The Buffalo Seminary
Encyclopedia
The Buffalo Seminary, commonly called Buff Sem or simply 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
.
, 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. Graduates of the seminary founded the Twentieth Century Club
in the late 1800s. 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. That building, completed the following year, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2011.
. It was 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.
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 in 2007. The school's mascot has recently been changed to the Red Tailed Hawks. Formerly, they were known as the Seminary Sirens, a reference to Greek myth.
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 singalongs also take place to start the school day with a more positive attitude.
by Lauren Belfer, a novel exploring the cultural mores of old Buffalo wealth, The Buffalo Seminary serves as inspiration for the Macaulay School for Girls, of which the main character is Headmistress. Lauren Belfer
is herself a graduate of the school.
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, nonsectarian, all-girls college preparatory school located at 205 Bidwell Parkway in Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The school operates independently from the New York State guidelines established by the Board of Regents
Regents Examinations
Regents High School examinations, sometimes shortened to the Regents, are mandatory in New York State through the New York State Education Department, designed and administered under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York...
.
History
Founded in 1851, Buffalo Seminary is Western New York’s only nonsectarianNonsectarian
Nonsectarian, in its most literal sense, refers to a lack of sectarianism. The term is also more narrowly used to describe secular private educational institutions or other organizations either not affiliated with or not restricted to a particular religious denomination though the organization...
, 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
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through sophomore year in college. In 1889, the school adopted its current name, The Buffalo Seminary. Graduates of the seminary founded the Twentieth Century Club
Twentieth Century Club (Buffalo, New York)
The Twentieth Century Club is a women's social club founded in the late 19th century in Buffalo, New York. It is located at 595 Delaware Avenue, in the Delaware District neighborhood. It was the first club run by women, for women, in the United States....
in the late 1800s. 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. That building, completed the following year, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2011.
Facilities
The Seminary's main building is located at 205 Bidwell Parkway. It was designed by Boston architect George F. Newton, who also designed the Hellenic Orthodox Church of the AnnunciationHellenic Orthodox Church of the Annunciation
Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, formerly known as North Presbyterian Church, is a historic Greek Orthodox church located at Buffalo in Erie County, New York. It is a Gothic Revival style church designed by Boston architect George F. Newton and constructed in 1906, as home to North...
. It was completed in 1909, in the Tudor Revival style, the school's building features buttresses, terra cotta
Terra cotta
Terracotta, Terra cotta or Terra-cotta is a clay-based unglazed ceramic, although the term can also be applied to glazed ceramics where the fired body is porous and red in color...
sculptures, Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
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.
Sports
The Buffalo Seminary Red Hawks 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 VarsityVarsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
and Junior Varsity level. Notably, Buff Sem sent 2 boats to the US National Scholastic Rowing Championships in Camden
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, NJ
Nj
Nj or NJ may stand for:*New Jersey*Nanojoule , an International System of Units unit of energy equal to 10−9 joules*Nj *Narva-Jõesuu, Estonia*Nordjyske Jernbaner, a Danish railway...
. Their women's junior four boat took first place, as National Champions in 2007. The school's mascot has recently been changed to the Red Tailed Hawks. Formerly, they were known as the Seminary Sirens, a reference to Greek myth.
Traditions
One of the school's prominent traditions is the HornetHornet
Hornets are the largest eusocial wasps; some species can reach up to in length. The true hornets make up the genus Vespa and are distinguished from other vespines by the width of the vertex , which is proportionally larger in Vespa and by the anteriorly rounded gasters .- Life cycle :In...
and Jacket
Yellowjacket
Yellowjacket is the common name in North America for predatory wasps of the genera Vespula and Dolichovespula. Members of these genera are known simply as "wasps" in other English-speaking countries...
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
Homeroom
Homeroom or advisory is the classroom session in which a teacher records attendance and makes announcements. It can also be called Registration or Planning Period...
for students, but traditionally, at Sem, all students gather in the chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
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 singalongs also take place to start the school day with a more positive attitude.
Cultural References
In City of LightCity of Light (novel)
-Plot:The story is set in the city of Buffalo, New York in 1901, as the Pan-American Exposition's planning and construction is under way. The main character and narrator, Louisa Barrett, is headmistress of the Macaulay School for Girls, inspired by The Buffalo Seminary and is a very influential...
by Lauren Belfer, a novel exploring the cultural mores of old Buffalo wealth, The Buffalo Seminary serves as inspiration for the Macaulay School for Girls, of which the main character is Headmistress. Lauren Belfer
Lauren Belfer
Lauren Belfer is an American author fromBuffalo, New York, where she attended the Buffalo Seminary, which would later become the girls boarding-school depicted in her debut novel, City of Light, about Buffalo, NY during the Pan-American Exposition....
is herself a graduate of the school.