HSFI Students
This is the absolute last call to have your voice heard by joining the Principal's Advisory Committee or our Grade Level Teams.
I would recommend volunteering for both the Principal's Advisory Committee and our Grade Level Teams since we have so few spots available on the Advisory Committee. If you only choose the Advisory Committee, please understand that only 20 students out of 1700 will be selected - please consider the Grade Level Teams to have your voice heard.
In addition to having your voice heard, students who participate in this improvement work will be compensated in a variety of ways - Fashion Dollars to purchase HSFI gear and privileges; Going Out to Lunch passes (with parental approval); An experience that will be valuable to building up your resume and college applications; and other special opportunities that come up during the school year.
The information about these teams is below.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING, PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SURVEY:
Thank you for stepping up to help lead HSFI!
Mr. Blank
—--------------------------------
Below is the original message:
In our efforts to make the High School of Fashion Industries a place where you feel you belong and are valued as individuals, I am looking to empower students and encourage and engage those who want to have their voice heard. I am looking for students who want to partner with HSFI staff members to speak about what is working at HSFI, what needs to be improved on at HSFI and then planning and executing strategic actions to achieve our goals of equity and belongingness.
This year’s collaboration between students and staff is a continuation of our efforts from last year when the Principal’s Advisory Committee on Equity and Belongingness was formed to create a formal improvement cycle where students and staff have an equal voice and say in this process. This Advisory Committee has four Learning & Action Teams focused on our school’s (1) Culture (2) Belief Systems (3) Instruction & Curriculum (4) Systems & Structures. Last school year, each of the Learning & Action Teams created design proposals for this school year that we will trying to execute as much as their recommendations as possible - here are those design proposals if you want to take a look at them:
Culture
Belief Systems
Instruction & Curriculum
Systems & Structures
During this school year, every Monday that classes are in session, students who have an early schedule will start their school day at 9:45 am and students who have a late schedule will start their school day at 10:25 am. The later times are because we will be doing professional development with all staff on Monday mornings before students arrive. This opportunity to have your voice heard and positively impact our school community will take place on these Monday mornings before the school day officially begins.
In addition to having your voice heard, students who participate in this improvement work will be compensated in a variety of ways - Fashion Dollars to purchase HSFI gear and privileges; Going Out to Lunch passes (with parental approval); An experience that will be valuable to building up your resume and college applications; and other special opportunities that come up during the school year.
In total, we are looking for approximately 200 students across all four grades to participate in this improvement work. Here are the two options for participation:
Option 1 - Grade Level Teams
In these meetings, you will be part of a team of students and staff focused on a specific grade level. Staff members at every meeting will share out what they are doing to excite students, create belongingness and handle differences between students and staff along the topics of race, gender and sexual orientation so that everyone is celebrated and feels like they belong. You will then get an opportunity to share how you are experiencing these efforts by staff to accomplish these goals followed by conversations between you and staff members that help to address and improve the experience at your grade level
Four 50 Minute Meetings in the Fall term
Meeting Time: 8:50 am to 9:40 am
Dates of Meeting in the Fall Term: September 12 / October 24 / November 28 / January 9
Spring Term Meetings - To Be Determined (will be a similar number of meetings as the Fall)
Approximate # of Students Needed
180 across all grades
Option 2 - Principal’s Advisory Committee Learning & Action Teams
In these meetings, you will be part of a team of students and staff focused on the continuation of our efforts from last year when the Principal’s Advisory Committee on Equity and Belongingness was formed to create a formal improvement cycle where students and staff have an equal voice and say in this decision-making process. The goal of the Advisory Committee’s Learning & Action Teams is to bring together students and staff to communicate with each other about what is working at HSFI, what needs to be improved on at HSFI and then planning and executing strategic actions to accomplish our goals of equity and belongingness. Here is a breakdown of the Learning & Action Teams:
□ A student and a staff member will be Co-Leaders of each Learning & Action Team
□ 40 Total Members / Each Learning & Action Team will have 8-10 members with an equal number of students and staff
(1) Culture Learning & Action Team - 8-10 members with an equal number of students and staff
Culture Learning & Action Team Guiding Questions
Are we developing the capacity within our community to speak about race?
Are we working to dismantle racism within our school community?
(2) Belief Systems Learning & Action Team - 8-10 members with an equal number of students and staff
Belief Systems Learning & Action Team Guiding Questions
How are students interacting with one another?
Are we celebrating our students for what they are accomplishing and who they are?
(3) Instruction & Curriculum Learning & Action Team - 8-10 members with an equal number of students and staff
Instruction & Curriculum Learning & Action Team Guiding Questions
What is taking place in our classrooms?
Are the actions of students and teachers promoting equity and a sense of belonging?
Does the content being taught promote equity and a sense of belonging?
(4) Systems & Structures Learning & Action Team - 8-10 members with an equal number of students and staff
Systems & Structures Learning & Action Team Guiding Question
Do our systems of intervention and support promote equity and a sense of belonging?
Four 90 Minute Meetings in the Fall term
Meeting Time: 8:10 am to 9:40 am on September 19, October 17, December 5 and January 23
Five 50 Minute Meetings in the Fall term
Meeting Time: 8:50 am to 9:40 am on October 31, November 21 and December 19
Spring Term Meetings - To Be Determined (will be a similar number of meetings as the Fall)
Approximate # of Students Needed
20 students across all grades
Here is the job description for a student member of the Advisory Committee Learning & Action Team:
Thank you. I hope you sign up to have your voice heard and make HSFI even better than it is.