Dear families,
Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, Cambridge Central School will be making our school a phone-free space to improve teaching and learning.
Cambridge Elementary School will prohibit personal electronic devices from the time students arrive at school until the end of the regular school day. Such devices must be turned off and stored out of sight during this school day. The district is not responsible for stolen, lost or damaged personal electronic devices.
For all students, UPK-12, any misuse of electronic devices will result in its confiscation until the end of the school day. After the first infraction, parents/guardians will be notified and required to pick up the device from the respective school’s main office.
Cambridge Jr./Sr. High School will be using a program called Yondr. Yondr has been implemented in more than 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. Students would be allowed to unlock their phone if they are leaving our school campus for any reason.
Yondr has extensively studied schools that have implemented their program and have found that:
- 84% saw a positive change in student engagement
- 72% saw a positive change in student behavior
- 68% saw a positive change in academic performance
The most recent Yondr survey of over 370 of their school partners indicated that 86% of students saw a positive impact in student safety and wellness.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school directly at (518) 677-8527, or attend our family forum about the adoption of Yondr on Thursday, July 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium. We have compiled an FAQ about the implementation of the Yondr Program. It can be found below. If you are unable to attend the forum on July 25 and would like more information, please contact Ralph Harrington.
In an effort to best serve your child, we appreciate your support as we adopt the Yondr Program at our school.
Thank you,
Kathleen Skellie
Elementary Principal
Ralph Harrington
Associate HS Principal
How Yondr Works (Grades 7-12)
Jr./Sr. High School Frequently Asked Questions
What if I want to reach my child in grades 7-12 during the school day?
We want our students to be engaged in their learning. If you need to contact your child during the school day, contact the High School Attendance Office at (518) 677-8527, ext. 1414.
Additionally, the High School Office and High School Attendance Office have phones for students to use.
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. The district will continuously provide updates to all families throughout the emergency.
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/locker where it is completely safe.
What if the Yondr pouch gets damaged or a student is caught on their phone?
The Yondr pouch is property of Cambridge Central School District. If a student damages their pouch or is caught on their phone, administration will collect the phone/pouch and call home. Students in violation of the Yondr program will be subject to consequences outlined in the cell phone guidelines. The cell phone guidelines will be reviewed at the July 25 forum.
Note: Damage consists of any signs that the physical integrity of the pouch has been compromised, whether intentional or unintentional, as determined by the school or Yondr staff.