The Fashionable Times Blog Principal's Message 10.27.19

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal Daryl Blank.

We had an exciting this past week - famous fashion icon Andre Leon Talley served as the school honorary Principal for the Day, we had our annual College Gear Day where a large majority of our staff wore some sort of gear from the college that they attended in celebration of the beginning of College Application Week for our seniors; and our monthly Parents Association meeting took place that included our Safety Town Hall.

As we move ahead in the school year, we have multiple opportunities for Fashion Families to visit the school.  HSFI is thrilled to continue again this year our Family Visitation Days on Thursday, November 7 and Friday, November 8.  During HSFI Family Visitation Days, you will be able to observe your children in action in their classes.  You may come and leave when you wish during those days.  During your child’s lunch period, you and your child are invited to lunch in the Principal’s conference room.  Assistant Principal Danielle Silva will be welcoming you in the school lobby and giving you an orientation for the visit.  Next week we will be sending an online signup form, so we can get an idea of how many parents will be visiting and let the teachers know you are coming.  Please remember that this is not a day to conference with your child’s teachers. You will be able to do this during Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 21 and 22 or by appointment through your child's guidance counselor. As always, HSFI is committed to our partnership with our families!

We also want Fashion Families to know that we will have our annual Financial Aid night for families will be on November 13th in the HSFI auditorium at 6:15 pm.  We will have a presenter from the State University of New York central office.  This informational session about paying for college is for parents of all grades whether you are the parent of a senior going to college next year or a parent of a 9^th, 10^th or 11^th grader.

Looking ahead to next week – next Monday, November 4, we are on a First Monday schedule where students get out of school a little earlier so that our teachers can engage in professional development.  Next Tuesday, November 5, is Election Day where students are not in school.

On a programming note, next Monday, November 4, is that last day of our Cycle A classes and Wednesday, November 6, students will be starting their 2^nd half of the Fall term programs which means a change of day for any class that meets less than five days a week.  Classes that met Monday, Wednesday and Friday now meet only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Classes that met Tuesdays and Thursdays, now meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  The classes that this change applies to include Physical Education / Gym, Emotions Matter, Senior College Prep APPS classes and SAGA Math tutoring, Check with your child about their schedule change as it might affect when they have to report to school each day and/or when they finish their school day.

I wanted to let all Fashion Families know that our school has a vibrant Alumni Association that is dedicated to supporting our current students.  The HSFI Alumni Association, which is 501c3 charity organization, is fundraising to support their ability to give out annual HSFI Alumni College Scholarships.  They have expanded their fundraising efforts to include ‘Amazon Smile’ that gives back 0.5% of a purchase back to a charity organization of your choice.  Attached to this email and on the school website is a step-by-step process of shopping with Amazon smile to support the HSFI Alumni College Scholarships.  Please consider using this to support this wonderful organization.  The Alumni Association also has a GoFund me page if you would like to contribute in this way - https://www.gofundme.com/f/hsfi-alumni-college-scholarship

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  Jupiter Grades is our online grading system.  We will be sending important information out through both these tools – if students do not check them, they will miss out on some valuable opportunities and not know what is going on in the school.

Thank you!

The Fashionable Times Blog Principal's Message 10.20.19

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal Daryl Blank.

We are a week into second marking period.  Students received their report cards this past Friday – if you did not see your child’s report card, please ask for it, take a look and have a discussion with your child about the report card.  Please speak with your child about starting the second marking period the right way.  You and your child need to understand that student grades are cumulative, meaning that all grades count during a given term.  Grades do not start over with the second marking period and there are not separate grades for each marking period.  Second marking period grades are a combination of the first and second marking periods.  Third marking period grades are a combination of the first, second and third marking periods.  These grades go on a student’s transcript and are seen by colleges.

As you are planning your schedule for the week, please keep in mind that this Wednesday, October 23, we will have our monthly Parents Association meeting.  As part of this meeting, we will be hosting a Safety Town Hall where we will be giving a presentation on how the school handles safety and security.  This Safety Town Hall will feature a presentation from Assistant Principal Giovanni Raschilla who supervises our safety and security efforts at the High School of Fashion Industries.

This Monday is an exciting day at the High School of Fashion Industries.  First, famous fashion icon Andre Leon Talley will serve as the school honorary Principal for the Day.  Mr. Talley, who used to be the editor at Vogue magazine, will greet students in the morning and then spend the day interacting with the school community.  Monday is also our annual College Gear Day.  A large majority of our staff will be wearing a t-shirt, sweatshirt or some sort of gear from the college that they attended in celebration of the beginning of College Application Week for our seniors.  The day will hopefully have a motivating effect on our seniors who are beginning to work on their college applications and get our 9^th, 10^th and 11^th graders thinking about the college process. 

