News

CHS Named a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School by US Dept. of Education/Principal named a winner of Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership

Posted 4 weeks ago

On September 23, 2024 City Honors School was named a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School by United States Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona!

This designation recognizes City Honors as a model for effective teaching, intentional collaboration, a caring environment and academic excellence. The Department of Education selected 356 schools for this accolade out of nearly 130,000 K-12 schools in our nation.

In his letter to the school community announcing the award, Principal William Kresse, Ph.D. stated, "I want to emphasize that this recognition belongs to every member of our school community- students, parents and staff members. This could not have happened without your support of our unique curriculum based around acceleration and the International Baccalaureate program, as well as a specialized education for students with autism. Each day, our teachers and paraprofessionals work to provide the highest quality instruction to our students. Our students are extraordinarily committed to their studies and involved in activities beyond the classroom at remarkable levels. Our families are there every step of the way to ensure their children have the support they need to succeed."

Last winter, the New York State Department of Education identified City Honors to represent New York State as a Blue Ribbon candidate based on its high level of success with a wide range of students. Over the course of the spring an extensive application was written which detailed the school's culture, programs, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership, family and community involvement.

Special thanks to the following members of our school community who assisted in writing the application: Cassie Cammarata (co-chair), Danielle Grzymala, Elissa Banas, Elizabeth Dirr, Maria Monaco, Melissa Zorn, Brittany Gillotti, Elena Dokshansky, Annie Shea, Amy Stephens, Jon Zasowski, Jackie Yager, Richard Ziolo, Nicole Roche, Lisa Sauer and Christie Allman.

The City Honors community also thanks the Buffalo Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Tonja Williams Knight for their support and endorsement of the Blue Ribbon application.

On October 16, 2024, City Honors principal, William A. Kresse, Ph.D., was named one of nine awardees of the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership by the United States Department of Education. You can read more about this award in the links below.

The Buffalo News

Rochester's Democrat & Chronicle

Main National Blue Ribbon Web Page on the Bell Award

CHS Principal Write up on National Blue Ribbon Web Page

The Buffalo News - CHS Principal Article

Watch more about it:

BPS "Wednesdays with Williams" featured video for October 2, 2024

44th Annual 'Keeping the Dream Alive' Assembly

Posted 9 months ago

44th Annual 'Keeping the Dream Alive' Assembly
Friday, January 12, 2024
9:00am
City Honors School at Fosdick-Masten Park
The students of City Honors School present the 44th annual "Keeping the Dream Alive" assembly at 9:00AM Friday, January 12, 2024.

Our students will express their vision of the ideals of a just and egalitarian society through presentations of poetry, dance, speech, music, attire, and visual art.

The 'Keeping the Dream Alive' assembly takes its name from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic speech. It has been reserved as a day of collective remembrance, contemplation, discussion and celebration at City Honors School since its inception in 1981 (two years before the federal declaration of the MLK holiday). The Keeping the Dream Alive Assembly was founded by Mrs. Irene Taylor McVay, a City Honors teacher assistant for 42 years. As a high school student in Virginia, Mrs. McVay directly contributed to events of national historic significance at the dawn of the modern civil rights era.

City Honors School Response to the Tops Massacre

Posted 2 years ago

This links to a letter outlining our school community's mobilization.

42nd Annual Keeping the Dream Alive Assembly

Posted 2 years ago

The students of City Honors School invite you to join as they present the 42nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. ‘Keeping the Dream Alive’ Assembly on Friday, January 28th at 9:00am.

This event can be replayed by clicking this link.

The program for the event can be found at this link.

The Keeping the Dream Alive Assembly receives ongoing funding through the Irene T. McVay Legacy Fund. Learn more and make a gift at this link. Thank you!