The Fashionable Times Blog Principal's Message 11.25.18

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal Daryl Blank.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and enjoyed the time with your families and friends!

This coming week you will be able to conference with your child’s teachers during Parent- Teacher Conferences on Thursday, November 29 and Friday, November 30.  Thursday’s conferences will be from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm.  Friday’s conferences will be from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  As always, HSFI is committed to our partnership with our families!

This Friday, November 30 represents the end of the second marking period of the Fall term of the school year.  Next Monday, December 3, will mark the beginning of the third marking period of the Fall term.  Explain to your children that student grades are cumulative, meaning that all grades count during a given term.  Grades do not start over with the third 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. 

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  Every day we send out a daily announcements message that lists all the activities for the day and key reminders.  If students do not read these daily announcements and do not check their HSFI email and Jupiter Grades, they will miss out on some valuable opportunities and not know what is going on in the school.

Thank you!  Looking forward to seeing you at HSFI this week!

The Fashionable Times Blog Principal's Message 11.18.18

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal Daryl Blank.

It was great to see HSFI families at the November Parents Association meeting this past Wednesday.

We have a short week this week with the Thanksgiving holiday.  There is no school on Thursday and Friday.  Remember that Wednesday is a full day of instruction.  I want to wish you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday – enjoy the time with your families and friends!

Starting this Monday, November 19, 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, Peer Group Connection, 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.

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  Every day we send out a daily announcements message that lists all the activities for the day and key reminders.  If students do not read these daily announcements and do not check their HSFI email and Jupiter Grades, they will miss out on some valuable opportunities and not know what is going on in the school.

The following week after Thanksgiving, you will be able to conference with your child’s teachers during Parent- Teacher Conferences on Thursday, November 29 and Friday, November 30.  Thursday’s conferences will be from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm.  Friday’s conferences will be from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  As always, HSFI is committed to our partnership with our families!

Thank you!  Again, Happy Thanksgiving!

The Fashionable Times Blog Principal's Message 11.12.18

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal Daryl Blank.

As you are planning your schedule for the week, I hope you can attend our November Parents Association meeting this Wednesday, November 14 at 6:00 pm in the school auditorium.

This week (Wednesday 11/14, Thursday 11/15 & Friday 11/16), we will be conducting instructional rounds in the school with Harvard University with a race and equity lens.  Students and staff will be visiting classes in these rounds to see how race and equity plays out in our classrooms and then will work together on a plan to combat our challenges in this area.  HSFI is one of six schools in the entire United States that has been accepted into a Harvard University partnership to explore how race impacts equity in our school.   

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  Every day we send out a daily announcements message that lists all the activities for the day and key reminders.  If students do not read these daily announcements and do not check their HSFI email and Jupiter Grades, they will miss out on some valuable opportunities and not know what is going on in the school.

Just remember that Thanksgiving comes early this year – next week we have a short week with the Thanksgiving holiday. 

The following week after Thanksgiving, you will be able to conference with your child’s teachers during Parent- Teacher Conferences on Thursday, November 29 and Friday, 30.  Thursday’s conferences will be from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm.  Friday’s conferences will be from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  As always, HSFI is committed to our partnership with our families!

Thank you!

The Fashionable Times Blog Principal's Message 11.4.18

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal Daryl Blank.

We are on a regular bell schedule this coming Monday, November 5.  In December and continuing through the rest of the school year, we will be on a special schedule on the First Monday of each month, but not this month.  Again, we are on a regular bell schedule this coming Monday, November 5.  On Monday, November 5, all Fashion Families are invited to the school for coffee and snacks in Room 127 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am with Assistant Principal of Family Engagement Danielle Silva.   

Please remember that there is no school on Tuesday for students.  HSFI staff will be at school for professional development.  Do not forget to VOTE on Tuesday!

