Lafayette High School (Buffalo, New York)

Lafayette High School was a public high school in Buffalo, New York. It was the oldest public school in Buffalo that remained in its original building, a stone, brick and terra-cotta structure in the French Renaissance Revival style by architects August Esenwein and James A. Johnson. Although classes began off-site during construction of the school, the building was completed and graduated its first class in 1903. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.[1] It is located in Buffalo's Upper West Side at 370 Lafayette Avenue.

Lafayette High School
Lafayette High School, Buffalo NY, April 2011
Location370 Lafayette Ave., Buffalo, New York
Coordinates42°55′15″N 78°53′5″W
Built1901
ArchitectEsenwein & Johnson
Architectural styleBeaux Arts
NRHP reference No.80002608 [1]
Added to NRHPDecember 3, 1980
Lafayette High School
Address
370 Lafayette Avenue

West Side

Buffalo
,
Erie
,
New York
14213

United States
Information
MottoLoyalty, Honor, Service
Established1903
School districtBuffalo Public Schools
School number204
Grades9-12
Color(s)Violet and White    
Team nameViolets
NewspaperThe Triangle
YearbookThe Oracle

The name 'Lafayette High School' was phased out beginning in 2015, graduating its final class in 2018, and was replaced by the name Lafayette International High School and Newcomers Academy. Classes continue to be held in the historic building.

History

Lafayette High School was the third high school built in Buffalo, New York. It has fallen into recent struggles with academics and has been placed on New York State's Watch List of Persistently Underperforming Schools. After the 2010–2011 school year, the school re-opened as a multicultural school with a new principal. The school also began housing seventh and eighth graders from nearby International School 45. This arrangement continued until 2015.

Former principals

Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses

  • Mr. Arthur Detmers–1903-1906 (unknown, named Instructor of The Hill School)
  • Mr. Calvert King Mellen–1906-1934 (Math teacher - Buffalo Central High School, retired)
  • Mr. Frank Gott–1934-1955 (Vice Principal - Lafayette High School, retired)
  • Mr. Abraham Axelrod–1955-1958 (Assistant Principal - Kensington High School, died)
  • Mr. Robert C. McGowan–1958-1968 (Assistant Principal - East High School, retired)
  • Mr. Gerald S. Hare–1968-1972 (Assistant Principal - East High School, transferred to Buffalo Public Schools District Offices)
  • Mr. Frederick D. Ganter–1972-1997 (Assistant Principal - East High School, retired[2])
  • Ms. Sharon A. Lanza–1997-2004 (Assistant Principal - Lafayette High School, retired)
  • Mrs. Jacquelyn M. Baldwin–2004-2008 (Assistant Principal - City Honors School,[3] transferred to Office Of School Performance[4])
  • Dr. Phyllis F. Morrell–2008-2011 (Principal on Assignment - McKinley Vocational High School,[4] named Principal of Dr. Lydia T. Wright School of Excellence[5])
  • Mrs. Naomi R. Cerre–2011-2015 (Assistant Principal - McKinley High School, returned to McKinley)
  • Mrs. Denise E. Clarke–2015-2017 (Principal - Riverside Institute of Technology, retired)
  • Mr. Michael J. Mogavero–2017-2018 (Principal - Academy School 131, named Principal of Math, Science, Technology Preparatory School @ 39)

