Dear Parents, 

Fair Grove High School and Fair Grove Middle School will move to a device-free space to improve teaching and learning. This will be done using a program called Yondr, which has been implemented in over 2,000 schools across 16 countries to facilitate an engaged learning environment. 

We believe that phones have their place. However, we have also found that learning and social behavior improve drastically when students fully engage with their teachers and classmates. 

The Yondr Program utilizes a simple, secure pouch that stores smart devices. Every student will secure their phone and smart devices in a personally assigned Yondr pouch when they arrive at school. Students will maintain possession of their devices and only use them once 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.  

After surveying the school community, including teachers, the results indicate that the vast majority of our school community believes students’ cell phones disrupt the learning environment and should be prohibited inside the building. The results from our surveys are below: 

● 84.5% of respondents believe student cell phone use disrupts the learning environment in school. 

● 84.1% of respondents said they are worried about the impact of social media and excessive screen time on students’ social interactions. 

● 71.7% of respondents believe prohibiting cell phones in schools would enhance students’ overall well-being. 

● 60% of community respondents said they favor banning student cell phone use during school hours. 95.2% of teacher respondents indicated that they are in favor of banning student cell phone use during school hours. Combined, 65% of teacher and community respondents said they favor banning student cell phone use during school hours. 

Thank you for your understanding and support as we implement the Yondr Program at Fair Grove High School and Fair Grove Middle School (grades 6-8 only). We believe this initiative will create a more focused and engaged learning environment for our students, allowing them to thrive academically and socially. We appreciate your partnership in fostering a positive school culture and are excited to see the positive changes this program will bring. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Together, we can help our students succeed! 

You will find the following information in this document.