At Park East High School, we are committed to creating a learning environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Last June, Governor Kathy Hochul advanced legislation to create a statewide standard for distraction-free school environments and secured its passage in the FY 2026 budget. New York is now the most populous state in the U.S. with a statewide, bell-to-bell restriction on cell phones. Beginning on the first day of school, September 4, 2025, we will launch the Yondr Phone-Free Schools Program—a proven, bell-to-bell approach that supports student focus, well-being, and connection, by removing mobile phone distractions during the school day.
For over a decade, Yondr has helped schools across all 50 states and more than 35 countries build healthier, more engaging school cultures. Their pouch-based program, combined with hands-on guidance and dedicated support, has led to powerful results across many schools in different states:
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86% reported improved safety and student wellness
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84% saw increased engagement in class
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68% experienced academic gain and 44% reduction in behavioral referrals
How the Program Works
Each student will be assigned a Yondr pouch—a secure, lockable case for storing personal devices. Students are responsible for bringing their labeled pouch to and from school each day and keeping it in good condition.
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Upon arrival: Students power off their phone, AirPods, and smartwatch (or switch them to airplane mode), place all devices in the pouch, and lock it during arrival
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During the day: Students keep the locked pouch in their backpack or locker.
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At lunch: Students who wish to go out for lunch can unlock their pouches at the main entrance but must follow the entry procedures when they return.
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At dismissal: Students unlock pouches at designated stations to retrieve their devices. After 3:10, students are allowed to have access to devices at clubs and other afterschool activities, and in the library.
This process is quick, simple, and will be supervised by staff as part of our daily routine.
Staying Connected
With student safety as our top priority, we will follow our standard safety protocols in the event of an emergency. If you need to reach your child urgently during the school day, please contact our main office at (212) 831-1517 and dial ext. 102 for Parent Coordinator Vickiana Ramirez or ext. 104 for Secretary Carmen Fernandez-Gunzl. For non-emergency matters, we encourage you to contact your child after the end of the school day.
We recognize that change requires partnership, and we are here to support a seamless transition for your family. To walk through the program and answer your questions, we’ll be hosting a virtual family information session on Wednesday, August 27th from 6:00 to 7:00 pm on this Zoom Link. The link will be shared via email the week of the event.
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to create a focused, present, and positive school environment for every student. In particular, I appreciate our SLT and my principal’s advisory council for thoughtfully pushing for my thinking on how we manage this big change together.
As always, I welcome your engagement, feedback and partnership in making Park East the best little school in NYC.
Best,
Dr Suzy Ort
Principal