Lake Highlands High School eNews
Dear Wildcat Families,
As you are likely aware, RISD implemented a cell phone-free policy for students in 2022. In June, we communicated to you that our school will be implementing Yondr pouches for students for the 23-24 school year. Yondr pouches are soft pouches that hold cell phones and seal magnetically. Their intended purpose is to help our staff manage RISD’s student cellphone by limiting student cellphone usage during the school day. We believe the Yondr system will be an important tool for our campus next year for two primary reasons - the pouches will help reduce student distractions from their academics and also reduce our incidents of student discipline related to improper use of cellphones while at school.
We believe that cellphones have great utility. We have also found that learning and social behavior improve drastically when students are fully engaged with their teachers and classmates.
The Yondr Program utilizes a simple, secure pouch that stores a phone. Every student will secure their phone and airpods in a personally assigned Yondr pouch when they arrive at school. Students will maintain possession of their phones and airpods and will not use them until their pouches are opened at the end of the school day. Students who choose to bring a phone to school will be required to bring their Yondr pouch to and from school each day and are responsible for their pouch at all times.
We have included some additional details below about how the Yondr pouch works and some frequently asked questions for your review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I want to reach my child during the school day?
We want our students to be engaged in their learning. All students also have access to their student Chromebook throughout each school day. If you need to contact your child during school, you may contact them through their school gmail account, or you can call the main office at 469.593.1000 and messages can be shared with your student.
What if there is a school emergency?
In case of a school emergency, we direct our students to safety first, following our school emergency preparedness protocol. Under those protocols, first responders do not want students using cellphones. In an actual emergency, when first responders or RISD Safety & Security determine it is safe and appropriate, students may use their phones to let parents know they are ok.
As a reminder, when the campus enters a serious safety protocol like a lockdown or evacuation, all parents are sent a message through the parent notification system, along with potential next steps.
Will my student’s phone be safe?
Students are in possession of their phone - in their Yondr pouch - for the entire school day. We will advise students to store the pouch in their backpacks where it is completely safe.
When will my student receive their pouch?
Students will receive their pouches during the first week of school.
Thank you for your support as we work to maximize the academic engagement of our students and limit their exposure to disciplinary consequences that come from social media, texting, and other inappropriate phone usage during the school day.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school directly at 469.593.1000.
If there is an emergency and you would like to get in contact with your child, first contact the main office at 469.593.1000. If you are unable to reach a person, please reach out to Sherry Hicks (LHHS Executive Assistant) at 469.593.1005.
In an effort to best serve your child’s academic development, we appreciate your full support of the implementation of the Yondr tool at our school.
Thank you,
Kerri L. Jones
Principal
Lake Highlands High School
Richardson ISD Student Cell Phone Guidelines for Schools Using Yondr Pouches
To promote the best possible learning and social environment in Richardson ISD, students will not use their phones/air pods during the school day. Every student will be assigned a personal Yondr Pouch with a name, similar to your assignment of a Chromebook. Just like with your computer, you are expected to bring your Yondr bag every day and return it in good shape at the end of the year.
STATEMENT OF EXPECTATIONS
Campus administrators will state expectations clearly and reinforce the importance of maintaining a cell phone-free environment at the beginning of the year. Administrators will monitor cell phone violations to inform the need for reinforcement and support. Also, any headgear usage will occur based on the approval and expectations set by individual classroom teachers. RISD’s continued focus will be on the mitigation of educational distractions precipitated by the use of cell phones/air pods during instructional time.
PROCESS FOR BAG USE
Start of School Day:
1) Prior to entering the building, turn your phone off.
2) Upon entering the building, place all phones/air pods in your Yondr Pouch.
3) Once your phone/air pods are inside the pouch, securely close it using the locking base, and store it in your backpack.
4) You are responsible for getting to class on-time with a secured pouch.
During School Day:
1) Keep your phone/air pods inside your Yondr Pouch for the duration of the school day.
2) If you leave campus for an appointment, unlock your bag in the main office and proceed to leave the building. Upon re-entry, you must relock your bag in the main office.
3) You may not access your phone/air pods during the school day anywhere on campus.
End of School Day:
1. When your school day ends, unlock your pouch using an unlocking base.
2. Remove your phone/air pods from your pouch.
3. Securely close your empty pouch and place it in your backpack for the next day. It is your responsibility to keep up with your pouch.
4. Students are free to use their phones/air pods once you leave campus.
VIOLATIONS
Each of the following violations will result in the student’s phone/air pods and/or pouch being confiscated by school staff.
1. Physical damage to the pouch in an attempt to circumvent its intended purpose. (Ex: inappropriate markings, holes, bent pin, stripped lock, etc.). Follow SCOC for stealing or any other Level 2 offense.
2. Persistent losing or forgetting the pouch
3. Damaging or taking someone else’s pouch.
4. Using a phone anywhere on campus during school hours.
CONSEQUENCES
If a student’s phone/air pods are visible at all during the day (a student is found using their phone/air pods, a phone or air pods are not in a Yondr pouch, etc.):
See chart below for progression of being in violation of a cell phone/air pods free environment:
Damaged Pouch Immediate Consequence
● Parent/guardian contacted.
● After-school detention within the same school week and repeated violations of this nature may result in out of school suspension and a cell phone plan.
1st Offense
● Phone will be kept in the assistant principal’s office for the day, parent is contacted.
● Parent MUST pick up cell phone (no students will be allowed to retrieve their phone)
● Warning to student and parent about additional consequences that will happen for non-compliance of cell phone-free environment.
● Offense noted on Focus with cell phone violation action code chosen.
2nd Offense
● Phone will be kept in the assistant principal’s office for the day, parent is contacted.
● Parent MUST pick up cell phone (no students will be allowed to retrieve their phone)
● Offense noted on Focus with cell phone violation action code chosen.
● Student assigned school detention.
3rd Offense
● Phone will be kept in the assistant principal’s office for the day, parent is contacted.
● Parent MUST pick up cell phone (no students will be allowed to retrieve their phone)
● Offense noted on Focus with cell phone violation action code chosen.
● Student assigned 1 day of ISS
4th Offense
● Phone will be kept in the assistant principal’s office for the day.
● Parent MUST pick up cell phone (no students will be allowed to retrieve their phone)
● In-person meeting scheduled with parent.
● Offense noted on Focus with cell phone violation action code chosen.
● Student assigned 1-3 days of ISS.
5th Offense
● Phone will be kept in the assistant principal’s office for the day, parent is contacted.
● Warning to parent that the creation of a cell phone plan may be created for the student.
● Parent MUST pick up cell phone (no students will be allowed to retrieve their phone)
● Offense noted on Focus with cell phone violation action code chosen.
● 3 days of ISS assigned.
6th Offense and Beyond
● Violations of the cell phone policy beyond the fifth offense may result in the assignment of out-of-school suspension
● Creation of a cellphone plan for student
● Parent MUST pick up cell phone (no students will be allowed to retrieve their phone)
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