Hawk’s Nest

    Tenth and eleventh grade students at Hodgdon High School experienced the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) in October of 2007. This test measures the skills your student has developed over the course of his education, such as: critical reading skills, math problem-solving skills and writing skills.
    The PSAT/NMSQT is the best preparation for the SAT. Students take the test in eleventh grade to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s scholarship programs. Students can also benefit from taking the test in the tenth grade and sooner because they’ll get personalized feedback on the academic skills needed for college. By taking the test before eleventh grade, students have more time to develop these skills and to begin the college planning process.  
    Your student has developed the skills measured by the PSAT/NMSQT over many years, both in and out of school.  Taking challenging academic courses and reading widely during the school years is the best way for your student to get ready (www.collegboard.com).
    The students at Hodgdon High School were privileged to have the opportunity to take the PSAT/NMSQT this past October.  The student scores were reported to HHS in December and each student received a Score Report Plus, which includes not only itemized feedback on test questions, but advice on improving his skills as well. What an amazing resource! For each section of the test (critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills), your student received personalized skills feedback based on his performance.  
    Ask your 10th or 11th grade student to bring you his/her personalized Score Report from their advisory binder and log onto: www.collegeboard.comquickstart, an easy-to-use, online, personalized college and career planning kit available free of charge to all students who take the PSAT/NMSQT. My College QuickStart is available using the access code printed on the student’s paper score report, and the tool can be utilized throughout high school.  
    Be sure to look beyond the scores when you read your student’s PSAT/NMSQT Score Report Plus. You’ll find a thorough review of his performance and suggestions for improvement in school and out, as well as advice and tools for college and career preparation.  
    The students and staff are working diligently at Hodgdon High School; increasing academic rigor with weekly sustained silent reading, daily SAT preparation within the classroom setting, increased training for our academic community in literacy elements and college board programs and so many more amazing initiatives to prepare our students for a successful future. However, parental involvement remains the number one factor in student academic success. We challenge parents and students to sit down with one another this week, log on to www.collegeboard.com and take the journey of academic success together.  
    If you do not have access to the internet at home, please come in to the school with your student and we will find you a quiet spot to explore the site together.