The Fashionable Times Blog Principal's Message 2.26.17

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal, Daryl Blank. 

I hope your children enjoyed their vacation.  It is time to get back to work as classes begin again.  Monday is a regular school day.  Unbelievably, the end of the first marking period is two weeks away on March 15. 

Thursday, March 16 and Friday, March 17 will be the dates where Fashion families have an opportunity to come and observe HSFI classes.  I am very excited about this event that will bring the school and our families closer together.  I hope to have more details on these visits for you next week!

Parent-Teacher conferences are March 23 & 24.  Start to contact the teachers of the classes that you want to speak with at those conferences.

We have some school-wide committees this Monday that I want to invite you to attend.  The Advocating and Preparing for Post-Secondary Success committee will take place on Monday from 9:00 am to 9:45 am in Room 821.  This committee’s primary purpose is to develop a comprehensive four-year plan to getting Fashion students ready for the college application process so the college acceptance rate at HSFI increases.

The Social Emotional Learning committee will take place on Monday from 11:40 am to 12:15 am in Room 821.  This committee is focused on our school-wide belief that emotions matters and that paying attention to the emotions of our staff, students and families will have a positive impact on engagement, relationships, health, decision-making and academic success.  We are asking school staff to do social-emotional check-ins with our students during classes or office visits.  We want our staff to take a couple of minutes to find out how students are feeling before moving forward with their lesson or interaction.

If you are interested in volunteering and being part of either committee, please just show up.

There is one month left in the Air Conditioner campaign.  Currently, we have raised almost $18,750.  We still need to raise another $16,000 to get us to $35,000.  On March 31, the campaign will end and I will order as many air conditioners that we can afford.  If we raised this remaining $16,000, we would get to $35,000 and then our Advisory Board would probably donate another $15,000 to get us to $50,000.  At that point with the matching donation, we would reach $100,000 and have enough to air condition the entire building.  Right now, we would only be able to air condition a small number of classrooms.

As you know, I have done the math – if every HSFI family contributed $11 each, we would reach our goal.

If you or someone you know wants to contribute cash, please bring the money to Room 819 where we can give you a receipt.  If you want to write a check to contribute to the campaign, the check should be made out to HSFI Alumni Association.  Your child can drop it off in Room 819 or it can be mailed to the school at 225 West 24^th Street, New York, NY 10011 and made to Attention to me, Daryl Blank, Principal.  Remember, only $11 is needed from each HSFI family.

Link to the GoFundMe Campaign:

https://www.gofundme.com/air-conditioners-fashion-high

Link to the DNA Info article on the AC Campaign:

https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170105/chelsea/high-school-of-fashion-industries-air-conditioner-fundraiser

I want to remind all Fashion families that our student computer lab is open every day, just as it has been all year, from 7:30 am through 2^nd period, during all lunch periods and from the end of 8^th period until 5:00 pm.  Students have access to a classroom full of computers and printers all day long.

Make sure you and your child are checking Jupiter Grades to know where they stand in their classes.  Students should be checking their HSFI email every day.

We maintain a weekly blog for HSFI Parents - the link is: http://hsfifashionabletimes.blogspot.com/

The school website has a section specifically for HSFI Parents – the link is: www.fashionhighschool.net

Thank you!

The Fashionable Times Blog Principal's Message 2.12.17

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal, Daryl Blank. 

Some exciting news from this past week - Both the NYC Department of Education & NY State Education Department were blown away by the quality of our Visual Merchandising and Graphics & Illustration departments this past Wednesday during a review of these programs for state certification!  The four reviewers were impressed by our students, parents and staff during their visit. 

Some exciting news about this week - This Wednesday, February 15, the Lord & Taylor department store on 5th Avenue will be showcasing the designs of 10 fashion design students in a high-profile event. Our students’ designs are already up in the store for all of their customers to enjoy! The entire school community is invited to the event on Wednesday, February 15 at 6pm. Please come and bring family and friends! Great exposure for HSFI!  The official invite is below:

The Air Conditioner campaign still continues to make good progress with almost $17,500 raised.  With the matching donation up to $50,000, we have an excellent chance to get the whole building air conditioned if we can reach our goal.  I did the math – if every HSFI family contributed $11 each, we would have enough for air conditioners throughout the school.  That is right, $11 per family.  Thank you to all the Fashion families that have given what they could for this campaign.  Every little bit helps! No amount is too small!  SPREAD THE WORD TO FAMILY & FRIENDS!

