For the 2025-26 school year, the Guilderland Central School District is working to create distraction-free learning environments. One measure being implemented is the use of Yondr pouches at Guilderland High School. Learn more about Yondr pouches:
Why is Guilderland High School introducing Yondr pouches?
The district is seeking to limit distractions in the classroom and improve overall student engagement, mental health and well-being.
Where can I find the student and electronic device policy?
The Guilderland Central School District Board of Education (Policy 5695, Students and Personal Electronic Devices) can be found on the district website. The policy is in effect starting with the 2025-26 school year.
What is a Yondr pouch?
The Yondr pouch is a secure bag that is used to store an individual’s personal electronic devices. It is secured and unlocked with a special magnetic locking device.
How will students receive a Yondr pouch?
On the first day of school, Sept. 4, 2025, students in Guilderland High School will receive a Yondr pouch. Much like other district-issued materials, such as Chromebooks, each student will be given a Yondr pouch that is specifically assigned to them, with a unique code. The pouch is the property of the school and is considered on loan to the student during the school year. Students are responsible for the Yondr pouch at all times and for bringing the pouch to and from school each day as well as keeping them in good condition.
How will the process work at arrival and dismissal?
Upon entering school, students will turn their cell phones, Bluetooth/wireless headphones and smartwatches off (or place them in airplane mode), place them inside of the Yondr pouch and lock it in front of the designated GHS staff. The pouch remains with the student all day. The pouches will be unlocked at the end of the school day at several designated locations within the building.
How is the “end of the day” defined?
The end of the day is 2:28 p.m. Students who leave school before 2:28 p.m. will be able to unlock their phones as they leave the building.
What if a student needs their personal device for a medical issue?
Students who have a documented medical condition and who need a personal device for monitoring their condition will be provided with a non-locking Yondr pouch that has a velcro seal.
My student attends BOCES Career and Technical Education classes where Yondr pouches are not required. What will the process be for these students?
A.M. CTE Students: If students are riding the bus to school, they will lock up their phone in the Yondr pouch like all other students entering the building. For students with permission to drive to CTE, they will lock up their device when they enter the high school when they return from CTE.
P.M. CTE Students: Students riding the school bus back and forth from CTE will keep their device locked in their Yondr pouch even while at CTE. The pouch will be unlocked at dismissal like all other students. CTE students with permission to drive will have their Yondr pouch unlocked upon leaving the high school for their CTE program.
Students must remember that devices are not allowed to be used during CTE per the new NYS law bell to bell cell phone ban law.
Will my student’s phone be safe?
Phones never leave the possession of the students.
Will my student still be able to listen to music?
Students will be able to use headphones with cords to connect to their Chromebooks. They will be able to use the headphones for classroom work or for listening to music during free periods. All Bluetooth devices, including AirPods, smartwatches and other headphones, must be stored in the Yondr pouch.
What if a student needs to leave the building before regular dismissal?
If a student needs to leave school early for an approved early dismissal, medical emergency, work assignment or other scenarios, students will be able to unlock their devices at school just prior to their departure. If returning to school during the instructional day, the Yondr pouch would be locked upon re-entry to the building.
What happens if there is an emergency at school?
Every location in the high school is equipped with a phone that can dial 911. Our staff is trained to execute safety and emergency procedures. Students will follow the school’s safety procedures in the case of an emergency. The district will communicate with families through ParentSquare.
What if a student does not comply or damages the locked case to access their phone?
Students who are found to unlock the pouches, cause damage to the pouch or use an alternate phone will be subject to disciplinary action.
What happens if a student doesn’t have their Yondr Pouch?
Their phone, Bluetooth/wireless headphones and/or smartwatch will be turned over to the office staff and secured in the school, safe until the end of the day. At the end of the school day, students will retrieve their phone by showing their school ID.
How will students be able to contact families if there is a lockdown or more urgent situation?
Students and staff at all schools practice lockdown drills multiple times a year. During these trainings they are instructed to be silent during a lockdown. The response action guidelines outlined in the high school’s building-level safety plan has a community notification plan for emergency situations. This notification plan includes first and foremost, families of students in the building.
What if my child is at school and needs to call 911?
Every classroom is equipped with a phone that can dial 911. There are no codes or prefix needed to dial outside of the district. Anyone can dial directly.
Why can’t the school just implement a zero-tolerance policy and allow students to keep their phones put away?
The district’s previous policy was difficult to enforce and placed the burden of enforcement on classroom teachers, leading to the loss of valuable instruction time. Research has shown that the use of Yondr pouches has positively facilitated adherence to the policy.
Requiring students to lock their phones away seems like a punishment for high school students. Is this the case?
The introduction of Yondr is not a punitive measure. The intention is to:
- to create classroom environments where teachers can teach and students can learn free from distractions caused by the personal use of devices;
- to reduce the negative impacts for ALL students of inappropriate use of devices at school, such as cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and incidents involving mobile phones that detract from a healthy school climate; and
- to increase meaningful face-to-face connections between students.
Will students be able to put their personal email accounts on the district-owned Chromebooks?
No. Students will only be able to use their district email accounts on district-owned devices. All devices and networks owned by the district are monitored.
Will teachers be using the Yondr pouches as well?
Teachers and staff will not be provided a Yondr pouch however they will be encouraged to model responsible cell phone use for students.
If a student forgets to unlock the pouch before leaving the building, is there a way for students to unlock the pouch. For example, is there an unlock station outside the school building?
There will not be an unlocking station outside the building. If a student forgets to unlock their pouch, they must ask an administrator to assist them.
What if there is a building-wide emergency and students are unable to return to the building, how will they open their Yondr pouch?
There will be mobile unlocking devices available for these types of circumstances.
If the Yondr pouch is stolen/lost who is responsible for replacement?
Students are responsible for the care of their Yondr pouch. If a student intentionally damages the pouch, they will be responsible for replacement and may face disciplinary consequences. If a student loses their pouch, they are responsible for the fee for replacement of the pouch.
Will each teacher be able to unlock the pouches in the event of an active shooter in the building or a lockdown due to swatting?
No. Individual teachers will not be able to unlock the pouches.
Where will the Yondr unlocking stations be located?
The unlocking stations will be located where students normally enter and exit the building.
Do the Yondr pouches block cell signals or internet?
Yondr pouches do not block cell signals or the internet.
How will students know whose Yondr pouch is whose?
When pouches are distributed, they will be assigned to students, who must keep their pouches with them at all times.
What are the penalties for violating the district mobile device policy?
A disciplinary referral will be written for each infraction by a teacher or administrator.
1st Offense: The device will be confiscated and turned into an administrator’s office. The student can retrieve the device at the end of the day.
2nd Offense: The device will be confiscated and turned into an administrator’s office. A parent will have to make arrangements to pick up the device.
3rd Offense: If a student has a third offense, they are willfully not complying with a school policy and the infraction will be considered insubordination. More severe consequences will be implemented for this type of behavior and the student will have to turn in their cell phone for 20 school days before school in an administrator’s office.
Additional consequences may be imposed as defined by the district’s code of conduct.
I have additional questions. How can I submit a question about Yondr pouches?
If you have a question regarding the implementation of Yondr pouches at Guilderland High School, email building principal Mike Piscitelli at piscitellim@guilderlandschools.net.