Paly students can no longer use missing planners as an excuse for forgetting homework after student planners were handed out at lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday in the quad.

Students expected to receive planners with their schedules last Monday, but Assistant Principal Jerry Berkson said that he fell behind schedule and could not get the planners in on time.

“The planners are late because Mr. Berkson fell behind schedule,” Berkson said.

Many students felt that the first few days of school were harder without the planners to keep track of assignments.

“I was glad to get the planner, but I wish it had come sooner,” sophomore Micaela Kaye said.

Berkson said, however, that he did not receive any complaints about the delay, and students picked up their planners on Tuesday and Wednesday without any problems.

“I never knew these planners were so exciting,” Berkson said, referring to the long lines of students to pick up planners on the quad at lunch. “There were a bunch of people out here, like for yearbooks.”

This year’s planner has a new design featuring a picture of the tower building on the cover and the turfed football field on the back.

“The cover looks brilliant,” Berkson said. “It was chosen by me, taken by Ms. Wixsom.”

Students also noticed other changes to the planners, which are noticeably thinner than in previous years.

“I miss the fun facts,” senior Sam Herzog said. “I think the wellness tips are stupid as well as the vocab words. I’d much prefer reading a stupid joke about a strangely named illness or something than read something that says to put sunscreen on. But I like the period outline like 1-7 with space for each class.”

Some students preferred last year’s planner, but most students appreciated the fact that the planners had finally arrived.

“I dislike it [the planner], but I recognize its importance to me,” senior Camille Smura said.