Elias, the student representative to the Eastchester Union Free School District Board of Education, summarized recent student activities across the district and presented two recommendations the student body asked him to pass along.

Elias said EHS held its first schoolwide advisory assembly on Oct. 1 where Dr. Mark Brackett, director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, "addressed the entire student body" about emotional regulation and provided strategies students can use. Elias said advisory activities continue the district's work on social-emotional learning based on Brackett's RULER program. He also reported that EHS hosted a well-attended financial aid night on Oct. 8 and that the school's annual blood drive and spirit-week events took place in early October.

On other schools, Elias reported that Anne Hutchinson Elementary's PTA back-to-school event drew "about 350 students and families," that fifth graders attended a team-building trip at Boundless Adventures, and that Waverly's new outdoor classroom has been well used at drop-off and pickup. Elias noted that "mood meters and class charters are established in every classroom" as part of the district's SEL rollout.

Elias passed along two student recommendations he and Dr. Meyer compiled and said they were "just recommendations, obviously." The first recommendation requests allowing phones during library or free periods for studying purposes, citing phones' utility for study tools and photo references. The second request raised informal student concerns about classroom temperatures on the first floor, where some students said rooms can feel warm at times.

During board reports, a Greenvale PTA representative outlined a new Building Bridges program to teach students about a range of disabilities through age-appropriate lessons and read-aloud books in grades two through five, beginning in October. The Greenvale PTA also publicized the Wait Until Eighth campaign, which encourages families to delay giving children smartphones until at least eighth grade; the PTA provided the campaign website waituntileighth.org for more information.

The superintendent and trustees also noted the universal lunch program will start next week; district staff said forms are being finalized and families will receive an email a few days in advance.

Why it matters
The student report and PTA initiatives reflect ongoing SEL programming and family-facing events that affect classroom routines, after-school clubs and family engagement. The student recommendations (phone-use policy in supervised free time and temperature concerns) were presented to trustees as feedback for future consideration.

What comes next
Trustees acknowledged the reports during the meeting. The transcript does not record any formal board action to change phone or temperature policies; those items remain suggestions from the student representative and PTA.

Ending note
The board proceeded from these reports to committee and consent-agenda business later in the meeting.