East St. Louis School District 189 is currently meeting with a task committee to develop implementation plans for using cell phone Yondr Pouches. 

Yondr Pouches will be an encouragement tool for our students to engage in distraction-free, in-person connection throughout the school day. Research has shown that a distraction-free environment for students has improved focus and engagement both in the classroom and socially. Our goal in implementing this new initiative is to encourage students to do just that: focus on the present moment and make the most of every school day! 

YONDR CELL PHONE POUCH

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why is the District considering using the Yondr system?

We want our students to be engaged in their learning and in appropriate interpersonal social interaction throughout the day. Phones have become a distraction within the school day for many students, and for teachers who have to constantly monitor students for phone use during class and school activities. Additionally, the District has seen an increase in discipline related to cyberbullying and the circulation of inappropriate videos and pictures. The Yondr system simply assists the District in enforcing the policy currently in place regarding phones on campus.

What if I want to reach my child during the school day?

We want our students to be engaged in their learning. If you need to contact your child during the school day, please contact the main office. Students are also each assigned a chromebook and have access to email throughout the day.

Will my child’s phone be locked away?

Current School District 189 policy is for a student’s phone to be turned off and put away in a backpack during the school day. The Yondr pouch does not change that policy, instead, it is a tool to help enforce it. Your child will put their phone in the Yondr pouch and keep it with them, in their backpack, throughout the instructional day. When the final bell rings, students will unlock the pouch to access their phones.

Will my student’s phone be safe?

Students are in possession of their phone - in their Yondr pouch - for the entire school day. We will advise students to store the pouch in their backpacks where it is completely safe. The pouch itself is made of a soft fabric padding that provides protection to the phone while stored.

What if there is a school emergency?

In case of a school emergency, we direct our students to safety first, following our school emergency preparedness protocol.

In the event of an emergency lockdown, school staff will direct students according to emergency preparedness protocol. Student cell phone use during this time has the potential to endanger the safety of the student using the phone and all students and staff within that classroom.

It is the advisement of National School Safety and Security Services that cell phone use during an emergency creates a less safe school emergency response. Specifically:

● Cell phone use during crisis management overloads telephone systems and renders them useless.

● Calls, texts, and other outside communications have the potential to alert a dangerous individual to the location of students and staff during a lockdown.

● Cell phone use accelerates the unintentional (and potentially intentional) spread of misinformation, rumors, and fear.

● Cell phone use, texting, and other outside communications by students during a crisis also have the potential to cause parents to flock to school at a time when school and public safety officials may need parents to be away from the school site due to evacuations, emergency response, and/or other tactical or safety reasons. This could actually delay or otherwise hinder timely and efficient parent-student reunification. It could also potentially put parents into a zone of harm.

James Alexander Avant Elementary School is Named One of America’s Healthiest Schools 2024

Annual award recognizes schools for dedication to student, staff, and family health 

 

(Washington Park, IL), September 3, 2024 – Alliance for a Healthier Generation has named James Alexander Avant Elementary School of the East St. Louis School District as one of America’s Healthiest Schools for 2024. This annual recognition honors schools for implementing best practices to support the health of students, staff, and families. Eight hundred and seventy-nine schools across 30 states were awarded this year. James Avant Elementary was the first Southern Illinois School to receive this award.

America’s Healthiest Schools are recognized in up to nine categories. James Alexander Avant Elementary School was recognized for:

·         Strengthening Social-Emotional Health & Learning, presented by Kaiser Permanente 

·         Cultivating Staff Well-Being, presented by Kaiser Permanente

·         Increasing Family & Community Engagement, presented by Kohl’s

·         Improving Nutrition & Food Access, presented by Del Monte Foods

·         Implementing Local School Wellness Policy

·         Bolstering Physical Education & Activity

·         Enriching Health Education

·         Promoting Tobacco-Free Schools

·         Supporting School Health Services

 

“At James Alexander Avant Elementary School, our team focuses on elevating student achievement by educating the whole child,” said Quanshanda Nicholson, Principal of James Alexander Avant Elementary School. “We have created a culture of collaboration and wellness that allows us to focus on student and teacher safety, high levels of engagement, multi-tiered supports, health and wellness, and overcoming daily challenges.”

