A person is bullied when one or more other people expose them regularly and over time to negative or harmful actions. Bullies are people who deliberately set out to intimidate, exclude, threaten and/or hurt others repeatedly. Bullying is a clear form of harassment.

Rationale:

The school will provide a positive culture where bullying is not accepted, and in so doing, all will have the right of respect from others, the right to learn or to teach, and a right to feel safe and secure in their school environment.

AIMS:

  • To reinforce within the school community what bullying is, and the fact that it is unacceptable.
  • Everyone within the school community to be alert to signs and evidence of bullying and to have a responsibility to report it to staff whether as observer or victim.
  • To ensure that all reported incidents of bullying are followed up appropriately and that support is given to both victims and perpetrators.
  • To seek parental and peer-group support and co-operation at all times.

 IMPLEMENTATION:

  • Parents, teachers, students and the community will be aware of the school’s position on bullying.
  • The school will adopt a four-phase approach to bullying.

A. PRIMARY PREVENTION:

  • Professional development for staff relating to bullying, harassment and proven counter measures.
  • Visibility-signs placed around the school: zero tolerance for bullying and no put down zone.
  • Community awareness and input relating to bullying, its characteristics and the school’s programs and response.
  • School-wide positive behavior implemented across the school
  • Matrices in relation to our school expectations of
    • Together we are safe
    • Together we are respectful
    • Together we achieve
  • The curriculum to include anti-bullying messages and strategies that promote resilience, life and social skills, assertiveness, conflict resolution and problem solving.
  • A bullying survey and yard survey will be administered and acted upon twice annually.
  • Each classroom teacher to clarify at the start of each year the school policy on bullying.
  • Structured activities available to students at recess and lunch breaks.

B. EARLY INTERVENTION:

  • Promote children and staff reporting bullying incidents involving themselves or others.
  • Classroom teachers and principal on a regular basis reminding student and staff to report incidents of bullying.
  • Parents encouraged contacting school if they become aware of a problem.
  • Well-being room — a designated safe and quiet place for children to access at recess and lunch time by invitation.
  • Public recognition and reward for positive behavior and resolution of problems.

C. INTERVENTION:

  • Once identified each bully, victim and witnesses will be spoken with, and all incidents or allegations of bullying will be fully investigated and documented.
  • Students, staff and parents identified by others are bullies will be informed all allegations.
  • Both bullies and victims will be offered counseling and support.
  • If student bullying persists parents will be contacted and consequences implemented.
  • If staff bullying persists the principal will commence formal disciplinary action. If parent bullying persists the principal will follow MOE advice and procedures.

D. POST VIOLATION:

  • Consequences for students will be individually based and may involve:
  • Exclusion from class.
  • Exclusion from yard.
  • Ongoing counseling from appropriate agency for both victim and bully.
  • 1st Warning
  • 2nd warning
  • School suspension.
  • Termination from school
  • Ongoing monitoring of identified bullies.
  • Rewards for positive behavior.
  • Consequences for staff will be individually based and may involve:
  • Counseling
  • A period of monitoring.
  • A formal support groups.
  • Disciplinary actions.

EVALUATION:

The policy will be reviewed with whole staff, student, parent and community input as part of the school’s three-year review cycle