I wanted to give Fashion families an update of our partnership with Harvard University as part of our race and equity focus.  This week (Thursday 11/8 & Friday 11/9), a HSFI team of staff members including myself will travel to Harvard University for the kickoff conference of the RIDES Institute where we will collaborate with the Harvard faculty on a developing a plan for our race and equity work.  HSFI is one of six schools in the entire United States that was accepted into this Harvard University partnership.  Next week (Wednesday 11/14, Thursday 11/15 & Friday 11/16), we will be conducting instructional rounds in the school with Harvard University with a race and equity lens.  Students and staff will be visiting classes in these rounds to see how race and equity plays out in our classrooms and then will work together on a plan to combat our challenges in this area.

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  Every day we send out a daily announcements message that lists all the activities for the day and key reminders.  If students do not read these daily announcements and do not check their HSFI email and Jupiter Grades, 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 10.28.18

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal Daryl Blank.

It was great to see so many HSFI Families at our Family Visitation Days this past Thursday and Friday.  The next opportunity for HSFI families is Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 29 and 30.  We will have another HSFI Family Visitation Days during the Spring term on March 14 and 15 – mark your calendars.  As always, HSFI is committed to our partnership with our families!

Students will receive their first marking period report cards on Monday during their third period classes.  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. 

This week is School Spirit week!  Monday is Flag Day; Tuesday is Neon Day; Wednesday is Halloween where students can dress up; Thursday is Decades Day; Friday is Twin Day; and Saturday night is a school dance.  Please encourage your child to show their school spirit and participate in these spirit activities.

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  Every day we send out a daily announcements message that lists all the activities for the day and key reminders.  If students do not read these daily announcements and do not check their HSFI email and Jupiter Grades, 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 10.21.18

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal Daryl Blank.

The first marking period of the school year has ended as of this past Friday.  Report cards for the first marking period will be distributed to students next week.  This Monday marks the beginning of the second marking period.  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. 

HSFI is thrilled to continue again this year our Family Visitation Days this Thursday, October 25 and Friday, October 26.  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.  Below is a link to our school website where we have an online signup form for Family Visitation Day. 

https://fashionhighschool.net/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC_ID=475549&id=1

Please make sure you fill out this 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 29 and 30 or by appointment through your child's guidance counselor. As always, HSFI is committed to our partnership with our families!

This Monday is 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. 

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  Every day we send out a daily announcements message that lists all the activities for the day and key reminders.  If students do not read these daily announcements and do not check their HSFI email and Jupiter Grades, 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 10.14.18

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal Daryl Blank.

This Friday, October 19 represents the end of the first marking period of the school year.  Next Monday will mark the beginning of the second marking period.  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. 

As you are planning your schedule for the week, I hope you can attend our October Parents Association meeting this Wednesday, October 17 at 6:00 pm in the school auditorium.  At this meeting, we will have our annual Financial Aid night.  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.   I want to thank our new Parents Association Executive Board for stepping up to represent our great families.  In my previous message that identified our Executive Board members last month, I mistakenly misidentified our new PA President.  Our new PA President is Ms. Felicia Fann.  Thank you Ms. Fann and my apologies to you for my previous mistake.

HSFI is thrilled to continue again this year our Family Visitation Days on Thursday, October 25 and Friday, October 26.  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 29 and 30 or by appointment through your child's guidance counselor. As always, HSFI is committed to our partnership with our families!

Aligned to our school belief that emotions matter at HSFI, this school year we will be spending a considerable amount of effort examining the impact of race on our community and how we feel about ourselves and one another.  To this end, we are part of a partnership with Harvard University to explore these questions.  This week we will be giving student surveys that ask questions about their perceptions of race and equity.  A copy of this survey is attached to the email that goes along with this message and it will also be posted on the school website.

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  Every day we send out a daily announcements message that lists all the activities for the day and key reminders.  If students do not read these daily announcements and do not check their HSFI email and Jupiter Grades, they will miss out on some valuable opportunities and not know what is going on in the school.

Thank you!