The only thing kids fear more than a report card is not having access to their phones. Thursday marked the beginning of a new school year, and with it, a policy banning phones and personal devices in schools.

Gov. Kathy Hochul spearheaded the state’s “phone-free schools” in a plan Thursday morning, introducing Frankie Focus, the mascot of no phones in schools.

Students at Meyer Levin intermediate school aren’t as enthusiastic about the policy as school administrators.

“We should have our phones in school so we can like communicate with others,” said one sixth grader. “So we don’t get bored!”

Each morning, students will have to seal their device in a Manila envelope, labeled with their name. Before the morning bell rings, each envelope is delivered to the front office where it stays until dismissal.

This comes as the DOE’s latest effort to keep kids engaged in class, which has been severely lacking since Covid, according to teachers.

“You could barely get their attention,” said seventh- and eighth-grade math teacher Rebecca Francois. “Whether it’s like a Snapchat notification or text messages, these kids were just really distracted.”

It may have been the first of 180 school days without a phone; school leaders say the proof is in the pudding.

“We’re seeing students activate a lot more and being present in the moment,” said Principal Jamie Hendrickson.

Just ask the students.

“I didn’t like it at first, but now that I don’t have a phone in class I can really focus on my work,” said a surprised eighth grader.

The school says it’s aware parents may be anxious without a direct line of communication with their children while at school but encourages parents to call the front office to check in at any time.