Phone-Free Schools

The implementation of Yondr pouches for storing personal electronic devices adds an additional layer of enforcement to the existing Board of Education Electronic Device Policy. All Waterbury Public Schools students are prohibited from using personal technology during the school day.

Students at the following schools will be issued Yondr Pouches:

• Students in Grades 6-8 at: Carrington School, Wendell Cross School, Duggan School, Gilmartin School, Reed School, and Wallace Middle School.
• All students at: North End Middle School, West Side Middle School, Waterbury Arts Magnet School, Crosby High School, Kennedy High School, Waterbury Career Academy, and Wilby High School.

However, the Waterbury Public Schools Electronic Device Policy applies to ALL students. Whether or not a student has been issued a Yondr pouch, use of personal technology during the school day is prohibited.

• To improve student and staff safety.
• To limit distractions in the classroom.
• To improve student engagement, mental health and well-being.

As students enter school, they place their phone and other personal technology in their assigned Yondr pouch. Students close and secure their pouch, keeping it in their possession throughout the day. When leaving school, students tap their pouch on a magnetic base to retrieve their devices.

As long as the policy is followed, students will have their phone in their Yondr pouch, in their possession, for the entire school day.

WPS wants its students to be engaged in learning. If you need to reach your child during the school day, contact the main office of your child's school. We ask that parents use discretion and limit these contacts to emergencies or time-sensitive situations.

In the case of a school emergency, we direct our students to safety first, following our school emergency preparedness protocol. Communication updates will be shared using ParentSquare.

The first priority will always be to follow school safety protocol. Students should not be on their phones during an emergency, but rather following school staff instructions.

Once students are in a safe location, they will be able to open their pouch and use their device.

For all offenses, parents will be notified, the offense will be documented, and the policy will be reviewed with the student by an administrator or designee.

First Incident: Confiscation of personal technology, returned at the end of the school day.

Second Incident: Confiscation of personal technology, returned to parent/guardian. Detention.

Third Incident: Confiscation of personal technology, returned to parent/guardian. Half-day in-school suspension.

Fourth and Subsequent Incidents: Confiscation of personal technology, returned to parent/guardian. One day in-school suspension. Students must relinquish personal technology for 30 school days.

Refusal to secure personal technology, refusal to turn over devices when requested, and arguing with staff about the Electronic Device Policy is insubordination.

First incident: Student will receive a one-day out-of-school suspension for insubordination

Second and subsequent incidents: Student will receive a two-day out-of-school suspension and relinquish wearable technology for 30 school days.

High school students who don't bring the pouch to school must turn in their personal technology devices to the administrator/designee upon arrival to school. They will be returned at the end of the day.

First incident: A fee of $10 will be charged to replace the Yondr pouch.

Second and subsequent incidents: A fee of $22.50 will be charged.

Additionally, personal technology devices must be turned in to the administrator/designee upon arrival to school until the pouch is replaced. They will be returned at the end of the school day.

Examples of damage to the Yondr pouch: Ripped, cut, torn, inappropriate markings, bent/cut pin, signs of force to button on flap

Report to the main office and the pouch will be unlocked.