The Fashionable Times Blog Principal's Message 3.24.19

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal, Daryl Blank.

This Wednesday, March 27 is PSAT / SAT Day.  This is a day when all 10^th graders will be taking the PSAT exam while all of the 11^th graders will be taking their SAT exam.  9^th graders will be in school from 8:30 am to 11:30 am where they will be taking mandatory practice Regents exam in Science and Social Studies.  12^th graders will be in school from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm where they will first have an assembly to go over the remaining senior activities and will then report to their senior major class to get work done towards the completion of their senior projects.  There are no regular classes on this day.  As usual. breakfast and lunch will be available to all students.

I am very excited to announce that HSFI’s version of ‘America’s Got Talent’ is this Friday, March 29^th with our annual Variety Show.  This event showcases the performing arts talents of our students including singing and dancing.  As always, we welcome families to attend the event.

All Fashion families should check out the ‘Student Opportunities’ page on our school website.  This page has a long list of opportunities that HSFI students can apply to including summer programs.  You should check it out on a regular basis as new opportunities are constantly being added to the page.  The link on the website is:

https://fashionhighschool.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=393273&type=d

I just received a message from the NYC Department of Education this past Thursday that only 6 percent of Fashion Families have done their Parent Survey – that is only 95 HSFI families out of almost 1600 families.  The deadline is coming up on Wednesday, April 3.  Please fill out the survey – we need a high percentage of Fashion families to fill out the survey and show all of NYC what HSFI is all about.

You can fill out the survey in 2 different ways – by filling out the paper survey that you receive in the mail in a green envelope or you can fill it out online.

To complete the survey online:

(1) Go to nycschoolsurvey.org.

(2) Click on the link to the parent and guardian survey.

(3) Enter your access code found at the bottom of your paper survey.

(4) Complete the survey.

(5) Click ‘Submit’.

If you don’t receive a survey in the mail? Don’t worry! You can also call the school at (212) 255-1235 where we you can get your Access Code for the survey or call the NYC Department of Education at 1-877-819-2363 to get an Access Code to complete the survey online.

I would be so grateful if you filled out the survey to reflect all the hard work that I, along with my staff, put into making HSFI a unique learning community.  Please consider how we work to build partnerships and relationships with you as Fashion Parents to help your children learn, perform to their highest levels and meet their needs inside and outside the classroom.  Students’ needs are met academically through challenging instruction and industry partnerships connected to our fashion, art and business major classes; social-emotionally through all our clubs and activities, Fashion Dollars and our partnerships with Yale University and Harvard University; and health-wise with our School Based Health Center that provides free health and dental care to all Fashion students.

Please consider all our communication efforts – my weekly Sunday at 5:00 pm phone calls and emails through School Messenger; our use of Jupiter Grades for messages and updating you on your child’s grades; our maintenance of a private website along with social media accounts including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and an Assistant Principal specifically devoted to Family Engagement and who makes sure all parent communication with the school is followed up on.

Please consider our weekly invitations for you to volunteer at the school.  Please consider our Family Visitation Days in the Fall and Spring where families are invited into the school to observe classes and see your children and our teachers in action.  Please consider our invitations to you to attend student performances like our SING musical production and the Holiday Windows Unveiling with Barneys NY – these invitations will heat up in the Spring with our annual Fashion Show, the International Center of Photography exhibit and our Senior Art Show.

HSFI parents’ participation in these NYC Department of Education surveys mean a tremendous amount to me, so please when you get the survey, fill it out to reflect our efforts to make the High School of Fashion Industries the best school possible!

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  We will be sending important information out through 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 3.17.19

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal, Daryl Blank.

As you are planning your schedule for the week, I hope you can attend our March Parents Association meeting this Wednesday, March 20 at 6:00 pm in Room 821.  It was nice to see that some parents were able to attend our Family Visitation Days this past Thursday and Friday. 

We are in full swing of the second marking period.  Speak to your child about the importance of the starting the marking period strong.  Make sure your child knows where they stand in their classes and what needs to be done to continue their success or turn things around.  Students must know that the grades they receive in June will be seen by colleges and determine whether or not they go to summer school. 

It is NYC Department of Education Parent Survey time.  These surveys have been sent out in the mail and you should have received the survey by now.  I am asking that all HSFI families please complete the survey – it would be amazing if every family completed the survey.  You can fill out the survey in 2 different ways – by filling out the paper survey that you receive in the mail in a green envelope or you can fill it out online.

To complete the survey online:

(1) Go to nycschoolsurvey.org.

(2) Click on the link to the parent and guardian survey.

(3) Enter your access code found at the bottom of your paper survey.

(4) Complete the survey.

(5) Click ‘Submit’.

