School Maintenance Position Qualifications

Full time maintenance person needed for school setting. Day hours with occasional weekends and overtime. Salary commensurate with experience. Full benefits package.

Duties include: Minor and routine maintenance repairs and janitorial duties.

Furniture moving, light repair work, cleaning, vehicle maintenance and driving, building safety inspections and general cleanup of grounds including, seasonal lawncare and snow removal.

Position requires the applicant to work independently and follow instructions in a safe manner.

* Must be able to lift 50 pounds, work from ladders, have good communication skills, and work overtime as needed.

* Must have valid NYSDL and pass pre-employment background check.

On Class Day, the Class Deans for each grade level announced the names of Sem students who had earned a place on High Honor and Honor Rolls based on their academic performance during the second semester for the 2012-2013 school year.

“This is a terrific achievement because it demonstrates the consistent efforts that these students have put into their studies,” explained Dean of Students Rebecca Farwell.

“We’re proud to offer a college-preparatory education for young women who want to be challenged by a rigorous, independent curriculum,” said Head of School Jody Douglass. “Because our academic program goes beyond the minimum standards mandated by New York State, Sem students are exempt from the Regents and can focus on advanced courses and electives not offered in typical high school programs.”

The Sem community congratulates these students and new graduates on achieving academic excellence:

High Honor Roll:

Grade 9 (Class of 2016):

TojumiOluwa Adegboyega of Buffalo, N.Y.

Abigail Hopkins of Buffalo, N.Y.

Grade 10 (Class of 2015):

Anna Magavern of Buffalo, N.Y.

Grade 11 (Class of 2014):

Maeve Melber of Kenmore, N.Y.*

Ke Yu of Tarrytown, N.Y.*

Grade 12 (Class of 2013):

Eliza Hopkins of Buffalo, N.Y.*†

Alexandra LaMonte of Boston, N.Y.*†

Curreen Luongo of Buffalo, N.Y.*†

Jordan Serotte of Amherst, N.Y.*†

Honor Roll:

Grade 9 (Class of 2016):

Lena Beyer of Colden, N.Y.

Madison Chamberlain of Lancaster, N.Y.

Anabel Cornacchio of Buffalo, N.Y.

Anna Fretz of Williamsville, N.Y.

Milan Gacioch of West Falls, N.Y.

Maia Gallagher of Wilson, N.Y.

Zisu (XiXi) Guo of Wuhan Hubel, China

Kaitlin Hughes of Clarence, N.Y.

Erin Melber of Kenmore, N.Y.

Bessie Shiroki of Buffalo, N.Y.

Consuela Sowa of Depew, N.Y.

Grade 10 (Class of 2015):

Hannah Atkinson of East Amherst, N.Y.

Claire Conrad of Buffalo, N.Y.

Julia Douglas of Clarence, N.Y.

Jane Gold of East Amherst, N.Y.

Maria Victoria Howell-Arza of Buffalo, N.Y.

Gina Victoria Igoe of East Amherst, N.Y.

Afua Kwakye-Berko of Tonawanda, N.Y.

Jennifer O'Donnell of Williamsville, N.Y.

Mariah Reinard of Amherst, N.Y.

Kathleen Scully of Orchard Park, N.Y.

Alexis Wright of Amherst, N.Y.

Grade 11 (Class of 2014):

Vanessa Abdeen of East Amherst, N.Y.*

Hiba Al-Naji of Grand Island, N.Y.*

Molly Armstrong of Williamsville, N.Y.*

Marla Beyer of Colden, N.Y.*

Marissa Egloff of Orchard Park, N.Y.*

Katherine Hague of Buffalo, N.Y.*

Katherine Herer of Buffalo, N.Y.

Annalise Ishwardas of Buffalo, N.Y.*

Callie Keavey of Williamsville, N.Y.

Maribel Leddy of Williamsville, N.Y.*

Nianci (Niko) Lu of Shenzhen, China*

Xuanqi (Winnie) Lu of Qingdao, Shandong, China*

Yan Qing (Marrie) Ma of Nanjiang, Jiang Su, China*

Julia Paulk of Kenmore, N.Y.*

Pamela Rivas of Buffalo, N.Y.*

Meghan Sullivan of West Seneca, N.Y.*

Natalie Voos of East Aurora, N.Y. *

Kelsy Waack of Williamsville, N.Y.

Qizhi (Shirley) Zhang of Jiangsu, China*

Xiao Zhang of Guangdong, China

Yidi (Brenda) Zhang of Beijing, China*

Grade 12 (Class of 2013):

Sarah Appleton of Amherst, N.Y.

