Bullying

Bullying is any negative behavior intended to frighten or cause harm, which may include, but are not limited to verbal or written threats, or physical harm.

Teasing allows the teaser and person to swap roles. It is not intended to hurt another person and is done in a light-hearted manner. Bullying is one-sided and is intended to harm another person. It involves cruel and demeaning or bigoted comments thinly disguised as a joke.

Bullying is classified as prohibited conduct and will not be tolerated in any school or school-sponsored activity, program, or event. School Board Regulation 5-36.3. Students who threaten to cause harm or harass others will be referred to the principal or assistant principal for appropriate disciplinary action which may include suspension and/or recommendation for long-term suspension or expulsion in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct.

Should a student be aware of any act of bullying committed by another student that takes place in school, on school property, at a bus stop, on a school bus, or at any school activity, he or she should immediately report this incident to a staff member. Should there be a threat to cause harm against any student, the first call to action will be to investigate this threat in partnership with the local police.

• A bullying prevention program is coordinated through the Office of Guidance Services and Student Records.
• All schools in the division are required to have a character education program. In support of this, the subject of bullying is discussed with all students at the beginning of each school year, during a review of the Code of Student Conduct.
• As a point of interest, a division-wide character education program was originally implemented in 1997. Many of the schools still use this program and/or expanded on it philosophy of character education which discourages bullying.
• Many schools have implemented a positive behavioral support system as a school-wide initiative that emphasizes respect for others.
• Teachers are trained to reinforce character and leadership skills to decrease discipline referrals associated with bullying.
• Some schools have additional research-based strategies and programs in place to diminish bullying behaviors such as the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program which is designed to improve peer relations and make schools safer, more positive places for students to learn and develop.
• Another program, The Leader In Me, is designed to be integrated into a school’s core curriculum and everyday language so that it isn’t “one more thing” teachers and administrators have to do. It becomes part of the culture, gaining momentum and producing improved results year after year.
• In all middle and high schools, staff members are positioned outside classroom doors while student change between classes.
• School psychologists, social workers, and school counselors routinely consult with teachers, parents and school administrators around issues of bullying and work with students identified as requiring behavioral intervention or counseling support.
• School psychologists conduct threat assessments to determine the type of social/emotional support that needs to be provided to the student who bullies another student in addition to a discipline consequence since the goal is to change the behavior of the bully.
• School social workers provide resources to support the parents of the victim and bully.
• During the January 2011 Parent Connection Workshop, a session was held on bullying prevention for the benefit of parents attending this special program.
• In January 2011 anti-bullying signs were posted on all school property.