Bullying Statistics  ½ of all bullying incidents go unreported  The highest percent of bullying occurs in 6 th -8 th grade at 18% bullying… drops to 15% in High School.

What is bullying?  Bullying is defined as any repeated behavior (words, looks, actions, and violence toward another) involving an imbalance of power (“bossing”) that makes the other person feel uncomfortable or scared.  It often manifests itself through excluding or whispering about others.  Bullying will not be tolerated and should be reported to the teacher.  “Tattling” is meant to get someone in trouble, while “telling” helps get someone out of trouble. Telling and reporting are brave and helpful acts.

Physical Bullying:  A student uses physical force to hurt another student by hitting, pushing, shoving, kicking, pinching or holding them down, etc. Physical bullying also includes taking or breaking a student’s belongings or stealing.

Verbal Bullying  When a student uses words to hurt another student. This includes threatening, taunting, intimidating, insulting, sarcasm, name-calling, teasing, slurs, graffiti, put-downs and ridicule. It also includes hostile gestures such as making faces, staring, giving the evil eye, eye rolling, spitting, etc.

Relational Bullying  When students disrupt another student’s peer relationships through leaving them out, gossiping, intimidation, humiliation, whispering, manipulation and spreading rumors. It includes when students turn their back on another student, giving them the silent treatment, ostracizing “we don’t like her/him so you can’t either,” scape-goating (blaming others for your responding action), etc. These types of behaviors can be devastating, not only emotionally but physically, resulting in things such as headaches, stomach aches, depression anxiety, and school avoidance.

Cyberbullying  Refers to the use of cell-phones, text messages, s, instant messaging, chats, blogs and social networking sites to bully another student in any of the previously described slides. Examples of cyberbullying are sending threatening or insulting texts, posting untrue information or personal pictures about another student on social networking sites such as MySpace or Facebook, using another student’s or IM name to send messages that make the student look bad, creating a web page devoted to putting down another student, forwarding a text or e- mail that was meant for your eyes only, etc. Cyberbullying is on the rise and is as serious a problem in many schools as verbal and relational bullying.

When Bullying is Also Harassment  Bullying is part of a continuum of aggression and violence, and at times may amount to harassment. Harassment occurs when a student is the target of threatening, disturbing or unwelcome behaviors because of a legally protected characteristic, such as disability, actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender or race. Sexual Harassment occurs when a student is asked for sexual favors or is the target of unwelcome sexual behavior or discussion which makes a student feel uncomfortable, scared or confused and which interferes with their schoolwork or ability to participate in school activities or attend classes.

What Do I Do if I See Bullying Going On?  You, the victim or an adult must tell the bully to stop.  If the bully continues the behavior you must report it!!!!!!!!!  If you are a bystander and see something going on that is clearly wrong and you don’t report it… you are responsible!  This is a law that you will have to follow throughout the rest of your life!  At school, you can report bullying by telling a teacher or administrator privately, or writing down what happened and put it in the counselor envelope.

The Issue  We are supportive of highlighting positive behavior but there are consequences for unacceptable behavior… at school and in the real world.

We Must Teach!  We are not loving you if we do not teach you the life lesson that there are consequences for your actions.

6 th Grade Bullying/Harassment Policy

1 st Offense  Parent is contacted by phone or by an administrator or teacher  Lunch Detention (3 days)  Watch 2 Bullying Webisodes   Complete 2 Bullying Webisodes Quizzes  Complete “No Bullying at Our School” Worksheet  Write Apology Letter to victim

2 nd Offense  Parent contacted by or phone by an administrator or teacher  No contact contract signed by bully  In school suspension (1 week)  No recess (in office)  No lunch (in office)  Cannot participate in special activities during that week (in office i.e. dance, assemblies, field trips, etc.)  During suspension must read 3 bullying books and complete a 3 page reflection paper relating what was learned from the books in comparison to what their actions were, must follow assigned rubric.

3 rd Offense  Parent is contacted by an administrator  Home Suspension (depends on severity- administrator decides length of suspension)  Intervention with counselor  Possible referral to the Police Resource Officer and/or the Davis School District case management team for a possible alternative placement.

This policy is approved by:  6 th grade team  Carrie Follett  Becca Klein  Lisa Snow  Catherine Pomeroy