Amsterdam winter sports are now available for registration! Join a sport today and create new relationships and engage in fitness activities while representing the Amsterdam Rams! Sports offered are: Indoor Track, Varsity Basketball, JV Basketball, Varsity and JV Competitive Cheerleading, Boys Varsity Swimming, Varsity Wrestling, Varsity Bowling, and Alpine Varsity Skiing (with BP).  All winter sports are scheduled to begin November 18th, and will run through March 8th. Physicals are mandatory. 

Halloween is a national holiday celebrated worldwide since the 16th century. In the early 1970’s it started to become dangerous. Parents started to worry about their kids on Halloween night. During the early 1970’s politicians and police started talking about poisoned candy. There were no real events that explained this fear. They started thinking that there could be razor blades inside the candy. On Oct. 31, 1974, a child died in Huston from laced candy. There were traces of cyanide in a pixie stick that the child ate. Nowadays, in the 2000’s, there's been many accusations of which types of candies to look out for because they have drugs in them. There are occasionally one to two cases of candy with sharp objects within the candy. The chance of it happening is low, but never zero, so make sure to check your and your younger children's candies just to be safe.

Halloween is just around the corner now, and with many people decorating and preparing their costumes, the question is …how old is too old to trick or treat?  There is no national limit for what age is too old to trick or treat, but some cities have their own restrictions. For example, New Brunswick in Canada originally enacted a bylaw prohibiting trick or treaters over 14. But in 2017, the law was revised and now sets the age to 16 along with an 8 PM curfew. Anyone caught in public with a “facial disguise” on Halloween after curfew can be fined up to $200!  Personally, I think there is no issue of trick or treating when you’re older IF you are going with a younger sibling. However, if you are in high school, and old enough to buy your own candy, you may want to reconsider trick or treating this Halloween.

This school year has been and continues to be accompanied by its fair share of new things. Whether that be the new Yondr pouches, the new student center, or, the most highly anticipated new food. School lunch is something that every student has a bittersweet relationship with. It can be surprisingly good, or really bad. This year with a new food service company, Amsterdam High School’s school lunch has taken a turn for the better. 

Not only are the cafeteria staff welcoming and excited to see the students, but the multitudes of food options do not disappoint. Everyday they have a new, filling, and honestly quite delicious dish. Not only that, but many pizza options, chicken tenders, and fresh salads are offered everyday. Not only that, but they offer a multitude of different sides. There’s an option of fruit, vegetables, rolls, sometimes pasta salad, and chips. It gives students something new to look forward to everyday, while keeping the classics. There is, however, some discussion over certain meals, but for the feared “school food” it soars above and beyond. One complaint that can be made is the closing of the food lanes and sometimes even amounts of food during seventh period lunch. Many students who are a part of this lunch period say that the food portions could be bigger. It seems sometimes, especially with the main hot lunch, the cafeteria seems to run out of food. This can be understandable seeing as it is the last period of the day; nonetheless, it is disappointing for the students in seventh period lunch. With that said, the price of cookies going back down to one dollar is a joy in students eyes. It makes it more affordable for a delicious after-lunch treat. Compared to last year the buzz of school lunch has greatly increased. 

All in all, school lunch has become a favorite part of the day for many students, whether it be to enjoy a fresh slice of pizza or the daily hot lunch. It does come with its factors that can be improved, but nothing can be perfect. For “school lunch” the food is definitely worth trying. Students may even find themselves enjoying their free part of the day even more than they have before. 

Sleep deprivation because of how early school starts has been a topic of debate for nearly two decades now. Parents, principals, and superintendents have been worried about students' ability to succeed in early classes and have tried over the years to come up with the best solution to this problem. So does school start too early, or are teenagers just lazy? 

There are notable disadvantages to early school start times, mostly concerning the health of students. Research has shown that adolescents have different sleep patterns compared to adults, often requiring more sleep and tending to go to bed later. Seven to eight a.m. start times can lead to chronic sleep deprivation, which negatively impacts cognitive function, mood, and overall health. Sleep-deprived students may struggle to concentrate in class, leading to lower academic performance and increased stress levels. Early start times can worsen the problem of insufficient sleep, contributing to long-term health issues such as obesity and depression.

While waking up early is a hassle for teenagers, there are some advantages to it. Later school times disrupts parents’ schedules as early start times are perfect for parents to drop off their kids at school before work. Starting at the recommended ten a.m time would also give students less time for extracurricular activities. Since starting school early allows for more daylight hours after school, students can use these daylight hours for extracurricular activities, sports, homework, and socializing. This can contribute to a well-rounded development and a balanced lifestyle. So no, teenagers aren’t just lazy, they struggle with early start times just as much as adults would struggle with later start times. 

