Honestly, let me be frank. This school isn't the best. Everyday some kid gets called to the office…read morefor skipping or something else. The teachers treat us more like objects then human beings and our bathrooms can't stay clean for more than 48 hours. Teachers may think toilets are clogged but it's actually their ears because they never listen. Can't wait for another great year in this district, Peace.

A high school that was founded in the 1970s in Buffalo. Kids came from all around the city to…read moreattend. It remains a top school in the area.

Nichols is actually called "Niggles" because I always seem to have some annoying niggling injuries…read morewhen I play a soccer game here, and I'll always associate it with niggling injuries even though it's an amazing facility. Nichols is probably the best place I have ever played football (soccer) in the Buffalo area. The field is perfect. Unfortunately I have a very poor record here... in finals, I've always been on the losing side. Then again I've always been on the massive underdog team in finals, and it's a miracle that those teams have even made it to the final game... but yes, never won a trophy here. Nevertheless, thoroughly appreciate the surface and the facilities. I won't mention the guy that took me out here on this field and severely damaged my ankle. On purpose. That kind of thing is hard to forgive but what can you do. That's life.

Excellent education. They also have amazing art, drama, sports, literary and science programs among…read moreother programs they have. they have their own concert hall, hockey rink, baseball diamond, gymnasium and many other modern amenities. The teachers are top notch and the students consistently graduate to Ivy League colleges

dirty. dumb. shouldn't have enrolled my children here. the teachers and staff are rude. my son…read morecomes home everyday with bruises from the other kids. and my older daughter comes home smelling like must and dirty cafeteria food. she also started vaping, and this wouldn't have happened if i had enrolled them at frontier instead.

I went to this school from 1981-1984. The principle at that time was Terry Wolfenden…read more It used to be called Dunkirk Junior High School, but they changed the name a few years before I went to emphasize the middle school years were a separate stage of child/student development, worthy of its own name, and not just a high school but "junior". All in all, I can say that I received a somewhat rigorous education here, with some exceptions. Students of all abilities were grouped into the same class. It didn't compare to more wealthy school districts or to boarding/day schools, but for a small, rural town, it was good. And of couese, it doesn't compare to schooling nowadays, where younger and younger students are taught more advanced concepts. We were still doing arithmetic in seventh grade and didn't fully start a foreign language until eighth grade. I am a little miffed now that lunch breaks back then were only one-half of a period, so 20 minutes. We really had to rush to line up and then eat our lunches, especially if you were at the end of the line. Another time, the lunch supervisor made the entire lunchroom (about 100 students) stay after school to punish us because just a few students were being unruly. This was not fair to us, and I missed a student council meeting because of this. All of us also all were required to attend vocational classes like metal shop, sewing, cooking, and woodshop even in the eighth grade, even though some were in the college-bound track. This is what the classes were for college-track students: 6th grade (9 periods of 40 minutes each): English Social Studies (I forget what) Math (arithmetic) Science Reading Vocational (woodshop, metal/plastic shop, art, sewing, cooking, library skills) Spelling (called "Achievement")/Lunch Music/P.E. Activity period 7th Grade (9 periods of 40 minutes each): English Social Studies (local history: NY State, Chautauqua County, and City of Dunkirk) Math (advanced intensive arithmetic) Science/Health Reading/tour of German, Spanish, and French to see what you liked best Vocational (art, either woodshop or metal/plastic show, either sewing or cooking) Spelling (called "Achievement")/Lunch Music/P.E. Activity period 8th Grade (9 periods of 40 minutes each): English Social Studies (American history I think) Math (pre-algebra) Science one of the three: Spanish, French, German for high school credit Vocational (art, either woodshop or metal/plastic show, either sewing or cooking) Spelling/other areas of the class' choice (called "Achievement")/Lunch Music/P.E. Activity period As for sports, there weren't many, unlike today. The was intramural after-school basketball in all grades, but for boys only. And there was an extramural eighth grade boys basketball team (by tryout only). Major Title IX violations here! Back then, there was not a sports field on campus and no parking lot for teachers and staff. Don't believe me? Take a look at the website Historic Aerials (https://www.historicaerials.com/viewer) to see what it was like in the 1980's. I'm jealous of today's students! :-)

