Helena-West Helena Public School District Yondr Pouch Information

HWHSD will be a electronic device-free campuses beginning the 25-26 school year, to improve teaching and learning. Central High School will use 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 and other electronic devices have great utility, but 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 and other personal electronic devices. Every student will secure their personal electronic devices including phone/smartwatch/ear buds/tablets in a personally assigned Yondr pouch when they arrive at school. Each pouch will be placed in a designated bin and stored in a secured location for the remainder of the 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:

1. Before entering the building, turn off all personal electronic devices including phone/smart watch/ear buds/tablets .

2. Upon entering, place your personal electronic devices including phone/smartwatch/ear buds/tablets into your Yondr Pouch, whether the device is working or not.

3. Once your personal electronic devices including phone/smartwatch/ear buds/tablets are inside the pouch, securely close it using the locking button, then place in the designated storage bin.

4. Personal devices in the pouches will then be stored in a secure location for the remainder of the day.

During the School Day:

1. Pouches will remain stored in a secure location from the first bell to the last bell.

2. 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.

3. 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:

1. At the end of the school day, bins will be delivered to the designated classrooms and unlocked using an unlocking base.

2. 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 back into the bin.

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.  

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I need to contact my child?

To reach your student for any reason or in case of emergency, please contact your school's front office.

Can my child use their personal electronic devices during after-school activities ?

Yes, the Bell to Bell No Cell Act applies to instructional time.

What if there is an emergency at the school?

Our students and staff regularly practice lockdown drills and are directed to follow our emergency response plans. School staff (including School Resource Officers) will not be required to store their cell phones. 

How will students be able to contact families if there is a lockdown situation?

Law enforcement officials have reported that cell phones create a distraction for students that can compromise their safety during an emergency. It can also alert an intruder to their location. The school campuses will be in contact with families during emergency situations.

What if a student needs to leave school before regular dismissal?

Students will be able to unlock their devices at school just prior to an approved early dismissal. If they need to return to school, the pouch will be locked upon re-entry.

How will students know whose pouch is whose?

When pouches are distributed during the school year 2025-26, each one will be numerically assigned to a student. School staff will record the pouch assignments.

Will students have access to their personal electronic devices if they attend college courses?

No, all personal electronic devices must remain locked in their pouches in the designed secured area.