Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying: Harassment, intimidation, or bullying is an intentional written, verbal or physical act that a student has exhibited toward another particular student more than once and the behavior causes both mental or physical harm to the other student and is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for the other student. This includes violence within a dating relationship.
Harassment, intimidation, or bullying also means electronically transmitted acts, including those acts transmitted via the Internet, cell phone, or wireless/ cellular handheld device, that a student has exhibited toward another particular student more than once and the behavior both causes mental or physical harm to the other student/school personnel, and is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for the other student/ school personnel.
Harassment, intimidation, or bullying can include many different behaviors including overt intent to ridicule, humiliate or intimidate another student or school personnel. Examples of conduct that could constitute prohibited behaviors include:
- Physical violence and/or attacks
- Threats, taunts and intimidation through words and/or gestures
- Extortion, damage or stealing money and/or possessions
- Exclusion from peer group or spreading rumors
- Repetitive and hostile behavior with the intent to harm others through the use of information and communication technologies and other Web-based/online sites, such as the following:
o Posting slurs on websites where students congregate or on web logs
o Sending abusive or threatening instant messages/texts.
o Using cameral phones to take embarrassing photographs of students and posting them online
o Using websites to circulate gossip/rumors to others
o Excluding others from an online group by falsely reporting them for inappropriate language to Internet providers
Harassment, intimidation, or bullying is strictly prohibited and may result in disciplinary action including suspension and/or expulsion from school. These behaviors are prohibited on or immediately adjacent to school grounds, at any school-sponsored activity, on school-provided transportation (including on the school bus to and from school) or at any official school bus stop.
Students who are bullied or observe bullying should report this activity or event to a teacher, counselor and/or principal. Harassment/Intimidation/Bullying reports are available in the office. Students found to have purposely made a false report may face disciplinary action (Disciplinary actions for conduct determined to be harassment, intimidation, or bullying are at administrative discretion and may include consequences as severe as suspension with recommendation for explusion).