(Part 4 of 1) 10/14/19…read moreI am sure an all girls school has their own crazy antics that some girls did. Nevertheless, the main thing that I would change if I were back in time, is wearing some freaking flip flops instead of walking on the bathroom floor/showers areas.  Once done, students walked or ran back to their dormitories. This could be a long walk during the cold and miserable days. During the hot times, some (including myself) walked back to the dorm in only our towels.  Some students got a huge surprise when their towels got pulled off of them. Under the wrong circumstances some women caught an eye full and laughed; as well, as other male students. Teenagers at there finest... The Resident Assistants who are high school seniors and act like supervisors for the dormitory teachers, guarded the showers and kept everyone else from using the showers.(certainly in my dorm called Templeton) Evidently the all the classmates in the Templeton Dorm did not have the guts to challenge their authority.   We were all freshmen in that dorm and we all were intimidated by the seniors. (This another thing I would change in me if I were to go back in time my 9th grade year...there was no rule where you couldn't shower in the morning, afternoon or night in Templeton...it was just the Resistant Assistants being assholes...with the exception of one or two of them later on.) There were things that some seniors did that intimidated other classmates around the school, but after my first year, I was not intimidated by anyone.  Not even the teacher that threatened to beat me up for saying some sexual remarks to his girlfriend. I did not say those things to her, but if I did, I would have told him right then and there since he was all confrontational with me. (Of course this would have lead to a darker path. One of use would be dead and the other in prison... I am glad had restraint... I don't remember if I reported him to another teacher, but I know nothing happened to him in the years I was there...)  Ahhh the things that happen at school.   Today is 10/10/19 and I am sure everyone uses the showers in their own dormitories ...(I hope so)... since both sexes now live on campus. There are a lot more memories that I am sure will come out when I write about Winter Carnival,  Orientation,  Senior Trips, Crimes&Punishments,  musicals and acting to name several things. I am happy this school is part of my life. I am not sure who I would have been if not for The Gow School.  More to come later on...

Great school brother attended in 2004 and it's only been getting better and bigger…read more Thanks

Both of my boys have thrived here, and truly came out as better men. The difference between what I…read moresee in the young men at St. Francis versus the public schools is striking. My sons and their friends can shake a man's hand and look them in the eye while being polite and respectful, can dress well and know how to impress, and have become more mature and responsible with each passing year. Both of them loved their time here and have no regrets.

What used to be the pinnacle of privates schools in New York is now just an embarrassing shadow of…read moreits former self. I allowed myself to be blind with loyalty and trust as an alumni, only to watch my son be disrespected, set up for failure and retaliated against by the so-called brotherhood of St. Francis. If you are considering this school for your son, keep in mind there is only one thing that matters to St Francis: MONEY. When you lower the standards, especially for a profit, the quality inherently falls

I am an aluma of Nardin. Absolutely loved the school when I attended. I sent my daughter there,…read moreper her choice, many years later. I made a horrific mistake. Nardin, I believe, has changed. It's wonderful for an education and has rated number one for many years in the parochial high school element. They've lost their personality. It's all about maintaining status. My daughter chose this school for the wrong reasons. It's cool location. I prepaid her freshman year and was beset by calls from her guidance counselor saying that she is just not up to par. She is not good enough to stay. No offer of reimbursement for tuition paid...just remove her. Also, her purse was taken. Nardin not responsible. The agnst that this small school caused was long lasting. Her lost purse, sans cell fone and personal touch cafeteria card, was returned albeit 4 months later. Guidance counselor is long gone, I believe her sole purpose in life was to bother individuals. Her office, in the lower part of the building, was the smoking lounge when I attended. Cool school, be careful.

My daughter is a 2016 grad, I couldn't be prouder or happier with her education. There were a few…read moreteachers and faculty that you might complain about, but the small issues were shadowed by the community and dedication to preparing young girls into confident capable women. Because of her high scoring metrics several top schools recruited her with generous offers. We decided on NU because it had her major and no students loans were needed. We've made it through the first dream. Now the goal is to make NU realize they picked the right woman for the job. Any grad schools wanna get in early on a top tier student?

My son did lacrosse camp here. Coaches were great very encouraging and really made best use of the…read moretime. The grounds are beautiful. I would recommend if you're new to lacrosse. I wish they scrimmaged more though and really put those skills to use in real time!

I am here to cheer on my husband as he runs the Canisius Chilly Challenge 5K. The course is a…read more"right turns only" rectangle starting and ending in front of the high school. The post race party is in the newly built gymnasium. Runners, volunteers and guests were treated to delicious chili, both with meat and without. The chilies were accompanied by shredded cheddar cheese, hot pepper flakes, chopped scallions and, of course, saltine crackers. There are 2 long tables set up; no waiting. Catering by Joe's Deli As this is a high school, there is no beer. There is water, soda pop, cookies and bananas also offered. A nice, if somewhat chilly course, and a really nice post race party.