Jane Bertelsen of Buffalo, N.Y.*†

Olivia Bianco of Amherst, N.Y.* †

Ji Eun Choi of Seoul, South Korea*†

Emily Davis of Amherst, N.Y.

Arianna Hughes of Clarence, N.Y.*†

Madelyn-Judith Lisker of Buffalo, N.Y.

Xiaowen (Summer) Luo of Shanghai, China

Erica Pellerite of Amherst, N.Y.*

Victoria Roney of Buffalo, N.Y.

Sara Sanderson of Amherst, N.Y.*

Kathryn Sands of Orchard Park, N.Y.*†

The Class Deans at Sem are Glenna Leous (Freshman Class), Eva Cunningham (Sophomore Class), Kyle Hopkins (Junior Class) and Britt White (Senior Class).

*Member of the National Honor Society

†Member of the Cum Laude Society

Founded in 1851, Buffalo Seminary, or Sem, is an independent day and boarding school for college-bound girls. Located at 205 Bidwell Parkway in the historic Elmwood Village neighborhood of Buffalo, N.Y., Sem offers more opportunities for girls through an independent, nonsectarian, college-preparatory curriculum. Sem is a member of The New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), The National Coalition of Girls’ Schools (NCGS) and The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), as well as an affiliate charter member of the Online School for Girls (OSG). To learn more, visit www.BuffaloSeminary.org.

SEM Theater Teacher Susan Drozd Selects Works By Suzan-Lori Parks as the spring production. Why?
By Susan Drozd

Well, the secret is out - I am so super excited that Suzan-Lori Parks is coming to Buffalo!

The reasons include:

1. She's a living female playwright producing now! My current “Theatre Styles” class has studied her work.  

2. In 2002 she became the first African American woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize in drama for “Topdog/Underdog.”

3. She is a recipient of a 2001 MacArthur "Genius" Award and the Obie Award among many others. 

4. She has written numerous plays for Broadway and beyond. She has written for film – “Girl 6” directed by Spike Lee, and the adaptation for film of “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” She has written a novel, “Getting Mother's Body,” and musicals - her adaptation of “Porgy & Bess” will be coming to Buffalo in March, and her current project “Unchain My Heart,” her Ray Charles musical, is scheduled for the Great White Way.  

5.  If that wasn't enough, she is also a teacher, a storyteller, a songwriter, a musician and a performance artist. 

But, I think one of the coolest things about her is that in 2002 she achieved an amazing feat. This is what she wrote about this terrific accomplishment:

”The simple act of writing 365 plays in 365 days has inspired a nationwide grassroots festival creating a testament to the incredible diversity and richness of the American theatrical landscape.”

And so, inspired by her artistic genius, inspired by the Just Buffalo Literary Center’s BABEL series which is hosting Suzan-Lori on March 11, and inspired by the students of Buffalo Seminary, whom I believe will change the world for the better…. Our spring show will be a selection plays from “365 Days: 365 Plays.”

Opening Night: March 6^th at 7 p.m.

Additional shows: March 7^th at 7 p.m. and March 8^th at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets are available at the door. If you wish to reserve tickets, please CLICK HERE

With a monologue as Jailer’s Daughter from Two Noble Kinsmen, Maribel Leddy ’14 won the Western New York region in the 11^th Annual Shakespeare Competition held at SEM on March 15. Each contestant must do a play monologue and recite a sonnet. Maribel chose Sonnet 76: “Why is my verse so barren of new pride?”

“It feels absolutely amazing to win,” said Maribel, “I have to admit that I didn't think I could do it! I'm ecstatic for the chance to go to New York City and experience all of the Shakespeare. The best part is being able to meet more people who appreciate and understand Shakespeare, and to learn from them while I'm there.”

First runner-up was Zachary Thomas of Ken-West who did a monologue from Julius Caesar and Sonnet 116; and second runner-up was Ahmik Jacob who bravely chose a monologue by the evil Aaron from Titus Andronicus, and Sonnet 149.

The English-Speaking Union of the United States sponsors this annual national contest that culminates when high school students from across the U.S. compete May 4-6 at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Maribel said her SEM theater teacher Susan Drozd “carefully kindled,” her love of Shakespeare. “Even last year, I couldn't imagine myself winning a Shakespeare competition. Now, however, I know that with the help of Shakespeare, Ms. Drozd's wonderful teaching, and the endless support of the rest of the SEM community, I have gained the confidence that helped me win on Saturday.”