East St. Louis School District 189 Superintendent Arthur R. Culver added, “The recognition underscores the impressive partnership and diligent efforts of our school leaders, staff, students, and families, whose collective hard work has led to this accomplishment.”

“When met with challenges, America’s Healthiest Schools consistently respond with creativity and resilience,” said Kathy Higgins, chief executive officer at Healthier Generation. “We thank and honor these educators and administrators for their dedication to building equitable school environments where students and staff can thrive.” 

See the full list of recognized schools at healthiergeneration.org/2024-awardees.

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About James Alexander Avant Elementary School  

Mission Statement: The Mission of James Avant Elementary School is to provide all students with a safe and nurturing learning environment that fosters a rigorous and diverse core curriculum in every classroom.

Vision Statement: Our vision at James Avant Elementary School is to create a learning environment that fosters high expectations for success, college and career readiness, and productive citizenship.

Core Values: We believe all children can learn through differentiated instruction. We value every student at James Avant Elementary. We value a safe supportive, stimulating, and caring environment. We believe that every student can achieve excellence and greatness. We value our partnerships with parents, community, teachers, and the entire James Avant Elementary family. James Avant Elementary School has built a Culture of Excellence.

James Avant Elementary School is located in Washington Park, IL with a population of 3.91K people with a median age of 34.9 and median household income of $21,065. The most common educational levels obtained by the working population were high school or equivalent. 54% of the population is currently living in poverty with 53.9% living below the poverty line. James Avant Elementary serves a diverse population of students (88% Black, 8.8% Hispanic, and 1.8% White).

Despite it all........

At James Avant Elementary, we believe in educating the whole child and providing them with every opportunity to advance in learning in the 21st Century. On the Illinois State Report Card our Summative Designation is currently at Commendable. This status shows that our school has no underperforming student groups with a graduation rate greater than 67%.

Principal Nicholson & The “A-Team” are looking to keep up their Excellence strive by continuing to promote Positivity in all Facets of the School Community. James Avant has been awarded several awards in the past few years. In 2020, at the start of the pandemic the school was awarded The Bayer School of Excellence Award at the St. Louis American Foundations Salute to Excellence Gala which highlighted their continued improvements during the pandemic academically. They were also awarded the Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (IL-ASCD) Whole Child Award during the school years 2020-2021 (Healthy) & 2022-2023 (Supportive), Scott’s Credit Union Community Foundations Grant 2023-2024, and the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Pro Patria Award in 2024.

Our school’s commitment to nurturing the whole child is supported by the implementation of several programs, including:

PBIS-Postitve Behavior Interventions & Support (Incentive program for all students.)

Kings Boys Group- Mentor Group for 3rd-5th grade boys.

Onyx Girls Group- Mentor Group for 3rd-5th grade girls.

Lil Butterflies- Mentor Group for K-2^nd grade girls.

Boys Scouts/Girl Scouts- Practical skills for all students.

21stCentury Program-After School enrichment program.

Tech Club- Students learn how to code and enhance technology Skills.

 

About Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Alliance for a Healthier Generation is a leading children's health organization that advances equitable whole child health. Driven by our passion to ensure that every mind, every body, and every young person is healthy and ready to succeed, our work has reached over 31 million young people across the country. To learn more and help make a difference, visit and join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

We are so grateful to our partners at the USTA, USTA Missouri Valley St. Louis, and East St. Louis Community Tennis Association for their on-going partnerships in our schools. For a full month, safe play certified coaches are teaming up with our PE teachers at Mason/Clark Middle School to provide instruction on tennis fundamentals. Students are having fun and becoming inspired!