Project Reboot Royale Encourages Juniors to Reclaim Connection and Presence

Last fall, Poly’s Junior Class Cabinet launched a student-led initiative designed to help peers step away from their phones and reconnect with one another. Known as Project Reboot Royale, the program invites students to voluntarily put their phones away one day a week, creating space for focus, presence, and meaningful connection during the school day.

The project was developed by the Junior Class Cabinet in collaboration with Upper School World Languages Teacher Cynthia Garcia-Macedonio, Poly’s 11th-grade coordinator. Cynthia’s role centers on supporting students’ social and emotional growth during a pivotal year marked by academic intensity and increasing responsibility.

“Juniors carry a lot,” Cynthia said. “They are managing rigorous coursework, leadership roles, and big questions about who they are becoming. This project grew out of conversations about how we take care of ourselves and each other.”

The idea for Project Reboot Royale emerged after a cabinet meeting discussion following a presentation by technology speaker Dino Ambrosi, founder of Project Reboot, who addresses phone use and its impact on connection. Students began asking how they could move beyond conversation and become part of the solution. Rather than imposing restrictions, the group chose a gradual, voluntary approach.

Every Wednesday, participating juniors place their phones into personalized pouches during advisory. The pouches are stored collectively until after lunch, signaling a shared commitment rather than an individual rule. Students who choose to participate are entered into raffles and celebrations, reinforcing that the program is rooted in encouragement, not punishment.

“We’ve been able to gamify the program so that students get rewards for participating and bringing friends to join, so it’s really encouraged a lot of students to try it,” said Kara K. ’27.

When the initiative first launched, approximately 30 juniors signed up, nearly a third of the class. Participation has remained steady, with 20 to 30 students continuing each week. Some students now forget their phones altogether, while others intentionally leave them behind.

Project Reboot Royale reflects the broader theme guiding the junior class this year, kindness. The cabinet has framed the initiative as an act of kindness toward oneself, toward others, and toward the shared community. Without phones, students report talking more during breaks, feeling less rushed, and noticing their surroundings in new ways.

“People are more present during the day and interact with each other, building relationships rather been being distracted by or checking their phone,” said Mia G. ’27.

The cabinet, a group of nine elected student leaders, meets weekly to assess class morale, plan events, and surface concerns. According to Cynthia, Project Reboot Royale is a clear example of leadership that goes beyond event planning.

“This is about agency,” she said. “Students are choosing to step back from something that feels automatic and asking what they gain in return.”

In the coming weeks, the cabinet plans to distribute a student survey and host conversations about how the experience feels, what is challenging, and what students would like to see next. Those reflections will help shape the next phase of the project.

The program has also sparked larger conversations about phone use across campus, including how adults model presence and balance. While Project Reboot Royale currently includes only juniors, there is hope that the habit will carry into senior year and potentially expand.