STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WJFW) — A small pouch is making a huge difference at Pacelli Catholic High School in Stevens Point. While students are disconnecting from their phones, they’re talking to each other in the hallways and laughing in the lunchroom, connecting with each other more than ever.
Administration and teachers are enjoying seeing the kids interact with each other more. Since the first day of school, Pacelli Catholic High School hallways have been buzzing with conversation.
Thanks to the school’s new Yondr pouches, a bag that holds students’ cell phones during the day. These pouches are magnetically locked when the first bell rings and cannot be unlocked until the end of the day.
Senior Peter Bella Jr. has already noticed how school has changed just one month into the year.
“There’s honesty a lot more socialization,” Bella said. “Especially at lunch time where everybody would just sit on their phone, whereas now, we’re actually interacting. Like there’s a lot more connections I feel like.”
Senior, Amelia Martini has also noticed that when her phone is gone, so are any distractions.
“It really holds me accountable and not be on my phone especially when I need to get work done,” Martini said. “I go home almost every night now with no homework.”
While the student chatter can become a bit much, Social Studies Teacher, Tony Fannin embraces the noise.
“I’d much rather have that conversation and that noise in the classroom,” Fannin said. “Rather than kids sitting in silence and finding those distractions whether it be with their phones or something else.”
For Bella, Pacelli’s new cell phone policy is helping him make the most of his senior year.
“You only have one high school [experience],” Bella said. “So, I think it’s important to make those fun memories while you can rather of sitting on your phone. You can have fun with your friends and when you’re 20, 30 years down the line, you can look back and think ‘”remember when we did this?’”
Even after the final bell when the pouches are unlocked, Martini says the habit is sticking.
“I think it’s helping me grow, and learn that there’s more to do without technology even though our world is becoming technology based,” Martini said.
Parents are still able to reach students by calling the front office or emailing their child through their school account.
