Dear Parent/Guardians,
In response to new legislation, GCC is updating our policies on devices for students. Our goal? To use this as an opportunity to shift the culture around student device use and boost engagement in learning. Let’s grow together!
We will be making our school a phone-free space to improve teaching and learning. Recent North Dakota Legislation requires that student personal electronic communication devices are securely locked away and completely inaccessible to students during instructional time. To ensure our compliance with legislation our school has chosen to issue Yondr pouches for student devices to facilitate an engaged learning environment.
The Yondr Program utilizes a simple, secure pouch that stores a phone. Every 6-12 student will secure their phone in a personally assigned Yondr pouch when they arrive at school. Students will maintain possession of their phones 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.
Yondr reports positive responses to annual surveys from over 1,200 school partners, and after implementing the Yondr Education Program:
• 84% saw a change in student engagement
• 72% saw a positive change in student behavior
• 68% saw a positive change in academic performance
To support responsible technology use of school-issued technology and Yondr pouches, each student 6-12 will be assessed a $20 technology fee to cover accidental damages with a family cap of $50. Intentional damages will be charged to students for replacement or repair costs.
For more information about Yondr implementation check out the Yondr In Schools Information Video. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school directly 701-797-3114, or attend one of our upcoming meetings on Back to School Night, August 18th, at 6pm and 7pm. In an effort to best serve your child, we appreciate your full support in adoption of the Yondr Program at our school.
Thank you,
Griggs County Central School Administration