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 1 month 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 10 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!

41st Annual Keeping the Dream Alive Assembly

Posted 3 years ago

City Honors will hold the 41st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. ‘Keeping the Dream Alive’ Assembly on Friday, January 22 at 9:00am.

McVay Leaves Behind Incredible Legacy at CHS

Posted 3 years ago

It is with the heaviest of hearts that City Honors School shares the news that Mrs. Irene McVay passed away peacefully on November 20.

Pulitzer Prize-winning alum talks with City Honors students

Posted 5 years ago

It's not every day that a Pulitzer Prize winner visits with our students!

Finland's Leticia Choir to Perform at City Honors

Posted 6 years ago

On Thursday, June 21st, at 9:10 a.m., the Leticia Choir from Finland will be our special guests for a choral performance.

Jake Halpern '93 Wins Pulitzer

Posted 6 years ago

CHS Alum, Jake Halpern '93, has been announced as a Pulitzer Prize winner in journalism!

Masten Park High School Yearbooks Now Online

Posted 6 years ago

A digitized collection of the earliest yearbooks of Buffalo’s second high school are now published for all to access at: https://nyheritage.org/collections/masten-park-high-school-chronicle-yearbooks

City Honors marks one-month anniversary of Parkland shooting

Posted 6 years ago

City Honors students worked collaboratively with faculty and the school administration to come up with what they thought would be the best way to exhibit solidarity with the Parkland victims and survivors.

Anything Goes: CHS Spring Musical - March 16-18, 2018

Posted 6 years ago

Anything Goes

Friday, March 16th at 7 pm
Saturday, March 17th at 7 pm
Sunday, March 18th at 2 pm

$7 adults, $5 students and children 12 and under

Tickets available at the door!

It’s been a stellar year for the City Honors/Cardinal O’Hara Varsity and Junior Varsity Club Hockey Teams!

Posted 6 years ago

Omar receives NFJC Youth Award

Posted 6 years ago

Opening reception for Ben Entner Inspired Inflatable Sculptures

Posted 6 years ago

The opening reception will take place before the Winter Concert on Thursday, January 18, 2018 from 4-6pm.

The 38th Annual Keeping the Dream Alive Assembly is Friday, January 12th at 9 am

Posted 6 years ago

Learn. Refresh. Energize. Please join us on The Hilltop for the 38th Annual 'Keeping The Dream Alive' Ceremony!

The CHS Annual Winter Bazaar is Friday, December 15th

Posted 6 years ago

The Annual Winter Bazaar will be held from 10:45 am - 1:45 pm in the school atrium on Friday, December 15th. CHS community members are invited to attend and should enter via the main entrance of the school.

City Honors Art featured in Civil Writes Project - The Buffalo News

Posted 6 years ago

On November 5, 2017, the Buffalo News featured an article about City Honors involvement in the Civil Writes Project and events surrounding the 50th anniversary of Dr. King speaking in Buffalo.

Victor Wooten, 5 time Grammy Award winner, visits City Honors

Posted 7 years ago

CHS Supports Puerto Rico Relief

Posted 7 years ago

Congratulations to 9th grader, Ruby Zephyr Soudant, on being featured on this week's cover of Public magazine

Posted 7 years ago

Ruby's Watercolors exhibit will open this Sunday. An opening reception will take place from 4 - 6 pm on Sunday, September 24 at Rust Belt Books (415 Grant Street, Buffalo, NY 14213).

Former NASA Administrator visits City Honors

Posted 7 years ago

On Tuesday, September 19, 2017, City Honors School was privileged to have Maj. Gen. Charlie Bolden, Jr. (USMC-Ret.) speak to a group of students in Grades 5-12 about his experiences as both a NASA Astronaut and the 12th NASA Administrator (he served from July 2009 - January 2017).