Physical Bullying
DEFINITION:
Physical Bullying involves hurting a person’s physical body or their possessions. It can also include physical INTIMIDATION, which means implying a physical threat. Source – StopBullying.gov »
EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL BULLYING:
Pushing, shoving, spitting, tripping, intimidation, getting in someone’s face, making aggressive hand gestures, taking or breaking someone’s things, and more.
REPEATED BEHAVIOR:
Most forms of Physical Bullying will be considered Bullying, even if they are a one-time event. Less severe physical incidents, however, such as pinching, poking, etc., need to be repeated before they are considered bullying. The severity of each incident is determined at the school’s discretion.
WHAT ABOUT SELF-DEFENSE?
Self-Defense means protecting your physical body and repelling the instigator of a physical attack until the moment you are able to get away. Students should not be punished for defending themselves from the instigator of an active attack. Self-Defense is different than Retaliation. Retaliation means attempting to “get-even” or hurt someone after the fact, even when the threat is no longer actively happening. Retaliation is not allowed at our school, and students who retaliate will be held accountable. Source – FindLaw.com »
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255
Verbal Bullying
DEFINITION:
Verbal bullying involves repeatedly saying or writing things that are meant to be hurtful or controlling. It can also include VERBAL HARASSMENT, which means bullying someone for their personal attributes, such as their body, skin color, race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Source – StopBullying.gov »
EXAMPLES OF VERBAL BULLYING:
Repeat name-calling, insulting, mocking, taunting, harsh sarcasm, using racial slurs toward a person, sexual slurs toward a person, and more.
WHAT ABOUT TEASING?
Teasing involves playful insults among friends. Teasing is not the same as Verbal Bullying because it does not create a power-imbalance, and if you asked the person to stop, they would stop. Teasing can turn into Verbal Bullying if you ask the person to stop and they refuse to stop. The excuse, “I was only joking” will not be tolerated, and repeated incidents should be reported as Bullying.
WHAT ABOUT HATE SPEECH?
Using hate speech directly toward a person is considered verbal bullying. However, making hateful comments toward a group of people should be reported as Inappropriate Behavior > Inappropriate Language.
REPEATED BEHAVIOR:
Although many forms of bullying are a repeated behavior, some severe incidents can be considered bullying, even for a one-time event. The severity of each incident is determined at the school’s discretion.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Social Bullying
DEFINITION:
Social Bullying means repeatedly attempting to hurt someone’s reputation or their relationships. Social Bullying is sometimes referred to as “relational bullying” or “emotional bullying.” Source – StopBullying.gov »
EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL BULLYING:
Repeat gossip, spreading rumors, embarrassing someone on purpose, excluding someone on purpose and making it known, social intimidation, and many other socially isolating behaviors.
REPEATED BEHAVIOR:
Although many forms of bullying are a repeated behavior, some severe incidents can be considered bullying, even for a one-time event. The severity of each incident is determined at the school’s discretion.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Cyberbullying
DEFINITION:
Cyberbullying includes any type of bullying that takes place through digital devices such as cell phones, tablets, computers, gaming systems, and the like. Source – StopBullying.gov »EXAMPLES OF CYBERBULLYING:
The aggressor uses technology to repeatedly bully, harass, intimidate, or threaten the target.
REPEATED BEHAVIOR:
Although many forms of bullying are a repeated behavior, some severe incidents can be considered bullying, even for a one-time event. The severity of each incident is determined at the school’s discretion.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Disrespectful Behavior
DEFINITION:
Disrespectful behavior involves a wide variety of actions and attitudes that are meant to be demeaning, disruptive, or destructive.
EXAMPLES OF DISRESPECTFUL BEHAVIOR:
Being mean or rude on purpose, breaking school rules, being disrespectful, disrupting class, having a negative attitude, refusing to follow an educator’s instructions, making inappropriate facial expressions or hand gestures, making destructive decisions, and more.
