Bullying Prevention and Intervention

Everyone in our school community is responsible for implementing bullying and violence prevention policies and programs. Key roles involved in bullying prevention programs include:

• Principals and vice-principals - provide leadership in the administration of bullying prevention programs.
• Teachers and support staff - provide daily implementation and monitoring.
• Students - acquire the confidence and skills to recognize bullying and report it to an appropriate person (educator/adult).
• Parents - act as partners in modelling consistent expectations.
• Police, neighbours, community organizations, local businesses and agencies - take an active role in supporting Safe School initiatives.

We have guidelines in place to help students deal with incidents of bullying, whether they are the victim, bystander or bully. We do not tolerate bullying on school property, at school related activities, on school buses or in any other circumstances such as online communication.

We provide constant involvement, progressive discipline and pro-social training to support students who bully and those who are victimized or bystanders.

Effects of bullying

Bullying negatively affects a student's:

• ability to learn;
• healthy relationships and school environment; and
• education.

Definitions

The following are definitions to explain the various forms of bullying.

Bullying: is typically a form of repeated, persistent and aggressive behaviour directed at an individual or group that is intended to cause fear and distress and/or harm to another person's body, feelings, self-esteem or reputation. Bullying occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance.

Physical bullying: includes hitting, shoving, stealing or damaging property.

Verbal bullying: includes name-calling, taunting, or sexual, racial or homophobic comments.

Social bullying: involves excluding someone from a group, spreading gossip and rumours or manipulating the social order.

Cyber bullying: involves the use of social media tools to engage in social or verbal bullying.

How are bullying incidents handled at school?

We treat all incidents of bullying at school seriously. We use a model of progressive discipline to maintain the dignity of all children, including the victim and the bully. We are committed to teaching appropriate behaviour, not simply punishing students. Students are given consequences for their behaviour based on the harshness of the actions and factors as outlined in the Education Act and the Board's Student Discipline Policy. Restorative practices plays a key role in the prevention and intervention of bullying situations.

What should I do as a parent if my child is being bullied?
It is important that you address the situation adequately and safely. Your child may be nervous about involving you in the problem for the fear it might make things worse. Talk to your child about finding a friend that he/she trusts. Talk to the school. Make a plan together that safely addresses the problem. Ask the classroom teacher or school administrator for help. Our educators have a different outlook on what is happening and can ensure your child is safe, while dealing with problems immediately as they occur. For more information visit Canadian Safe School Network.

How should my child handle a bully?

Although bullying is not accepted in our schools, it does happen. It is important for students to assert themselves and try to resolve the situation. Students should always use their words to solve problems, and not resort to violence. When dealing with a bully, students are encouraged to remember the acronym PAL:

• P - pick a friend;
• A - assert yourself; and
• L - let someone know.

Students are encouraged to have a:

• friend to play with at recess who can be an ally for them;
• tell the bully to stop;
• tell an adult at school (teacher, supervisor on duty, principal, or another adult they trust).

Resources for families

The following websites provide resources to help parents and students.

Parents and guardians can also follow these resources below on Twitter for up-to-date information:

• Cyber Safety Lady @LeonieGSmith
• PreVnet @PREVNet
• Get Safe Online.org @GetSafeOnline
• Kids Health @KidsHealth