When the school year began, students faced what some view as an adverse challenge: Yondr pouches. However, many consistently bring in their Yondr pouches each day.
Fifth Former Thomas Nye says he “hasn’t had any issues so far.”
One of the pouch’s minor inconveniences is locking it when it’s not in use so the pin doesn’t bend. If the pouch is left unlocked, the pin locking the magnets together can easily bend if pressed up against a backpack or another object.
Fifth Former Seth Virmani shuts his pouch outside of school hours, as faculty members instructed at the beginning of the school year, to prevent breaking the pouches.
As far as the Yondr procedures go, Nye seems to represent most students, opting not to walk into school in the morning with their phone in the pouch, but waiting until the beginning of the first period to lock it at 8:30.
Fifth Former Andrew Carrasco locks his pouch “at 8:30 when I have to.”
While some students decide to leave their phone in their car, Nye believes it is a better idea to “keep it with me during the day (in the pouch), just in case for any reason I need it during the day if anything happens.” He reveals that the car is a “less safe spot,” even though “we’re on the Main Line, of all places.”
Virmani agrees “There’s a very small chance it might get stolen. Your car might get jacked […] not really a good idea.” He argues it’s easier to simply “put it in the pouch.”
In addition, it does not make much sense to leave the phone in the car because Carrasco, along with many other students, is at school after 3:15.
If you stay at school, it doesn’t make sense to then have to take the extra time to walk to your car, unlock the pouch, and then return to school for your after-school activity.
Carrasco has never left his pouch at home, but he forgets “the pouch in my car all the time” which results in having to go through the process of checking in at the upper school office to confirm the phone is locked.
Upon arriving at school tardy, students must check in at the office and show that their phone is locked.
“The process isn’t hard, but it’s a little embarrassing showing my late slip proving my phone is locked up to my teachers,” Carrasco said. The process ensures uniformity despite varying arrival times.
There’s no point [in trying to sneak your phone into school].
Seth Virmani ’26
Few students seem inclined to break the Yonder pouch rules.
“There’s no point [in trying to sneak your phone into school],” Virmani said.
Carrasco agrees, but brings up a different perspective, stating he doesn’t “want to have any mistrust with [his] teachers.”
Virmani says he hasn’t broken his pouch, but “they are extremely easy to break.”
Carrasco notes that while he has not yet damaged his pouch, he’s been tempted to when he realized—after reaching his car—he had to walk all the way back to school to unlock it.
