Focused Learning Initiative

At Westmoor High School, we consider it a primary and necessary commitment to create focused learning environments that foster distraction-free learning, high student engagement, and strong social skills. The following policies serve that goal:

1. All personal devices are restricted during the school day.
   • Personal devices include cell phones, earbuds, headphones, AirPods, personal laptops, tablets, iPads, smartwatches, and smart glasses.
   • Gaming accessories such as controllers, gaming systems, and handheld gaming devices are also restricted.
2. All students are required to use their school-provided Yondr pouch to store phones and personal devices restricted during the school day.
   • Yondr pouches are issued to all students by the school. Replacement pouches may incur a fee, in the same way as lost textbooks or sports uniforms.
   • Devices may not be kept on campus during the school day unless secured in a Yondr pouch.
3. All students are provided the technology they need for class through district-issued Chromebooks.
   • Students may not use personal laptops, tablets, or other devices on campus.

Each school day begins with the same routine in every classroom to secure personal devices in Yondr pouches.

Start of the day

1. Once the first bell rings at 8:24 a.m., all students on campus turn off their phones and personal devices and place them in their Yondr pouch. Phones and devices must be turned off or left on airplane mode — silent or vibrate is not allowed.
2. Once the bell rings at 8:30 a.m., all students are in class and present their pouches with their phones and personal devices inside.
3. At 8:35 a.m., a reminder bell rings, signaling that all staff and students begin locking their Yondr pouches.

Late Arrival, or arriving after 8:30 a.m.

• Late Arrival students follow the same routine at the beginning of their first class, and give their pouched phones and devices to the teacher of their first class of the day.
• Students late to class follow the same routine whenever they first arrive on campus.

End of the day

Once the final bell rings, students:

1. Visit any posted unlocking station on campus. Stations are placed around campus for easy access. Classroom teachers do not unlock pouches at the end of the day.
2. Remove their phones and devices from the pouch.
3. Store and keep their pouch for the following school day.

The following are considered personal devices, though there may be others not listed:

• Headphones, earbuds, AirPods, and other listening devices
• Non-district-issued laptops
• Tablets (iPads, Android tablets, and similar)
• Smartwatches
• Smart glasses

All personal devices are restricted on campus during the school day and may not be used. All personal devices must be secured along with phones in the student's Yondr pouch at the beginning of the school day.

Wired headphones for classwork

In some instructional settings, teachers may allow students to listen to audio for academic purposes. In these cases:

• Teachers may allow limited use of wired headphones without Bluetooth capability for classroom use.
• Bluetooth-enabled devices such as AirPods, wireless headphones, and wireless earbuds are not allowed in any classroom setting.

Students are prohibited from using phones or any personal device during the school day, anywhere on campus. All phones must be kept secured within personal Yondr pouches throughout the school day while on campus. Violations result in the following disciplinary action.

First violation — device confiscated, parent notified

• Student is sent to the student support coordinator, and the phone or personal device is confiscated until the end of the day.
• Parents and guardians are notified.

Second violation — device confiscated, detention, parent conference required

• Student is sent to the main office. The phone or personal device is returned only to a parent or guardian.
• A parent or guardian conference is required at pickup.
• One detention is assigned.
• Student is placed on the Non-Participation List until all detentions are complete.

Third violation — device confiscated, detentions, Tech Hygiene Class, parent conference

• Student is sent to the main office. The phone or personal device is returned only to a parent or guardian.
• A parent or guardian conference is required at pickup.
• Two, possibly three, detentions are assigned.
• Mandatory participation in Tech Hygiene Class, held during Friday FLEX 2 Reflection.
• Student is placed on the Non-Participation List until all detentions are complete.
• Student is placed on the No-Walk List for two to four weeks, meaning they may not participate in the graduation ceremony during that period.

Four or more violations

Four or more offenses include all of the consequences above, plus further loss of student privileges.

Yondr pouches are provided to each student as a school-issued item, similar to textbooks and sports uniforms. Pouches are school property loaned to each student and are expected to be returned to the school when requested.

Physical damage to a Yondr pouch may be considered destruction of school property, and intentional misuse or damage is a violation of school policy. Damaged pouches incur a $30 fine, issued to the student's parents or guardians for payment.

If a pouch is damaged, stolen, or lost, students are expected to report it to school administration as soon as possible. The administration will work with students and families who are forthcoming about individual circumstances or accidental damage.

Repeatedly lost or damaged pouches, or a student's failure to bring their pouch to school, is considered a violation of our device-free policy. In these cases a $30 fine may be issued to parents or guardians, along with disciplinary action.

On a normal school day, the device-free policy is in effect unless announced otherwise. We also recognize that certain emergencies may require releasing student devices.

Teachers and staff may unlock Yondr pouches during an actual school emergency once administrators have announced it, in the aftermath of an off-campus evacuation or an onsite full evacuation intended to release students. Portable unlocking devices and external unlocking bases give students quick access if a situation requires off-campus evacuation. Parents and guardians are informed promptly by administration of any school emergency by phone, text, and email.

Why phones make an emergency harder to manage

We agree with the position of the National Association of School Resource Officers: school environments are generally safer when student phones and devices are not present during the school day. Our reasoning:

• During critical moments, students need to hear their teachers or first responders. Messaging or calling parents who are not in the building can distract students from life-saving instructions.
• If students are directed to hide or enter a lockdown, they must stay quiet. Noise or light from a phone gives away their location.
• If hundreds of students call at once, phone lines and service are likely to be overwhelmed, making first responders' jobs harder.
• Misinformation spreads panic quickly. Students calling, texting, or posting during a crisis can make the situation worse.

Yondr pouches are not unlocked during safety drills or non-emergencies such as an accidental smoke alarm. Fire alarms and campus evacuations do not require pouch release unless administration determines students will not return to the building for a prolonged period.

School administration reserves the right to inspect students and their belongings, including bags, purses, backpacks, and lockers, to ensure the integrity of our device-free policy. Checks may be conducted randomly or based on reasonable suspicion that a student is violating the policy.

Violations of the device-free policy include tampering with or damaging a Yondr pouch, possessing or using an unsecured or secondary phone or device, or any other attempt to circumvent school policy.

Read this policy in your language

The Focused Learning Initiative is available in the languages below. The English version governs if there is any difference between versions.

• Español — Spanish
• Tagalog
• 简体中文 — Chinese (Simplified)
• Português — Portuguese
• မြန်မာ — Burmese