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Bullying is a school community issue. It is unacceptable. Bullying defies our school's values of caring for each other as imagebearers of God. We recognize that bullying can happen. School staff must be informed of incidents involving bullying. In order to eliminate bullying and promote consistency of approach, staff, students, and parents must have a common view of what bullying is and what to do about it. This takes an effort of home and school working together.

We define bullying as
• Deliberately hurtful behavior: in words, actions, or attitudes.
• Harm done by someone more powerful to someone less powerful

Bullying behaviors include
• Name-calling, personal comments (looks, clothing, possessions, family), racial slurs.
• Exclusion from a group; not speaking to someone; gossip; telling hurtful stories
• Stealing or damaging possessions, clothing
• Pressure to conform or disobey; ridicule for not taking part in such activity
• Physical assault: hitting, pushing, kicking, pulling hair, deliberately tripping

Reactive measures
• Students must tell their teacher or available adult if they observe bullying.
• Staff will make every effort to detect change in attitude or mood of students.
• Staff will take all reported incidents of bullying seriously, and in a calm, non-emotional manner.
• Confront bully behavior immediately and assertively. (Staff and peers.)
• Parents of parties involved must be informed of incidents and resulting action taken.

Ongoing, proactive measures requiring effort of home and school working together
• All students will receive annual instruction on what bullying is.
• Students will be instructed to tell when they observe bullying.
• Students will be encouraged to tell when they feel they have been bullied.
• Students will be taught that as bystanders they are responsible and play an important role.
• Students will be taught intervention strategies for victims and bystanders.
• Staff will be aware of the importance of being vigilant while on playground duty and in supervising the classroom.
• Staff will take seriously information from parents about concern for their child.
• Parents will be informed of the school's bullying guidelines.
• Staff, administration, and parents will work together to create a culture in which God is honored by the way we treat each other.

Check under ELEMENTARY SCHOOL and MIDDLE SCHOOL for specific procedures and policies.