Dear Parents,
We will be making our school a phone-free space to improve teaching and learning using a program called Yondr. This will start on the 1st day of school for students, Monday, 8.19.24. Yondr has been implemented in over 2,000 schools across 16 countries to facilitate an engaged learning environment. We know that cellphones are useful in many ways, however, we have also found that learning and social behavior improve drastically when students are fully engaged with their teachers and classmates. Below is the response data Yondr has provided from their annual surveys:
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86% saw a positive impact in student safety and wellness
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84% saw a change in student engagement
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72% saw a positive change in student behavior
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68% saw a positive change in academic performance
The Yondr Program uses a simple, secure pouch that stores a phone.
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Every student will secure their phone in a personally assigned Yondr pouch when they arrive at school.
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Students will keep possession of their phones, and will not use them until the end of the school day at 3:25pm.
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Students are required to bring their Yondr pouch to and from school each day and are responsible for their pouch at all times.
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If students lose and/or damage their pouch it will be $30 to replace and in the meantime, their phones will be held in the office.
How Yondr Works
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I want to reach my child during the school day?
We want our students to be engaged in their learning. If you need to contact your child during the school day, contact the Main Office at 847-566-9220 and we will be happy to assist with getting ahold of them.
What if there is a school emergency?
In case of a school emergency, we direct our students to safety first, following our school emergency preparedness protocol. If an individual student is having an emergency, we encourage them to let an adult know so that we can assist them as needed.
What if my child comes in late or needs to leave early during the school day?
Students will lock their phones in their pouches while in the Main Office, prior to going to class. The Main Office will also have an unlocking station available for students to unlock their pouches if they need to leave early.
Will my student’s phone be safe?
Students are in possession of their phone and Yondr pouch for the entire school day. We will advise students to store the pouch in their Chromebook case where it can be stored safely on their person.
What if the Yondr pouch gets damaged or needs to be replaced?
The Yondr pouch is property of West Oak Middle School. Damage consists of any signs that the physical integrity of the pouch has been compromised, whether intentional or unintentional, as determined by the school or Yondr staff. If a student damages their Pouch a fee of $30 will be charged to their family.
What if a student is found on their phone during the school day?
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First Occurance= Phone is confiscated and the student is able to pick it up at the end of the day
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Second Occurance= Phone is confiscated and a parent or guardian will need to pick it up
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Three or More Occurrences= Phone is confiscated and a parent will need to pick it up. The student will additionally receive a consequence for their non-compliance.