School Social Work
School social workers take an active role in ensuring that our students social and emotional needs are met. Students engage in individual and group activities in collaboration with instructional staff. Social workers work with families and agencies to help problem solve individual crisis situations.
Career and Educational Counseling
Elementary Program I Course Catalog I Planning for College I Planning for a Career I Financial Aid I Naviance
The focus of the Greater Amsterdam School District’s Counseling Department is to provide a Developmental School Counseling Program consisting of a comprehensive plan of academic, career, and personal development. The program is an essential part of the total school program and supports the goals established for all students.
Through a series of sequential and developmental activities, the counselor ensures that he/she is meaningfully involved with each student during each year of the secondary school experience. In this way the student is in the best position to learn, plan, and make positive decisions with the ongoing support and assistance of a school counselor.
Elementary Program
The elementary guidance curriculum will include structured experiences presented systematically through classroom and group activities from kindergarten through fifth grade. The curriculum emphasizes decision making; goal setting; study skills; and career exploration, preparation, and planning.
Course Catalog
The Guidance Department assists students and parents each school year with course selection. For information on high school classes and other opportunities, contact your guidance counselor.
View the full Course Catalog, graduation requirements, diploma information.
College and Career P-Tech Pathway
Planning for College
Getting started early on your college search will help you get through the application process in a timely manner.
This guide, broken down by grade level, should be used as a timeline to keep you on track.
If you need help with your college applications, confused about how to link your Common App with Naviance, or need other assistance, you can visit College Application Help Sessions every Wednesday and Thursday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Amsterdam High School Media Center.
Planning for a Career
If college isn’t for you, there are many avenues you can take to finding a career after graduation, such as trucking, cosmetology and medical assistance.
Learn more about those options here.
Financial Aid
Students (of all ages) who haven’t attended college or trade school, and parents of students in elementary and secondary school should use these resources to learn more about financial aid.
- The official web site of the New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association is a great source for financial aid information for students and families.
- Your source for free information from the US Department of Education on preparing for and funding education beyond high school.
- Apply for financial aid online or call the FAFSA Assistance Hotline, which runs every Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m. through Feb. 25 to promote Student Financial Aid Awareness. Email for help at anytime at FAFSAhelp@hesc.org.
- A great site where students can find out about TAP (Tuition Assistance Program), student loans, and all of the programs offered by New York State.
- FinAid: The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid: A well-known site with everything you want to know about financial aid, including scholarship searches, information about scams, and how to apply for aid.
Naviance
Naviance is a comprehensive college and career readiness solution that helps districts and schools align student strengths and interests to post-secondary goals, improving student outcomes and connecting learning to life.
Click here to view scholarship opportunities available for Amsterdam High School students, before applying through Naviance.