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BAVPA provides excellent educational preparation for careers or future study in music, dance, theater, visual arts, and media, along with competitive and extrac NEWS & UPDATES Online Yearbook Order Order Code: 0166CPT Free Virtual Tutoring Click Here for More Information Middle School Dance Monday, December 22nd, Periods 7 & 8 Blizzard Bash (Junior Class Sponsored) Tuesday, December 23rd SBMT Virtual Meeting Tuesday, December 23rd, 3-4 PM Zoom Meeting ID: 619 689 0225 Passcode: BAVPASBMT Winter Recess (No School) Wednesday, December 24th - Friday, January 2nd Winter ConnectLife Blood Drive Tuesday, January 13th Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School) January 19th Regents Exams January 20th-January 23rd UPCOMING EVENTS Junior Theatre Class Play Friday, January 9th, 7 PM Black Box Winter Dance Concert Wednesday, January 14th, 9:50 AM Thursday, January 15th, 7 PM Main Stage Senior Theatre Exeunt Festival Friday, January 16th, 9:50 AM Friday, January 16th, 7 PM Black Box

2025 - 2026 2025 - 2026 2025 - 2026 2025 - 2026 Check back regularly for updates! School Year School Year School Year School Year Wellness Fair: Goat Day Produced by: Orion Shepard & Saffron Freedenberg Wellness Fair: Goat Day Photos Photographers: Chris Anderson & Adria Mattison Seussical Jr. Photos Photographers: Teagan Cannan & Aiden Zimmerman Dance Repertoire Concert Photographer: Nahri Marrow Othello Cast Bios Produced by: Mr. Riffel & Ms. Glorioso Winterfest Concert #3 Photos Photographer: Miranda Bryant BAVPA Walk-A-Thon Produced by: Teagan Cannan Walk-A-Thon & Ceremony Photos Photographers: Kiera Clontz & Olivia Bensch Fall Spirit Week & Pep Rally Photos Photographers: Orion Shepard, Zailah Hayes, Teagan Cannan, Tion Thomas, Kiera Clontz & Mr. Riffel JV Girls Basketball Photos Photographer: Adriel Ramos Varsity Girls Basketball Photos Photographer: Adria Mattison Othello Cast & Crew Photos Photographers: Breena Hall, Kiera Clontz & Adriel Ramos Othello Performance Photos Photographer: Zailah Hayes Winterfest Concert #2 Photos Photographers: Miranda Bryant & Anna Johnson

Student support team Student support team Student support team Student support team Ms. Rubie McKelvey School Psychologist rmckelvey@buffaloschools.org Ms. Kim Jones School Social Worker kjones@buffaloschools.org Mrs. Stephanie Sacco School Social Worker Se habla español ssacco@buffaloschools.org Mobile Museum of Tolerance Photos and Video Goat Day 2024 Photos Photographers: Aniyah Carter & Jada'Nae Jones Resources BAVPA's "Kindness Project" BPS Opportunities Office of Culturally & Linguistically Responsive Initiatives (CLRI) Project A.C.T (Assisting Care-giving Teens) McKinney Vento Act Office of School Climate (PBIS) If you would like information about after school/extracurricular programs, health or mental health supports, case management or other community-based supports, please contact one of our social workers. For urgent mental health crisis support, please contact Spectrum C.A.R.E.S. or call them at 716-882-4357. "To anyone out there who's hurting – it's not a sign of weakness to ask for help. It's a sign of strength." -Barack Obama

PS 192 Arts Academy Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts Site update in progress 450 Masten Ave., Buffalo 14209 • Grades: 5-12 • Hours: 7:50-2:30 • Principal: Jody Covington • 716.816.4220 • Fax: 716.888.7136 "Excellence in the Arts and Academics"