I wanted to let all Fashion Families know that our school has a vibrant Alumni Association that is dedicated to supporting our current students.  The HSFI Alumni Association, which is 501c3 charity organization, is fundraising to support their ability to give out annual HSFI Alumni College Scholarships.  They have expanded their fundraising efforts to include ‘Amazon Smile’ that gives back 0.5% of a purchase back to a charity organization of your choice.  On the school website is a step-by-step process of shopping with Amazon smile to support the HSFI Alumni College Scholarships.  Please consider using this to support this wonderful organization.  The Alumni Association also has a GoFund me page if you would like to contribute in this way - https://www.gofundme.com/f/hsfi-alumni-college-scholarship

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  Jupiter Grades is our online grading system.  We will be sending important information out through both these tools – if students do not check them, they will miss out on some valuable opportunities and not know what is going on in the school.

Thank you!

The Fashionable Times Blog Principal's Message 10.13.19

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal Daryl Blank.

Just a reminder that we do not have school tomorrow, this Monday, October 14 due to the observance of Columbus Day.

This Tuesday, October 15, will mark the beginning of the second marking period.  Students will receive report cards this coming Friday.  Please speak with your child about starting the second marking period the right way.  You and your child need to understand that student grades are cumulative, meaning that all grades count during a given term.  Grades do not start over with the second marking period and there are not separate grades for each marking period.  Second marking period grades are a combination of the first and second marking periods.  Third marking period grades and the grades that go on a student’s transcript and seen by colleges are a combination of the first, second and third marking periods.

Please keep in mind that next Wednesday, October 23, we will have our monthly Parents Association meeting.  As part of this meeting, we will be hosting a Safety Town Hall where we will be giving a presentation on how the school handles safety and security.  This Safety Town Hall will feature a presentation from Assistant Principal Giovanni Raschilla who supervises our safety and security efforts at the High School of Fashion Industries.

I wanted to let all Fashion Families know that our school has a vibrant Alumni Association that is dedicated to supporting our current students.  The HSFI Alumni Association, which is 501c3 charity organization, is fundraising to support their ability to give out annual HSFI Alumni College Scholarships.  They have expanded their fundraising efforts to include ‘Amazon Smile’ that gives back 0.5% of a purchase back to a charity organization of your choice.  On the school website is a step-by-step process of shopping with Amazon smile to support the HSFI Alumni College Scholarships.  Please consider using this to support this wonderful organization.  

The Alumni Association also has a GoFund me page if you would like to contribute in this way - https://www.gofundme.com/f/hsfi-alumni-college-scholarship

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  Jupiter Grades is our online grading system.  We will be sending important information out through both these tools – if students do not check them, they will miss out on some valuable opportunities and not know what is going on in the school.

Thank you!

The Fashionable Times Blog Principal's Message 10.1.19

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal Daryl Blank.

It was great to see so many Fashion Families attend our first Parents Association meeting of the school year this past week.

At the meeting we spoke about our school goals that every member of the High School of Fashion Industries’ community – students, families and staff feel cared for and challenged – and what the school is doing to achieve these goals.  Our belief is that people succeed when they feel they are being cared for and challenged.  Our school community feels strongly that emotions matter at HSFI.  Everything we do at the school will be aligned to these goals.

All of our student clubs and activities will be highlighted this Thursday, October 3 during HSFI’s Club Fair.  During students’ lunch periods they can go to the school lobby to see all the choices for student clubs and activities where students and staff from those clubs and activities will be there to provide information and sign up students who are interested in joining them.  I encourage all students to attend – we try to have something for everyone to connect with.

Also, this week is our first installment of our Student Town Halls.  Once a month I invite all students who are interested to my Student Town Halls.  Students can speak to me about anything they wish – positive things happening at HSFI or changes that they want made.  I will have these Town Halls every month – please encourage your children to have their voice heard directly by me.  This week’s town hall will be on Friday, October 4 during all four lunch periods.

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  Jupiter Grades is our online grading system.  9^th graders should log onto their HSFI email to get the directions to log onto Jupiter Grades.  We will be sending important information out through both these tools – if students do not check them, they will miss out on some valuable opportunities and not know what is going on in the school.

Breakfast and lunch is free to all students in all of our NYC public schools, regardless of income eligibility. I encourage all students to eat lunch – it is very important they eat so they can concentrate on what is being taught to them.  Unfortunately, all students and their families still need to submit lunch applications.  Title I funding in New York City is tied to the information that parents/guardians provide on the yearly lunch application.  The High School of Fashion Industries receives nearly $1 million in Title I funding each year.  You can now fill out your lunch application online at https://www.myschoolapps.com/.  You will need the school’s zip code to start the online application which is 10011.  After putting in the zip code, you click on ‘New York City School.’  If you are not receiving this message by email, this online application link will be posted on the school website in the ‘Fashion News’ section at www.fashionhighschool.net. 

Thank you!