Why do we have a new bullying policy?

Because N.C. law requires it.

NC Bullying Laws
http://www.olweus.org/public/laws_north_carolina.page

Employees are
required to report
any actual or
suspected
violations of this
policy.

What is our policy?

Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying 171040217230
Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying Complaint Procedure 172040157225
Please visit http://www.wilkes.k12.nc.us/policies/policies.html for a comprehensive list of

all Wilkes County Schools policies

What is bullying?
North Carolina General Statute defines bullying in the link
below:
http://www.kabsnow.org/2/post/2010/7/first-post.html

Our local policy, which is written to comply with this statute,

defines harassment and bullying as follows:

School policy
prohibits
bullying, harassment, and
discrimination.
Everywhere.
By everyone.
At all times.
Thank you for your
cooperation

Harassment and Bullying

a. Harassment or bullying behavior is any pattern of gestures or written,
electronic or verbal communications, or any physical act or any threatening
communication that:
(1) places a student or school employee in actual and reasonable fear of
harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property; or
(2) creates or is certain to create a hostile environment by substantially interfering with or impairing a students educational performance, opportunities or benefits. Hostile environment means that the victim subjectively views the conduct as harassment or bullying and that the conduct is objectively severe or pervasive enough that a reasonable person
would agree that it is harassment or bullying. A hostile environment
may be created through pervasive or persistent misbehavior or a single
incident, if sufficiently severe.

Harassment and bullying include, but are not limited to, behavior described above that is reasonably perceived
as being motivated by any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic or motivated by an individuals association with a person who has or is perceived to have a differentiating characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, socioeconomic status, academic status, gender identity, physical appearance, sexual orientation, or mental, physical, developmental or sensory disability.
Examples of behavior that may constitute bullying or harassment include, but are not limited to, verbal taunts,
name-calling and put-downs, epithets, derogatory comments or slurs, lewd propositions, exclusion from peer
groups, extortion of money or possessions, implied or stated threats, assault, impeding or blocking movement,
offensive touching or any physical interference with normal work or movement, and visual insults, such as derogatory posters or cartoons. Legitimate age-appropriate pedagogical techniques are not considered harassment
or bullying.

Parents, please understand that student privacy prevents us from

sharing specifics regarding disciplinary actions involving other
students. We can only share information with you about your child.

Download this free resource

Preventing Classroom Bullying: What can teachers do?
Learn how to reduce bullying in schools by focusing on the four elements that sustain it: bullies, victims, bystanders, and environment.

Advice for Parents

http://www.jimwrightonline.com/pdfdocs/bully/
bullyBooklet.pdf

Please make the information below

available for your
parents.

Permission granted by Jim Wright to reproduce and reprint this

resource as long as content is not altered and credit is given to the
author, Jim Wright.
For more information visit

www.interventioncentral.org
The site was created by Jim Wright, an RTI consultant and trainer from
Central New York who has worked for 17 years in public schools as a
school psychologist and administrator.

http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/
HHS_PSA/pdfs/SBN_Tip_21.pdf

If you have additional questions about

bullying, please contact your school
counselor.