BULLY PREVENTION PLAN
It is everyone’s responsibility

Please take some time to discuss as a family.

Research shows that the most important ingredient for stopping bullying in schools is the need for everyone to have a clear understanding of what bullying is for choosing intimidation to solve a problem or conflict. Here is a summary of what bullying is and what the consequences will be. Please make sure that you read the complete Students Rights and Responsibilities handbook for the complete information regarding bullying and discipline.

Bullying: unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:

• An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing
  information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different
  situations, even if they involve the same people.
• Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.

Types of Bullying

• Verbal Bullying
  • Saying or writing mean things that may include: teasing, name-calling, inappropriate comments,
    taunting, threating to cause harm. It is no longer acceptable to say,”Oh, I was just kidding.”
  • Social Bullying
    • Involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships and may include: leaving someone out on
      purpose, telling other children not to be friends with someone, spreading rumors about someone and
      embarrassing others in public.
    • Physical Bullying
      • Involves hurting a person’s body or possessions and may include: hitting/kicking/punching, spitting,
        tripping/pushing, taking or breaking someone’s things, and making mean or rude gestures.

It is important to note that all staff members will report any possible bullying allegations to the Administration. The Administration will investigate the incidents and handle the situation appropriately.

Our students have been instructed to that it is everyone’s responsibility stop bullying at school. All students have been asked to make sure that they report any bullying incidents that they see, hear about, or that they are the victim of during school and/or riding the school bus. Parents, please do your part and encourage your child(ren) to do their part as well.

What to cover with your child:
Sometimes our classmates or people may choose to be unkind to us by (not an inclusive list):

• Teasing
• Putting others down
• Being bossy
• Trying to make you do things you don’t want to do
• Bothering your learning time
• Intimidating with words and/or threats of physical acts

If someone is bothering or being unkind to you over and over by (not an inclusive list):

• Stepping on your heels
• Getting into your personal space
• Keeping you from learning
• Touching/Poking/Bumping/Kicking
• Teasing/Name Calling

Then you need to carry out the following strategies:

• Be a problem solver and handle it yourself: (using a strong voice) “Please stop! You are bothering me when you__(state the action you want to stop__.”
• Use an “I” statement: “I feel ________when you__________because ______. Please stop!.”
• Make a request: “I request that you stop__________because__________.”
• IF POSSIBLE REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THE SITUATION.

When do I report that person (bullying) to an adult?

When the person continues bothering you and you have tried to be a problem solver. If you have done that and the behavior still continues then you have permission to get help from an adult.  Students can also make a report and submit a Bullying Form.