Cell Phone Policy

Policy for 2024-2025

SCHOLAR CELL PHONE & PERSONAL ELECTRONICS

 POLICY & GUIDELINES 

School Year 2024-2025

In accordance with NYCPS Chancellor’s Regulation A-413, schools can determine and implement policies and procedures regarding regulating student use of cell phones and electronic devices during the school day. The Eagle Academy for Young Men has updated its cell phone policy for the school year 2024-2025, which goes into effect on Thursday, September 5, 2024. 

A. EAGLE CELL PHONE/PERSONAL ELECTRONICS POLICY

1. At Eagle, scholars are not permitted to use prohibited electronic devices during school hours. These devices may include, but are not limited to: 1) cell phones and Apple Watches; 2) laptops, tablets, iPads and other similar computing devices used for non-instructional/classroom learning purposes; and 3) portable music, headphones, airpods, and entertainment systems (PSPs and Nintendo DS, Nintendo Switches).  

2. Every Middle School and High School scholar will be assigned a numbered Yondr Pouch to store their cell phones in for the school day. Yondr Pouches are lockable green pouches that require an ‘unlocking base’ to unlock at the end of the day. Since the Yondr Pouch is school property, it is each scholar's responsibility to have their assigned Yondr pouch with them every day and keep it undamaged and  in good working condition.

3. Middle School scholars will bring their Yondr pouches to school each day. High School scholars will receive their assigned pouches each morning upon entry and return their pouches at designated locations at the end of the school day. 

4. Scholars are required to place their Yondr pouches (with their phones secured inside them) in their lockers during the school day. Students are not permitted to have any other prohibited electronic devices with them during the school day, including Apple watches, headphones, AirPods, gaming devices,etc.If students bring these items to school, they must be kept in their assigned lockers.

B.  DAILY PROCEDURES FOR SECURING/UNLOCKING CELL PHONES

Prior to entering the school building, scholars will: 

1. Turn their phones off.

2. MS students place their electronic device(s) inside their Yondr pouches in front of a school staff member, indicating that the pouches are locked, and place the Yondr pouches in their bookbags.  Then, they put their Yondr pouches in their bookbags. After town hall, they place the Yondr pouches in their lockers.

3. HS students pick up their assigned Yondr pouches at designated tables in the Main Lobby, place their electronic device(s) inside their Yondr pouches in front of a school staff member, indicating that the pouches are locked. Then, they put their Yondr pouches in their bookbags. After town hall, they place the Yondr pouches in their lockers.

4. All students store their Yondr pouches in their assigned school lockers during the school day.  Students should not be in possession of their Yondr pouches (containing cell phones) or other prohibited electronic devices (AirPods, headphones, Apple watches), during the school day.

5.  For Middle School students: If students come to school without their Yondr pouches, they will hand their phones to the assigned staff member. These phones will be secured in an Assistant Principal’s Office for the day. Students will receive their phones from designated staff members at dismissal.

6. If parents/guardians need to contact a scholar during the school day, they may do so by calling (718) 466-8000 or emailing contact@eaglebronx.org to communicate with our Main Office staff.  If scholars need to contact parents/guardians during the school day, they can use the Main Office phones (after being granted permission to do so)

7. At the end of the day, Middle School students will open their pouches at a designated unlocking station, remove their phones and put their pouches in their backpacks. High School students will open their pouches at designated unlocking stations, remove their phones and return their pouches to the assigned staff member.

8. Students arriving late and/or leaving early will pouch/unpouch their phones in the  Main Lobby, Main Office, or the offices of an assistant principal or Director of Scholar Life. 

C.  VIOLATIONS: Unauthorized Cell Phone/Electronics Possession or Use; 

                                    Loss of/Damage to Yondr Pouches

1. Students who violate the Eagle Bronx Cell Phone/Electronic Device policy as outlined above or who use these devices in violation of any provision of the NYCPS Discipline Code, Chancellor Regulation A-413, and/or the DOE’s Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy (“ISUSP”) may have these devices confiscated by all Eagle Educators, who act as designees of the principal. Scholars may receive additional disciplinary consequences for repeated cell phone/electronic policy violations.

2. If students refuse to follow directives instructing them to secure their phones in the Yondr pouches in their lockers, or to hand over their devices when in violation of the cell phone/electronics policy, staff members will notify an Eagle administrator, a Director of Scholar Life or principal designee. These incidents will be documented as referrals in SyncGrades. If students refuse to hand over their devices to Eagle Educators, the students will face further disciplinary consequences for this defiance. Please note that staff members have been instructed not to grab for or make physical attempts to take the phones/electronic devices from the students.

3. Once the device has been confiscated, it will be secured in a locked desk in an envelope/ziploc bag (labeled with the student’s name/OSIS number, date of confiscation and type of device) in the locked office of an Eagle administrator or  Director of Scholar Life. The student’s parent or guardian will be notified and informed regarding the procedures for having the device returned.

4. The first violation of the cell phone policy/Yondr pouch policy will result in a verbal warning and reminder about the expectation for following the cell phone/Yondr pouch policy. 

5. A second violation of the cell phone policy/Yondr pouch policy will result in the scholar having to serve detention for one day, with the scholars’ parents being notified of the violation and the resulting disciplinary action.

6. A third violation of the cell phone/Yondr pouch policy  will result in a principal’s suspension, with the scholars’ parents being notified of the violation and the resulting disciplinary action. 

7. All subsequent violations after the third violation may result in further principal suspensions and additional parent conferences and interventions to address the scholars’ continued non-compliance. 

8. Please note that scholars who repeatedly violate the cell phone/Yondr pouch policy may be ineligible to participate in specific Eagle events, ceremonies, trips, and may be ineligible to receive specific House incentives and opportunities. 

9. Lost or damaged pouches: Any student who loses or damages a pouch will be charged a $3.00 replacement fee.  

Examples of damage:

• Deep scratches on the globe and on the green ring around it 

• Intentional pen marks on the inside of the Pouch

• Bent pins

• Pin and button not fully recessing, due to pin damage

• Removing/cutting student label or Yondr pouch loop

10. If students lose or damage their Yondr pouches, they will be charged 

     a $3.00 replacement fee. Students will be given receipts as proof of 

     their payment.

11. All students must return their assigned Yondr pouches on the last day of the 

     school year.