The Greater Amsterdam School District

Marching Into the Holiday Spirit! Last month, the Amsterdam Marching Rams were excited to return to our community parade after missing the year before while competing in Massachusetts — where they proudly took first place in the America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade in Plymouth, MA! It was the perfect way to kick off the holiday season and celebrate with our community. 💜🥁
#GASD

Barkley Celebrated World Kindness Day by honoring Mr. Rogers. For Barkly's Spirit day students and staff wore their favorite cardigan sweater and passed on kindness to others all day long!

LLA Threw Kindness Like CONFETTI! To celebrate World Kindness Day, our amazing LLA Support Team decorated every single student locker with a cheerful “KIND” surprise. The hallways were bursting with positivity, smiles and a whole lot of feel-good energy. Talk about starting the day on the right note! Check out the extra photos to see the kindness magic in action! 🎉✨

#GASD

Dear GASD Community,

Please come see AHS Drama Club’s production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. This holiday classic is based on Charles Dickens' novella. It recounts the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley, along with the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. It is a fantastic way to kick off the Holiday Season as we see Scrooge transform into a new man, learning the meaning of Christmas, and ultimately the joy of humanity and peace on earth.

Performance Dates IN PERSON ATTENDANCE ONLY

Price is $10 per ticket at the door.

There will also be concessions available for purchase before the show starts and during intermission.

Show Shirts will also be available for purchase!
Friday Nov. 7, 7:00 p.m., AHS Auditorium
Saturday Nov. 8, 7:00 p.m., AHS Auditorium
Sunday Nov. 9, 2 p.m., AHS Auditorium

Dear Parents & Guardians,

The Port Jackson Bocce Club is hosting a Bocce Tournament Fundraiser to support the Amsterdam High School Unified Bocce Team.

Date: Nov. 8
Start Time: 8 a.m.
Teams: 2-person open teams (up to 32 teams)
Entry Fee: $120 per team — all proceeds will help the students complete their bocce courts.

Come enjoy a fun-filled day of friendly competition, food, music, and community spirit while supporting our Unified athletes.

To sign up your team, call Justin at 838-202-2896.

Dear GASD Community,

We would like to invite you to come out and support the Marching Rams by stopping by their Garage Sale this weekend!

Saturday, Sept. 27
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
10 Columbia Street, Amsterdam

All proceeds benefit the Amsterdam High School Marching Rams. Thank you for supporting our students!

We look forward to seeing you!

Dear GASD Community,

Please join the New York State Unified Court System, Fourth Judicial District, in welcoming Hon. Joseph A. Zayas, Chief Administrative Judge of the State of New York, for a special Hispanic Heritage Celebration.

This free, public event will highlight justice, culture and community with live music, dance, food and conversation. Musical guest Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra will perform.

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. | Program begins at 6 p.m.
The Century Club, 130 Guy Park Ave., Amsterdam, NY 12010

We hope you will join us for this evening of celebration and community.

Dear GASD Community,

On Monday, July 28, the AHS Chorus Boosters are hosting a fundraiser at Panera Bread in Amsterdam!

How to support:
Use the promo code provided in the flyer (attached below) for in-person, pick-up, or online orders at the Amsterdam Panera Bread location.

Why it matters:
30% of all sales during this event will directly support our amazing chorus students!

Have questions?
Email: AHSChorusBoosterClub@gmail.com
Call/Text Booster Club President Jenn Miller-Effina at 518-866-8328

Please spread the word to family, friends, and coworkers—and thank you for supporting the arts in Amsterdam!

Dear GASD Community,

Healthy Kids is not just another childcare provider—we’re a certified benefit corporation on a mission to reinvent accessible and affordable childcare for today’s families.

We’re currently hiring for the following positions:
Assistants
Counselors
Site Supervisors
Site Directors

Why Join Our Team?
Telehealth Benefits: Access to virtual healthcare
Vision & Dental Insurance
401(k): We care about your future
Growth Opportunities: We’re growing and want you to grow with us

Interested in joining our team?

Apply today at healthykidsprograms.com/workwithus
Or reach out to:

lindsay@healthykidsprograms.com
danielleb@healthykidsprograms.com

Let’s make a difference together.

