MEET GIOVANNI RASCHILLA!
He's HSFI's Assistant Principal of Safety and Security for the past 22 years.
Under Mr. Raschilla's leadership, over 1500 students and 200 faculty members are kept safe. He's a veteran of developing his own signature policies and procedures in conjunction with being on top of the ever evolving rules and regulations of New York State Law, the DOE and NYC policy. The NYPD Safety Agents are also part of his team.
"We are prepared for anything. We are prepared for any type of situation in this building, and that's something I'm very proud of," Raschilla explained."We have a plan for everything. And it's in writing. Nothing is more important than safety, and it's a collective responsibility. The biggest accomplishment in implementing and executing these plans is communication." The role has evolved over the years, including numerous new safety protocols, such as a Mental Heath Safety plan.
It's a serious job, but Mr. Raschilla keeps things light on the surface, always at the ready with a smile or healthy dose of New York wit.
"It's important to be approachable," Raschilla said. "That in itself creates a sense of safety."
#HSFI
#nycschools
#studentsafety
He's HSFI's Assistant Principal of Safety and Security for the past 22 years.
Under Mr. Raschilla's leadership, over 1500 students and 200 faculty members are kept safe. He's a veteran of developing his own signature policies and procedures in conjunction with being on top of the ever evolving rules and regulations of New York State Law, the DOE and NYC policy. The NYPD Safety Agents are also part of his team.
"We are prepared for anything. We are prepared for any type of situation in this building, and that's something I'm very proud of," Raschilla explained."We have a plan for everything. And it's in writing. Nothing is more important than safety, and it's a collective responsibility. The biggest accomplishment in implementing and executing these plans is communication." The role has evolved over the years, including numerous new safety protocols, such as a Mental Heath Safety plan.
It's a serious job, but Mr. Raschilla keeps things light on the surface, always at the ready with a smile or healthy dose of New York wit.
"It's important to be approachable," Raschilla said. "That in itself creates a sense of safety."
#HSFI
#nycschools
#studentsafety
AFTER SCHOOL VIBES
#HSFI
#FASHION
#NYCSTYLE
#NYCSCHOOLS
#HSFI
#FASHION
#NYCSTYLE
#NYCSCHOOLS
CONNECTING GEOMETRY TO THE HSFI MINDSET:
"I understand that some of you are artists," was an opening statement made by Misha Kulshresta, on the first day of Geometry class for HSFI 10th graders, along with a group of advanced placement 9th graders.
The beauty and the simplicity of making a perfect circle with a compass and making a perfectly straight line with a straight edge were opening lessons explored by first experimenting with freehand pencil work and then contrasted by using these tools. Students were further engaged by Mr. Kulshresta and his co-teacher, Ms. Bayer, by going around the room having students read each drawing prompt out loud.
New vocabulary terms, and gaining an understanding of language such as "congruent" and "incongruent" shapes -- and being able to identify and articulate concepts such as, "a regular hexagon is one that has congruent sides" were part of the lesson.
Mr. Kulshresta is a new teacher recently hired by HSFI through the NYC Teaching Fellows. He comes from the Northwest, having earned his Bachelors from UC Santa Barbara and his Masters in Statistics from the University of Washington.
HSFI is excited to have Mr. Kulshresta as a great new addition to our Math department and our school.
#HSFI
#geometry
#nycschools
"I understand that some of you are artists," was an opening statement made by Misha Kulshresta, on the first day of Geometry class for HSFI 10th graders, along with a group of advanced placement 9th graders.
The beauty and the simplicity of making a perfect circle with a compass and making a perfectly straight line with a straight edge were opening lessons explored by first experimenting with freehand pencil work and then contrasted by using these tools. Students were further engaged by Mr. Kulshresta and his co-teacher, Ms. Bayer, by going around the room having students read each drawing prompt out loud.
New vocabulary terms, and gaining an understanding of language such as "congruent" and "incongruent" shapes -- and being able to identify and articulate concepts such as, "a regular hexagon is one that has congruent sides" were part of the lesson.
Mr. Kulshresta is a new teacher recently hired by HSFI through the NYC Teaching Fellows. He comes from the Northwest, having earned his Bachelors from UC Santa Barbara and his Masters in Statistics from the University of Washington.
HSFI is excited to have Mr. Kulshresta as a great new addition to our Math department and our school.
#HSFI
#geometry
#nycschools
WELCOME, 9TH GRADERS, FROM YOUR WELLNESS TEAM!
Dear Class of 2030,
Welcome to the High School of Fashion Industries! The 9th Grade Wellness Team is excited to encourage and celebrate you as you begin your high school journey.