If you don’t receive a survey in the mail? Don’t worry! You can also call the school at (212) 255-1235 where we you can get your Access Code for the survey or call the NYC Department of Education at 1-877-819-2363 to get an Access Code to complete the survey online.

I would be so grateful if you filled out the survey to reflect all the hard work that I, along with my staff, put into making HSFI a unique learning community.  Please consider how we work to build partnerships and relationships with you as Fashion Parents to help your children learn, perform to their highest levels and meet their needs inside and outside the classroom.  Students’ needs are met academically through challenging instruction and industry partnerships connected to our fashion, art and business major classes; social-emotionally through all our clubs and activities, Fashion Dollars and our partnerships with Yale University and Harvard University; and health-wise with our School Based Health Center that provides free health and dental care to all Fashion students.

Please consider all our communication efforts – my weekly Sunday at 5:00 pm phone calls and emails through School Messenger; our use of Jupiter Grades for messages and updating you on your child’s grades; our maintenance of a private website along with social media accounts including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and an Assistant Principal specifically devoted to Family Engagement and who makes sure all parent communication with the school is followed up on.

Please consider our weekly invitations for you to volunteer at the school.  Please consider our Family Visitation Days in the Fall and Spring where families are invited into the school to observe classes and see your children and our teachers in action.  Please consider our invitations to you to attend student performances like our SING musical production and the Holiday Windows Unveiling with Barneys NY – these invitations will heat up in the Spring with our annual Fashion Show, the International Center of Photography exhibit and our Senior Art Show.

HSFI parents’ participation in these NYC Department of Education surveys mean a tremendous amount to me, so please when you get the survey, fill it out to reflect our efforts to make the High School of Fashion Industries the best school possible!

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  We will be sending important information out through 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 3.10.19

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal, Daryl Blank.

This Monday 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.

We are in full swing of the second marking period.  Speak to your child about the importance of the starting the marking period strong.  Make sure your child knows where they stand in their classes and what needs to be done to continue their success or turn things around.  Students must know that the grades they receive in June will be seen by colleges and determine whether or not they go to summer school.  Students receive their first marking period report cards on Thursday during their third period classes.

This week, HSFI is thrilled to continue again this year our Family Visitation Days on Thursday, March 14 and Friday, March 15.  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.

Here is the website link to sign up for Family Visitation Day – if you are only receiving this message by phone, the link is on the homepage of the HSFI website at www.fashionhighschool.net.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdc4Wi6-2O_M8-wN8iF691gq6Yf3Sk6dAUIm1e18d8oOscbig/viewform

Please join the Fashion Feels SEL team in support of Self- Harm Awareness on Monday, March 11. To show your support, we are asking students to wear the color orange. By wearing the color orange, we can bring awareness to a common issue that is deeply impacting society today.  The purpose of Self-Harm Awareness Day is to remove the stigma attached to self-injury and to encourage parents, family members, educators, and healthcare professionals to recognize the signs of self-harm

It is NYC Department of Education Parent Survey time.  These surveys have been sent out in the mail and you should receive them any day now.  I am asking that all HSFI families please complete the survey – it would be amazing if every family completed the survey.  You can fill out the survey in 2 different ways – by filling out the paper survey that you receive in the mail in a green envelope or you can fill it out online.

To complete the survey online:

(1) Go to nycschoolsurvey.org.

(2) Click on the link to the parent and guardian survey.

(3) Enter your access code found at the bottom of your paper survey.

(4) Complete the survey.

(5) Click ‘Submit’.

If you don’t receive a survey in the mail? Don’t worry! You can also call the school at (212) 255-1235 where we you can get your Access Code for the survey or call the NYC Department of Education at 1-877-819-2363 to get an Access Code to complete the survey online.

I would be so grateful if you filled out the survey to reflect all the hard work that I, along with my staff, put into making HSFI a unique learning community.  Please consider how we work to build partnerships and relationships with you as Fashion Parents to help your children learn, perform to their highest levels and meet their needs inside and outside the classroom.  Students’ needs are met academically through challenging instruction and industry partnerships connected to our fashion, art and business major classes; social-emotionally through all our clubs and activities, Fashion Dollars and our partnerships with Yale University and Harvard University; and health-wise with our School Based Health Center that provides free health and dental care to all Fashion students.

Please consider all our communication efforts – my weekly Sunday at 5:00 pm phone calls and emails through School Messenger; our use of Jupiter Grades for messages and updating you on your child’s grades; our maintenance of a private website along with social media accounts including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and an Assistant Principal specifically devoted to Family Engagement and who makes sure all parent communication with the school is followed up on.

Please consider our weekly invitations for you to volunteer at the school.  Please consider our Family Visitation Days in the Fall and Spring where families are invited into the school to observe classes and see your children and our teachers in action.  Please consider our invitations to you to attend student performances like our SING musical production and the Holiday Windows Unveiling with Barneys NY – these invitations will heat up in the Spring with our annual Fashion Show, the International Center of Photography exhibit and our Senior Art Show.