A huge thank-you to the Amsterdam Rotary Club for their incredible $20,000 donation to the Amsterdam Marching Rams! Your generosity—powered by the British Invasion Variety Show—will help support student travel, supplies, equipment, and unforgettable musical experiences. Your support keeps our students marching forward! 🚶‍♂️🥁💜

#GASD

Future Leaders, Big Ideas! Our sixth graders at LLA shared their thoughts on fairness and justice in the JUST LAW Writing and Art Contest, sponsored by the NYS Unified Court System and Judge Kris Singh! After learning about the legal system this fall, students submitted essays and artwork exploring what justice means to them. Big congratulations to our winners: Rhayna Arndt (first place), Brody Dodd (second place), and Dylan Schafer (third place)! Judge Singh even visited to present awards donated by the Montgomery County Bar Association. 🏆📝🎨 #GASD

Dear Parents and Guardians, We are pleased to invite you to a special event hosted by our Recording and Production class at LLA. On Monday, June 16, select students will present a Showcase of Student Work from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the LLA cafeteria. Doors will open at 6 p.m. This event will highlight the creativity and technical skills our students have developed throughout the year, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to support their hard work and talent. We hope to see you there!

We’re proud to celebrate AHS seniors DeReon Greene and Matthew Young, the 2025 recipients of the Amsterdam Rotary Club’s “Service Above Self” Scholarship! DeReon, a first-generation college student, excelled in sports, robotics, and leadership, and will study Cybersecurity at FMCC. Matthew, ranked 20th in his class, led in music and academics, and is headed to SUNY Binghamton for biochemistry. Thank you to the Rotary Club for recognizing our amazing students! 💜🎓👏 #GASD

Heads up, helmets on! Catholic Charities generously donated bike helmets to the Amsterdam Police Department, with SRO Josh Bartman playing a key role in making it happen. This gift will help promote safer biking habits and protect the well-being of our students—an awesome example of community partnerships making a real difference! 🚲💙🙌 #GASD

Dear MCI Families, We are excited to invite you to Jungle Journey Through the Rainforest — a special STEAM-themed evening hosted by MCI! Date: Monday, May 20 Time: 5:00–6:30 p.m. Location: MCI This fun-filled event will include: • A student art show • Hands-on, student-centered activities • Appetizers (while food lasts!) Please note: Students must be accompanied by an adult. We hope to see you there for this jungle-inspired evening of creativity, exploration, and fun!

Happy National Assistant Principals Week (April 7–11)! Here at GASD, we’re sending a huge THANK YOU to our incredible assistant principals for everything they do. From supporting staff and encouraging students to fostering a welcoming school environment and tackling each day’s challenges head-on, they truly help keep our schools running strong. We’re so lucky to have such passionate and dedicated leaders in our corner—your hard work never goes unnoticed! You’re the MVPs of multitasking — and we appreciate you every day!

Dear Parents & Guardians, Please come see AHS Drama Club’s production of HADESTOWN: Teen Edition. "Hadestown" is a modern musical by Anaïs Mitchell that reimagines the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Set in an industrialized world, it follows the young lovers as they navigate the underworld, ruled by the enigmatic Hades and his wife Persephone. With a rich, folksy score blending jazz, blues, and Broadway styles, "Hadestown" explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the struggle for freedom. It won multiple Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has captivated audiences with its haunting melodies and compelling storytelling. Performance Dates IN PERSON ATTENDANCE ONLY Price is $12 per ticket at the door. There will also be concessions available for purchase before the show starts and during intermission. Show Shirts will also be available for purchase! Show Times: Friday April 4, 7 p.m., AHS Auditorium Saturday April 5, 7 p.m., AHS Auditorium Sunday April 6, 2 p.m., AHS Auditorium

Join us in celebrating World Down Syndrome Day by wearing brightly colored, bold, or mismatched socks this Friday, March 21!

Hello! A reminder to our Selected (Most Select Chorus Students) Students for All County that the All County Music Festival is this Saturday March 1st, 2025. Students are to arrive at 8:15 to the high school. Concert Starts at 3PM, Tickets are $5 for the concert. Most Chorus student should be done by 4:30 that day. All County Students are to wear either a plain black tshirt/long sleeve/All County shirt and dark bottoms for the concert. The AHS Chorus Booster club is also hosting and selling lunch for the Montgomery All County Music Festival on Saturday March 1st at AHS. In order to accommodate near 300 students attending, we are need of donations to make this possible. All proceeds from sales go to support the Booster Club. We have a sign up genius below, and every little bit helps!!! If you are able to donate we would greatly appreciate it! All items are due by Wednesday 02/26/25 to the Chorus Room! If you can't bring it tomorrow please let us know as we will still gladly accept donations. https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C0B4FAAAD29A4FCC34-55125094-allcounty Thank you and as always if you have any questions please let me know!

Rhythm, Culture, and Celebration! Last week, Amsterdam High School was alive with energy as we welcomed Jordan Taylor Hill for an unforgettable performance! His powerful blend of music, storytelling, and African drumming brought history to life, perfectly aligning with our Black History Month celebrations. Our students were captivated, inspired, and moving to the beat—what a way to honor culture and creativity! 🥁🎶✨ #GASD