Selected former assistant principals

Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses

  • Mr. Charles E. Rhodes–1918-1925 (English Teacher - Lafayette High School, named Principal of Bennett High School)
  • Mr. Frank Gott–1925-1934 (unknown, named Principal of Lafayette High School)
  • Mr. Irvin H. Himmele–1934-1941, 1948-1951 (Social Studies teacher - Lafayette High School, placed on military leave)
  • Mr. Carl S. Walz–1941-1948 (Math teacher - Lafayette High School, named Assistant Principal of East High School)
  • Mr. Frank J. Kelly–1951-1955 (Assistant Principal - South Park High Annex, named Assistant Principal of Kensington High School)
  • Dr. J. Norman Hayes–1955-1958 (Assistant Principal - School 87, named Principal of South Park High School)
  • Mr. Martin J. O'Donnell–1958-1962 (Acting Assistant Principal - Kensington High School, named Principal of Grover Cleveland High School)
  • Ms. Margaret V. Lombardi–1962-1966 (Guidance Counselor - School 72, named Principal of Woodlawn Junior High School)
  • Ms. Mary Elizabeth Dougherty–1966-1970 (Guidance Counselor - Lafayette High School, named Director of Business Education for Buffalo Public Schools)
  • Mr. Chester J. Kryszczuk–1966-1969 (Assistant Principal - School 59, named Principal of School 80)
  • Mr. Salvatore J. Scamacca–1969-1990 (Instrumental Music teacher - Lafayette High School, retired)
  • Mr. Gerald H. Hesson–1972-1974 (Social Studies teacher - South Park High School, named Principal of Fillmore Middle School)
  • Dr. Daniel M. Kublitz–1974-1982 (Assistant Principal - Kensington High School, retired)
  • Mr. Charles G. Erickson–1983-1987 (Coordinator of Student Affairs - Kensington High School, retired)
  • Mr. Thomas P. Kopera–1987-1990 (Business teacher - Lafayette High School, named Principal of Burgard Vocational High School)
  • Mr. Elzie B. Fisher–1990-1995 (Assistant Principal - Kensington High School, named Principal of Buffalo Alternative High School)
  • Ms. Patricia C. Kormash–1990-1994 (French teacher - Lafayette High School, named Assistant Principal of North Tonawanda High School)
  • Ms. Sharon Lanza–1994-1997 (Assistant Principal - Grover Cleveland High School, named Principal of Lafayette High School)
  • Mr. Thomas M. Kalenik–1995-2004 (Social Studies teacher - Buffalo Public Schools, retired)
  • Ms. Lisa K. Robinson–1997-2006 (Computer Science teacher - Hutchinson Central Technical High School, named Assistant Principal of Opportunity Center at 331[6])
  • Mr. Gregory K. Pigeon–2004-2005 (Business teacher - Riverside Institute of Technology,[3] named Assistant Principal of Erie 1 BOCES - Harkness Center)
  • Mr. Philip M. Martin–2005-2006 (Assistant Principal - Hutchinson Central Technical School,[7] named Associate Principal of Shenendehowa High School[8])
  • Mrs. Denise Clarke–2006-2009 (Acting Assistant Principal - City Honors School,[6] named Assistant Principal Of Riverside Institute of Technology[9])
  • Mr. Gregory D. Mott–2006 (Assistant Principal - Opportunity School at 331,[6] named Principal of Academy School 131 @ 44[10])
  • Mr. John E. Evert–2006-2008 (Business teacher - Burgard Vocational High School,[11] named Vice Principal of Lewiston-Porter High School)
  • Mrs. Julie L Horn–2008-2014 (Assistant Principal - Bennett High School, named Assistant Principal of Newcomers Academy @ Lafayette)
  • Mr. Craig M. Brodnicki–2008-2016 (Assistant Principal - Campus West School, named Assistant Principal of McKinley Vocational High School)
  • Ms. Yuldonna M. Middleton–2011-2015 (Assistant Principal - International School, retired)
  • Mr. Rafael A. Mercado–2016-2017 (Assistant Principal - Emerson School of Hospitality, named Assistant Principal of D'Youville Porter Campus School)
  • Mr. Daniel J. Bass–2015-2018 (Assistant Principal - McKinley Vocational High School, named Assistant Principal of The New Buffalo School of Culinary Art & Hospitality Management)