Maribel was cheered on by her parents and sister, Ms. Drozd and almost a dozen of her fellow SEM theater students. “She worked really hard in preparation for Saturday and was up against stiff competition.  In the end, I believe her love of Shakespeare shined through.  That was palpable. It will be great to watch her fill Lincoln Center with that excitement,” said Ms. Drozd.

Ms. Drozd also coached Eliza Hopkins ’13, who won the WNY region for SEM in 2012 and 2013.

Students who competed on Saturday were Hiyam Darbo from Hutch-Tech, Ahmik Jacob from Williamsville South, Nina Koelmeyer from Springville-Griffith Institute, Lorna Krabill from Williamsville East, Maribel Leddy from SEM, and Zachary Thomas from Ken-West.

Nationally, more than 250,000 students have appeared in the competition since it began in 1983.

The competition was held at SEM and hosted by Al Franco and judged by Dr. Saul Elkin and Vincent O’Neill.

Dr. Elkin is a Distinguished Service Professor of Theater at UB, where he has taught for 35 years and chaired the department for 15 years. He is also the founder and artistic director of Shakespeare in Delaware Park and co-founder and artistic director of the Jewish Repertory Theater of WNY. Dr. Elkin has a B.A. and M.F.A from Columbia University and a Ph.D from Carnegie-Mellon University.

Vincent O’Neill is a director, actor and mime artist, and lecturer in the latter two. He is a graduate of University College Dublin and of Trinity College. He trained as an actor at the Abbey Theatre School and as a mime at Marcel Marceau’s International Mime School in Paris. A past member of the Abbey Theatre Company, he is now artistic director of the Irish Classical Theatre Company in Buffalo.

Contact Erin Kelly, Director of Communications at ekelly@buffaloseminary.org or (716) 885-6780 x216

Spanish Teacher

Buffalo Seminary is accepting applications for a full-time Spanish position.  Applicants should possess a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in the appropriate field with the ability to teach beginning levels through Advanced Placement courses and beyond.  Applicants should send a cover letter and resume by email or post to Kim Trow, Assistant to the Head of School, at  205 Bidwell Parkway, Buffalo, NY 14222.

Afterward, she was swamped by girls and guests, friends, and former teachers
at the reception in West Chester.

It was a full house in the chapel on April 17 with guests and staff peopling the choir loft as Ansie Baird introduced Charlotte Mears ’72 as this poet for year’s Elizabeth McNulty Wilkinson’ 25 reading.

It is only the second time since the event was endowed 29 years ago that a SEM graduate has been the guest poet.

Mrs. Baird ’55 invited Ms. Mears to come from her home in Madison, Mississippi to be this year’s Wilkinson poet on behalf of SEM’s English department.

 “Charlotte’s poems are concerned with the fallibilities of the human condition,” she said, and shortly thereafter the visiting poet took the podium for the first time since Class Day, 1972, and spoke with a catch in her throat.

 “SEM nurtured me and challenged me,” she said, and thanked Head of School Jody Douglass and the board for, “maintaining and enriching SEM’s highest standards.”

Ms. Mears told the assembled that her first poem was written while she was a freshman at SEM, in April 1969, upon the death of her brother. She also said it took her 10 years to feel like it was finished.

“There’s research that goes along with making a good poem. You have to make sure they’re a little bit accurate.”

Her poems are full of woodpeckers, drilling beetles, starlings, barking dogs, green lobster, a rotted seal and a heavenly whale (AKA the Goodyear blimp). 

She described her own poems as playful with an undertone of serious which seems much like the poet herself. Her most recent book of poems is Sweet Air, published by Sweet Air Press.

Her final words at the podium were a little southern, “By the way y’all, you’re going to love this place years after you’re gone.”

On This Day

For many May 1st was SEMday - an online fundraiser with some very real cake and ice cream for the students. For others it was a Hornet/Jacket challenge. For the senior girls who danced into morning meeting jubilantly, almost all in their chosen college’s sweatshirts, SEMday was also the last day of classes before exams and internships begin, and it was Big Decision Day - college deposits were due.

Our Director of College Counseling, Erik Bertelsen, took the podium to congratulate our seniors on their successes and their singularities.

“SEM is a diverse community with girls from many different backgrounds and with many different talents so it is not surprising that the list of colleges they attend is quite diverse.” He said, “Only 2 years ago our 45 graduates attended 38 colleges. This year alone they have applied to 166 different colleges in 32 states and D.C., 4 Canadian provinces, and China.”

