A Message from Dr. Villanueva: Quick Notes from the Superintendent

Dear Eastchester Faculty, Families and Community,

It is starting to feel like that time of year—the time when the breeze turns crisp, the trees begin to sway, and

everything hints at the arrival of Fall—but not quite yet!

These past two weeks were filled with a variety of events. Our schools opened their doors to welcome families to visit classrooms during Back to School nights and our PTAs were busy at work hosting Welcome Back events and festivals to ring in the new school year.

With two full weeks of learning under our belt, it has been a pleasure to watch our students and faculty dive right into all aspects of what school is all about. As you will all come to know me better, I enjoy taking a few moments to share my notes with the community. And in those notes, I try my best to capture the heartbeat of our vision in action in order to share the good work of our district. 

We have so much exciting news in the district, so be sure to read on to find out more about the ways our students, teachers, staff members and administrators are pulling together to elevate Eastchester!

Special Event Alert!

On October 1, 2025, we will be hosting a very special guest speaker at Eastchester UFSD. Dr. Marc Brackett, Author/Speaker/Co-Founder of Yale University’s Center for Emotional Intelligence will be visiting Eastchester schools to inspire us all with his new book “Dealing with Feelings”. Dr. Brackett is a seminal voice in the field of Emotional Intelligence and we are delighted to have him join us for the day. A limited number of seats to his presentation are open to the public. If you would like to join us, please click here to RSVP.

A Note From Me to You About ‘Heavy’ Topics

Please click here to read Dr. V’s message about the importance of being our ‘Best Selves’ during divisive times.

Did You Know? September 17 is Constitution Day

September 17 the signing of the United States Constitution in 1787, a document that continues to shape our democracy and affirm the rights and responsibilities of citizens. The Constitution is both our founding document and a living framework that guides our shared civic life. Exploring the Constitution allows students to strengthen academic knowledge, think critically about democratic principles, communicate and debate diverse perspectives, and apply creative problem-solving to contemporary challenges. By embedding constitutional values in both local and global contexts, students grow as reflective, future-focused global citizens equipped to contribute thoughtfully and responsibly to our democracy. (Excerpt from NYSED)

Rosh Hashanah

Beginning Monday (Sept. 22) night until Wednesday evening, our Jewish families will begin celebrations for Rosh Hashanah, a holiday that signifies the Jewish New Year! This traditional time includes friends and family joining together over festive meals that may include challah (bread) and apples dipped in honey. This is also a time of deep reflection. Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (October 2), goals and intentions for the new year are often set by members of the Jewish community.

We wish all of our Jewish families and friends a festive and happy new year “Shana Tova U’metuka”—have a good and sweet year!

Hispanic Heritage Month

From September 15 to October 15, it’s a perfect opportunity to learn more about Latino/Hispanic historical legacies that have shaped communities and continue to enrich the United States. Exploring the contributions of key figures in Latino History, this is a perfect time to explore resources provided by the New York State Museum and the National Education Association. Click here to learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Dr. V