Selected former administrators
Year Superintendent Principal Assistant Principal
1903-1904Henry EmersonArt Detmers
1904-1905Henry EmersonArt Detmers
1905-1906Henry EmersonArt Detmers
1906-1907Henry EmersonCap Mellen
1907-1908Henry EmersonCap Mellen
1908-1909Henry EmersonCap Mellen
1909-1910Henry EmersonCap Mellen
1910-1911Henry EmersonCap Mellen
1911-1912Henry EmersonCap Mellen
1912-1913Henry EmersonCap Mellen
1913-1914Henry EmersonCap Mellen
1914-1915Henry EmersonCap Mellen
1915-1916Henry EmersonCap Mellen
1916-1917Henry EmersonCap Mellen
1917-1918Henry EmersonCap Mellen
1918-1919Ernst HartwellCap MellenCharlie Rhodes
1919-1920Ernst HartwellCap MellenCharlie Rhodes
1920-1921Ernst HartwellCap MellenCharlie Rhodes
1921-1922Ernst HartwellCap MellenCharlie Rhodes
1922-1923Ernst HartwellCap MellenCharlie Rhodes
1923-1924Ernst HartwellCap MellenCharlie Rhodes
1924-1925Ernst HartwellCap MellenCharlie Rhodes
1925-1926Ernst HartwellCap MellenFrank Gott
1926-1927Ernst HartwellCap MellenFrank Gott
1927-1928Ernst HartwellCap MellenFrank Gott
1928-1929Ernst HartwellCap MellenFrank Gott
1929-1930Ernst HartwellCap MellenFrank Gott
1930-1931Ernst HartwellCap MellenFrank Gott
1931-1932Ernst HartwellCap MellenFrank Gott
1932-1933Ernst HartwellCap MellenFrank Gott
1933-1934Ernst HartwellCap MellenFrank Gott
1934-1935Ernst HartwellFrank GottIrvin Himmele
1935-1936Robert PabstFrank GottIrvin Himmele
1936-1937Robert PabstFrank GottIrvin Himmele
1937-1938Robert PabstFrank GottIrvin Himmele
1938-1939Robert PabstFrank GottIrvin Himmele
1939-1940Robert PabstFrank GottIrvin Himmele
1940-1941Robert PabstFrank GottIrvin Himmele
1941-1942Robert PabstFrank GottCarl Walz
1942-1943Robert PabstFrank GottCarl Walz
1943-1944Robert PabstFrank GottCarl Walz
1944-1945Robert PabstFrank GottCarl Walz
1945-1946Robert PabstFrank GottCarl Walz
1946-1947Robert BapstFrank GottCarl Walz
1947-1948Robert BapstFrank GottCarl Walz
1948-1949Robert BapstFrank GottIrvin Himmele
1949-1950Robert BapstFrank GottIrvin Himmele
1950-1951Ben WillisFrank GottIrvin Himmele
1951-1952Ben WillisFrank GottFrank Kelly
1952-1953Parmer EwingFrank GottFrank Kelly
1953-1954Parmer EwingFrank GottFrank Kelly
1954-1955Parmer EwingFrank GottFrank Kelly
1955-1956Parmer EwingAbe AxelrodNorman Hayes
1956-1957Parmer EwingAbe AxelrodNorman Hayes
1957-1958Joe ManchAbe AxelrodNorman Hayes
1958-1959Joe ManchRob McGowanMartin O'Donnell
1959-1960Joe ManchRob McGowanMartin O'Donnell
1960-1961Joe ManchRob McGowanMartin O'Donnell
1961-1962Joe ManchRob McGowanMartin O'Donnell
1962-1963Joe ManchRob McGowanMargaret Lombardi
1963-1964Joe ManchRob McGowanMargaret Lombardi
1964-1965Joe ManchRob McGowanMargaret Lombardi
1965-1966Joe ManchRob McGowanMargaret Lombardi
1966-1967Joe ManchRob McGowanChester KryszczukMary Dougherty
1967-1968Joe ManchRob McGowanChester KryszczukMary Dougherty
1968-1969Joe ManchGerald HareChester KryszczukMary Dougherty