HSFI parents’ participation in these NYC Department of Education surveys mean a tremendous amount to me, so please when you get the survey, fill it out to reflect our efforts to make the High School of Fashion Industries the best school possible!

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  We will be sending important information out through 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 3.3.19

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal, Daryl Blank.

This Monday, March 4, we are following a regular school day where students will follow a full day schedule between the hours of 8:10 am and 3:37 pm.  .  We are NOT on our special first Monday schedule – again, I repeat, we are NOT on our special first Monday schedule. 

The first marking period ends this Wednesday, March 6.  Make sure you and your child are checking Jupiter Grades to know where they stand in their classes.  Report cards will be distributed on March 14.

This week on Thursday, March 7 and Friday, March 8, we are very excited to welcome you to Fashion for Parent Teacher Conferences.  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.

The morning of afternoon Parent-Teacher conferences on Friday, we will be holding our annual Career Day for the students of the High School of Fashion Industries.  During this morning session, we have over 50 guest speakers who will visit our school to share their experiences with our students.  The speakers will cover career opportunities among all 4 of our majors – Fashion Design, Graphics & Illustration, Fashion Marketing and Visual Merchandising.  Please make sure that your child attends Career Day – it is very important in their preparation for college and career.  Career Day is brought to school by the Advisory Board of the High School of Fashion Industries

Next week, HSFI is thrilled to continue again this year our Family Visitation Days on Thursday, March 14 and Friday, March 15.  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 Monday, we will on a special First Monday schedule, but we will not be using the special First Monday activities that we have been using for the last three months.  The attendance for First Monday has been poor. In December, we had 295 students absent; in January 480 students absent; and in February 522 students absent.  We cannot afford as a school to have such poor attendance for this one day every month as it impacts student instruction and the school’s standing.  For now on First Mondays, we will move to a traditional schedule where classes are condensed into a shortened school day.  Moving forward, I would like to engage the school community in conversations about possibly reorganizing First Mondays with students getting grades and/or credit for the activities. This would hopefully correct the attendance issues. 

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  We will be sending important information out through 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 2.24.19

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal, Daryl Blank.

I hope you and your children had a nice break from school.  With school starting up again, we finally have a long stretch of school without a break.  We can develop some real instructional continuity, so make sure your children are here every day ready to work.

The first marking period ends next Wednesday, March 6.  Make sure you and your child are checking Jupiter Grades to know where they stand in their classes.  Report cards will be distributed soon after.

Next week on Thursday, March 7 and Friday, March 8, we are very excited to welcome you to Fashion for Parent Teacher Conferences.  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.

The morning of afternoon Parent-Teacher conferences on Friday, we will be holding our annual Career Day for the students of the High School of Fashion Industries.  During this morning session, we have over 50 guest speakers who will visit our school to share their experiences with our students.  The speakers will cover career opportunities among all 4 of our majors – Fashion Design, Graphics & Illustration, Fashion Marketing and Visual Merchandising.  Please make sure that your child attends Career Day – it is very important in their preparation for college and career.  Career Day is brought to school by the Advisory Board of the High School of Fashion Industries

In three weeks, HSFI is thrilled to continue again this year our Family Visitation Days on Thursday, March 14 and Friday, March 15.  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.

I wanted to remind all Fashion Families that our computer lab opens at 7:30 am and closes at 5:00 pm.  Students can their work on these computers and print out documents that they need to.  The only class periods that it is not open right now are Periods 8 and 9. Our hope is that the lab will be open Period 9 by next week.  Please tell your children that they should take advantage of the lab to complete their work.

I want to share with Fashion Families that we have been working on the beautification of our student lounge.  We have purchased new furniture, vacuumed and scrubbed clean all the furniture we already had and put on a protective spray on all of the furniture.   Now that the lounge is going to reopen, there are some expectations for all students who use the lounge to maintain a clean and pleasant environment.  You have received these expectations via Jupiter Grades.  Students have received these expectations via Jupiter Grades and their HSFI email.  If students cannot follow these expectations, they will be asked to leave.   The lounge is a privilege. Only a few schools in the city provide a space like this for students.  Students need to respect the space and make it their own.    

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  We will be sending important information out through 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 2.11.19

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal, Daryl Blank. 

As you are planning your schedule for the week, I hope you can attend our February Parents Association meeting this Wednesday, February 13 at 6:00 pm.  This month the Parents Association is hosting our Peer Group Connection program.  Peer Group Connection is a program where HSFI students in the upper grades are trained as mentors to our incoming ninth graders as they transition into high school.  

