Anti-Bullying Policy

"Bullying" means any unwanted verbal, physical, or social behavior among students that involves a real or perceived power imbalance and is repeated or has the potential to be repeated:

• that occurs on school premises, on school-sponsored transportation,
• or at a school-sponsored event,
• or that disrupts the educational process 

These actions may include, but are not limited to, name calling, teasing, threatening, social exclusion, and cyber bullying. Cyber bullying refers to the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), particularly mobile phones and the internet, deliberately to upset someone else. Cyber bullying is a subset or method of bullying. Cyber bullying can include a wide range of unacceptable behaviors, including harassment, threats and insults, and like face-to-face bullying, cyber-bullying is designed to cause distress and harm. Bullying may be physical, verbal, emotional or sexual in nature. This definition shall not be interpreted to prohibit civil exchange of opinions or debate or cultural practices protected under the state or federal Constitution where the opinion expressed does not otherwise materially or substantially disrupt the education process. 

In addition to bullying, students shall not engage in behaviors such as hazing, menacing, taunting, verbal or physical abuse of others (including staff), or other behaviors that disrupt a student's access to an education or are harmful to his/her well-being. Any such behavior is disruptive of the educational process education or are harmful to his/her well-being. Any such behavior is disruptive of the educational process and interferes with the ability of other students to take advantage of the educational opportunities offered. 

Any student who feels that he or she has been the victim of bullying, hazing, or any other violation of the student code of conduct should immediately report the incident to any teacher, counselor, or administrator in the student's school.  Reports of bullying will be addressed by school administration utilizing the due process procedure and code of conduct guidelines.