orld Culture Students Visit Watervliet Arsenal
Students from Mr. Reilly's World Culture Class recently toured the Watervliet Arsenal on the banks of the Hudson River, the oldest continuously active arsenal in the United States and a historic national landmark. A museum located on site tells the story of the Watervliet Arsenal, as well as the history of big guns, and provided the students with an opportunity to view many new artillery weapons, together with one of a kind guns from the past 400 years.

JHS Writers Anthology 2009 Now Available
With the printing of the "JHS Anthology 2009," high school students M. Gallt, J. Ugalde, S. DeLorenzo, C. Benton, D. Handy and E. Babcock have tangible evidence of the hard work they put into their short stories and poems. Working with high school library media specialist Dylan Thomarie, the students spent five months writing and editing their stories and poems. They now get to see that creativity in print, as each of the writers has received their own free copy of the Anthology, courtesy of a Johnstown Teachers Association mini-grant. The 107-page Anthology may be purchased online, or via Mr. Thomarie in the high school library media center. A copy is also available in the library for anyone to checkout. Inspired to write a story? JHS students, start thinking about your plot now! The same challenge will begin again in November and you could be included in the 2010 edition of the JHS Writers Anthology.

JHS Spring Musical - April 23, 24 & 25
Rehearsals are over and the show's underway, with performances scheduled for 7 p.m. on April 23, 24 & 25 in the JHS Performing Arts Center (admission $4/adults, $2/students & senior citizens). This year’s show is Honk!, a musical  adaptation of the Hans Christian Anderson story The Ugly Duckling. The book and lyrics are by Anthony Drewe and music is by George Stiles. The story features Ugly, a duckling  who discovers his inner beauty when he becomes a swan; his tearful mother Ida; a drake who "ducks" his fatherly responsibilities; a gaggle of comical geese; a sly, French tomcat who wants to befriend Ugly so he can eat him; a wisecracking bullfrog and various barnyard creatures, together with a great many "fowl" puns. The musical comedy features a large cast of 36 students, with leading roles being portrayed by JHS seniors Austin Calderwood, Joshua Schermerhorn, Mitchell Hart and Amanda Rovazzini; juniors Ali Crankshaw, Katherine VanDenburgh, Kaia Jansson and Sarah Muzzi; sophomores Hannah Fettinger and Brittney Oathout; and freshman Matthew Miller. Click here to see photos from the April 23 performance.

Art Works Created by Three JHS Students Chosen for Exhibit
The art work of three JHS students has been selected for inclusion in the 17th Annual Fulton Montgomery Community College Juried Regional High School Art Exhibition.

Sakura Isei’s acrylic painting titled “Escape,” Samantha Simek’s charcoal drawing titled “Storm” and Rachel Simonds’ carved relief piece titled “Oppression” will be on exhibit through Monday, April 20, in the Perrella Gallery at FMCC.

JHS PTSA Second Annual Craft Fair March 14
The Johnstown High School PTSA hosted its second annual Spring Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, at the high school. Admission to the event was free.

Approximately 60 vendors and home-based businesses, both local and from as far away as Bennington, Vermont, offered handmade jewelry, leather bags, custom framing, garden stepping stones, fudge, candles, furniture wood carvings and other gift items for sale.

There were hands-on craft projects for children including jewelry making, Sandy Candy, cookie decorating, beading, face painting, tattoos and foam art projects throughout the day. Pictured above and at right are members of the girls lacrosse team, making beads for their craft table.

Various JHS clubs, classes and sports teams hosted food and activity booths. The JHS Class of 2010 hosted a concession stand offering a variety of lunch items. Breakfast foods, pies, cookies and other items were also available.

Raffle tickets were sold for chances to win one of four $25 “Craft Dollars” gift certificates. The Craft Dollars could be used at any of the vendors that day. There were also raffles of other craft items donated by vendors and local businesses.

Tenth Annual Prom Fashion Show
The tenth annual Prom Fashion Show, hosted by the JHS PTSA, took place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, at Johnstown High School.

The show  featured the following student models and escorts, displaying the latest in prom fashions from A Fine Romance of Amsterdam, Rockabella Boutique of Saratoga Springs and Belle Fiori Tuxedos (formerly Classic Image) of Johnstown: Amie Sedal, Mary Jane Carville, Danielle Nellis, Tiffany Enright, Kelsey Schrum, Jessica Vickers, Mercedes Miller, Cassie King, Brittanie Leigh, Kelsey Palcovic, Margo Beck, Marlaina Wing, Myckenzie Frasier, Adele Friello, Medina Alam, Kelly Brown, Chelsea Goodier, Taylor Baird, Cassidy Shiel, Kyra Billington, Karly Vdoviak, Nick Coppola, Michael Butler, Mike Kelly, Jake Arrunategui, Rich Christman, Jon Paul Muller, Wes Clark, Damian Beman, Jake Zidich, Mitch Rogers, Principal Michael Beatty and Vice Principal Duilio Viscusi. Commentators for the evening were  Marlaina Wing and Damian Beman.

Hairstyling for the event was provided by Hairific, Pearl's Salon, Fantastic Sam's and Unique Expressions, all of Johnstown.

In addition, various local businesses had booths set up so that attendees could peruse the many prom-related professional services available. Refreshments wwere available, musical entertainment was provided and door prizes were given away throughout the evening.

