Fredericksburg City students return this week. Here’s how the division will begin to implement the new cell phone-free policy.
“Off, Yondr, and away” is the mantra that Fredericksburg City Public Schools wants students returning to school this week to keep in their heads.
The division’s cell phone-free policy was approved last month by the School Board and messaging went out last week about what students should do with their personal communication devices—a category that includes smartwatches, earbuds, and other Bluetooth-enabled devices.
James Monroe High School freshmen attending Transition Day on Monday, August 5, will check in with their counselors when they arrive in the building. They’ll receive a welcome packet and their Yondr pouch, assistant principal Nick Brousse said in a voicemail that went out to the school community on Friday.
Sophomores, juniors, and seniors will receive their Yondr pouches on Tuesday during their homerooms. Phones are to be powered off, locked in the Yondr pouches, and stored in backpacks.
“The pouch is yours until it’s turned in at end of year,” Brousse said. “You must use it every day if you have your phone at school.”
There will be locking (and unlocking stations) at the front door and outside the front door for students to use at dismissal to retrieve their devices.
At Walker-Grant Middle School, 6th graders attending Transition Day on Monday will start the day with an assembly at which administration will review the cell phone-free expectations. After the assembly, students will power off their devices and receive their Yondr pouches.
On Tuesday, August 6, 8th grade students will remain in the cafeteria after breakfast for the cell phone-free assembly and to receive their Yondr pouches.
While this is happening, 7th grade students will be in the gymnasium with teachers. Once the 8th-grade students are dismissed, the 7th-grade students will return to the cafeteria for the same assembly and will follow the same process.
“All students, please be mindful to protect your Yondr pouches carefully so your phone and pouch do not become lost,” assistant principal Kisha Frye said in a voicemail message to the school community that went out last week. “The replacement cost for the pouch is $30.”
Submit a Recipe for Publication
Follow us on Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Local Obituaries
To view local obituaries or to send a note to family and loved ones, please visit our website at the link that follows.
Support Award-winning, Locally Focused Journalism
The FXBG Advance cuts through the talking points to deliver both incisive and informative news about the issues, people, and organizations that daily affect your life. And we do it in a multi-partisan format that has no equal in this region. Over the past month, our reporting was:
$8 a month supports great journalism
- First to report on a Spotsylvania School teacher arrested for bringing drugs onto campus.
- First to report on new facility fees leveled by MWHC on patient bills.
- First to detail controversial traffic numbers submitted by Stafford staff on the Buc-ee’s project
- Provided extensive coverage of the cellphone bans that are sweeping local school districts.
- And so much more, like Clay Jones, Drew Gallagher, Hank Silverberg, and more.
For just $8 a month, you can help support top-flight journalism that puts people over policies.
Your contributions 100% support our journalists.
Help us as we continue to grow!
