All students at HHS North will begin using Yondr pouches to store their cell phones during the school day beginning Tuesday, September 5.
The pouches help ensure that students are not accessing their phones in school, while at the same time allowing them to keep their pouch-secured devices with them throughout the day.
HHS North Principal Lori McKenna met with school staff this morning, Friday, September 1, to discuss efficient ways to help students secure their cell phones in Yondr pouches when arriving in the school lobby to ensure a smooth start to the school day. While they are relatively simple to use, it is an extra step that takes a few moments to complete for each student.
HPS piloted the use of Yondr pouches at Holyoke STEM Academy and the now-closed Holyoke Middle School during the 2022-23 school year, and it proved successful. This program is now expanding to all three of the district’s middle schools and all three high schools for the 2023-24 school year.
“Our pilot efforts last year confirmed that this combination eliminates the stress that too often accompanies prohibiting the use of cell phones in schools as spelled out in our student handbook,” said Superintendent Anthony Soto. “We anticipate we will see good results this year as our middle schools and high schools fully implement the use of Yondr pouches.”
Yondr bags went into use on Wednesday, August 30 at HHS Dean Campus, STEM Academy, Metcalf Middle, and HHS Opportunity Academy. Their use begins at HHS North on Tuesday, September 5 and at Sullivan Middle School on Monday, September 11.
“We did not make this decision lightly,” Mr. Soto said. “The pilots at STEM and HMS and our site visits to schools in Chicopee and Springfield convinced us that this new practice will support a more positive social climate, a more focused teaching and learning dynamic in our classrooms, and a significant increase in students’ capacity to connect with their peers and our teachers and staff during the school day.”