report-bullying form
BULLYING
Students, parents, teachers, principals and school leaders can all work together to prevent and end bullying.
What is bullying?
Bullying is a pattern of:
- Written, electronic or verbal communications that threaten harm,
- Obscene gestures, taunting or malicious teasing,
- Persistent shunning or excluding a student, or
- Physical harm, such as hitting, pushing or damaging personal property.
If you are a student, parent or school employee and need to report a case of bullying, you can fill out the Robert Russa Moton Charter School’s Bullying Report Form and submit it to the principal or appropriate school leader.
Warning Signs for Bullying:
There are many warning signs that may indicate that someone is affected by bullying—either being bullied or bullying others. Recognizing the warning signs is an important first step in taking action against bullying. Not all children who are bullied or are bullying others ask for help. It is important to talk with children who show signs of being bullied or bullying others. These warning signs can also point to other issues or problems, such as depression or substance abuse. Talking to the child can help identify the root of the problem.
Signs a Child Is Being Bullied
Look for changes in the child. However, be aware that not all children who are bullied exhibit warning signs. Some signs that may point to a bullying problem are:
- Unexplainable injuries
- Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry
- Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick or faking illness
- Changes in eating habits, like suddenly skipping meals or binge eating. Kids may come home from school hungry because they did not eat lunch.
- Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares.
- Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school.
- Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations.
- Feelings of helplessness or decreased self esteem.
- Self-destructive behaviors such as running away from home, harming themselves, or talking about suicide
If you know someone in serious distress or danger, don’t ignore the problem.
Responding to Bullying:
When adults respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior they send the message that it is not acceptable. Research shows this can stop bullying behavior over time. There are simple steps adults can take to stop bullying on the spot and keep kids safe.
- Intervene immediately. It is ok to get another adult to help.
- Separate the kids involved.
- Make sure everyone is safe.
- Meet any immediate medical or mental health needs.
- Stay calm. Reassure the kids involved, including bystanders.
- Model respectful behavior when you intervene.
Robert R. Moton Charter School System’s Policy Against Bullying
The Robert R. Moton Charter School System believes that all students have a right to a safe and healthy school environment. Our school has an obligation to promote mutual respect, tolerance, and acceptance among students, staff, and volunteers. All students, teachers, and other school employees shall take responsible measures within the scope of their individual authority to prevent violations of the policy.
Bullying is defined as a pattern of one or more of the following:
- Gestures, including but not limited to obscene gestures and making faces
- Written, electronic, or verbal communication, including but not limited to calling names, threatening harm, taunting, malicious teasing, or spreading untrue rumors
- Electronic communication including but not limited to a communication or image transmitted by email, instant message, text message, blog, or social networking website through the use of a telephone, mobile phone, pager, computer, or other electronic device
- Physical acts, including but not limited to hitting, kicking, pushing, tripping, choking, damaging personal property, unauthorized use of personal property
- Repeatedly and purposefully shunning or excluding from activities
Behavior that infringes upon the safety of any student will not be tolerated.
- Any student who engages in bullying will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
- Students are expected to immediately report incidents of bullying to the principal or designee.
- School staff and/or administrators will promptly investigate each complaint of bullying in a thorough and confidential manner.
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All students and/or staff shall immediately report incidents of bullying, harassment or intimidation to the school principal or designee.
School staff members are expected to immediately intervene when they see a bullying incident occur. Each complaint of bullying shall be promptly investigated. This policy applies to students on school grounds, while traveling on a school bus to and from school, or a school-sponsored activity, and during a school-sponsored activity.
Bullying and intimidation will not be tolerated. Disciplinary action will be taken following each confirmed incident of bullying. Disciplinary action after the first incident of bullying may include but is not limited to the following:
- Loss of privilege
- Reassignment of seats in the classroom, cafeteria, or school bus
- Reassignment of classes
- Detention
- Suspension
- Expulsion
- Other
If necessary, counseling and other interventions should also be provided to address the social-emotional, behavioral, and academic needs of students who are victims of bullying and students who commit an offense of bullying.
Students, parents/guardians, and other school personnel may report bullying to an administrator, teacher, counselor, or other staff member orally or within writing by using the appropriate form. See the principal or designee for the form.
The procedures for intervening in the bullying behavior include but not limited to the following:
- All staff, students, and their parents will receive a copy of the policy prohibiting bullying at the beginning of the school year as part of the student code of conduct.
- The school will keep a report of bullying and the results of an investigation confidential.
- Staff are expected to immediately intervene when they see a bullying incident occur or upon receipt of any report of bullying.
- Anyone who witnesses or experiences bullying is encouraged to report the incident to a school official.
The following actions will be taken when bullying is reported:
- Investigation
- Upon completion of any report of bullying, schools will direct an immediate investigation of the incident. The investigation will begin no later than the next business day in which the school is in session after the report is received by the school official. The investigation will be completed no later than ten school days after the written report of the incident is submitted to the official.
The investigation shall include interviewing the alleged perpetrator(s) and victim(s), identified witnesses, teacher(s), and staff members separately. Physical evidence of the bullying incident will be reviewed, if available.
- Notification
- Parents or legal guardians of the victim and accused student will be notified of the investigative procedure. If the incident involves an injury or similar situation, appropriate medical attention should be provided and parent/guardian should be notified immediately.
- Discipline
- Upon confirming that the bullying has occurred, the accused student will be charged with bullying and will receive age-appropriate consequences which shall include, at minimum, disciplinary action or counseling.
- Follow-Up
- Complainants will be promptly notified of the findings of the investigation and the remedial action taken.
- Documentation
- Written documentation containing the findings of the investigation, including input from the students ‘parents or legal guardian, decision by the school official, will be prepared and placed in the school records of the victim and perpetrator.
Confidentiality
All bullying reports, complaints, and investigations will be kept confidential, except where disclosure is required to be made by applicable federal laws, rules, or regulations by state law.
Bullying Policy