1. Principal Meeting – February 10, 2017
Addressing Bullying, Harassment, Intimidation and Discrimination on Academies and Parish Schools

2. Agenda
Opening Prayer Safe Environment Module on Bullying Assessing the Climate of the Academy/School Addressing the Key Issues Around Bullying Resources Through Safe Environment Resources Through PDHP Addressing the Key Issues Around Cyber Bullying Next Steps Questions

3. Safe Environment Module on Bullying
The Virtus Bullying Prevention Program provides schools, religious education programs, daycare providers, other youth-based organizations, as well as parents, with information, resources, and training to help prevent bullying and other violent behaviors. The Bullying Prevention Program addresses these key issues: Warning Signs that Someone is a Bully Warning Signs that Someone is a Target Appropriate Responses by Caring Adults The Program will be assigned in the form of a module to all educators in our schools and academies, who have Virtus accounts in the Brooklyn Diocese Virtus system.

4. Assessing the Climate of the Academy or School
School Climate Assessment and Improvement
Students learn best when they are in environments, in which they feel safe, supported, challenged, and accepted. In addition, environments that have strong school climates foster the social, emotional, and academic well-being of all students. Research shows that when schools and districts effectively focus on improving school climate, students are more likely to engage in the curriculum, achieve academically, and develop positive relationships, students are less likely to exhibit problem behaviors, and teacher turnover is lower and teacher satisfaction is higher. (Safe Supportive Learning)
School Climate-reflects how members of the school community experience the school, including interpersonal relationships, teacher and other staff practices, and organizational arrangements. School climate includes factors that serve as conditions for learning and that support physical and emotional safety, connection and support, and engagement. A positive school climate reflects attention to fostering social and physical safety, providing support that enables students and staff to realize high behavioral and academic standards as well as encouraging and maintaining respectful, trusting, and caring relationships throughout the school community.

5. Five Activity Sets for Improving School Climate
Planning for School Climate Improvements
Engaging Stakeholders in School Climate improvements
Collecting and Reporting School Climate Data
Choosing and Implementing School Climate Interventions
Monitoring and Evaluating School Climate Improvement Efforts
Resources:
Additional surveys

6. What is Bullying? Key Issues:
Bullying is a form of emotional or physical abuse that has three defining characteristics:
Deliberate— a bully’s intention is to hurt someone
Repeated— a bully often targets the same victim again and again
Power Imbalanced— a bully chooses victims he or she perceives as vulnerable
Bullying occurs in many different forms, with varying levels of severity. It may involve:
Physical Bullying— poking, pushing, hitting, kicking, beating up
Verbal Bullying— yelling, taunting, name-calling, insulting, threatening to harm
Relational Bullying— excluding, spreading rumors, getting others to hurt someone
Cyberbullying— Sending hurtful messages or images online, on cell phones, via online games and/or through social media.

7. Steps for Identifying and Mediating Bullying Issues
Must ensure there is a Bullying Policy in Parent/Student & Teacher Handbook
Contact Superintendent’s Office
Gather information from Bully, Victims, Bystanders and continue to investigate
Document - Keep detailed information of the circumstances
Inform appropriate staff who work closely with the students.
Communicate to parents.
Follow up – Check in regularly to ensure the bullying does not continue.
Include PDHP , a Mentoring Program or suggest counseling services.
Decision to report to local authorities rests with Principal and/or Parents.

8. Prevention & Intervention Techniques
Develop Connections, a Team Approach and a Support System.
Build a Shared Vision of your school’s Bullying Prevention program with shared goals and a strong philosophy.
Create a Bullying-Free Environment where everyone feels safe.
Develop a Code of Conduct with disciplinary policy & consequences for behavior.
Supervise students responsibly – pay attention during unstructured activities.
Encourage children to speak out if they witness or experience bullying.
Provide ongoing education and training for all staff.
Involve parents.
Incorporate policies within lesson plans.
.org

9. Resources Through the Office of Safe Environment
Child Lures Prevention – Every school should have this material. Age appropriate lesson plans are included in the Child Lures teachers manual, they have also been posted on Dio Net in the Safe Environment Folder. The Lesson plans are: K-2 Dignity – introduces self respect and self worth 3-6 The Lure of Hate and Violence – Discusses intolerance, bullying and respecting each others differences. 7-8 The Lure of Hate and Violence – This lure expands on the 3-6 lesson plan and includes sexual harassment. Child Lures also publishes a parent guide which include strategies to combat bullying. Childluresprevention.com

10. Resources Through PDHP
Olweus Bully Prevention Program training available to all schools
Faculty professional development workshops
Parent workshops available focused on bullying and internet safety/cyberbullying
Assessment and referral for counseling services
8-10 session research-based classroom education for students

11. Policies and Procedures Associated with Cyber Bullying
Policy Should Consider:
Usually will occur off school/academy grounds
“Always connected” culture can lead to continuous bullying
Has the potential to be much more public and widespread than just the classroom or school/academy
Can be much harder to identify/become aware of
Has greater potential to become a legal issue depending on the severity
Refer to Administrative Manual - Appendix H for Diocesan Technology AUP
Procedures for Cyber bullying:
Screenshot, download and/or print out any conversations, messages or photos
Use a tool like to download YouTube videos if necessary
In cases of verbal cyber bullying (i.e. Online game chats) have student(s) involved document events in writing
Contact the parents of all students involved to make them aware of the situation
Contact the Office of the Superintendent for guidance and assistance

12. Next Steps
View Safe Environment Module with Faculty and Staff Assess Academy/School Climate Review and Update Bullying Policies and Procedures Review Resources from Safe Environment and PDHP Review Cyber Bullying Policies

13. Next Steps
Office of the Superintendent~Catholic School Support Services to Schedule Deanery Meetings with Principals Develop with Principals a Professional Development Plan for Principals Develop with the Principals a Professional Development Plan for Faculty and Staff

14. Important Contact Information
Joan McMaster – Teacher/Principal Personnel
Cell Phone
Anne Marie Baumis - Crisis Management Plans
Cell Phone
Morgan Nordmeier – PDHP
Telephone:
Mary Ellen Quinn – Safe Environment
Telephone: Cell
Thomas Chadzutko - Superintendent
Cell Phone:

15. Questions