Be Present | Be Engaged | Be Here Now
We will be making our school a phone-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 phones have great utility. We have also found that learning and student mental health improve drastically when students are fully present with their teachers and classmates.
The Yondr Program utilizes a simple, secure pouch that stores a phone. Every student will turn off and secure their phone in a personally assigned Yondr pouch when they arrive at school. Students will maintain possession of their phones and will not use them until 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.
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
As part of the initial rollout for the 2024-2025 School Year, students attended an initial assembly on December 5, 2025. Please see below for copies of the Be Here Now Student Presentation - Part 1 in multiple languages.
Students will also be attending a follow-up assembly on January 9, 2025. Please see below for copies of the Be Here Now Student Presentation - Part 2 in multiple languages.
Parents with questions were invited to attend a Student and Parent Holiday Breakfast with the Principal on Monday, December 9; as well as a virtual PA Meeting at 5:00 PM on January 13, 2025 for additional information and an opportunity to ask questions.
For questions on how to join our PA Meetings please reach out to our Parent Coordinators, Rosemary Liz, at RLiz3@schools.nyc.gov and Daniella Vitolo at DVitolo2@schools.nyc.gov.
For more information regarding additional opportunities for parents and students to ask questions, please visit the Events Page.
If there is an emergency and you would like to get in contact with your child, please reach out to our school’s Main Office at (718) 545-7095 extension 0.
In an effort to best serve your child, we appreciate your full support in adoption of the Yondr Program at our school.
For additional information regarding the documented positive impacts of phone-free schools, please click below:
Quick Facts
How Yondr Works
As students enter school, they turn off their phone and place it in their assigned Yondr Pouch.
Students close and secure their Pouch, keeping it on them throughout the day.
When leaving school, students tap their Pouch on a Base to retrieve their phone.
Frequently Asked Questions