HWHSD will be implementing phone-free campuses to improve teaching and learning using a program called Yondr. Yondr has been implemented in thousands of schools across 27 countries to facilitate an engaged learning environment.
We believe that phones have great utility. We have also found that learning and student mental health improve drastically when students are fully present with their teachers and classmates.
The Yondr Program utilizes a simple, secure pouch that stores a phone. Every student will secure their personal electronic devices including phone/smart watch/ear buds/tablets in a personally assigned Yondr pouch when they arrive at school. Students will maintain possession of their personal electronic devices including phone/smart watch/ear buds/tablets and will not use them until their pouches are opened at the end of the school day. Students are required to bring their Yondr pouch to and from school each day and are responsible for their pouch at all times.
In an annual survey of over 1,200 of schools that implemented the Yondr Program:
To promote the best possible learning and social environment in all Helena-West Helena Public School Students will not be allowed to use their personal electronic devices including phone/smart watch/ear buds/tablets during the school day.
Central High School Students Only
Beginning in August, every student on the Central High School Campus will be assigned a personal Yondr Pouch to store their personal devices in. Devices are to be stored in the Yondr pouch whether the device is working or not.
JF Wahl Students
Beginning in August, JF Wahl students will not be allowed to have personal electronic devices on campus
Process for Pouch Use
Start of School Day:
Before entering the building, turn off all personal electronic devices including phone/smart watch/ear buds/tablets .
Upon entering, place your personal electronic devices including phone/smart watch/ear buds/tablets into your Yondr Pouch, whether the device is working or not.
Once your personal electronic devices including phone/smart watch/ear buds/tablets are inside the pouch, securely close it using the locking button, then place in the designated storage bin.
Personal devices in the pouches will then be stored in a secure location for the remainder of the day.
During the School Day:
Pouches will remain stored in a secure location from the first bell to the last bell.
If you need to leave campus for an appointment, you can pick up your device in the main office before leaving. Upon re-entry, you must relock your devices in a pouch and the main office will place it in the storage bins in a secured location.
If you attend a college course off campus, you will not have access to your personal electronic devices, they will remain locked in their pouches in a secured location.
End of School Day:
At the end of the school day, unlock your pouch using an unlocking base stationed at exit doors.
Remove your personal electronic devices including phone/smart watch/ear buds/tablets from the pouch.
Securely close your empty pouch to lock it and place it in your backpack for the next day. It is your responsibility to keep track of your pouch.
Violations of these procedures will result in the following actions:
Violations include - Refusal to Lock Phone in Pouch, Unlocking Pouch Without Permission, Hiding or Carrying Extra Devices (e.g., a second phone)
1st Offense: Immediate confiscation of the device. (Parent Conference to retrieve devices either after school or the following day. Student devices will not be returned during school session hours the same day.)
2nd Offense: Immediate confiscation of the device, 3 days out of school suspension (Required Parent Conference upon return)
3rd Offense: Immediate confiscation of the device, 5 days out of school suspension (Required Parent Conference upon return)
4th Offense: Immediate confiscation of the device, 10 days out of school suspension (Required Parent Conference upon return)
Consequences for the violations listed above will be addressed in the student handbook.