Learn more about the Buffalo Arts Academy and how to apply. Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts Alumnae: Claudia Ewing and Michelle D. Hare, Guidance: Mrs. Loveria, Mr. Womack & Mrs. Moore Assistant Principal: Ms. Crispin and Mr. Ricco Principal: Ms. Covington Est. 1977 - Celebrating 40 + Years of Arts in Education Excellence Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year at the Arts Academy. Throughout the seemingly endless challenges, we remain strong in our convictions to place the needs of our students at the forefront of our work. We want parents and students to know that we are here to service the “whole child” and to provide a comprehensive approach to ensure the success of every student. The Arts Academy is the ultimate synergistic space of creative and academic excellence, found no where else in Buffalo. If your child is in need of extra assistance with high school courses, our partners with Canisius College Academic Talent Search is available for tutoring. Please reference the tutoring schedule on the reverse side of the printed progress report, and/or you may find it posted at buffaloartsacademy.org Every student and their family has been linked with a school-based liaison to act as an advisor during these demanding times. Our artistic and SPED teachers have taken the lead in this initiative. School counselors and Student Support Team (SST) members are available to provide individual and small group sessions to address a myriad of social-emotional and mental health needs. Our Arts Academy Wellness Team & physical education teachers promote healthy coping habits each month. A few years ago we celebrated our 40th year of serving the students of Buffalo. Our public school was born out of the desegregation order of 1976 to offer students an opportunity to pursue their talents in various art disciplines, while also completing a full academic program of instruction. Modeled after the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Performing Arts in New York City, we offer students the finest studio training in music, visual arts, technical theater, media communication, theater, and dance. Although we just celebrated a milestone year, each and every year features a new and ever-greater celebration of our proud heritage, our dedicated staff, successful alumni, supportive parents, and – most of all – our talented students. We honor the past, we celebrate today and we will build toward tomorrow! Our entire school community is proud of the strides we have taken over the past several years. We grew into a school in Good Standing and continue to celebrate our 85% on-time graduation rate. Our students accomplish work in their various art disciplines on top of their regular studies and are continuously being recognized in the community for excellence. Our successful alumni are evidence of the good foundation we are laying here and they continue to support this school where they emerged as young artists. We will continue to strive for excellence with the finest pre-conservatory studio training in the arts disciplines in concert with our rigorous college preparatory coursework. After this visit to our website, we encourage you to come back for more – more information about the Arts Academy events, more photos, more news, and more Arts Academy excitement. On behalf of the entire Arts Academy community – students, staff, parents, and alumni – I extend my wishes for another successful year. Ms. Jody Covington, Principal & Alumna Inside the Arts Academy Choir Room 1 Choir room one Main Stage The Main Stage of BAVPA East Ferry View of BAVPA East Ferry view of BAVPA Choir Room 1 Choir room one 1/7 Our Philosophy The dual mission of the Arts Academy is to provide each student with professional preparation in a pre-conservatory arts education program and college preparatory academic education. Our History The Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts was founded as part of the desegregation plan in 1977. The goal was simple: provide an exciting college preparatory program for students in the arts and academics that will attract all races and ethnicities. Since our beginnings at 333 Clinton Street, the school has grown in numbers and in depth. In September 2007, we moved to our new state of the art facility, location at 450 Masten Avenue. Opened in September of 1977, the Buffalo Academy for Visual & Performing Arts Magnet School. At that time, the Arts Academy was located on the site of the former Clinton Junior High School, which had been renovated with state-of-the-art studios, performance and exhibition spaces, to accommodate the specialized program offerings of: dance, theatre, music, visual art technical theatre, and media communications television, film, and podcasting.