We have many fun activities and events planned, and we look forward to supporting you through every challenge and accomplishment.
Most of all, we can't wait to get to know you and watch you succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
Please make note of the important information and dates in this flyer so you don't miss a beat.
We wish you an amazing start to your high school experience!
Warmly,
Ms. Covington, Ms. Goldberg, Ms. Marin, and Mr. Ovalles
#HSFI
#wellness
#nycschools
#Classof2030
Dear Class of 2030,
Welcome to the High School of Fashion Industries! The 9th Grade Wellness Team is excited to encourage and celebrate you as you begin your high school journey.
We have many fun activities and events planned, and we look forward to supporting you through every challenge and accomplishment.
Most of all, we can't wait to get to know you and watch you succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
Please make note of the important information and dates in this flyer so you don't miss a beat.
We wish you an amazing start to your high school experience!
Warmly,
Ms. Covington, Ms. Goldberg, Ms. Marin, and Mr. Ovalles
#HSFI
#wellness
#nycschools
#Classof2030
SARATOGA X PUBLIC SCHOOL NY LAUNCHES CAPSULE COLLECTION BENEFITTING HSFI
As part of New York Fashion Week, two New York originals, Saratoga® Spring Water and Public School New York, unveiled a capsule collection benefitting our very own High School of Fashion Industries!
The Saratoga® x Public School New York collaboration is a bold interpretation of the water brand's Saratoga® Signature Blue bottle, brought to life by PSNY's award winning designers Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne.
100% of the proceeds from each item sold will benefit our school, supporting HSFI's next generation of creative talent.
The collection includes three items -- a Leather Lanyard Bottle Bag, a Saratoga ® x Public School T-Shirt & Cassette Tape Pack, and a Pop Up Tote.
Shop the collection here while supplies last!
www.saratogawater.com/
The High School of Fashion Industries is proud to be the beneficiary of this limited edition collection.
Thank you to Saratoga ® Spring Water and Public School New York's Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne for investing in our students, our city, and the future of our fashion community.
Thank you to Nate Hinton, an HSFI Advisory Board member for over five years, for arranging this exciting fundraising collaboration.
#HSFI
@nyfw
@saratogaspringwater
@publicschoolnyc
REMEMBERING 9/11: SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSES ENGAGE WITH CURIOSITY, FAMILY STORIES AND QUESTIONS
On this 25th Anniversary of 9/11, Social Studies teachers Jacob Trimpe and Emily Lake engaged their 11th grade students in discussion by first asking them to write a response on a post it note to three different prompts:
1 - What do you know about it?
2 - Do you have a personal story about it?
3 - Ask a question.
Emily Lake shared some of her reflections after class:
"Although the students were not yet born, as New Yorkers, 9/11 touched the lives of their families. We wanted to open a forum for discussion by asking what they know through the context of what their parents and loved ones remembered and have shared with them. While many of the stories were quite different, there was one common question that was asked. "Why?"
#HSFI
#neverforget911
On this 25th Anniversary of 9/11, Social Studies teachers Jacob Trimpe and Emily Lake engaged their 11th grade students in discussion by first asking them to write a response on a post it note to three different prompts:
1 - What do you know about it?
2 - Do you have a personal story about it?
3 - Ask a question.
Emily Lake shared some of her reflections after class:
"Although the students were not yet born, as New Yorkers, 9/11 touched the lives of their families. We wanted to open a forum for discussion by asking what they know through the context of what their parents and loved ones remembered and have shared with them. While many of the stories were quite different, there was one common question that was asked. "Why?"
#HSFI
#neverforget911
12TH GRADE WELLNESS UPDATES!
MEET THE CLASS OF 2029 WELLNESS TEAM!
MEET THE CLASS OF 2028 WELLNESS TEAM!
9TH GRADE WELLNESS WELCOME LETTER
ICE CREAM ON THE VERANDA! AN HSFI TRADITION
"The ice cream social is something we do to build community, boost cohort pride and bring joy," said Lativa Reyes, Assistant Principal of Wellness Teams and Community Based Partners.
The sun came out right on time for all grades to enjoy a beautiful first day of school on HSFI's glorious fifth floor veranda.
Thank you @hewlett_yogurt for the delicious ice cream!
#HSFI
#NYCSCHOOLS
#FIRSTDAYOFSCHOOL
#COMMUNITY
#ICECREAM
ICE CREAM ON THE VERANDA! AN HSFI TRADITION
"The ice cream social is something we do to build community, boost cohort pride and bring joy," said Lativa Reyes, Assistant Principal of Wellness Teams and Community Based Partners.
