Ams Advisor has been known as one of the largest academic clubs in Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted with events that caused great sensation around them such as “The Hidden Book” or “Club Fair”. This year, with Covid-19 spreading more aggressively than ever, much of the club’s activity has been halted and member recruitment has not been an exception. In such a situation, this Christmas, Ams Advisor has given the new members a simple, yet touching gift in the form of loving acceptance letters.

Congratulatory gift cards printed with white bears - the mascot of the club’s 14th generation, have been handed directly to these new members. Packed with them are cookies, candy sticks, outfitted with cute and cool bow ties, all an expression of great love and care from Ams Advisor to this year’s soon-to-be members of the “great bear family”.

On top of that, to celebrate the Christmas spirit as well as providing students with an insightful understanding of the “psychology of holidays”, Psi Ams - the first and only Psychology club of Ams has brought to the viewers a host of posts around the theme “Psychology of Holidays”.

Psi Ams with its articles about “Psychology of Holidays”

These posts branched off into three small themes: “Home Alone: This way, my unexpected guest”; “Dashes from the Past” and “A Christmas Carol”, attracting Amsers with the meticulousness shown in each post, and information that is relevant but never ceases to amaze us. Taking inspiration from “Home Alone” - a film premiered in 1990 and is considered an essential “spiritual food” for every Christmas holiday, Psi Ams has reconstructed the psychological elements of a holiday season through stories about an 8-year-old boy accidentally left alone at home in Paris. With a dazzling start, Psi Ams made an incredibly smooth transition to the next theme - “Dashes from the Past”. This time, Psi focuses on the continuation of holidays (with special attention to Christmas) and our enthusiasm before these days. From this theme, the article explained these two phenomenons from a scientific standpoint by referring to social learning and consistency in our actions when passing on holiday traditions; at the same time, exhibitions of excitement can be representative of an increase in happiness and a decrease in negativity during holidays. Included in the posts was 3S - 3 key aspects to control your emotion: Sights, Sounds, Smells; these aspects form the final article “A Christmas Carol” of Psi Ams’ holiday psychology theme. To read the full articles on “Psychology of Holidays”, the readers can visit Psi Ams’s Facebook fanpage below: https://www.facebook.com/psiams/

Speaking of Christmas, one cannot fail to mention the “special” holiday celebration by Amstronomy’s family. Famous for being the only astronomy club in Hanoi - Amsterdam High School, Amstronomy is widely known for the closeness and intimacy between its members. This year, although unable to go offline for the celebration like usual, Amstronomy still held a meeting to greet Christmas and a New Year, bringing members closer together.

Amstronomy club members celebrating Christmas Eve and New Year together in a one-of-a-kind format

Outside clubs, each class is also eagerly excited to share this Christmas night with each other, especially the 10 English 2 community.

10 English 2 joining in the Christmas party celebrated by their own members

Party tables with fragrant food such as “roast goose”, “turkey”, “yule log”, not to mention a multitude of delicacies and gourmet food, all stunningly realistically “simulated” with a click of a button from the students. From pine trees and decorations to a full set of seats for everyone, Christmas party at 10 English 2 truly deserves the title “most spectacular party of the year”. Using Gather Town as a platform - a brand new virtual office, its members hosted a small, cozy party with a variety of events from singing, story time to a special event called Secret Santa - the secret Santa Claus. Knowing so little about each other outside the screen, it goes without saying that through love and attachment, the party has sent out a message of love to themselves for all of their hard work. Perhaps, this may be the most priceless gift ever made by 10 English 2 for this Christmas holiday.

This year’s Christmas, albeit difficult for many to meet each other face-to-face for an offline Christmas celebration, has not made the holiday spirit any less festive. We hope that each Christmas season, be it this year, next year and so on, will be a season of joy and love for all Amsers, breaking the icy winter and bringing warmth to every student of this school.