School Policies

Elementary School - Food Guidelines & Celebrations 

Nut-Free Classrooms 

All elementary classrooms in the Eastchester Schools are nut-free. This means all forms of peanut butter and other nut-based products and spreads, such as Nutella, are not allowed in classrooms. Many of our students have been diagnosed with tree nut/peanut allergies. Accidental ingestion or touching of even a tiny trace of nut can cause an immediate and potentially fatal reaction. 

It will therefore be the responsibility of all parents to read labels on all snack items being sent into the classroom to ensure they are nut-free and not manufactured in a facility that processes products containing peanuts/tree nuts. Any questions regarding the safety of a product can be addressed to the school nurse of your child’s school. 

An extensive list of nut-free snacks can be found here. 

Besides nut-free items, we encourage parents to send in healthy snacks such as fruits and vegetables that the students can manage easily. 

Nut-Safe Cafeteria 

All elementary cafeterias in the Eastchester Schools are nut-safe. This means that while parents are strongly discouraged to include nut products in lunches, students who choose to bring nut products will be seated at a “nut table”. Suggestions of nut-free snacks and nut substitutions can be found here. 

Celebrations 

Birthdays 

Children’s birthdays are recognized in the classroom with celebrations that do not include food. Birthday celebrations are consistent across grade levels and classroom teachers will communicate how children’s birthdays will be recognized at Open House in September. Please note that in order to avoid disappointment and hurt feelings, invitations to private birthday parties may not be given out at school. 

Holidays 

Seasonal holidays will be celebrated in classrooms throughout the school year. Class parents will coordinate these celebrations and will ensure healthy snacks and nut-free treats. 

EUFSD OUTDOOR RECESS GUIDELINES 

KINDERGARTEN – GRADE 5

The Eastchester Union Free School District endorses the following ideologies:   

• Physical activity is essential for the healthy growth and development of children;  
• Recess can serve as an outlet for reducing or lowering children’s anxiety;  
• Recess activities encourage children to take turns, negotiate, or modify rules and interact cooperatively.   

Every attempt will be made to provide elementary school children with a daily outdoor recess (approx. 20-30 minutes) as per the guidelines below.  The final decision about the daily recess environment will be made by the school principal or his/her designee.  Consultation about daily recess conditions is encouraged between the three elementary schools and every attempt will be made for the three schools to make similar arrangements.

Appropriate clothing for outdoor play is essential.  Parents must be certain that children come to school with warm jackets, hats and gloves in cold weather and boots and snow pants when it is snowing or there is snow on the ground.  School monitors may need to assist students in dressing appropriately in these conditions.  When possible, if school staff notices earlier in the day that students are not dressed appropriately or have the proper clothing with them for outdoor recess, parents will be notified.

Weather Guidelines

(All conditions will be monitored using The Weather Channel for Eastchester, NY)

Students will play outdoors when:   

Temperatures are above 25° with consideration given to wind chill factor  

Temperatures are below 95° with consideration given to humidity 

There is light precipitation (e.g. snow flurries, drizzle) that does not create unsafe conditions

Snow is on the ground, depending upon how different play areas are affected

Playground/Field Conditions      

Students will be permitted to use playground equipment, fields, and asphalt play areas when conditions are suitable for safe play

Safety considerations include:    

Equipment that is dry and ice free   

Fields that are not muddy or icy and asphalt play areas that are not icy   

Snow that is not deep enough to inhibit students walking/running