Help Keep Our School Safe
Tripping or pushing, spreading rumors, excluding a classmate from playing a game at recess – these are all types of bullying. Having one of these behaviors directed at your child is concerning and upsetting. Hearing that your child is a witness to a classmate being treated this way is also upsetting. We all want our kids to be safe.
Bullying
- Aggression toward another person that occurs repeatedly over time
- The harm is intentional and planned
- The aggression is usually unprovoked
- One person/persons who are the aggressors have more power than the victim of the aggression
Cyberbullying
- Cyberbullying is bullying using technology (e-mail, text messaging, the internet, social media, etc.)
Harassment
- Aggression focused on a student's race, national origin, religion, disability, or sex
- Aggression that is severe, persistent, or pervasive
Not all conflicts are bullying or harrassament.
Peer Conflict
- A one-time or isolated act of aggression between students
- The balance of power is equal or nearly equal between the students
- Peer conflict is not a group of students picking on one student
- Students involved in the conflict are willing to work out their differences or leave each other alone
What If Your Child is Being Bullied?
- First, focus on your child
- Be supportive and listen
- Gather information (who, what, when, where)
- Discourage physical retaliation
- Contact your child’s director and/or school counselor
- Provide factual information about the incident
- Work with school staff to create a safety plan for your student
- Commit to making the bullying stop
- If the bullying continues contact the director again
- Teach your child strategies to avoid bullying
- Encourage participation in school and community activities
- Encourage and support positive friendships
- Teach your child to seek help from an adult if he or she is being bullied
Don't Wait
If your child informs you of a situation that they experienced or witnessed, please let their director and/or counselor know immediately. Early intervention is important to address and redress situations in a successful manner. Waiting because your child asks you or because you are afraid that the behavior will continue only serves to make it more challenging to appropriately work with all parties toward successful resolution.