Washburne Update

I look forward to welcoming our students to campus on September 3rd. As we are preparing for our upcoming school year, I want to share an important update to you following last night’s School Board Meeting. In previous school years, students have not been allowed to use personal technology during the school day. Last night, the Board approved a new system to manage personal technology in our middle schools, effective at the start of the 2024/2025 school year. Personal technology is defined as any device brought from home such as a smartphone, smartwatch and/or airpods/earbuds. We will be making our school a personal-technology-free space to improve teaching and learning using a program called Yondr. Yondr has been implemented in thousands of schools across 27 countries to facilitate an engaged learning environment.

We believe that personal technology has great utility outside of school instructional hours. We have also found that learning and student mental health improve drastically when students are fully present with their teachers and classmates. Parents and staff may find this collection of data compelling. Additionally, the memo presented to the Board last night contains further detail as to why we feel this change is necessary.

The Yondr Program utilizes a simple, secure pouch that stores personal technology. Every student will secure their personal technology in a personally assigned Yondr pouch when they arrive at school. Students will maintain possession of their personal technology and will not use them until their pouches are opened at the end of each school day. Students who bring personal technology to school are required to bring their Yondr pouch to and from school each day and are responsible for their pouch at all times.

In an annual survey of over 1,200 of schools that implemented the Yondr Program:

• 86% saw a positive impact in student safety and wellness

• 84% saw a positive change in student engagement

• 72% saw a positive change in student behavior

• 68% saw a positive change in academic performance

We have established a protocol around Yondr implementation which can be referenced here. Changes have been made to our student handbook to reflect these expectations. It may also be helpful to view this video providing an overview of the program. We would encourage you to attend our upcoming Go to School Night to learn more about the adoption of Yondr:

Wednesday, September 18 from 6-8 p.m. at Carleton Washburne School.

If there is an emergency during school hours and you would like to get in contact with your child, please reach out to the Main Office at Carleton Washburne School: (847) 446-5892.

In an effort to best serve your child, we appreciate your full support in adoption of the Yondr Program at our school in preservation of the educational environment.

Thank you for your partnership in this matter.

Take Care and Be Well,

Dr. Andrew Fenton

Principal, Carleton Washburne School

What if I want to reach my child 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 Main Office at Carleton Washburne School: (847) 446-5892.

What if there is a school emergency?

In case of a school emergency, we direct our staff and students to prioritize safety first, following our school emergency preparedness protocol, which does not include individual texts or calls home.

Will my student’s personal technology device be safe?

Students will remain in possession and responsible for their personal technology - in their Yondr pouch - for the entire school day.

What if the Yondr pouch gets damaged or a student is caught on their personal technology device?

The Yondr pouch is property of The Winnetka Public Schools. If a student damages their Pouch or is caught on their personal technology device, Administration will collect the personal technology device/Pouch and call home:

• Students will be subject to disciplinary consequences for using personal technology or damaging the Yondr pouch, including but not limited to replacement fees, parents reclaiming devices in the main office, and/or loss of privileges.

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.