The Buffalo Seminary
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| The Buffalo Seminary | |
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| Location | |
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| Buffalo, NY, US | |
| Information | |
| Songs | Alma Mater and Jerusalem |
| Head of School | Jo Ann Douglass |
| Students | 157 |
| Faculty | 40 |
| Type | private, all-girls |
| Mascot | Siren |
| Established | 1851 |
| Homepage | www.buffaloseminary.org |
The Buffalo Seminary, commonly called Buff Sem, is a private, nonsectarian, all-girls college preparatory school located at 205 Bidwell Parkway in Buffalo, New York, United States. The school operates independently from the New York State guidelines established by the Board of Regents
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[edit] History
Founded in 1851, Buffalo Seminary is Western New York’s only nonsectarian, college preparatory school for girls. The school was originally named The Buffalo Female Academy, and has maintained all-female attendance. Its original mission was to provide an exceptional education to young women throughout its 150-year history. Originally, it offered education for young girls from kindergarten through sophomore year in college. In 1889, the school adopted its current name, The Buffalo Seminary. The school changed its policy in 1899 to teach only grades 9 through 12 after merging with the Elmwood School. In 1908, The school moved from its initial founding address on Johnson Park to the current address on Bidwell Parkway.
[edit] Facilities
The Seminary's main building is located at 205 Bidwell Parkway. Built by George F. Newton, and completed in 1909, in the Tudor Revival style, the school's building features buttresses, terra cotta sculptures, Gothic style arches, and limestone ornamentation. The interior of the building features a library with a fireplace, a remodeled study hall, traditional chapel (the location of every day's morning meeting) as well as modern computer labs, laptops, and Smartboard technology. A remodeled kitchen and atrium provide areas for students to enjoy mealtimes and free-periods. A contemporary Performing Arts Center, MAC lab, darkroom, gymnasium, and a fitness room have helped keep the school modern. Additionally, the building features the West-Chester Hall, now used for meetings, but previously served as a private residence for the headmaster or mistress.
[edit] Sports
The Buffalo Seminary Sirens are part of the Monsignor Martin Girls Athletic League. The students compete with other schools in the league as well as other local high schools in various sports. The school offers 12 sports in which the girls may participate in both the Varsity and Junior Varsity level. Notably, Buff Sem sent 2 boats to the US National Scholastic Rowing Championships in Camden, NJ. Their women's junior four boat took first place, as National Champions[1]. The school's mascot has recently been changed to the Red Tailed Hawks.
[edit] Traditions
One of the school's prominent traditions is the Hornet and Jacket tradition. After admission to the school, a student is randomly sorted into either team. Throughout the year, different festive and often holiday themed contests are held, such as costume contests, and the teams compete against the other. Points are awarded to the winning team, and at the close of the school year, the points are tallied, and the winning team is engraved into the "Cup."
Another tradition not common in other schools in the area is the Morning Meeting. Other local high schools usually begin their day with an assigned homeroom for students, but traditionally, at Sem, all students gather in the chapel in the morning. Announcements are read here, in a more informal atmosphere to give a greater sense of community. Students commonly perform comical skits meant to be educational, and sing alongs also take place to start the school day with a more positive attitude.
