We will be making our school a phone-free space to improve teaching and learning using a program called Yondr. Yondr has been implemented in over 2,000 schools across 16 countries to facilitate an engaged learning environment.
We believe that phones 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 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.
We received responses to our 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
Of our most recent impact survey of over 370 of our school partners:
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Jill Willhoite directly at jwillhoite@oakdale.org, or attend our upcoming meetings about the adoption of Yondr Tuesday, July 30th from 6-8pm in Fine Arts.
If there is an emergency and you would like to get in contact with your child, please reach out to the office at 405-771-3373 or email jwillhoite@oakdale.org.
In an effort to best serve your child, we appreciate your full support in adoption of the Yondr Program at our school.
Summer Reading:
There is a required summer reading assignment for those students placed in Accelerated ELA in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades:
6th: summer reading for Accelerated ELA
7th: summer reading for Accelerated ELA
8th: summer reading for Accelerated ELA
Summer Reading for ALL (optional):
While you are relaxing this summer, I hope you will encourage your student to spend some time READING! Check out these challenges to keep your student motivated. (To clarify: The programs listed below are completely optional.)
Oakdale Middle School Summer Reading BINGO Challenge:
Take a look at our Summer Reading BINGO Board, and read or listen to books to get five-in-a-row. Record the author and title of each book the appropriate square. Students who complete one five-in-a-row BINGO earn a reward. If your student completes two BINGOS, he/she earns a special lunch in the MS Library when school starts. Books should be read between May 24-August 7; books may not be used for more than one square on the BINGO board. Students had the opportunity to pick up a yellow copy of the BINGO board last week. If you misplace the copy I gave, feel free to print off another one. Return the BINGO card to the MS Library by Thursday, August 15.
Metropolitan Library System Summer Reading Program:
Each year we partner with the Metro Library System to do a Summer Reading Challenge. The public library’s summer reading program has a few different requirements than our school challenge and has some cool prizes. Click on this link to find out more about it: https://www.metrolibrary.org/summerreading.
Please let me know if you have any questions or need any book recommendations! - Mrs. Jones (jjones@oakdale.org)
Summer Math Practice:
For an easy-breezy way to encourage student learning over the break, send them on an IXL Summer Adventure! They'll explore new topics with skills across all IXL subjects, organized around a fun theme for each day.
Choose the grade level your students will enter in the fall:
6th grade | 7th grade | 8th grade
Thanks,
Jill Willhoite
jwillhoite@oakdale.org
