “We would like the students to be prepared on the first day of school.”

Before arriving, parents will need to have and bring a birth certificate, a current physical and immunization record, the child’s social security card and two proofs of residency.

Once parents get their registration number on Thursday, they will also be given a packet that includes enrollment forms. After filling those out, parents and students will be called to the school nurse, who will make sure the physicals are up to date. After that, parents will receive additional documentation, such as the handbooks, codes of contact and other information that students and parents will need to go over.

Then, parents and students will be called to the guidance councilor, who will help with class placement. Lastly, students will get their schedules and can meet their teachers, who will also be at the gym for orientation.

While waiting, children will be given coloring books and other materials to help pass the time, and parents can sit with them in the bleachers, Chandler said.

“What we wanted to do was to make it more comfortable for people,” he said. “We want to make it a more pleasant experience.”

Should parents be unable to attend on Thursday, staff will set up in the gym on Tuesday, the first day of school, starting at 8 a.m. Chandler said doors open at 7:45 a.m., and you can arrive then to pick up your number to be seen in the gym at that time.

The flow will work almost as previously described, except when a child has their schedule, he or she can immediately go to class since the school year would already be underway.

If necessary, the process will be repeated on Wednesday. Chandler said if there were fewer people, the event could be moved to the guidance suite.