Those 166 applications ended in the Class of 2014’s record acceptances at “highly competitive” colleges. Highly competitive is derived from by Barron’s Guide to College as the top 7% in the nation, in terms of selectivity. See the list here.

Mr. Bertelsen went on to give “awards” (in the form of acknowledgements) to the student who will go furthest away in the fall, the student who will attend college in another country… to know more, including a comprehensive list of college mascots the girls can now call their own (along with SEM’s Red-Tailed Hawk), watch here.

Watch for our billboards! We’re congratulating the Class of 2014 from May 5 – June 8.

 Hornet/Jacket Tug-of-War

We are pleased to announce that SEM’s 2014 Commencement speaker will be Nicole C. Lee, Class of 1994. 

Nicole, a human rights lawyer and consultant, is the former president of TransAfrica, the oldest African-American advocacy organization in the United States. She was its first female director. A trustee of Buffalo Seminary, Nicole majored in history at SUNY at Buffalo from which she also holds a Juris Doctor degree.  

At SEM it could also be said that she “majored” in history, as she took every history course in the curriculum. She served on the Social Service Board and was active in Mock Trial, Glee Club, Drama Club, Political Club, Literary Club, the “SEM Spotlight” weekly news program, and Amnesty International. In her junior year she wrote and produced a play, “Glorious People,” a review of African-American history told from the perspective of young women. 

Sara Schmidle, Senior Class President, spoke for all when she said, "We are very excited to have Nicole Lee as our graduation speaker this year! We had the opportunity to spend time with her at the SEM strategic planning meeting and shared a great afternoon together." Sara continued, "The choice to have her as our speaker was easy because we all related to her and her love for the SEM community. We look forward to a memorable graduation, and are very grateful for her participation." 

Commencement is Tuesday, June 10th at 4:00 PM at Westminster Presbyterian Church. 

May 22, 2014

The SEM Justice League organized this day of wearing red to show solidarity with the close to 300 girls who were kidnapped from their school in northeast Nigeria. The kidnappers, an Islamist terrorist organization called Boko Haram, have declared that the students will be sold as slaves.

Claire C. '15, a member of the Justice League was thrilled with the outcome.

"Today was super exciting to be a SEM student because we got to show our support for the girls in Nigeria who were just trying to get an education and help the world the same way we are. The fact that so many girls dressed in red shows the success SEM has had in creating an environment in which we all feel dedicated to girls' rights and dedicated to helping others. I hope that everyone recognizes what a change we can make, and continues to show the same overwhelming support in which they showed today. A huge shout-out to Maddie C. '15, president of Justice League, for organizing this within 24 hours."

Ms. Cass' Arts Eye class made the signs and almost everyone, including the faculty, wore red.

On Wednesday, Nicole Lee ‘94 Skyped a conversation with assembled students and faculty and to explain the context of the kidnapping. She stressed that showing solidarity can be as necessary as a financial donation. "Support is uplifting," she said. Ms. Lee also explained the origin of the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls – the parents of the kidnapped girls created it in frustration with their government's suppression and inaction. 

A majority of girls' school grads report higher self-confidence over their co-ed peers.
-Dr. Linda Sax, UCLA

Girls at all levels of achievement in single sex schools receive a... benefit from the single sex environment in terms of heightened career aspirations, an effect unprecedented in any other portion of our study. 

-Dr. Cary M. Watson
 Stanford University
 "Sex Roles: A Journal of Research"

Quotes are from "The Girls' School Advantage: By the Numbers." Watch here.

More information on girls' education can be found here: The National Coalition of Girls' Schools.

SEM admission information is here. 

Resident Assistants are paraprofessionals who oversee the Buffalo Seminary houses on Sundays, from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (occasional Saturdays). RAs encourage and support students in academic and personal growth by fostering awareness, appreciation, and development of skills to succeed in a diverse, global society. Finally, RAs are role models within their communities, demonstrating responsibility and ethical behavior. Duties of the RA role include facilitation of the house rules and community, transportation and participation in weekend events, administrative functions, and upholding Sem's policies. RAs are community leaders, educators, counselors, friends, change agents, advisors, policy enforcers and team players. A clean New York State driver's license is required.

If hired as an RA, you will play a critical role in shaping residential students' lives within the house and involving them in their community. The demands on RAs are complex, but the material and non-material benefits are extremely rewarding. The RA position may very well be one of the toughest jobs you'll ever love.

Applicants should send a cover letter and resume by email or post to Kim Trow, Assistant to the Head of School at humanresources@buffaloseminary.org or 205 Bidwell Parkway, Buffalo, NY 14222.