The sun came out right on time for all grades to enjoy a beautiful first day of school on HSFI's glorious fifth floor veranda.
Thank you @hewlett_yogurt for the delicious ice cream!
#HSFI
#NYCSCHOOLS
#FIRSTDAYOFSCHOOL
#COMMUNITY
#ICECREAM
HSFI GETS LIT! NEW STUDENTS WELCOME CEREMONIES!
HSFI DANCE TEAMS bedazzled new students with stellar dance performances throughout the morning.
Celebrating the HSFI school spirit of Community, the teams took new students on a journey that crossed cultures and continents:
DESI DANCE TEAM
Traditional South Asian music styles, notably Bollywood and Bhangra, were brought to life in "Desi Style."
LATIN GROOVE
Bringing the house down with Salsa and Reggaeton! Afro-Cuban rhythms are blended with jazz, Puerto Rican, and other Caribbean musical influences.
ICONOCLANS
High-energy Hip-Hop and Reggae!
2! 3!K-POP
Originating from South Korea (and short for Korean popular music) this dance team's music genre of K-pop blended catchy pop tunes with hip-hop, R&B, electronic dance music and rock.
#HSFI
#NYCSCHOOLS
#FIRSTDAYOFSCHOOL
#K-POP
#DESI DANCE
#SALSA
#REGGAETON
#HIP-HOP
#REGGAE
"WHEN THERE'S A SENSE OF BELONGINGNESS, GOOD THINGS HAPPEN IN THE CLASSROOM." -- Principal Daryl Blank
How many NYC High School principals do you know who stand outside the building every single morning and greet each student?
Principal Daryl Blank is one of them, and he's been doing this for the past 16 years.
Here he is at 7:30 am welcoming our new HSFI 9th graders and their families on the first day of school.
Give him a couple of weeks. He'll be greeting the students by name, too.
This seemingly subtle approach has an important strategy behind it. "We want to bring our students to the greatest heights we can bring them, and that begins by making them feel welcome," Blank said. "Belongingness, Literacy, and a focus on HSFI's signature Success Skills are the core of our mission here."
#HSFI
#NYCSCHOOLS
#FIRSTDAYOFSCHOOL
How many NYC High School principals do you know who stand outside the building every single morning and greet each student?
Principal Daryl Blank is one of them, and he's been doing this for the past 16 years.
Here he is at 7:30 am welcoming our new HSFI 9th graders and their families on the first day of school.
Give him a couple of weeks. He'll be greeting the students by name, too.
This seemingly subtle approach has an important strategy behind it. "We want to bring our students to the greatest heights we can bring them, and that begins by making them feel welcome," Blank said. "Belongingness, Literacy, and a focus on HSFI's signature Success Skills are the core of our mission here."
#HSFI
#NYCSCHOOLS
#FIRSTDAYOFSCHOOL
VOLLEYBALL IS ON, GIRLS!
COME JOIN US TOMORROW FOR OUR FIRST MEET
#HSFI
#GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
#NYC SCHOOLS
COME JOIN US TOMORROW FOR OUR FIRST MEET
#HSFI
#GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
#NYC SCHOOLS
📸 PHOTOGRAPHERS NEEDED!
Are you a current HSFI student or alum with immaculate portrait skills?
We need you to capture staff portraits for our 2026–2027 Lookbook!
🗓 Shoot Dates: Sept. 8 & Sept. 9 (12:00 PM – 3:00 PM)
🎁 Perks: Monetary stipend & HSFI swag bag!
Scan the QR code or click the link to upload 2–5 portrait samples.
Selected photographers will be notified via email on Sunday, 9/6.
INTEREST FORM: Photographer Interest Form
HSFI FLY STORE IS GOING HIGH GLAMOUR AND HIGH TECH FOR FALL 2026!
Business teacher Dennis Jimenez and HSFI Seniors Liliana Sanchez and Niseiry Elliz-Casildo were busy setting up shop and getting ready to launch an amazing FLY STORE debut of not only high glamour merchandise but high tech business software as well.
"In the past, an issue that occurred was that a student could only do a transaction of 1,000 Fashion dollars at a time, so if you had more than 1,000 Fashion dollars worth of products, you had to do multiple transactions and that was delaying the process. Now, for every student and for every category and every product in the store, it is now set up in the system, so the Fashion dollars are automatically calculated as well as the inventory of all of the merchandise," Jimenez said.
In addition to new HSFI branded merchandise such as coffee mugs, umbrellas, and travel bags, for the first time, the FLY STORE will be carrying a collection of Maybelline and Fenty Beauty products that have been generously donated by both companies. Ms. Weiss helped the store get Yankee hat donations.