Learn more about the Administrators at the Buffalo Arts Academy. Ms. Jody Covington School Principal Email: JCovington@buffaloschools.org “School is not a place that judges you. It is a place where people help your brain grow new connections” Mrs. Rebecca Ryan Secondary Assistant Principal Email: RLRyan@buffaloschools.org Mrs. Ryan has been a teacher in the Buffalo Public School system since 1998, teaching 2nd & 4th grade and also Special Education. She has been an assistant principal at BAVPA since 2015. She enjoys listening to music, outdoor activities, her Rottweiler, and spending time with her family. Winner of the Excellence in Education Assistant Principal of the Year Award (2023). "We should not judge people by their peak of excellence, but by the distance they have traveled from the point where they started" - Henry Ward Beecher Ms. Lizzy Crispin Secondary Assistant Principal Email: LCCrispin@buffaloschools.org Lizzy Crispin joined the Buffalo Public School district as a high school Biology teacher in 2004. Born to Dominican parents, Ms. Crispin migrated to the United States at the age of 15. A Canisius College alumni, Ms. Crispin began her career as a high school Biology teacher, teaching a plethora of courses within the sciences. She then moved on to become a school administrator in 2012. During her tenure at McKinley High School, where she taught Biology, she also became the Girls’ Varsity Track & Field coach. She enjoys traveling, dancing, exploring nature and reading. She is thrilled to have joined the team at BAVPA where she is enjoying getting to know all the talented students and families, as well as the faculty & staff. Mr. Anthony Riccio Secondary Assistant Principal Email: ASRiccio@buffaloschools.org Mr. Riccio is an educator of 19 years before arriving at BAVPA as an assistant principal. He has taught English Language Arts and writing for Buffalo Academy of Science and Tapestry charter schools and with the Buffalo Prep program. He enjoys traveling, spending time with his family, and has coached travel baseball for several years. "You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water" - Rabindranath Tagore

Arts Academy Family Resources Here at the Arts Academy we recognize that your student's success is based on the work we do in the school in collaboration with our relationship with you at home. Creating a strong family partnership with you is critical to the success your student will have with us in school. We look forward to seeing you at school and forming a bond that will provide success for your student. Contact the school to learn more about getting involved in your student's school. Email Jcovington@buffaloschools.org to Become a Parent Facilitator Today! Visit the Buffalo Public School Family/Parent Page

The Kindness Project The Kindness Project The Kindness Project The Kindness Project The Kindness Project The "Kindness Project" is a school-wide initiative to promote a culture of kindness throughout the building, as well as to increase positive engagement and interaction among the entire student body, faculty, and staff. At BAVPA, through implementation of the PBIS matrix, we encourage students to: B e Safe A lways Respectful V ery Cooperative be P repared A lways Responsible The Kindness Project is inclusive of all students, grades 5-12 and integrates students from all general & special education programming. Ms. Kim Jones facilitates activities all year long, including "Joyful Thursday" cultural performances during all the lunch periods as a part of our school's CLRI initiative. She also organizes special events such as the annual Wellness Fest with therapy goats. Ms. Jones also organizes an annual Wellness Fair, with tabling from a wide variety of community resources and providers. Students participate in the Kindness Project within the school, handing out small tokens of kindness or sharing snacks, welcoming new students or younger classmen. Students also participate in the Kindness Project out in the community, such as singing at community event or for special populations.

HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM The Arts Academy's highly qualified staff prepares our students for both college and career readiness, with excellence in both the Arts and Academics. Visit the Guidance Department page for more detailed information. Our current students continue to exceed NYS targets for academic performance, produce award-winning visual artwork, participate in All-County Music Festival, perform with the Buffalo Philharmonic, win entry to many film festivals, and attend the NYS Summer School for the Arts. All students are exposed to multiple guest artists and are challenged with professional level curriculum and training. The school is presently partnered with many outside organizations who support our rigorous curriculum. These partnership allow our students to be involved within our community. Many of our outside organizations focus on integrating the various arts experiences as well as helping discover and develop their artistic talents. We support and nurture our students continued growth through these programs. Programs of Study and Admissions The Arts Academy has six (6) distinctive major areas of study: Music (Vocal and Instrumental), Dance, Theatre, Visual Arts, Technical Theatre, and Media Communications (TV & Film). The Arts Academy requires that all students audition in their artistic area and formally submit an application through the district to include: academic records, testing information, and a letter of recommendation. Auditions are held in the fall of each year for admission the following September. Advanced Placement Courses and Accelerated Courses The Arts Academy offers Advanced Placement courses in the following areas: Literature and Composition, Language and Composition, World History, U.S. History, Biology, Spanish, Art History, Studio in Art, and Music Theory. All students are encouraged to complete at least one (1) Advanced Placement course prior to graduation. Students in Grade 8 may choose to enroll in accelerated high school courses including Algebra and Living Environment. Electives - All students are encouraged to pursue courses outside of their major area of study to enrich their experience at the Arts Academy. Electives include but are not limited to: Keyboarding, Career & Financial Management, Digital Photography, Design/Draw for Production, Studio in Media Arts, African American History, Independent Living, Sports Business Management, College Transition, Business Communications, AP Computer Science Principles (Math Course), STEM/WozEd and Studio in Art. Grading System A- Excellent 92 – 100 3.50 – 4.00 B- Above Average 83 – 91 2.65 – 3.49 C- Average 82 – 74 1.90 – 2.64 D- Below Average 65 – 73 1.05 – 1.89 F- Failure 64 or Below 0.00- 1.04 Advanced Placement Courses are weighted 1.1% GPA’s are calculated by averaging the courses students took in grades 9 through 11, including summer school. We do not calculate class rank. Visit the Guidance Department Page for more information and resources

School Calendar BAVPA Calendar of Events BAVPA Calendar of Events BAVPA Calendar of Events BAVPA Calendar of Events

Arts Academy Guidance Department Mrs. Wendy Loveria Last Names A-F Email: wloveria@buffaloschools.org Mr. Randall Womack Last Names G-M Email: rwomack@buffaloschools.org Mrs. Tyshae Moore Last Names N-Z Email: tmoore@buffaloschools.org Guidance Supports Guidance Supports: Academic, Social/Emotional/Career/Post-Secondary, Family Academic Planning Academic Planning Annually, each School Counselor will meet with his/her students to complete a record review. The record review is an opportunity for the student and counselor to discuss progress toward graduation in addition to preparing the student for postsecondary life. Financial Aid Assistance/Say Yes The meeting is also designed to be a question and answer periood; students should be armed with questions regarding academic, career and personal/social issues. Guidance Supports Guidance Supports: Academic, Social/Emotional/Career/Post-Secondary, Family 1/11 Guidance Department Offers: 1. Comprehensive Student Support: The guidance staff at BAVPA provides individualized assistance to students, addressing their academic, social, and emotional needs. They offer guidance on course selection, career exploration, and personal growth. 2. Career Planning and Exploration: BAVPA counselors help students explore various artistic and academic pathways. They assist in identifying career interests, setting goals, and planning for post-secondary education or artistic pursuits. 3. Self-Discovery and Personal Development: Students engage in self-reflection, understanding their strengths, interests, and values. Counselors facilitate workshops, discussions, and activities that promote self-awareness. 4. Educational and Vocational Development: BAVPA’s guidance program collaborates with teachers in equipping students with essential skills to ensure that they meet New York State Learning Standards. They guide students in academic planning, study skills, and time management. 5. Collaboration with Stakeholders: Counselors work closely with parents, teachers, and administrators to create a supportive environment. They collaborate on student success strategies, intervention plans, and academic accommodations. 6. Responsive Services: BAVPA counselors offer crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and emotional support. They address issues related to mental health, stress, and personal challenges 7. College and Career Readiness: Counselors assist students in researching colleges, scholarships, and artistic programs. They organize college fairs, workshops, and visits to enhance students’ readiness for higher education. They assist in the completion of FAFSA, TAP, and Say Yes applications. 8. Resource Hub: The Guidance Suite (Room 224) houses extremely valuable resources for students. Whether it’s scholarship information, mental health resources, or career materials, students can find assistance here.