1969-1970Joe ManchGerald HareSal ScamaccaMary Dougherty
1970-1971Joe ManchGerald HareSal ScamaccaGerald Hesson
1971-1972Joe ManchGerald HareSal ScamaccaGerald Hesson
1972-1973Joe ManchRick GanterSal ScamaccaGerald Hesson
1973-1974Joe ManchRick GanterSal ScamaccaGerald Hesson
1974-1975Joe ManchRick GanterSal ScamaccaDan Kublitz
1975-1976Eugene RevilleRick GanterSal ScamaccaDan Kublitz
1976-1977Eugene RevilleRick GanterSal ScamaccaDan Kublitz
1977-1978Eugene RevilleRick GanterSal ScamaccaDan Kublitz
1978-1979Eugene RevilleRick GanterSal ScamaccaDan Kublitz
1979-1980Eugene RevilleRick GanterSal ScamaccaDan Kublitz
1980-1981Eugene RevilleRick GanterSal ScamaccaDan Kublitz
1981-1982Eugene RevilleRick GanterSal ScamaccaDan Kublitz
1982-1983Eugene RevilleRick GanterSal ScamaccaDan Kublitz
1983-1984Eugene RevilleRick GanterSal ScamaccaCharles Erickson
1984-1985Eugene RevilleRick GanterSal ScamaccaCharles Erickson
1985-1986Eugene RevilleRick GanterSal ScamaccaCharles Erickson
1986-1987Eugene RevilleRick GanterSal ScamaccaCharles Erickson
1987-1988Eugene RevilleRick GanterSal ScamaccaTom Kopera
1988-1989Eugene RevilleRick GanterSal ScamaccaTom Kopera
1989-1990Eugene RevilleRick GanterSal ScamaccaTom Kopera
1990-1991Albert ThompsonRick GanterElzie FisherPat Kormash
1991-1992Albert ThompsonRick GanterElzie FisherPat Kormash
1992-1993Albert ThompsonRick GanterElzie FisherPat Kormash
1993-1994Albert ThompsonRick GanterElzie FisherPat Kormash
1994-1995Albert ThompsonRick GanterElzie FisherSharon Lanza
1995-1996Albert ThompsonRick GanterTom KalenikSharon Lanza
1996-1997Jim HarrisRick GanterTom KalenikSharon Lanza
1997-1998Jim HarrisSharon LanzaTom KalenikLisa Robinson
1998-1999Jim HarrisSharon LanzaTom KalenikLisa Robinson
1999-2000Jim HarrisSharon LanzaTom KalenikLisa Robinson
2000-2001Marion CanedoSharon LanzaTom KalenikLisa Robinson
2001-2002Marion CanedoSharon LanzaTom KalenikLisa Robinson
2002-2003Marion CanedoSharon LanzaTom KalenikLisa Robinson
2003-2004Marion CanedoSharon LanzaTom KalenikLisa Robinson
2004-2005Yvonne Hargrave*Jackie BaldwinGreg PigeonLisa Robinson
2005-2006James WilliamsJackie BaldwinPhilip MartinLisa Robinson
2006-2007James WilliamsJackie BaldwinDenise ClarkeMott/Evert
2007-2008James WilliamsJackie BaldwinDenise ClarkeJohn Evert
2008-2009James WilliamsFatima MorrellDenise ClarkeCraig Brodnicki
2009-2010James WilliamsFatima MorrellJulie HornCraig Brodnicki
2010-2011James WilliamsFatima MorrellJulie HornCraig Brodnicki
2011-2012Amber Dixon*Naomi Cerre*Julie HornCraig BrodnickiYuldonna Middleton
2012-2013Pam BrownNaomi CerreJulie HornCraig BrodnickiYuldonna Middleton
2013-2014Pam BrownNaomi CerreJulie HornCraig BrodnickiYuldonna Middleton
2014-2015Don Ogilivie*Naomi CerreJulie HornCraig BrodnickiYuldonna Middleton
2015-2016Kriner CashDenise ClarkeDan BassCraig Brodnicki
2016-2017Kriner CashDenise ClarkeDan BassRafael Mercado
2017-2018Kriner CashMike MogaveroDan Bass