NOTE: There is a fine line between being mean and bullying. Being mean can turn into bullying when it is repeated. The excuse, “I was only joking” will not be tolerated, and repeat incidents should be reported as Bullying. Source – StopBullying.gov »
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Inappropriate Language
DEFINITION:
Inappropriate Language includes words or language that are improper for the learning environment. Inappropriate Language can happen in many forms: verbal, digital, written, gestures, and expressions.
EXAMPLES OF INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE:
Swearing, cursing, cussing, sexual comments, sexual innuendos, harsh joking or sarcasm, repeating someone, being condescending, using hate speech toward a group of people, and more. It can also include using variations of curse words or variations of insults, while conveying the real meaning.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Inappropriate Use of Technology
DEFINITION:
Inappropriate Use of Technology involves using any type of electronic device in a way that negatively affects a person or the learning environment.
EXAMPLES OF INAPPROPRIATE USE OF TECHNOLOGY:
Using technology during a prohibited time, use without permission, inappropriate searches, inappropriate website visits, inappropriate downloads, and any other type of use that negatively affects a person or the learning environment.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Tardiness or Absenteeism
DEFINITION:
Tardiness or Absenteeism involves being late to class or being absent from school without an “excused absence.” Parents can request an “excused absence” by contacting the school office ahead of time, and any teachers as needed to make arrangements for homework, makeup work, and any tests.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Lying or Cheating
DEFINITION:
Lying or cheating can include a wide variety of dishonest behaviors that are harmful to the learning environment.
EXAMPLES OF LYING OR CHEATING:
Passing off someone else’s work as your own, failing to cite the sources of your work (aka: plagiarism), changing a grade, copying someone on tests or assignments, telling lies, stretching the truth, and more.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Retaliation
DEFINITION:
Retaliation means attempting to “get-even” or trying to hurt someone in response to a prior incident, even when the threat is no longer actively happening. Retaliation is not allowed at our school, and students who retaliate will be held accountable. Source – FindLaw.com »
WHAT ABOUT SELF-DEFENSE?
Retaliation is different than Self-Defense. Self-Defense means protecting your physical body and repelling the instigator of a physical attack until the moment you are able to get away. Students should not be punished for defending themselves from the instigator of an active attack. Source – FindLaw.com »
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255
Other Inappropriate Behavior
DEFINITION:
You can use this option to report any other type of inappropriate behavior. Your school administrators will review your report and decide what action is needed.
PRIVACY:
Schools are required to follow privacy laws and to protect your confidential information. This also means they protect the information of other students. Schools can confirm to let you know that they are following up on your report, but they cannot tell you how they follow up.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Self-Harm or Suicidal Thoughts
DEFINITION:
Self-Harm involves a person purposefully hurting their own body, such as cutting, but the person is not trying to end their own life. Suicidal Thoughts, on the other hand, involve a person considering ending their own life.
NOTE:
Please report all Self-Harm or Suicidal Thoughts to the police right away by calling 911. After you have reported it to the police, please submit another report to your school.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Sexual Behavior
DEFINITION:
Sexual Behavior includes a wide range of sexually suggestive and sexually explicit actions, many of which are considered a criminal offense.
EXAMPLES:
Sexual harassment, requesting or sending a sexually explicit image, sexual actions with a minor, and many more.
NOTE:
Please report ALL sexually explicit behavior to the police right away by calling 911. After you have reported it to the police, please submit another report to your school.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Drug, Alcohol, Vaping, or Substance Use
DEFINITION:
Our school specifically prohibits students from drugs, alcohol, vaping, or using any type of illegal narcotic, illegal drug, or non-prescribed legal drug. This rule applies on and off campus.
NOTE:
Please report all illegal behavior to the police right away by calling 911. After you have reported it to the police, please submit another report to your school.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Violent Behavior
DEFINITION:
Violent behavior involves a wide range of severely harmful actions which are often considered a criminal offense.
EXAMPLES:
Hitting, kicking, fighting, attacking, bringing any type of weapon to school, causing physical harm on purpose, causing damage to property, or any other form of physical violence on or off campus.
