Safe Positive Schools

Anti-bullying

St. Edward School Belief Statement:

At St. Edward School we believe that everyone has the right to learn in a safe and positive environment. As a community guided by Gospel virtues we believe that bullying is not acceptable.

Definition of Bullying:

A student is bullied when he or she is 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 or reactive. Intentionally and falsely accusing another student of bullying behavior shall be considered bullying behavior. Bullying involves an imbalance of power, creates fear and is not gender specific.

1. Roles and Responsibilities

Open and honest communication between everyone involved is expected. The effectiveness of this policy is dependent on the level of open and honest communication.

In addition to the expectations outlined in the St. Edward School Code of Conduct:

St. Edward School students are expected to:

-Promote a Safe and Positive school environment

-Refuse to bully others or to be a bystander to acts of bullying

-Actively participate in school-wide and classroom Safe Positive School anti-bullying initiatives and teachings

-Report all acts of bullying they may experience or observe to school personnel

Bystanders are expected to:

-Honestly and accurately report bullying behaviors

-Support the bullied in positive ways

The Bullied are expected to:

-Honestly and accurately report bullying behaviors

-Learn and apply respectful strategies to counter bullying behaviors

-Accept the consequences put in place to deal with the bully's behavior

St. Edward School staff is expected to:

-Provide stewardship that upholds the Gospel values and promote positive relationships between students, staff and parents/guardians

-Address bullying in an age appropriate manner.

-Implement and teach the school's anti-bullying policy.

-Provide learning opportunities for students which promote a safe positive school environment

-Investigate and document reports of bullying, apply interventions and follow-up

-Keep lines of communication open between the home and the school

-Encourage and teach students how to be bully SMART. (Seek help, Make a plan, Assert yourself, Report bullying, Talk about bullying.)

St. Edward parents/guardians, parish and community members are expected to:

-Be active contributors to a safe, positive, caring and respectful school community

-Learn about bullying behavior and related issues

-Provide positive role modeling and positive leadership

-Inform the school if bullying is suspected

-Work with the school to resolve identified incidents of bullying

-Support the school community by providing opportunities for parent education.

2. Procedures

1. Prevention

Prevention of bullying is a primary goal at St. Edward School. We will aspire to provide a bully-proof environment through preventative measures such as Social Skills Programming, leadership opportunities, celebrations, classroom rules, communication and teaching of Gospel virtues

2. Investigation

The safety of all students is always the primary focus. Students involved in bullying behavior shall be made aware of the situation and dealt with individually using age appropriate interventions. Information shall be gathered from all students involved. An Action Plan and a Bullying Incident Report will be completed.

3. Actions

(a)Actions to address incidents of bullying behavior shall take into account:

▪ The developmental and maturity levels of the students involved.

▪ The levels of physical and/or emotional harm that have occurred.

▪ The surrounding circumstances and the context in which the incidents occurred.

▪ The nature of the behavior in the past related to similar incidents or continuing patterns of behavior.

▪ The relationship among parties involved.

(b)All those involved will be informed individually that there will be follow-up of the incident. The behavior of each student involved (regardless of role) is to be monitored to determine further actions.

(c)Consequences may include:

▪ Discussion, problem solving and reviewing behavioral expectations as outlined in the Code of Conduct.

▪ Loss of privileges, detention.

▪ Action plan.

▪ Removal from class or suspension.

▪ Restitution.

▪ Behavioral contract.

▪ Referral to school counselor.

▪ Referral to Student Services to discuss alternative programming, or alternative placement.

▪ Involvement of community agencies.

(d)The in-school administrator or the classroom teacher(s) will contact the parents/guardians of the students involved. Parents and school staff will work together to monitor the situation and communicate with each other.

(e)The in-school administrator may request assistance from Student Services Personnel, the Police Resource Officer, School Counselor or other appropriate resources.

(f)In the event that the bullying behavior is part of a continuing pattern:

▪ In-school administrators or designate shall complete a Bullying Incident Report.

▪ Parents/Guardians of those students involved will be invited to meetings to discuss child's involvement in incident(s).

▪ A written record shall be kept of the plan of action and strategies to be undertaken by school, parents/guardians and students involved. Such records shall be kept in a confidential file by the principal and reviewed annually.

▪ If the plan involves suspensions or expulsions, the division and/or Education Act Procedures shall be followed.

4. Policy Communication

(a) The in-school administrators and Safe Positive School Committee will review the policy at the beginning of each school year.

(b) The Anti-Bullying Policy shall be placed in the students handbooks to be used as a reference for parents and students.

(d) The School Staff shall teach and review the policy periodically throughout the school year.