One of Shakespeare’s most famous lines from his play Romeo and Juliet is “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet…”  This is commonly interpreted as a name is unimportant; people and objects are who and what they are regardless of their names, and changing names has no substantial effect. Is this really true, though? Our names are so closely linked to our identities that when people call us by the wrong name, or mispronounce our names, or disregard our chosen names, it hurts.

My name, Séamus, is of Irish origin and is pronounced Shay-muss.  I am not offended the first time that somebody mispronounces my name, but I am irritated when it happens repeatedly.  I feel that if somebody has any respect for me, they will learn how to say my name correctly. This makes me think of people who have chosen a new name that better represents how they feel on the inside because they are non-binary or transgender.  It is extremely disrespectful for a person to continually call someone by their birth name just because they feel uncomfortable with the name change.   

 Mispronouncing names can be seen as an unintentional sign of disrespect. When your name is unfamiliar to many people, it can be a very common occurrence to hear it mispronounced. This is something that I am very accustomed to.  This occasionally causes me to want to go by a different preferred name so that I don’t have to hear the mispronunciation anymore. But, for now, I'll just stick with Séamus. 

In 2012, Rihanna told us all to “shine bright like a diamond,” and the song still resonates today, more than a decade later.   Diamonds are created when carbon atoms bond together under intense heat and pressure.  They are considered so valuable because of their strength and beauty.  In a lot of ways, the students of AHS are also diamonds, becoming even more resplendent and resilient with each obstacle they overcome.

For me, personally, the combination of academic pressure coupled with the pressure of extracurricular activities helps me thrive.  When I have too much free time, like during summer vacation, anxiety and depression often sets in; I have too much time to just sit and think about the future, and existential crises follow.  When I am busy at school, and my mind and body are engaged in many activities, I am too focused and too driven to worry about the state of the world.  For example, this week I am practicing for the Homecoming Parade and Half-Time Show.  The music for the show is the most challenging it has been all year, and I , like the rest of my bandmates, want to put on a stellar performance that our community can feel proud of.  In addition, I am writing articles for the school newspaper, keeping up with my homework, and participating in the drama club as an actor in the upcoming play.  We just started practicing our lines last week, and we are “off book” beginning next week, so I have a lot of lines and blocking to learn.

 To some, this may seem overwhelming, but for me, the pressure motivates me to be my very best.  I plan to “shine bright like a diamond” as the heat and pressure of a busy fall semester molds me into the best version of myself. 

The play, “The Crucible”, is a dramatized story of the Salem witch trials that’s mostly based on true events that took place in the Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts from 1692-1693. The word “crucible” is a dish that’s used to purify a substance by fire which fits in with what the Puritans thought they were doing: “purifying” their town by burning witches. The play explores themes of mass hysteria, the dangers of extremism, and the consequences of moral absolutism.

Arthur Miller wrote "The Crucible" as a metaphor for the McCarthy era, during which the U.S. government blacklisted accused communists. The play's depiction of the Salem witch trials serves as a metaphor for the "witch hunts" of the 1950s, highlighting the dangers of paranoia, false accusations, and the erosion of civil liberties. 

At the heart of "The Crucible" is John Proctor, a farmer who becomes entangled in the witch trials when his former mistress, Abigail Williams, accuses his wife, Elizabeth, of witchcraft. Abigail's motivations are complex: she is driven by jealousy and a desire to be with John, but her actions have far-reaching and devastating consequences. As the town becomes engulfed in panic, accusations fly, and the judicial system is manipulated by those seeking power and revenge.

John Proctor tries to discredit the accusations made by Abigail and the other girls. His struggle is complicated by his own past sins and the moral dilemmas he faces. The tension escalates as the court, led by Judge Danforth, becomes extremely unforgiving, leading to tragic consequences for many characters. Throughout the play, themes of integrity, reputation, and the power of hysteria are explored. The characters are forced to confront their own beliefs and the societal pressures that drive them to act in ways that are often contrary to their true selves. "The Crucible" paints a vivid picture of a community in turmoil and the devastating impact of fear and suspicion on human lives.

The play ends with a powerful resolution that emphasizes the importance of personal integrity and the tragic cost of fanaticism. Through its compelling characters and intense narrative, "The Crucible" remains a timeless and relevant examination of the human condition and the perils of unchecked authority.

Come see the Drama Club’s reenactment of The Crucible on Friday, November 8th at 7pm, Saturday, November 9th at 7pm, or Sunday, November 10th at 2pm. 

