HSA incentives finalized

Blair administration will be giving out $1,500 worth of gift certificates as well as a laptop as prizes for students who take the HSA tests.

Academy Resource teacher Susan Ragan said that donations from the PTSA and the academic departments made it possible for the school to hand out these prizes. "We're getting thirty $50 gift certificates from Target and Circuit City. Six will be given out each day, three from each store," Ragan said.

According to Ragan, Students will write their ID numbers on a ticket every time they take a test. Each day, there will be a drawing using only the tickets from that day. "This way, students will have to be at school and take the test to be eligible for any of the prizes," she said.

On the final day of testing, all of the tickets from each day of testing will be put into a pot for the grand prize, a laptop computer.

Teachers are also handing out refreshments to all students who take the test. "We're also providing granola bars and water. We figure you can't really do well on a test with an empty stomach" said Ragan.

The administration has also worked on advertising the importance of the HSAs. Cherie McGinn, the Social Studies Resource teacher, asked the Yearbook staff come up with a list of ten reasons to take the HSAs and ten reasons to take the NSL HSA. The English department also came up with a similar list. All of reasons will be aired on infoflow during the next week.

Resource and Latin teacher Joseph Lynch has also been a part of the publicity effort by having his students create posters advertising the prizes that will be given on test days. "The Administration is trying to do as much as they can to make kids aware and to give kids incentives not to just blow it off," he said.

Lynch said that he is impressed with the amount of effort and dedication that students are giving to ensure that Blair excels next week. "Pretty much every class I go to is excited about helping," he said.

Top 10 reasons to take the NSL HSA

1. A private tutoring session with the one and only Mr. Smith
   
2. If there's a perfect attendance, Mr. Freeman has agreed to shave his head
   
3. Get a free homework quiz pass
   
4. To find out what NSL stands for
   
5. Because you could meet a cute boy or girl sitting in front of you at your NSL test classroom
   
6. The NSL test makes people very sexy
   
7. Because your teachers are going to be more willing to give you an easier day after you've taken the exam.
   
8. Learn the skills you'll need to know when you run for president
   
9. To show you know something about where you live
   
10. It helps you get ready for the final exam
    

Top 10 reasons to take HSA

1. BECAUSE MR. GAINOUS IS THE MAN and we love him!
   
2. You have a chance at winning a free parking space for next year
   
3. You can enter a raffle to win free prizes
   
4. How can you say no to free food?
   
5. To have an excuse to study with that special someone in you class
   
6. To save the Blair teacher's jobs
   
7. To win a free yearbook
   
8. To show how much better we are than Springbrook
   
9. So the government won't take over Blair
   
10. C'mon, it's only three hours out of your 24-hour day
    

Top 10 reasons to take the English HSA

1. Three words: Dip-Lo-Ma!
   
2. Numerous opportunities to read between the lines helps prepare you for squeezing between the lunch line…unnoticed.
   
3. Defining vocabulary in context is more fun than giving your friend's grandfather a pedicure.
   
4. It's better to put your finger on the sentence that doesn't belong in the paragraph rather than put your finger in your nose.
   
5. Because finally you'll know where to stick that topic sentence.
   
6. You don't want to be that child who gets left behind.
   
7. You should use your keen inferential ability for good and not for evil.
   
8. You're still waiting for the moment when your comma usage will really be put to the test.
   
9. Critical reading skills will determine the next American Idol.
   
10. Why else have you been doing those darn "Word of the Day" words for the last decade?