If you or someone you know wants to contribute cash, please bring the money to Room 819 where we can give you a receipt.  If you want to write a check to contribute to the campaign, the check should be made out to HSFI Alumni Association.  Your child can drop it off in Room 819 or it can be mailed to the school at 225 West 24^th Street, New York, NY 10011 and made to Attention to me, Daryl Blank, Principal.  Remember, only $12 is needed from each HSFI family.

Link to the GoFundMe Campaign:

https://www.gofundme.com/air-conditioners-fashion-high

Link to the DNA Info article on the AC Campaign:

https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170105/chelsea/high-school-of-fashion-industries-air-conditioner-fundraiser

Save the Dates – Thursday, March 16 and Friday, March 17 will be the dates where Fashion families have an opportunity to come and observe HSFI classes.  I am very excited about this event that will bring the school and our families closer together.  Details coming soon!

I want to remind all Fashion families that our student computer lab is open every day, just as it has been all year, from 7:30 am through 2^nd period, during all lunch periods and from the end of 8^th period until 5:00 pm.  Students have access to a classroom full of computers and printers all day long.

Make sure you and your child are checking Jupiter Grades to know where they stand in their classes.  Students should be checking their HSFI email every day.

We maintain a weekly blog for HSFI Parents - the link is: http://hsfifashionabletimes.blogspot.com/

The school website has a section specifically for HSFI Parents – the link is: www.fashionhighschool.net

Thank you!

The Fashionable Times Blog Principal's Message 2.5.17

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal, Daryl Blank. 

The Spring term has begun and it is important that all HSFI students start off the term strong.  Students should take advantage of both staff and National Honor Society tutoring if they need additional support in their classes.  Our newly adopted Homework Policy is in effect.  Also, I want to remind all Fashion families that our student computer lab is open every day, just as it has been all year, from 7:30 am through 2^nd period, during all lunch periods and from the end of 8^th period until 5:00 pm.  Students have access to a classroom full of computers and printers all day long.

This Monday is a ‘First Monday’ schedule where students will start school later and be dismissed from school early so that our staff can meet in teacher teams for professional development.  Students who begin school 1^st period will start at 8:30 am.  Students who begin school 2^nd period will start at 9:09 am.  Students who finish school after 8^th period will be dismissed at 1:43 pm.  Students who finish school after 9^th period will be dismissed at 2:22 pm.

As you are planning your schedule for the week I hope you can attend our February Parents Association meeting this Wednesday, February 8 at 6:00 pm in Room 829.  At this meeting we will be showcasing our Peer Group Connection Mentoring program where many of our 11^th and 12^th graders mentor our 9^th graders. 

The Air Conditioner campaign still continues to make good progress with over $16,000 raised.  With the matching donation up to $50,000, we have an excellent chance to get the whole building air conditioned if we can reach our goal.  I did the math – if every HSFI family contributed $12 each, we would have enough for air conditioners throughout the school.  That is right, $12 per family.  Thank you to all the Fashion families that have given what they could for this campaign.  Every little bit helps! No amount is too small!  SPREAD THE WORD TO FAMILY & FRIENDS!

If you or someone you know wants to contribute cash, please bring the money to Room 819 where we can give you a receipt.  If you want to write a check to contribute to the campaign, the check should be made out to HSFI Alumni Association.  Your child can drop it off in Room 819 or it can be mailed to the school at 225 West 24^th Street, New York, NY 10011 and made to Attention to me, Daryl Blank, Principal.  Remember, only $12 is needed from each HSFI family.

Link to the GoFundMe Campaign:

https://www.gofundme.com/air-conditioners-fashion-high

Link to the DNA Info article on the AC Campaign:

https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170105/chelsea/high-school-of-fashion-industries-air-conditioner-fundraiser

Save the Dates – Thursday, March 16 and Friday, March 17 will be the dates where Fashion families have an opportunity to come and observe HSFI classes.  I am very excited about this event that will bring the school and our families closer together.  Details coming soon!

As usual, every week I am going to highlight the ways in which our HSFI families can volunteer to support the school.  We now have a Parent Volunteer Page on our school website.  We have a Homecoming Dance scheduled for Saturday, February 11 – we would appreciate any parents who would be willing to chaperone the dance.  Please contact me directly if you are interested in these volunteer opportunities.

Make sure you and your child are checking Jupiter Grades to know where they stand in their classes.  Students should be checking their HSFI email every day.

We maintain a weekly blog for HSFI Parents - the link is: http://hsfifashionabletimes.blogspot.com/

The school website has a section specifically for HSFI Parents – the link is: www.fashionhighschool.net

Thank you!