As the lights dim and the curtain rises, the Amsterdam Drama Club invites audiences into the booming world of Arthur Miller's “The Crucible”. This gripping play, set against the backdrop of the Salem witch trials, explores themes of fear, morality, and the consequences of mass hysteria. 

With a talented cast and dedicated crew, the club is set to deliver a powerful performance that resonates with contemporary issues of truth and justice. The Amsterdam Drama Club has assembled a diverse group of talented actors, each bringing their unique talents to the stage. From seasoned performers to enthusiastic newcomers, the cast embodies the characters with depth and authenticity. 

The Amsterdam drama club’s production of “The Crucible” is shaping into a remarkable experience filled with passion, personal connections, and the inevitable challenges in theater. As the cast navigates their relationships and demands of their roles, audiences can look forward to a powerful performance that resonates both on and off stage. The journey of these young actors is a testament to the transformative power of theater, where every rehearsal brings them closer to the truth of their character and themselves. See the end of their journey, when the show is finally on its feet. The production will be on November 8th and 9th at 7 pm and November 10th at 2 pm, at Amsterdam High School inside the Auditorium.

Darby Crash, cofounder of the band “The Germs”  had a troubled life, beginning in childhood. His father left when he was young, and his mother was mentally ill and verbally abusive towards Crash. Crash’s mother married three times, and when her third husband, Bob Baker, died of a heart-attack, he learned that his biological father died as well. When he was 11, his older brother died of a drug overdose of heroin, the same drug that ultimately killed him in 1980. When he was in school he was assigned to the Innovative Program School, which was a program from University High School, but did not take it seriously, and even created a class where they would just go to the market and eat fruit for an hour before returning to school. Darby Crash and his friend, Pat Smear, decided to start their band after being kicked out of school for anti-social behavior and having been accused of “mind-controlling” other students. 

The Germs were a punk band from Los Angeles, California that formed in 1976 and disbanded in 1980. They only released one official album that was produced by Joan Jett (originally from The Runaways) and that was the first album she ever produced. The band had originally been named Sophistif*cks and The Revlon Spam Queens, but they couldn’t afford to put that many letters on a shirt so they changed the name. The band originally consisted of singer Darby Crash (Jan Paul Beahm), guitarist Pat Smear (George Albert Ruthenberg), drummer Michelle Baer, who was replaced before ever playing with the band by Dottie Danger (Belinda Carlisle) who was then also replaced by Don Bolles, and Bassist Dinky (Diana Grant) who was replaced by Lorna Doom (Teresa Marie Ryan) before ever playing a show as well. 

At the first ever show the band played, the only one with any musical experience was Pat Smear and the band had no original songs at the time. Their shows were known for being almost like riots, and during their first show Crash put the microphone in peanut butter and covered himself with red licorice. The first single the band released was called “forming.” They released it in 1977 after having recorded it in Pat’s garage, and when the presing came back, the sleeve read  “this record may cause ear cancer.” The Germs also sent in a recording for “Up In Smoke,” but they were the only band that didn’t get a call back, likely due to the destructive nature of their live shows. The one that was recorded for the movie included an unscripted food fight. The band was later featured in “The Decline of Western Civilization,” which was a movie that documented the L.A punk scene. 

Two members of the band ended up forming/joining other bands after The Germs disbanded. Belinda Carlisle left The Germs for her new band, The Go-Gos, mainly because she was becoming concerned with the heroin problem the other members had, Pat Smear eventually joined Nirvana and then the Foo Fighters. The Germs finally disbanded because Darby Crash fired Don Bolles and tried to replace him with his lover, Rob Henley. After the spilt, Crash and Smear formed Darby Crash Band which never really gained popularity.  Not long after that band’s formation, Crash committed suicide. Many believe that before his death he attempted to write “Here lies Darby Crash” but in reality, he wrote a short letter to the bassist of Darby Crash band, David “Bosco” Danford, that read “My life, my leather, my love goes to Bosco.” Darby Crash’s death was overshadowed by the death of John Lennon who was shot and killed the day after. The Germs had an influence beyond just music, a  wrestler derived his name from Darby Crash and GG Allin, “Darby Allin”.

Years after the death of Darby Crash, Don Bolles attempted to release two more songs that were written by Crash before he passed and also wrote a book. 

R.I.P Darby Crash (September 26th, 1958 - December 7th, 1980), cause of death: heroin overdose, and Lorna Doom (January 4th, 1958 - January 16th, 2019) cause of death: breast cancer.)