Buffalo Community Middle School

Orchestra students from Buffalo Community Middle School and Buffalo High School came together for the fourth annual Summer Orchestra Camp from July 7–11. Throughout the week, students rehearsed in both large and small groups, with BCMS students also receiving mentorship from high school musicians.

After months of research and preparation, sixth- and seventh-graders in the Quest program at Buffalo Community Middle School presented their findings in a Minnesota History Day event on Tuesday, March 4.

The theme of this year’s event was “Rights and Responsibilities in History.” Organized by the Minnesota Historical Society, the program challenges students to choose a topic related to the theme, conduct extensive research and present their findings through performance, exhibit, documentary or website.

“Our middle schoolers continue to impress me with the amount of work they put into this project and the quality of what they create,” said BCMS Quest teacher Danielle Kelm. “I feel like with each year of the competition, they keep leveling up what these projects can look like. Their work is nothing short of amazing.”

Nearly 40 students from Buffalo Community Middle School have spent the past month, on either side of Winter Break, preparing their annual play.

“Kokonut High” is the comedic story of a family-owned island resort off the coast of Florida that is desperate to generate income in the wake of a hurricane. After their insurance company declines to cover the cost of repairs, island residents hatch a plot to start a boarding high school with steep tuition fees.

“Basically, everything goes wrong,” said eighth-grader Keira Lemke. “There are some crooks trying to get the island too, but in the end it all turns out.”

Three Quest students at Buffalo Community Middle School have been nominated for the 2025 Star of the North Award.

Katherine Gustafson, Connor Smude and Will Umhoefer are now in the running for this distinction from the Minnesota Educators of the Gifted and Talented, which annually recognizes a student in grades 5-8 who has shown outstanding accomplishment in academics, visual or performing arts, or leadership.