Academics

Lafayette High School currently serves as home to many Buffalo high school students learning English as a second language.

Bell Schedule
Period Number/Activity Beginning Bell End Bell
Homeroom8:258:33
Period 18:379:30
Period 29:2110:01
Period 310:0510:45
A Lunch10:4911:14
Period 4/510:4911:29
Period 5/611:1811:58
B Lunch11:3311:58
Period 6/711:3312:13
Period 7/812:0212:42
C Lunch12:1712:42
Period 8/912:461:25
Period 101:292:08
Period 112:122:30

Notable alumni
  • Gordon Bunshaft (class of 1928), noted twentieth-century architect.
  • Robert J. Donovan (class of 1932), Washington Bureau Chief, New York Herald Tribune and Los Angeles Times. President, White House Correspondents' Association. Author of 12 books including PT-109. Only journalist to ever address a Joint Session of Congress.
  • Liz Dribben (class of 1954), first female news anchor on Buffalo television, copy writer at CBS News for Dan Rather, Walter Cronkite, and Charles Kuralt. Member of the Buffalo Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
  • Jeremiah Goodman (class of 1939), artist, known simply as "Jeremiah", painter of interior still lifes of famous residences.
  • Cecil de Blaquiere Howard (class of 1903), noted sculptor who lived in Paris, France from 1905 to 1940, and in New York until his death in 1956.
  • Barney Lepper (class of 1915), founder of the Buffalo All-Stars, which eventually became the city's first NFL team
  • Gary Mallaber (class of 1964), Multiple platinum selling drummer and producer involved with acts such as The Steve Miller Band, Van Morrison and Eddie Money.
  • Fran Striker (class of 1922), author, creator of the radio serial The Lone Ranger.
  • Bruce Shanks (class of 1927), Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist.
  • Winifred C. Stanley (class of 1927), attorney and first member of congress to introduce legislation prohibiting discrimination in pay on account of sex
  • Frank Kelly Freas (class of 1938), famed science-fiction cover artist.
  • The Modernaires (Hal Dickinson, Chuck Goldstein, and Bill Conway, late 1930s), the popular harmony group renowned for its performances on record and motion pictures with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
  • Tedd Lewin (class of 1953), artist, author and illustrator of children's books.
  • Angelo Coniglio (class of 1954), first Civil Engineering graduate of the University at Buffalo, engineer, professor of engineering, genealogist, author of the historical novella The Lady of the Wheel and archivist of the American Football League.
  • Edward C. Lawson (class of 1964), Edward won a landmark Supreme Court victory over racism and arbitrary stop and seizure practices by California police by defending himself before the Supreme Court of the US. [Lawson v. Kolender, 658 F.2d 1362 (9th Cir. 1981) October 15, 1981 et seq.]. Few Lafayette graduates have ever shown such personal triumph over injustice.
  • Charles Reidpath Olympic gold medalist
  • Bobby Militello jazz saxophonist

Shanks (1927) and Lewin (1953), and all the art students in between were influenced by Elizabeth Weiffenbach, who taught art at the school for over forty years. These included Jack Smart (class of 1922), an artist who also played The Fat Man on 1940s radio; and Irving Jeremiah Goodman (class of 1939), a contemporary artist specializing in room still lifes. Turner rowed for the U.S. in the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, was executive editor of The Buffalo Courier-Express, and is a member of the exclusive Gridiron Club in Washington, D.C.

The public school is supported by the private Lafayette High School Alumni Association. In 1999, the association restored the building's landmark lantern or "cupola", which had deteriorated and been demolished for safety reasons in the 1970s. In May 2003, the association sponsored and ran a 100th Anniversary Celebration, attended by over 1,700 alumni and their guests, raising $30,000 for the school. The funds will establish the Ramsi P. Tick media room in memory of entrepreneur Tick, an LHS alumnus and philanthropist. The association also awards several annual grants and scholarships for worthy causes and students, and on Sunday, August 4, 2013 is holding a free All-Class Reunion to celebrate the school's one hundred and tenth year.

As their logos, the school and the Association use the LHS Triangle (Lafayette High School; Loyalty, Honor, Service), and the Lafayette Angel.

  • Lafayette High School, ca. 1901
  • Lafayette High School, Entrance Detail, December 2009

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. Heaney, J. (1997, June 23). Retirements, transfers may mean new principals for 10 city - schools. The Buffalo News, p. B4.
  3. Buffalo Public Schools (2004, June 9). Meeting of the Board of Education: Principal Transfers Archived 2012-03-23 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. Buffalo Public Schools (2008, August 13). Meeting of the Board of Education: Administrative Appointments.
  5. Buffalo Public Schools (2011, September 14). Meeting of the Board of Education: Administrative Appointments.
  6. Buffalo Public Schools (2006, February 22). Meeting of the Board of Education: Elementary Principal Appointments.
  7. Buffalo Public Schools (2005, September 7). Meeting of the Board of Education: Administrative Appointments.
  8. Buffalo Public Schools (2006, January 11). Meeting of the Board of Education: Elementary Principal Appointments.
  9. Buffalo Public Schools (2009, July 8). Meeting of the Board of Education: Administrative Appointments.
  10. Buffalo Public Schools (2006, October 23). Meeting of the Board of Education: Administrative Appointments.
  11. Buffalo Public Schools (2006, December 6). Meeting of the Board of Education: Administrative Appointments.
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