What is bullying? Bullying is defined as any sort of harassment, intimidation or otherwise deliberately hurtful behavior by a single person or a group of people toward an individual that is carried out repeatedly over time. Bullying requires a perceived imbalance of power that the bully uses to make the targeted student feel uncomfortable, humiliated, ridiculed, or scared. Bullying can be in the form of physical, verbal, or psychological abuse and has an adverse effect on the student’s education and ability to participate at school. Behavior that does not meet the criteria for "bullying" may be labeled another classification and consequences given.
How to Report an Incident: Students or parents/guardians of students should immediately contact the school for more information about how to report a specific incident if you believe your child has been the target of a bully. Incidents of bullying can also be reported on the District's Website.
The District Prohibits any form of bullying by or against anyone.
Physical Aggression: Kicking, hitting, tripping, shoving, pinching, destroying personal property and any other physical means of hurting another person, demanding property, money or a service in exchange for not hurting the targeted student threatening to inflict physical harm on the target and/or physical intimidation or posturing.
Social Aggression: Deliberate exclusion, rejection and isolation with the intent to humiliate or hurt, verbal threats, name calling, spreading rumors and public humiliation, manipulation of friends and relationships, circulating notes, graffiti or other writing among peers with the intent to humiliate or hurt.
Cyber-Bullying: Using social media (Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.), the Internet or other technology to harass, intimidate, humiliate, or torment the targeted student, using technology to impersonate the targeted student.
Hazing: The use of various forms of bullying as an initiation into a group
may be used by fraternities, gangs, academic and athletic teams to initiate new members.
Sexual Harassment: Unwanted behavior or comments that are of a sexual nature
touching, caressing, grabbing any body part without consent, name calling, making sexual propositions and inappropriate comments, unwelcome advances in the form of written notes, phone calls, or social media, sending inappropriate pictures via cell phone, email or social media.
Harassment based on Race, Ethnicity, Religion, Disability or Sexual Orientation: Using the targeted student’s race, ethnicity, religious background, disability or sexual orientation to fuel aggressive behavior or harassment, use of racial slurs, name calling and off-color jokes to harass, intimidate, humiliate or torment the targeted student, bullying based on race, ethnicity, religion, disability or sexual orientation is a form of hate behavior and in some cases, may be considered a hate crime and is against the law.
What Can Parents/Guardians Do? Encourage positive behavior and kindness and be a positive role model. Avoid making negative comments or put downs about others. Avoid foul language and trash-talk when children are within ear shot. Show them that friendships and relationships are based on trust and respect.