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Student
Anti-Bullying Mission Statement:
We the students of St. Mark School agree to stamp out bullying.
Bullying can be shoving, hitting,
spitting, name-calling,
making fun of, laughing at or excluding.
We believe that everyone should
enjoy school and feel safe.
Bullying causes pain and stress and
is never okay.
We agree to stamp out bullying at St. Mark School.
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Anti-Bullying Policy
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Statement of Policy
St. Mark School will not tolerate bullying
behavior. Guided by Gospel values, the behavior will be dealt with in a
serious and timely manner.
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Rationale
As defined in our mission statement, we
believe that all students have the right to a safe, caring and respectful
school environment, free from bullying behavior.
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Definition of Bullying
An individual 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 take place in many
different ways. Bullying involves and imbalance of power, creates fear,
and is not gender specific.
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Differences Between Normal Conflict and
Bullying
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Normal Conflict
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Equal power
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Happens
occasionally
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Accidental
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Equal emotional
reaction
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Not seeking power
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Remorse
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Effort to problem
solve
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Bullying
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Imbalance of power
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Repeated negative
actions
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Purposeful
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Serious threat or
harm
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Seeking power
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No remorse
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No effort to
problem solve
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Roles and Responsibilities
A.
Students
St. Mark Students
are expected to:
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Promote a positive
and caregiving environment
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Refrain from
bullying others or to be a bystander to acts of bullying
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Report all acts of
bullying they may experience or observe to appropriate school personnel
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Actively
participate in school-wide and classroom anti-bullying initiatives and
social skills programs
B.
Staff
St. Mark Staff is
expected to:
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Provide a
supportive environment that upholds gospel values and encourages positive
relationships between students, staff and parent/guardians
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Address bullying
behavior in an age-appropriate manner
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Encourage and
teach students to report incidents of bullying behavior
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Maintain an
anti-bullying strategy comprised of: prevention programs, investigation
of reports of bullying, intervention and follow-up
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Procedures
A.
Prevention
Prevention of bullying behavior
is the ultimate goal. Prevention strategies are ongoing and should
include: a broad-range of educational experiences for students, staff,
parents/guardians and community; common language and understanding of
bullying; open communication and collaboration.
B.
Investigation of
Reported Bullying Behaviour
The safety and well-being of all
student involved shall be of primary concern. The student(s) allegedly
engaging in bullying behavior shall be separated, given the opportunity
to speak, and dealt with individually. Information related to bullying
behavior shall be gathered and documented from all students involved,
including any witness.
C.
Actions if
Bullying Behaviour is Evident
Actions to address the incidents
of bullying shall take into account:
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the developmental
and maturity levels of the students involved
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the levels of
physical and/or emotional harm that have occurred
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the surrounding
circumstances and the context in which the incidents occurred
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the nature of
behaviours in the past to similar incidents or continuing patterns of
behaviour
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the relationship
among the parties involved
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Consequences
First Incident – student will receive a verbal warning. An
action plan will be filled out and signed by parents.
Second Incident – Student will receive either a one-half day
or full day in-school suspension depending on
circumstance.
Third Incident – Student will be suspended up to three days.
Fourth Incident – Student will be referred to an alternate
program or school
After the first incident it is the
administration’s responsibility to contact and inform the
parents/guardians of such incidents as well as document the events.
In-school administration may request
the assistance of the counselor for the perpetrator and/or the victim, as
well as the police resource officer or other appropriate resources.
This
policy shall be reviewed at the beginning of each year and made available
to staff, students and parents.
In
keeping with the teachings of Christ, St. Mark School will strive to
create a safe, caring and supportive school environment, free of bullying
for all members of the school community.
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