NOTE:
Please report all violent behavior to the police right away by calling 911. After you have reported it to the police, please submit another report to your school.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Threats (Direct or Implied)
DEFINITION:
Our school prohibits making threats of any kind, whether direct or implied. This applies to all forms of communications, including social media on or off campus. All threats will be taken seriously, regardless of their nature. Many threats are considered a criminal offense and will be treated as such.
EXAMPLES:
Bomb threats, school safety threats, bringing a gun to school, bringing a knife to school, bringing any type of weapon to school, threatening to hurt a person, threatening to hurt a group of people, indicating or implying a threat of any kind.
NOTE:
Please report any type of threat to the police right away by calling 911. After you have reported it to the police, please submit another report to your school.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Other At-Risk Behavior
DEFINITION:
You can use this option to report any other type of At-Risk Behavior. Your school administrators will review your report and decide what action is needed.
PRIVACY:
Schools are required to follow privacy laws and to protect your confidential information. This also means they protect the information of other students. Schools can confirm to let you know that they are following up on your report, but they cannot tell you how they follow up.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Possible Abuse or Neglect
DEFINITION:
In the United States, child abuse and neglect are defined as "any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caregiver that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation, or an act or failure to act that presents an imminent risk of serious harm." Source – ChildWelfare.gov »
NOTE:
If you think a student may be experiencing abuse or neglect, please contact your local Department of Children & Family Services or the Health Department. If you don’t know who to contact, call the police and ask them how to file a report. After you have reported it to the correct agency, please submit another report to your school.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Mental Health Concerns
DEFINITION:
The Mayo Clinic defines Mental Health Concerns as “a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Many people have mental health concerns from time to time. But a mental health concern becomes a mental illness when ongoing signs and symptoms cause frequent stress and affect your ability to function." Source – MayoClinic.org »
EXAMPLES:
Eating disorders, behavior disorders, schizophrenia, paranoia, addictive behaviors, and much more. (This includes depression and anxiety. We have a separate category for each.)
NOTE:
If you think a student may be experiencing any kind of Mental Health Concern, please report it to your school right away and to the student’s parent or guardians. In some cases, you may be a Mandatory Reporter (see below).
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Depression Concerns
DEFINITION:
“Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home.” Source – American Psychiatric Association »
EXAMPLES:
Feeling sad, loss of interest in activities, loss of appetite, loss of energy, trouble sleeping, feeling worthless, thoughts of death or suicide.
NOTE:
If you think a student may be experiencing any level of depression, please report it to your school right away and to the student’s parent or guardians. In some cases, you may be a Mandatory Reporter (see below).
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Anxiety Concerns
DEFINITION:
According to the Mayo Clinic, “people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks). These feelings of anxiety and panic interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger and can last a long time.” Source – MayoClinic.org »
EXAMPLES:
Frequent panic attacks, overwhelming stress, general anxiety, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), specific phobias, and separation anxiety disorder.
NOTE:
If you think a student may be experiencing any level of anxiety, please report it to your school right away and to the student’s parent or guardians. In some cases, you may be a Mandatory Reporter (see below)./p>
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Student Conflict
DEFINITION:
Student Conflict involves arguments or disagreements among students. It can have a positive or a negative result depending on the level or respect or disrespect between the students. Student Conflict is not the same as bullying because it is not aggressive, and it does not create a power imbalance. Source – Teacher Vision »
PRIVACY:
Schools are required to follow privacy laws and to protect your confidential information. This also means they protect the information of other students. Schools can confirm to let you know that they are following up on your report, but they cannot tell you how they follow up.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Something Else
DEFINITION:
You can use this option to report any other incident. Your school administrators will review your report and decide what action is needed.
PRIVACY:
Schools are required to follow privacy laws and to protect your confidential information. This also means they protect the information of other students. Schools can confirm to let you know that they are following up on your report, but they cannot tell you how they follow up.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Please report any threats or criminal behavior to the police by calling 911 right now. Some incidents are required to be reported immediately to the police or to the department of human services, including suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Click here to learn about Mandatory Reporting Laws » or click here to view Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws »
NEED HELP NOW?
If you are having an emergency, call 911 right away. If you are having negative thoughts, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Report An Incident
Use the form below to submit a confidential report to your school administrators.
