Safe Positive Schools

Anti-bullying

Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools will not tolerate bullying behaviour. Guided by Gospel values, we will address the behaviour in a serious and timely manner. We believe all students have the right to a safe, caring and respectful school environment, free from bullying behaviour.

Schools need to be safe, positive places if teaching and learning are to occur. A student’s ability to initiate and maintain positive interactions with others is an important developmental process. This is strongly supported at Bethlehem Catholic High School by our stance on violence such as fighting, other forms of physical intimidation and verbal abuse. Students who are experiencing conflict within the school are urged to contact our Administration, our RAP worker, or one of our Counsellors. Staff will mediate with all parties to resolve the conflict in an acceptable manner.

With this framework, Bethlehem Catholic High School has taken the following position to combat the occurrence of violent activities at or around our school:

• Fighting will be treated as a serious offence.
• Students who are involved in a fight, and who have not done everything within their power to avoid the fight, may be required to leave Bethlehem Catholic High School.
• Intimidation and bullying tactics will not be tolerated.   Students who use these tactics to encourage others to fight will be considered responsible and consequences will be forthcoming for all students involved.
• The Catholic tradition teaches personal responsibility and forgiveness.  Students who are asked to leave Bethlehem Catholic High School will be required to put in a successful semester at another school before they are re-admitted to Bethlehem Catholic High School. 
• Parents will be involved in the process. Law enforcement officers will be involved to the extent necessary.

Students should be aware that they are accountable to the Administration for their actions at school, or at school activities, and in their journey to and from school.

Bullying Policy and Procedures

A student is bullied when he or she is repeatedly exposed to negative actions on the part of one or more students causing emotional, psychological, and/or physical harm. These negative actions are intentional and hurtful. Bullying can be verbal, physical, relational. Bullying involves an imbalance of power, creates fear, and is not gender specific.

Types of Bullying Behavior

Physical 

• some examples include: physical violence and attacks, pushing, shoving, kicking, hitting, stealing, destroying property

 Verbal

• some examples include: verbal taunts, name-calling, put-downs, threats, intimidation

 Indirect 

• some examples include: exclusion from peer group, graffiti, racial or ethnic slurs, social rejection, public humiliation, looks of intimidation, e-bullying, websites targeted to individuals, intellectual bullying
•  Sexual Harassment
  any comments or actions of a sexual nature that are unwelcome and make the recipient uncomfortable 

 Parent Responsibilities: 

• Know and support the school’s policy on bullying
• Learn about bullying behaviors
• Encourage non-aggressive ways of resolving conflict
• Inform school if bullying is suspected
• Watch for signs of distress in your child 
• Advise your child to report bullying incidents to a staff member
• Participate in school meetings if your child has been involved in a bullying incident

Student/Bystanders Responsibilities:

• Refuse to be involved in an act of bullying
• Speak out against bullying – bystander support is critical
• Be observant of signs of distress or suspected incidents of bullying 
• Report incidents of bullying or suspected incidents of bullying to a staff member and/or parent
• Get help from an adult

Staff Responsibilities:

• Be role models in words and actions – personally modeling pro-social, respectful behavior in interactions with students, parents and other staff
• Be observant of signs of distress or suspected incidence of bullying 
• Be prompt and visible while supervising students
• Raise awareness among students about bullying behavior

School Procedures
Following an incident of bullying, report directly to the administration. Administration will take the following steps:

1. Interview with the bully/bullied (must be separate)
2. Inform parents of those students involved.
3. Inform staff when required.

For the Bully 
One or more of the following may apply, as decided by administration:

1. School suspension (to remove threat to victim) 
2. Parent meeting (parent to receive information regarding bullying)
3. A plan of restitution developed by the bully with the assistance of school personnel and mutually agreed to by the victim 
4. Education to help bully recognize their behavior and identify appropriate way of behaving (conflict resolution, social skills…. will be tailored for students’ needs)
5. Counselling
6. Inform teacher(s) of incident and action taken (grade 9 students – Transition teacher, grade 10-12 students – memo all teachers)
7. Removal from one or more classes where the bully and victim are registered
8. Relocation

For the Victim
All or some of the following may occur, as decided by administration: 

1. Parent meeting
2. Agreement of restitution 
3. Ongoing monitoring and/or support
4. Victim will be offered education (ie: assertiveness training)
5. Victim will be offered counselling