On Monday, February 11, 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.    

This week we are excited to continue our special First Monday activities.  Students will be in school from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm.  From 8:30 am to 9:25 am, students will have an opportunity to get tutoring and extra help from teachers who will be in their classrooms.  Students should use this time to see teachers for classes where they need extra assistance, have work to make-up or are concerned about improving their grade.  Students should take advantage of this opportunity.  From 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, students will then have the opportunity to participate in a number of special activities where students expressed interest.  Those activities are on your child’s class program.

This week is Respect For All week – during Respect For All week, we will have the opportunity to highlight and build upon ongoing diversity programs and to embark upon new initiatives that promote respect for diversity and focus on preventing bullying, intimidation, and bias-based harassment. HSFI is encouraged to promote acceptance and understanding through theme-based lessons and activities. Suggested topics include, but are not limited to: celebrating kindness/how to be an ally, anti-bullying/cyberbullying, respect for diversity, religious acceptance, racial diversity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and LGBTQ acceptance.  Attached to this email is a joint letter about Respect For All week from the NYC Schools Chancellor, the United Federation of Teachers, the Council of Supervisors and Administrators and the NYC Council Speaker & Education Committee Chairperson.

Here is a schedule of our celebratory events planned for next week:

Monday, February 11, 2019:

□ Upon entry, HSFI Diversity Mural students holding hands, posted to both columns and/or either side of the lobby.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019:

□ Tolerance Work Shop Period 7 in 325

□ Healthy Relationships and Teen Dating Violence—Period 2, 3, 5 & 6 @ Library.  9^th graders only ELA classes.

Wednesday, February 13, 2019:

□ Upon entry, Affirmation Table, students pick up or prepare own affirmation regrading respect and self-esteem.

□ Tolerance Work Shop Period 5 in 829

Thursday, February 14, 2019:

□ Upon entry, LOVE IS RESPECT table, students pick up Bracelets/Pins.  Thought bubble NO PLACE FOR HATE

□ Tolerance Work Shop Period 6 in 325

□ Valentine’s Message on Lockers-you are worth it! 

Friday, February 15, 2019:  

□ Healthy Relationships and Teen Dating Violence—Period 3, 5, 8 & 9 @ Library.  9^th graders only ELA classes.

I wanted to remind all Fashion Families that our computer lab opens at 7:30 am and closes at 5:00 pm.  Students can their work on these computers and print out documents that they need to.  The only class periods that it is not open right now are Periods 8 and 9. Our hope is that the lab will be open Period 9 by next week.  Please tell your children that they should take advantage of the lab to complete their work.

I want to share with Fashion Families that we have been working on the beautification of our student lounge.  We have purchased new furniture, vacuumed and scrubbed clean all the furniture we already had and put on a protective spray on all of the furniture.   Now that the lounge is going to reopen, there are some expectations for all students who use the lounge to maintain a clean and pleasant environment.  You have received these expectations via Jupiter Grades.  Students have received these expectations via Jupiter Grades and their HSFI email.  If students cannot follow these expectations, they will be asked to leave.   The lounge is a privilege. Only a few schools in the city provide a space like this for students.  Students need to respect the space and make it their own.    

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  We will be sending important information out through 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 2.3.19

Greetings Fashion Families from your Principal, Daryl Blank. 

This coming Monday, February 4 is a regular bell schedule and a normal school day.  Our special schedule that is normally the First Monday of the month will take place next Monday, February 11.  The NYC Department of Education does not allow any special schedules during weeks where there are less than 5 days of instruction.  There is no school on Tuesday, February 5 in celebration of the Lunar New Year.  Let me repeat to avoid any confusion - This coming Monday, February 4 is a regular bell schedule and a normal school day and there is no school on Tuesday.

I wanted to remind all Fashion Families that our computer lab opens at 7:30 am and closes at 5:00 pm.  Students can their work on these computers and print out documents that they need to.  The only class periods that it is not open right now are Periods 8 and 9. Our hope is that the lab will be open Period 9 by next week.  Please tell your children that they should take advantage of the lab to complete their work.

I want to share with Fashion Families that we have been working on the beautification of our student lounge.  We have purchased new furniture, vacuumed and scrubbed clean all the furniture we already had and put on a protective spray on all of the furniture.   Now that the lounge is going to reopen, there are some expectations for all students who use the lounge to maintain a clean and pleasant environment.  You have received these expectations via Jupiter Grades.  Students have received these expectations via Jupiter Grades and their HSFI email.  If students cannot follow these expectations, they will be asked to leave.   The lounge is a privilege. Only a few schools in the city provide a space like this for students.  Students need to respect the space and make it their own.    

It is critically important that all HSFI students check their HSFI email & Jupiter Grades everyday.  We will be sending important information out through 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!