EHS Advisory Period Kicks Off With Grade-Specific Activities

Last year, Eastchester High School launched Wednesday “Advisory Periods,” a school-wide initiative aimed at bringing students together and providing them with invaluable tools and resources related to social and emotional learning and growth.

This year, those advisory periods are back, but with a tweak. 

On Wednesday afternoon, EHS students participated in their first advisory period activity of the year, breaking into grade-level cohorts and participating in activities designed to address some of the issues facing students in grades 9-12. This grade-level-based approach is something that EHS Principal Chris Welsh said seemed like a logical move after staff and administrators reflected on last year’s advisory activities, which often centered around more universal wellness topics. 

“Last year was basically ‘Year Zero’ for us,” said Welsh. “Our original efforts in advisory last year were based strongly on the RULER curriculum, and while RULER remains the anchor for the program, we’ve decided that we can provide programming that really meets the needs of students, depending upon their year.”

During the first advisory period of 2026-27, 12th graders met with counselors to focus on their next steps in the college application process, 11th graders focused on the importance of developing healthy relationships, 10th graders did work pertaining to executive function, while ninth graders—just a few days into their time at EHS—participated in the “Advisory Challenge”, a scavenger hunt designed by social studies teacher Christian Clark, who is serving as the Advisory Coordinator this year. 

This unique activity helped the young high schoolers familiarize themselves with important locations around campus, including the central office, gymnasiums and the nurse’s office. At each location, groups were asked to solve a riddle and scan a QR code that provided them with their next clue, as well as one letter that served as a piece of the scavenger hunt’s puzzle. 

When completed, the puzzle spelled out an important message for the ninth graders: “WE BELONG HERE.”

“Its purpose was multi-layered. I wanted students to become more comfortable navigating their new school, but I also wanted them to experience what Advisory is intended to foster: collaboration, connection, belonging, and an awareness of the people and resources available to support them,” said Clark. “At each destination, the QR codes provided “Campus Intel” about the people, places, and resources they discovered, along with “Local Lore,” which added a civic connection by introducing students to Eastchester’s history and their place within the larger community.” 

Clark noted that this year’s advisory curriculum was created in close collaboration with EHS administrators and fellow staff members, including Alanna Staples, who is heading up the newly-created Peer Mentorship Program this year. He added that he’s particularly eager to see how the work that upperclassmen mentors will engage in with ninth graders during advisory periods—and beyond—will bring students of all backgrounds and grade-levels together. 

“I am especially excited about the Peer Mentorship Program’s first Mentor/Mentee event, which will take place during the Multicultural Club’s annual Fall Festival on Sept. 26. Ninth-grade students will have the opportunity to attend alongside their Peer Mentors, spend time together outside of the classroom, and begin building those relationships in a fun, welcoming school-community setting,” he said. “I am looking forward to seeing how these connections develop throughout the year and how Peer Mentorship can further strengthen students’ sense of connection and belonging at EHS.”

“It may sound cliche but it really does take a village to create the kind of school we want,” added Welsh. “The kind of school where kids feel really connected to the place.”