JHS Wind Ensemble Performs at Carnegie Hall
In what many would consider a once in a lifetime opportunity, the Johnstown High School Wind Ensemble performed a concert in New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10, 2009. To learn more about this exciting event, click here.

Post Prom Adirondack Chairs & Table Raffle
Congratulations to Brian and Donita Crankshaw on winning the Post Prom Party raffle of two Adirondack chairs and matching table, donated by the JHS Technology classes.  There will be another raffle of two more chairs and a table at the second annual JHS PTA Craft Fair on Saturday, March 14, 2009.

Votes Tallied, High School Receives New Street Address
The addition of the new JHS auditorium and the elimination of the thoroughfare between Wright Drive and Pearl Street necessitated a change of street address for the high school. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Department suggested that the “circle” in front of the building be given a name and used as the high school’s new street address. The JHS Student Council chose a list of approximately 10 names and, on Monday, September 22, all high school students had an opportunity to vote for the new name during homeroom. Following a tally of the votes, the winner with 106 votes was.... "Sir Bills Circle." The new name was adopted by resolution of the Board of Education on October 14 and, effective November 1, 2008, the official address to be used for the high school became 1 Sir Bills Circle, Johnstown, New York 12095.

JHS Green Club Celebrates Arbor Day
In celebration of Arbor Day 2009, the JHS Green Club planted a tree on the circle in front of Johnstown High School. Special thanks are extended to Goderies Tree Farm for donating the tree.

JHS Spring Musical - April 23, 24 & 25
Rehearsals are over and the show's underway, with performances scheduled for 7 p.m. on April 23, 24 & 25 in the JHS Performing Arts Center (admission $4/adults, $2/students & senior citizens). This year’s show is Honk!, a musical  adaptation of the Hans Christian Anderson story The Ugly Duckling. The book and lyrics are by Anthony Drewe and music is by George Stiles. The story features Ugly, a duckling  who discovers his inner beauty when he becomes a swan; his tearful mother Ida; a drake who "ducks" his fatherly responsibilities; a gaggle of comical geese; a sly, French tomcat who wants to befriend Ugly so he can eat him; a wisecracking bullfrog and various barnyard creatures, together with a great many "fowl" puns. The musical comedy features a large cast of 36 students, with leading roles being portrayed by JHS seniors Austin Calderwood, Joshua Schermerhorn, Mitchell Hart and Amanda Rovazzini; juniors Ali Crankshaw, Katherine VanDenburgh, Kaia Jansson and Sarah Muzzi; sophomores Hannah Fettinger and Brittney Oathout; and freshman Matthew Miller. Click here to see photos from the April 23 performance.

Green Club Adopts A Turtle
Green Club members have adopted a Yellow-Spotted Amazon River Turtle at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse. The Yellow-Spotted Amazon River Turtle's natural home is northern South America in countries like Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil and others. It is something of a unique turtle because it is a side-necked turtle. Side-necked turtles do not retreat their heads into their shell but turn to the side and tuck their heads under the rim of the shell.
For more information about the adopted turtle check the Green Club website at http://jhsgreenclub.wordpress.com

Regional Composer and Librettist Augusta Cecconi-Bates Discusses "Molly of the Mohawks"
On Tuesday, September 9, JHS hosted regional composer and librettist Augusta Cecconi-Bates. Ms. Cecconi-Bates addressed approximately 150 students in the new high school lecture hall (formerly the auditorium) regarding her two act opera titled "Molly of the Mohawks," which is based on the life of Molly Brant and Sir William Johnson. Ms. Cecconi-Bates enlightened JHS students with details about Brant and Johnson and their dealings with the Indian tribes of New York State from 1753 to 1783. She explained that, in 2003, she began working on the opera, which includes a 15 member cast and 14 piece orchestra, costuming and production, with highlights from her research. Students from Mr. Beck's Advanced Placement American History class, Mr. Jones' Wind Ensemble and Mr. Morton's Chamber and Concert Choir attended the discussion.

JHS Grand Opening Celebration
October 28 marked a special day for the District, as the community came out to get a glimpse of the completed renovations and new additions at Johnstown High School. Standing in the new showcase and display area at the front of the former auditorium, Superintendent Katherine Sullivan wielded a large pair of ceremonial scissors to slice through a gala purple & gold bow before a gathering of onlookers, while surrounded by current and former Board of Education members, along with JHS Principal Michael Beatty, Facilities and Operations Director E.J. Maye, Clerk of the Works Mike Croneiser and representatives of both Bonacci Architects and Bast-Hatfield Construction. Click here to read more and see additional photos.

JHS Homecoming Weekend - 5K Run/Walk Race Results
Many thanks to all who volunteered their time to help with the various JHS Purple & Gold Club Homecoming Weekend festivities. We hope all who participated enjoyed the events and will be back to join us again next year! As part of the weekend celebration, our first 5K Run/Walk Race (which we hope to make an annual tradition) took place on Saturday, October 11. Please click here to view final race results.

Marching Sir Bills Join Celebration of Johnstown's 250th Anniversary
	The JHS "Sir Bills" Marching Band helped to celebrate the City of Johnstown's 250th Anniversary by performing in the Anniversary Parade on September 13, 2008. The band entertained hundreds of people along the parade route with a medley of patriotic songs.