Introducing Hill-Murray’s New Cell Phone Policy: A Commitment to Student Well-being
August 20, 2024
Dear Hill-Murray Community
As you read in my last President’s Perspective, we are committed to creating a cell phone-free school day to significantly reduce distractions, and support the health, well-being, and development of all of our students. There is a great deal of research supporting this commitment, and I have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback I have received. Although we had previously been entirely cell phone-free in middle school, the high school students could utilize cell phones in hallways, during breaks, and at lunch – this will change.
I am pleased to announce that we will be implementing a New Cell Phone Policy for our students starting Monday, September 9, 2024. After researching various options, we have decided to partner with Yondr. Yondr has been implemented in over 2,000 schools across 16 countries to facilitate an engaged learning environment.
Our new cell phone policy utilizes a simple, secure Yondr pouch that stores a phone. You may have used Yondr if you’ve attended a concert or larger phone-free venue. How does it work? Every student will secure their phone in a personally assigned Yondr pouch when they arrive at their first class of the day. Each student will be assigned a Yondr pouch (whether they have a phone or not). Students must bring their Yondr pouch to and from school each day and are always responsible for it.
Reviewing data over the past year in annual, local, and national surveys, we know that this move to a cell phone-free school day will improve student engagement and increase student health and wellness. In reviewing surveys from over 1,200 schools that implemented the Yondr Education Program and went entirely phone-free, we saw schools’ experience:
- 84% increase in student engagement
- 72% positive change in student behavior
- 68% positive change in academic performance
- 86% positive impact on student safety and wellness
We will have a demonstration table and information at our September Back to School Night, which is September 4th. As you know, our 9th – 12th graders have their MacBooks, and our 6th – 8th graders have their iPads, but they will no longer have access to their personal cell phones/smart devices during the school day. I am so grateful for your support as we implement our new cell phone policy at Hill-Murray School. While parent feedback has been positive, students, especially our older students, have some concerns and questions. Current parents – I ask for your help and support as you talk with your sons and daughters about our new policy. Please help students understand the true benefit of going in this direction. The FAQ section in the new cell phone policy answers many of the questions that students have posed about implementing our new policy.
As we navigate the challenges and blessings of our times, I’m reminded that Hill-Murray has a strong tradition of doing what’s right for our students. Even though there are challenges in this initiative, it puts our students on a good path as they become leaders who will make a positive difference in the world. I am committed to placing a stake in the ground that says Hill-Murray cares about students. Hill-Murray cares about creating an environment where students can flourish and unleash their God-given talents. Where students can find their passion and become who they are truly meant to be. While this may sound idealistic, isn’t that our goal? We are working toward an ideal school environment that supports our students – don’t they deserve our best?
Sincerely,
Melissa Dan
Hill-Murray School President