Packages of free Hygiene products are also available to all HSFI students!
The FLY STORE will be open from 7:30am-8:30am as well as during business class pop ups.
#HSFI
#Maybelline
#Fenty Beauty
#NYC Schools
#NYYankees
Business teacher Dennis Jimenez and HSFI Seniors Liliana Sanchez and Niseiry Elliz-Casildo were busy setting up shop and getting ready to launch an amazing FLY STORE debut of not only high glamour merchandise but high tech business software as well.
"In the past, an issue that occurred was that a student could only do a transaction of 1,000 Fashion dollars at a time, so if you had more than 1,000 Fashion dollars worth of products, you had to do multiple transactions and that was delaying the process. Now, for every student and for every category and every product in the store, it is now set up in the system, so the Fashion dollars are automatically calculated as well as the inventory of all of the merchandise," Jimenez said.
In addition to new HSFI branded merchandise such as coffee mugs, umbrellas, and travel bags, for the first time, the FLY STORE will be carrying a collection of Maybelline and Fenty Beauty products that have been generously donated by both companies. Ms. Weiss helped the store get Yankee hat donations.
Packages of free Hygiene products are also available to all HSFI students!
The FLY STORE will be open from 7:30am-8:30am as well as during business class pop ups.
#HSFI
#Maybelline
#Fenty Beauty
#NYC Schools
#NYYankees
Getting the fashion design classrooms first-day ready! ✂️🎨
Designing with Ms. Cissie: Paper Bag Puppets Take Fashion by Storm!
One of the absolute highlights of our Summer Bridge program has been the incredible hands-on creativity demonstrated by the CTE Department!
This week, our incoming 9th graders had the exciting opportunity to step into a fashion design class and work directly with the talented Ms. Cissie, who has been a dedicated fashion teacher at HSFI for many years. She guided our new students through their very first HSFI design challenges, inspiring their creativity and passion for fashion!
Under Ms. Cissie’s expert guidance, students were challenged to transform ordinary paper bags into creative masterpieces using fabric materials, construction paper, buttons, trims, and textiles.
Rather than just drawing, the students got hands-on experience with real fabric scraps, learning how to add texture and style to their puppets. From high-fashion characters with elaborate fabric hair to quirky, colorful creatures, the class was filled with laughter, innovation, and impressive design talent!
We want to extend a massive thank you to Ms. Cissie for her dedication, warmth, and creative energy. She has made the Fashion Department feel like home for our incoming freshmen, easing their transition into high school by showing them just how fun and limitless the world of design can be. Because of her support, our students aren't just learning—they are building confidence, expressing themselves, and making friendships that will last throughout their four years at HSFI.
What an incredible start to our Summer Bridge program!
Last week, our incoming 9th graders officially began their journey as the newest members of The High School of Fashion Industries community.
The energy in the building has been absolutely electric as students started making new friends, meeting their coaches, and getting a taste of the vibrant high school life ahead of them.
To kick off the summer with a bang, our students had the amazing opportunity to go on our very first Week 1 Field Trip!
From exploring the city’s creative spaces to team-building outdoors, the group had an awesome time bonding outside of the classroom. These trips are designed not just for fun, but to help our incoming freshmen build trust, ease those high school jitters, and start collaborating before the official school year even begins.
Staff Spotlight: Summer Bridge Coaches! 🌟
A huge shout-out to Annabelle, Mr. Harding, and Ms. Sanders for representing the amazing spirit of our new class!
From leading field trips to running icebreaker challenges, they always put their students first and bring incredible energy, kindness, and creativity to everything they do. Thank you for all you do! 🙌
Last week, our incoming 9th graders officially began their journey as the newest members of The High School of Fashion Industries community.
The energy in the building has been absolutely electric as students started making new friends, meeting their coaches, and getting a taste of the vibrant high school life ahead of them.
To kick off the summer with a bang, our students had the amazing opportunity to go on our very first Week 1 Field Trip!
From exploring the city’s creative spaces to team-building outdoors, the group had an awesome time bonding outside of the classroom. These trips are designed not just for fun, but to help our incoming freshmen build trust, ease those high school jitters, and start collaborating before the official school year even begins.
Staff Spotlight: Summer Bridge Coaches! 🌟
A huge shout-out to Annabelle, Mr. Harding, and Ms. Sanders for representing the amazing spirit of our new class!
From leading field trips to running icebreaker challenges, they always put their students first and bring incredible energy, kindness, and creativity to everything they do. Thank you for all you do! 🙌
