Click here to review Salt River Schools Education Board Article IV Student Policy Sec. V-N (Page 24)

ZERO TOLERANCE

Incidents of bullying and/or harassment that are reported to or witnessed by Salt River Schools staff will be taken seriously and addressed as soon as possible. Students will receive a disciplinary action if bullying occurs on school grounds, school property, school buses, school bus stops, field trips or other school-sponsored activities, and/or through the use of computers or cell phones. All suspected violations of law will be reported to local law enforcement.

REPORT BULLYING

•  Students, parents/guardians, and employees must report bullying incidents to the school principal. All reports are confidential.
•  The principal must investigate the incident within two business days and maintain written documentation of the bullying incident.
•  Parents will receive information regarding support services and a follow-up letter regarding the findings of the bullying report.
•  Emergency medical services or the local police will be contacted, if necessary.

WHAT IS BULLYING
Bullying is any aggressive, intentional behavior carried out by a person or group repeatedly and over time against a victim who cannot easily defend himself or herself. Bullying requires an observed or perceived imbalance of power - such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information or popularity - between the bully and the victim.

There are several different types of bullying:

• Verbal - teasing, name-calling, taunting and threatening.
• Physical - hitting or kicking, tripping or pushing, spitting and taking the victim's property.
• Relational - attempting to damage the victim's relationships or reputation by excluding, spreading rumors or defamation.
• Cyberbullying - any act of bullying that uses electronic technology or communication devices, including social networking sites and other Internet communications, that occurs on school property or at a school-sponsored event; interferes with a student's education; threatens the educational environment; or disrupts the school. Examples of cyberbullying include sending mean text messages or emails or posting embarrassing pictures or videos.

WHAT IS HARASSMENT
Harassment is abusive conduct directed at one or more students because of the student’s actual or perceived race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy) or disability and is sufficiently severe, pervasive or persistent so as to interfere with or limit the student's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or opportunities offered by the school. Harassment includes sexual harassment and retaliation.

• Two students of similar age, strength and size fight or quarrel with each other.
• A student provokes another into a verbal or physical confrontation.
• A student acts aggressively toward another student in the absence of an imbalance of power.
• A teacher or administrator responds to a student's misconduct with appropriate disciplinary action.
• A teacher or administrator responds to a student's poor performance with appropriate criticism.

• Take a stand. Tell the bully to stop.
• Report the bullying immediately. Tell your parent, teacher, counselor, advisor or principal.
• Use words, not physical aggression.
• Have confidence. Be proud of yourself.
• Do not show anger or fear.
• Make safe choices. Sit and walk with groups of friends or classmates.
• Avoid areas where there are few students or teachers.
• Do not share your personal information or passwords with others.

• Take a stand. If someone is getting bullied or harassed, be ready to intervene with a non violent approach. Try redirecting or distracting the bully by saying, “Stop! Don’t bother him!”
• Don’t participate. Bullies like to get attention. If they invite you to participate, don’t join in. Tell them “no” and go get help.
  Report bullying. The best defense against a bully is to report the incident to an adult.
• Be a friend. Offer help to the person who was bullied. Encourage him or her to talk to an adult. Invite that person to join your group of friends.

• Encourage your child to talk to you.
• Contact the school immediately if bullying or harassment is suspected.
• Be a good role model.
• Teach your child how to resolve conflict using peaceful strategies.
• Contact law enforcement if bullying behavior is criminal.

• Create websites or online accounts about a person with embarrassing photographs, jokes, rumors and cartoons.
• Repeatedly send harassing email or text messages.
• Send embarrassing photographs electronically through messaging or apps, or by posting them online.
• Pose as another person online.
• Exclude certain individuals from online groups.

• Save and download evidence. You may also forward it to your Internet service provider (ISP). If you do not know who it is coming from, ask your Internet service provider to trace messages. Once identified, you may tell the cyberbully to stop, change your child’s email address, or block or filter information sent through email and messaging.
• File a complaint. Many cellphone companies and Internet service providers have regulations.
• Contact the school, parents, attorney or police.

• Talk to your children about their online activities.
• Keep an updated list of approved online friends.
• Monitor your child’s activities.
• Keep the computer in a central location of the house.
• Let your children know that you will be checking their profiles and postings on blogs and Web pages.
• Watch for secretive behavior.
• Install software that will record your child’s online activities.

• Internet Safety for Kids
• stopbullying.gov
• Digital Awareness for Parents