Cape Central High School (CHS) students will have at least one less distraction in the classroom starting in January of 2024. The Cape Girardeau Public Schools (CGPS) board voted unanimously at the November Board meeting to implement the Yondr Program which will require students to keep cell phones stored in a pouch for the duration of the school day. Students will also be required to place any other Bluetooth-capable devices they have at school in their Yondr pouch until the last bell rings for the day.
It’s no secret that cell phones are causing major distractions at school for teens across the nation, and schools everywhere are looking for a way to reclaim lost learning time. Yondr is already being used in over 2500 schools worldwide, including more than 40 districts in the state of Missouri. CGPS leaders believe the Yondr Program will help boost academic achievement and help build soft skills employers say younger workers seem to be lacking.
CHS will hold grade-level meetings with students in December to discuss Yondr. CHS families received information after the November board meeting via email and were given access to a Google Form to submit questions. They also received a list of Frequently Asked Questions about Yondr. The District will host an informational session at CHS about Yondr for high school families on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
Students will receive their Yondr pouch when they return from the Winter Break on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.