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Yondr

Cell Phone and Electronics Policy

Calcutt Middle School is committed to providing a safe and supportive educational environment.  The University of Chicago Press notes a study: "Results from two experiments indicate that even when people are successful at maintaining sustained attention—as when avoiding the temptation to check their phones—the mere presence of these devices reduces available cognitive capacity.” 

To best support our students in complying with this policy, Calcutt Middle School is partnering with YONDR to provide secure storage pouches for student devices. Students must store all electronic devices in Yondr pouches upon entering the building. 

Yondr Pouch: Going into year two of the implementation of the pouch, all students will be assigned a pouch for all their devices [phone, earbuds, smart watch] that they keep all year after.  Students will take their pouches to and from school with them each day.

The power on the electronic devices must be turned off before entering the school. Leaving the device on “vibrate,” “silence,” or “ringer off” is not acceptable. Students will be provided with YONDR pouches, and our goal at Calcutt Middle School is to ensure all students have access to a distraction-free classroom.

If students do not have cell phones or electronic devices, they must still bring their pouch to school daily.  The parent will be notified if the student fails to comply.  The pouch is the school's property and is considered on loan to the student during the school year. The student is responsible for the pouch and must always keep it in their possession.  Upon entering school, students will turn in their electronic devices (phone earbuds, smartwatch), place them inside the Yondr pouch, and lock them in front of the designated staff.  

If a student needs to leave school early for an approved early dismissal, medical emergency, or other school-sponsored trips, unlocking bases will be available to allow for a quick opening of the pouch.

Any tampering, damage to the pouch, or use of an alternate phone and/or electronic device will be subject to disciplinary action.

Students refusing to cooperate before entry into school will require a parent/guardian re-entry to discuss expectations with the administrator and/or designee until they choose to comply.

If a student does not bring in their pouch, the phone and all electronic devices will be turned over to the Restorative/designee and held until the end of the school day.   

There is a $10 fee for damaged or lost YONDR Pouches.                                                                                                         

​Pictures,​ ​videos,​ video conferencing, ​and​ ​phone calls​ ​are​ ​prohibited​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​school​ ​building​. Any unauthorized videotaping of students or staff will result in disciplinary action (phone confiscation, parent contact).